OLIVER TWIST by Charles Dickens Michal Jiřík

Charles Dickens Born in Portsmouth in 1812 Father – a clerk; mother encouraged him to read a lot from an early age Ten years old Charlie had to work hard in a factory for little pay He become familiar with London After leaving scool he had started to write aricles to newspapers - than became very famous and respected author

Charles Dickens Pickwick´s club Litte Dorrit Our Mutual Friend Active man – work for many organisations dealing with social problems 1841 – travelled to US a speak against slavery, for which he vas seriously criticized by much of american press

Oliver Twist – the plot Oliver – little orphan, bad treated, open-hearted kid Desperate escape to London – member of a band of thieves which is led by Fagin Caught by police – than accepted as servant in middle class family Caught again by Fagin´s band Wounded during robbery in a house Treated well by owners of the house After Oliver´s recovery, while everything seemed to end happily and he was learning, he looked out of the window and there sighted those robbers again …

Intersting facts about the book Social novel – motives: poverty, childhood Dickens implated his own life experience The book is collection of stories, which were originally printed in newspapers in serial story form Filmed six times Musicial called Oliver! is still performed Characters of the book are very well known in British culture (u nás Babička)

Pros and cons Positives: –Interesting story –Shocking conditions of orphans in 19th century –Good picture of society of those times Negatives: –Oliver is not affected by terrible behaviour of other people to him –Strange ending

5 new expressions Coffin (n) – wooden box used for dead human bodies Workhouse (n) – institution for orphans Pale (v, adj) – become white in your face Pursue (v) – try hard to reach your target Bow (v, n) – typical Japanese body movement expressing: „Hello!“