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Oliver Twist Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Oliver Twist Quizzes, Trivia

Oliver Twist Trivia

Oliver Twist Trivia Quizzes

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'Oliver Twist', alternatively titled 'The Parish Boy's Progress', portrays the difficult life of an orphan in Victorian England. The sordid life of the criminal world is vividly portrayed. Note that the musical and movie based on it, 'Oliver!', differs in many details.
7 Oliver Twist quizzes and 80 Oliver Twist trivia questions.
1.
  Consider Yourself... One of Us?    
Collection Quiz
 20 Qns
Characters in "Oliver Twist"
Leaving young Oliver off the list, can you pick out some of the main cast of characters - villains, friends, and others - that Oliver encounters in his difficult journey from orphan to adoption?
Average, 20 Qns, reedy, Aug 24 25
Average
reedy gold member
Aug 24 25
255 plays
2.
  What do you know about Oliver Twist?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is one of Charles Dickens' best classics. I hope you enjoy the quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, diamondjim68, Jun 23 18
Recommended for grades: 7,8,9,10
Average
diamondjim68
3049 plays
3.
  The novel "Oliver Twist"   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
There have been many quizzes about the musical "Oliver!" and the film adaptations. But how much do you know about the original Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist"?
Average, 10 Qns, elmo7, Dec 21 17
Recommended for grades: 7,8,9,10
Average
elmo7
451 plays
4.
  Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?- The Novel    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Here is a quiz on the novel "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens.
Average, 15 Qns, SourPatchKid46, Jul 02 25
Recommended for grades: 7,8,9,10
Average
SourPatchKid46
Jul 02 25
506 plays
5.
  Oliver Twist: 10 Questions    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz on "Oliver Twist", one of my favourite books. This is a test of your general knowledge.
Tough, 10 Qns, valdierio, Jul 10 12
Tough
valdierio
1209 plays
6.
  Do the Twist!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Perhaps these questions about Dickens' Victorian orphan are not as easy as you may think! They may have a bit of a Twist!
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, balaton, Jul 27 13
Very Difficult
balaton
853 plays
7.
  The Ultimate Oliver Twist Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
An easy quiz if you have read Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist'.
Average, 5 Qns, sanjith, Apr 14 16
Average
sanjith
3201 plays
trivia question Quick Question
An orphan boy, born to trouble, Mr Bumble named him Swubble! The names all followed a logical list - So who came after baby Twist?

From Quiz "Do the Twist!"





Oliver Twist Trivia Questions
1. Parish orphans, little treasures, Need hard work and never pleasures. Though they never would be wealthy, What was the dose that kept them healthy?

From Quiz Do the Twist!

Answer: Daffy's Elixir

Dr Thomas Daffy, who died in 1680, patented his elixir as a generic cure-all. It contained a lot of alcohol and operated mainly as a laxative! Mrs. Mann, the parish baby farmer, claimed that she gave it to the infants in her care but it is doubtful if she did. She also claimed that, in the interests of infant humanity, she sometimes added gin to it. These infants, however, possibly fared better than those farmed out privately. Victorian morality was outraged by illegitimacy among the poor and many scandals arose. In 1870 in Brixton a Mrs Waters was found to have murdered sixteen infants in her care.

2. In what town is Oliver Twist born?

From Quiz Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?- The Novel

Answer: The author doesn't say

In the first chapter of "Oliver Twist" Charles Dickens says he will be prudent from mentioning the name of the birthplace of Oliver, and it wouldn't make any diffrence to the reader whether or not they knew where Oliver Twist was born.

3. What was Mr. Bumble's occupation?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Beadle

Mr. Bumble was responsible for taking care of the paupers, and lost his high status after marrying Mrs. Bumble.

4. How did Oliver get his name?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Mr. Bumble named him when he was born

Mr. Bumble, the head of the workhouse Oliver lived in, picked the name Oliver at random. He named him "Twist" because he named the last orphan "Swubble". He named the orphans alphabetically.

5. What was the punishment given to Oliver for asking some more gruel?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: instant confinement

Oliver was given instant confinement as punishment because he asked for some more.

6. When Oliver first left the workhouse where he was born and brought up, the Board of that institution sent him on his way, so it wouldn't have the expense (a pittance, naturally) of supporting him. Thus he was made an apprentice, but to which man?

