This extract is taken from the second chapter of the novel Oliver Twist written by Charles Dickens. It tells about social problems of Dickens' time. Particularly it is about the conditions of working children. The scene takes place in a workhouse where Oliver Twist lives with many other boys. The boys are very unlucky because are forced to many injustices.

The text can be organized into three sections: the first section is the intorduction about the condition of Oliver and his friends, obliged to suffer a bad inequities and violence for three months. One night a boy threats to eat the boy who slept next him. The situation is serious therefore is convened a meeting among the boys. Someone had to ask to the master for more food: it is chosen Oliver Twist.

The second part tells about  the moment of the dinner, Dickens tells about each character and every role; Oliver is encouraged to come forward but his rebellion is a failure. The last part tells about Oliver's request has shocked the master who brings Oliver to judge by the director of the reformatory. Finally the director of the workhouse, Mr. Limbkins, decided to offer a reward of five pounds to “anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of parish.”