CBSE Class 6 English Charles Dickens

A. You have read about a story by Charles Dickens in the previous unit. Now read this extract about the life of Oliver Twist, also written by Charles Dickens and answer the questions that follow it.

“Please, Sir, I Want Some More!”

The life of young Oliver Twist had a sad beginning. It continued to be sad for many years.

Oliver was born in a poor house one winter night in the year 1837. His mother died that same night.

“A pity,” said the doctor. “She was so young and beautiful.” He turned to the old woman who had helped him,” Who was she? “Nobody knows. They found her in the street and brought her here.”

The doctor looked at the woman‟s shoes, which were worn out. “She has come a long way,” he said. “Ah, well” he exclaimed sadly and hurried away.

The poor little boy was given the name Oliver Twist‟. They kept him in the poor house with a number of other boys. All were badly treated, because the master of the poor house, Mr. Bumble, was a cruel man.

At the age of nine, Oliver was a pale, thin boy. All the boys were pale and thin. They had to work hard and never had enough to eat. They were served only a bowl of soup. Twice a week they were given an onion. On Sundays they had half of a cake each.

The boys were almost starving. Often they were too hungry to sleep. One boy, the tallest of them all, said,” If I do not have another bowl of soup, I shall eat one of you.” His eyes had a wild look. Indeed the boy was almost mad with hunger. The smaller boys believed him and were very frightened.

What could the poor orphans do? They thought, they talked. Then they made up their minds that one of them must go up to the master, when he was serving soup, and ask for more. But who was going to do this daring deed? At last, it was decided that Oliver should ask for more at supper that evening. 

When suppertime came, the master stood beside a big pot of soup. In his right hand he held a big spoon. Each boy, in his turn, came up to the master with his bowl. The master gave him a spoonful of soup.
The soup was soon gone. The boys licked their bowls and then their fingers. They looked at Oliver, Oliver walked slowly towards the master, bowl in hand. Then he said, in a small frightened voice, “Please Sir, I want some more.” The master, a fat man, turned suddenly pale “

What!” he roared “

Please, Sir, I want some more.” Oliver said, again, trembling like a leaf. Mr. Brumble hit Oliver on the head with his spoon. He seized the boy and Oliver shouted for help. The Cook and the kitchen boys rushed in. They held poor Oliver while M r. Bumble beat him till his arm ached.
“That boy will be hanged, I‟m certain,” he said. “He asked for more!” Oliver was locked in a dark room. The next morning, this notice appeared on the gate of the poor.

A.1. Answer the following questions.

A.1.1. Where was Oliver born?

A.1.2. Were the boys in the poor house happy? Give two reasons for your answer.

A.1.3. How do you know that the boys were still hungry after they had finished their soup?

A.1.4. Where was Oliver kept for the night and what happened the next day?

A.1.5. Use the following expressions in sentences of your own.

(i) mad with anger

(ii) come a long way

(iii) a pity

(iv) worn out