Which aspects of scene strike you as being taken from real life?

Poor hygienic conditions in the orphanage and children suffer abuse and hungry. They have no possibility of free enterprise and freedom of speech, up from the boys.

Which group of characters do you think the writer sides with?

The writer sides with none group of characters.

What do you think the main target of the writer's criticism is?

Denounce the inhuman situation in orphanages and child exploitation.

Can the reader from a different opinion from the narrator's?

The reader can have a different opinion from the narrator's, because narrator tells in third person, he not gives opinions. The reader may have his own opinion according to his conscience.

exercise n. 3

What detail/s has/have a humorous effect in spite of the tragic condition of the children?

The gruel disappeared and a long grace was said over the short commons. The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear. The master's amazement in a faint voice.

Mark the various characters' reactions after Oliver's request. Which of the devices listed above have been used to describe these reactions?

The characters' reactions after Oliver's request was amazement. The writer use ridicules to criticize the adults characters.

Find some more examples from the text for the other features listed above.

He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.

The board were sitting in solemn conclave.

In what way are the pupils different from those of an ordinary school? What evidence of their ill-treatment is given in the text?

There was none of the noise and clamour of a schoolroom; none of its boisterous play, or hearty mirth. The children sat crouching and shivering together, and seemed to lack the spirit to move about. The only pupil who evinced the slightest tendency towards locomotion or playfulness was Master Squeers, and as his chief amusement was to tread upon the other boys' toes in his new boots, his flow of spirits was rather disagreeable than otherwise.

How does Mr Squeers define his teaching method? Why do you think he gives an explanation to Nicholas? What do his words reveal about him and his qualifications as a teacher?

Obedient to this summons there ranged themselves in front of the schoolmaster's desk, half-a-dozen scarecrows, out at knees and elbows, one of whom placed a torn and filthy book beneath his learned eye. No, he gives not an explanation to Nicholas. He is not qualified to teach.

Do Mr Squeers' wife, son and school reflect his personality?

Mrs. Squeers' is a formidable wife. If possible, she is even more cruel and less affectionate than her husband to the boys in their care. The Squeers' loutish is a piggy son. He is mainly preoccupied with filling his belly as often as he can and bullying his father’s boys, to his father’s great joy.

Does Nicholas' opinion about what is going on come out at all?

Nicholas was graciously permitted to take his portion to his own solitary desk, to eat it there in peace. After this, there was another hour of crouching in the schoolroom and shivering with cold, and then school began again.

Give example of negative aspects and comic details in Mr Squeers' description and behaviour.

Obedient to this summons there ranged themselves in front of the schoolmaster's desk, half-a-dozen scarecrows, out at knees and elbows, one of whom placed a torn and filthy book beneath his learned eye.

'So it is,' said Squeers. 'Ain't it, Nickleby?'

'I believe there is no doubt of that, sir,' answered Nicholas.

Would you say Squeers is well-rounded character or a flat character?

Squeers is a flat character.

What kind of narrator tells the story? Which character/s do you think he sides with?

There is a third narrator tells the story. He sides with Nicholas Nickleby.