The extract is taken from Charles Dickens' work Oliver Twist, published between 1837-1838. the title refers to the main character of the story, Oliver Twist, a poor child who lives in a workhouse.
The extract may be divided in two parts. In the first one the third person omniscient narrator gives some information about Oliver Twist. He is a nine years old porr child and he also unhealthy because he doen't eat much, but he has a strong will. The categories taken into consideration are the age and the health. Charles Dickens only suggests the idea of a hungry boy, indeed he doesn't tell it directly. Furthermore he uses irony that becomes grotesque. The narrator also informs Oliver Twist is in a coal-cellar as punishement after dare to ask for more food.
In the second part the narrator tells about the episode in which Oliver asks for more food and the reaction to this request. Furthermore three more characters are introduced, exluded the children: Mr Limbkings, the master, Mr Bumble, the supervisor and the board. The action takes place in a large hall where children eat and the reader is informed about what happens everyday during the meal time: the master who comes along with two women and serves small rations. This time however, the children, who was starving to death, choose the one who will ask the master to have another portion. The person is Oliver Twist. The extract ends with the master extremely irritated and a judjement of death. Charles Dickens tries to communicate the atmosphere of sadness, oppresion and hardness using alliterations, comic immages and antithesis. In this way he also creates a sense of pathos that led the reader to identify with the children, expecially with Oliver Twist. On the other hand Charles Dickens eses the technique of the grotesque towars the master in order to ridicule him and make him unpleasant. In general, the whole episode represents a criticism toward the children's ill-treatment and the middle class' fear towards every poor's attempt to rebel.