From Quiz The novel "Oliver Twist"

Answer: Mr. Sowerberry, the undertaker

Oliver was indeed apprenticed to Mr. Sowerberry, who liked him well enough and promoted him to the rank of a junior mute. However, this didn't last, for two reasons. First, although Sowerberry liked him, he (Oliver) was greatly disliked for various reasons, by Mrs. Sowerberry, the Sowerberry servant Charlotte, and the charity boy employed there, one Noah Claypole. Secondly, Oliver got in a fight with Claypole, who made very insulting remarks about Oliver's dead mother Agnes.

7. A whistle from the Dodger, To show that he was there "Give us the password!" shouts a voice, "Or enter if you dare!" What is the password to enter Fagin's house?

From Quiz Do the Twist!

Answer: Plummy and slam!

"Plummy and Slam" seems to be thieves' cant for "Alright!" It is first recorded in 1860 but, since Dickens wrote this book in 1837, it must have existed before. Jack Dawkins, aka The Artful Dodger, having picked up a destitute and exhausted Oliver in Barnet, takes him to Cripplegate where a "kind old gentleman", Fagin, operates a thieves' kitchen. The password keeps out unwelcome visitors. Once inside, The Dodger is asked who is friend is. Dodger replies that he is a new recruit to the gang and is from Greenland which seems to refer to Oliver's complete innocence.

8. How old is Oliver when he returns to the workhouse?

From Quiz Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?- The Novel

Answer: Nine years old

Oliver was born in the workhouse, but he was raised in a orphan farm, where they kept orphans up to the age of nine. After that they would leave and go to the workhouse.

9. What was Mrs. Bumble's previous name?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Mrs. Corney

After Mrs. Corney marries Mr. Bumble, she dominates the household, and controls everything he does. A stark contrast can be seen in Mr. Bumble's personality before the marriage compared to after.

10. What did Mrs. Mann steal from Oliver's mother after she died?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: a locket

Oliver's mother came into the workhouse from a storm, gave birth to Oliver, and died. Shortly after, Mrs. Mann, who helped Mr. Bumble run the workhouse, stole her only luxury, a locket that Oliver's father gave her.

11. What was the name of Oliver's mother?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Agnes

Oliver's mother was Agnes.Her last word's were 'Let me see the child and die' for she died soon after he was born.

12. When Oliver ran away to London, he was in a most distressed state upon his arrival there. He was almost starved, he had no money at all, and no place to stay. Who was the first person who befriended him?

From Quiz The novel "Oliver Twist"

Answer: Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger

When Oliver and the Dodger met up, Oliver was half-starved (almost fully so) as he had walked all the way to London without any food, and the trip had taken him seven days. It wasn't surprising that when the Artful Dodger offered the poor boy some food, and the promise of a night's lodging with a friend, the offer was immediately accepted.

13. An orphan boy, born to trouble, Mr Bumble named him Swubble! The names all followed a logical list - So who came after baby Twist?

From Quiz Do the Twist!

Answer: Unwin

What a wonderful way of naming a child. In Jean Webster's "Daddy-Long-Legs" the heroine is Jerusha Abbot. She too came from an orphanage. The name Jerusha came from a tombstone, and Abbot from a telephone directory! Mr Bumble, as Parish Beadle, would be responsible for naming the child, though often he is just addressed as "Work'us". Names are important to identity. In primitive folk lore names were never revealed since knowledge of the name conferred some power over its bearer. "Twist" may have been meant to suggest the many twists of fortune that would overtake Oliver. Alternatively, as a slang word for hanging it may be meant to suggest the fate either expected or desired for him.

14. Who said "The law is a ass"?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Mr. Bumble

Mr. Bumble says this after he was told that he was responsible for the actions of his wife, and that he was then in legal trouble. In reality, she is the one in control of the couple.

15. Why was Oliver removed from the workhouse?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: He asked for seconds on dinner

The law stated that poor children were only allowed one serving of dinner. Mr. Bumble banished Oliver to the cellar and then transferred him to an undertaker named Mr. Sowerberry.

16. Who really pick-pocketted Mr.Brownlow?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: The Artful Dodger

Mr.Brownlow believed that Oliver had picked his pocket but, as the bookstall keeper saw the real thieves, he was saved.

17. Stolen handkerchiefs for sale, Hanging from each fence and rail. Wherever can all this be seen? (No crocuses upon the scene!)

From Quiz Do the Twist!

Answer: Saffron Hill

Were you puzzled by the reference to crocuses? Saffron comes from crocus stamens. Saffron Hill is a street in the London borough of Camden and was once part of Ely Gardens, an estate on which saffron was grown. By the time the book was written the crocus fields were long gone and only the name remained as a reminder. Fagin's boys stole the elaborate silk handkerchiefs of the rich and resold them in this Victorian equivalent of a dubious car-boot sale.

