Oliver Twist Chapter 3

Oliver Twist Chapter Three

Check your understanding

​Read the text carefully.

Oliver walked a few paces after them and stood looking on in silent amazement. The old gentleman was a very respectable-looking person. He was dressed very well. He had picked up a book from the stall, and there he stood, reading away. Oliver watched with horror and alarm as he stood a few paces off, looking on with his eyelids as wide open as they would possibly go, to see the Dodger plunge his hand into the old gentleman's pocket, and pull out a handkerchief! The Dodger handed it to Charley Bates and they both ran away around the corner at full speed! In an instant the whole mystery of the handkerchiefs, and the watches, and the jewels, and Fagin rushed upon the boy's mind. He stood with the blood tingling through all his veins from terror,  that he felt as if he were in a burning fire. Then, confused and frightened, he began to panic, and, not knowing what he was doing, ran off as fast as he could.

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Multiple Choice

Who is telling the story?

• Oliver Twist

• a narrator who knows Oliver's feelings

• Charley Bates

• Dodger

Multiple Choice

What is the ‘work’ that Dodger and Charley Bates do that morning? W

• stealing 

• selling books

• helping older people

Multiple Choice

Who do the boys take the handkerchief from?

• the elderly gentleman

• the bookseller

• Oliver Twist

• Fagin

Open Ended

Read the fragment again:

Oliver watched with horror and alarm as he stood a few paces off, looking on with his eyelids as wide open as they would possibly go, to see the Dodger plunge his hand into the old gentleman's pocket, and pull out a handkerchief! The Dodger handed it to Charley Bates and they both ran away around the corner at full speed! In an instant, the whole mystery of the handkerchiefs, and the watches, and the jewels, and Fagin rushed upon the boy's mind. He stood with the blood tingling through all his veins from terror,  that he felt as if he were in a burning fire. Then, confused and frightened, he began to panic, and, not knowing what he was doing, ran off as fast as he could.

Question: what is Oliver’s reaction as he watches Dodger and Fagin take the handkerchief? Write the fragments from the text that help you visualize the scene and understand Oliver’s emotions.