Year 5

Year 5 studied Charles Dickin's classic Oliver Twist. The children explored persuasuive writing this half term and chose charcaters from the story to write to with the aim to persaude.

Gioia - Birkbeck

Hello Oliver.

A tragic event has happened, you moved away! It was catastrophic and some of the boys are still weeping. We are waiting for you to come back; our hearts heavy with sorrow. Leave the wealthy and join the gang! Join us! Come back! I hope this letter convinces you.

For a start, Fagin has never left our trust or our hearts. He has saved our lives by taking us in. We could have starved, frozen to ice, or even been murdered out in this untrustworthy, treacherous world. Come back and you will be welcomed once again. Do you want to be loved? Do you want to belong? Do you want to have a family? Look at yourself in the past Oliver! What will you do when Mr Brownlow goes? What if we’ve moved by then? Who will you have to go too?

As well as that, think of the food! Remember Oliver, those soft, flaky, juicy meat pies? There’s more! Melting oozy pastries and oily, greasy and crackling sausages. Not to forget, warm, thick soup, with generous lumps of plump, juicy chicken or turkey. I can feel your mouth watering. Not one of us has ever starved. You won’t ever go hungry here at the den.

Let me tell you how we get this luxury. We pickpocket! Don’t listen to mad folk. It is a dear, treasured game passed down through centuries. We don’t keep it all either! We throw big sacks into tattered beggar’s hands. We take from the rich and give it to the poor, you know! Honestly Oliver, sparkling, polished gemstones, coins so clean they are like mirrors, and smooth, silky, handkerchiefs. You won’t be able to refuse!

Furthermore, it’s absurd to get caught in Fagin’s impenetrable family. Yes! We’re his family, we are! The elderly man is our father. The gentle, kind Nancy, our lovely auntie and the feared beast, Bill Sykes, our uncle. Don’t forget all the boys who will be your bold, brave brothers.

Finally, we are not the ones choosing our luck. It’s the way of life, you know. If a good opportunity comes, you must take it! Our den is that opportunity, Oliver. Come to your loving family, delicious food and future riches. Could you really leave your mate Dodger forever?

See you very soon!

Dodger (J. Dawkins)

Phoeve - SOAS

Greetings Bill Sykes.

I write with a wish from the core of my heart. I have been separated from the boy whom you have taken away from my loving arms and now my heart is broken. I need you to listen and fulfil my greatest wish; to enable Oliver and I to live happily together. As right now, our fate is in your hands. If you grant my wish, I would be so grateful. If not, I’m sure you will be punished. How would you feel to be separated from whom you love?

Luckily, after young Oliver seemingly tried to steal from me when I was reunited with him (my long-lost family member), I brought him home into my arms. He is loved with me, so have a heart. Oliver is a boy who deserves more love after his mother’s sorrowful and tragic death. He was forced to work all of his life, so the magical feeling of Oliver and I uniting was truly special. Please, please have a heart. I understand that you need him, but you don’t control his life. He controls it and when you take advantage of a child, you will regret your life choices.

It may come as a shock, but I am slightly grateful for the care and time you put into Oliver but I’ve seen what happens to those children. I think living with me is what’s best so please give him back! How would you feel if someone you loved died? Oliver is without family and financial support. He is vulnerable with no love left in the world but mine. I still have a place for him. I beg you to give Oliver to me because everybody’s heart can change, and I know you know it’s the right thing to do. If you reunite us, I will be truly grateful for your support.

If he were your nephew, what would you do to help him in this situation? Since he is vulnerable, do your best for him. If you were vulnerable like Oliver, what would you want? What would happen if someone took someone you love? Leave him alone, leave him be, leave him to live his life. I beg you to let me love one last time before I die.

As I close this letter with a heartfelt sigh, I must make a final command of you to let him go. Thank you for listening to my heartfelt plea and as you reach the end of this warming letter, please choose to mend my broken heart.

Yours kindly,

Mr Brownlow

Benni - Imperial

To my dear chap Oliver,

I have an offer that is so great that you will freeze on the spot. It is so difficult to refuse. I’m hoping with all of my heavy heart that you will join Fagin’s gang and we will hang out in the most wholesome, spirited and glorious den in all of London. I would like you to join the most delightful gang you can imagine. Your life will not be short of comfort and fun. In our welcoming warehouse we have the kindest, most cherished family that you can think of.

Firstly, the gracious ancient codger couldn’t care more and gives us all the warmth and family you can ask for. You couldn’t ask for more, but there is loads more. Fagin is the best father figure you can imagine. What you don’t know about Fagin is, he was a good-natured lad, and he still is. Don’t you want a father that is good natured? If you don’t, I don’t think you want one at all.

He gives you all the food you can ask for. Oh the scran, the beautiful scran! I remember how you ate that stifling hot chicken pie I sorted you out with. There is more just as delicious as that. Baking bread and juicy sausages, you won’t go starving (or even hungry).

Subsequently, I want to introduce you to thievery. People do lie, you know. It is just the way of borrowing things. Seriously, Oliver, there is an innocent, joyful life in your hands and the first time I went home downhearted because you rejected it. You did not know about pickpocketing. You can get loads of stuff from glorious money to delectable diamonds. You could be a self-made billionaire. You could be the richest living person in the whole universe.

Dodger.

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