18. The Artful Dodger was also known by which name?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Jack Dawkins

Jack was Fagin's child prodigy.

19. What caused Oliver to assault Noah Claypole?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Noah said bad things about Oliver's dead mother

The Sowerberry's were going to send Oliver back to the workhouse. Oliver ran off to London the next day.

20. What was the real name of 'The Artful Dodger'?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Jack Dawkins

Bill Sikes and Toby Crackit were members of Fagin's gang while Monks was Oliver's half-brother.

21. This character was the "benevolent angel" who came to Oliver's rescue more than once, and whose story was inextricably entangled with the story of Oliver's wicked half-brother. S/he adopted Oliver in the course of the story. Who was this character?

From Quiz The novel "Oliver Twist"

Answer: Mr. Brownlow

Mr. Brownlow first rescued Oliver from the prospect of jail. Brownlow never lost faith in Oliver, even when circumstances looked bad for him. The two characters' fates became entwined as a result of many of the Dickensian coincidences occurring in the plot of the novel.

22. Mr Lively said that he was sure A sight of Fagin was a cure For hopthalmy! Well it might be .... But whatever is hopthalmy?

From Quiz Do the Twist!

Answer: ophthalmia

Ophthalmia is the condition of inflamed eyes. The phrase is the equivalent of "You're a sight for sore eyes!" - recorded by Jonathan Swift in 1738. It is the title of a book by Ruth Rendell (which has nothing to do with Oliver Twist). Mr Lively is a little man who lives in Saffron Hill and makes his living by selling stolen property. He spends his time squeezed into a child's chair outside his shop waiting for custom. Fagin goes there looking for Bill Sykes after the abortive burglary, but does not find him.

23. What was the Artful arrested for possessing?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: A silver snuff box

He was deported to Australia after harassing the judge greatly, much to the appreciation of the crowd.

24. What was the name of the boy Oliver met en route to London?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: The Artful Dodger

Oliver and Dodger met in a small town right outside London. Dodger brought him to meet Fagin, a crime boss who taught young boys how to steal.

25. From whom did Fagin learn that the attempted robbery at the Maylie's was a failure?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Toby Crackit

26. Oliver went with burglar Bill To rob a house, but all went ill! Oliver got shot in the arm. Who was it who caused him harm?

From Quiz Do the Twist!

Answer: Brittles and Giles

Oliver's plight would have been worse if the law had caught up with him. In 1842 Henry Catlin, aged fourteen, was deported to Tasmania for fourteen years for stealing 3/6 (17 1/2 pence). Brittles was the man of all work at the Maylie's house, while Giles was the butler. Both pretended to be very brave but were not, and were very embarrassed when it appeared they had shot a boy. Oliver had been pushed through the house window to open the door but had raised the alarm when he had realized the purpose of it all. Sykes fled with him but dropped him when he was wounded.

27. What's Bill Sikes's dog's name?

From Quiz Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?- The Novel

Answer: Bull's Eye

Bill Sikes's dog is named Bull's Eye. The dog is a terrier who gets beat up a lot by his owner. Whenever Bill is angry, or Bill gets bored, or when the dog is misbehaving Bill kicks him around, which leaves the poor dog with lots of scars and wounds from Bill.

28. Who kidnaps Oliver and brings him back to Fagin while Oliver is delivering the books?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Nancy

Nancy repented later on and helped bring down Fagin's gang by telling her life story to Rose Maylie.

29. Why did Bill Sikes need Oliver to assist him in robbing the Maylie house?

From Quiz Oliver Twist

Answer: Oliver was small enough to fit through the window

Maylie's house was locked up well, except for one small window. Only Oliver was small enough to fit through, but he was shot in the process.

30. Six teaspoons, sugar tongs and a milk pot, Some second hand furniture - not a lot - Twenty pounds in cash - and all for what?

From Quiz Do the Twist!

Answer: Mr Bumble's greed

This collection of assets could be called Mrs Corney's dowry. Mr Bumble was quite smitten with Mrs Corney, the mistress of the workhouse, and in a very amusing romantic interlude he asked her to marry him. He was influenced, needless to say by the sight of her material possessions! By this act Bumble lost his former glory as parish beadle and his peace of mind (though he often got a piece of his wife's). The name Beadle still survives as an occupational surname. It is shared among others by Jeremy Beadle, a British TV presenter and Peter Beadle, a professional footballer and manager.

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