Lesson video

This lesson contains descriptions of domestic violence.

If this is a sensitive topic to you, we recommend checking with a trusted adult before starting the lesson.

Hello everyone.

Welcome to our next lesson on Oliver Twist.

Now a lot happened in our last lesson.

Oliver was walking through London, delivering packages for Mr. Brownlow, and then he was kidnapped by Bill and Nancy.

He's now being dragged through the dark streets of London back to Fagin's gang.

Today's lesson is going to focus on the novel's scariest character, Bill Sikes.

Let's begin.

For today's lesson, you will need an exercise book or paper, and a pen.

If you do not have this equipment, press the pause button on your video now.

Go and collect this equipment and then we will begin our lesson.

Let's begin with a recap from our last lesson.

Why does Fagin ask Nancy and Bill to kidnap Oliver? Option one, Fagin is worried for Oliver's wellbeing.

Option two, Fagin is concerned that Oliver will be arrested by the police.

Option three, Fagin is worried that Oliver will tell the police about the gang's criminal activities.

Option four, Fagin is worried that Oliver will join a rival gang.

Press the pause button on your video now and tell the screen the right answer.

I will now tell you the right answer, which is of course, option three.

Fagin is worried that Oliver will tell the police about the gang's criminal activities, and therefore he asks Nancy and Bill to kidnap Oliver.

Well done if you got that right.

I will now summarise our plan for today's lesson.

First of all, we're going to learn about villains.

We'll then learn in particular about one villain, Bill.

We'll begin by learning about Bill's villainous appearance, and then we will look at Bill's villainous behaviour.

So let's first of all learn about a villain.

What is a villain? Well, a villain is a bad character who harms other people or breaks the law to get what they want.

Now I'm going to read that definition one second time, because in a minute you are going to be tested upon it.

A villain is a bad character who harms other people or breaks the law to get what they want.

Okay, let's now test your memory on that definition.

Press the pause button on your video now and tell the screen the sentence, filling in the key words.

Off you go.

I'll now show you the correct sentence.

A villain is a bad character who harms other people or breaks the law to get what they want.

Well done if you got that right.

Now related to that word villain is the describing word, the adjective, villainous.

If someone behaves like a villain, they can be described as villainous.

I'm now going to give you a few different examples of different villainous characters or different villains in stories.

Darth Vader is the villain in Star Wars.

Darth Vader wants to help the Empire take over the galaxy and is therefore prepared to kill and hurt lots of people.

Voldemort is the villain in Harry Potter.

Voldemort wants to take over both the wizarding and the non-wizarding world and is therefore ready and willing to kill and hurt lots of people.

And Captain Hook is the villain in Peter Pan.

Captain Hook wants to take over Neverland, and in order to take over Neverland, Captain Hook is willing to hurt and kill lots of characters, including Peter Pan.

Now in our story so far, we've met one villain.

We can see Fagin as a villain in Oliver Twist.

Fagin wants to make lots of money and gain lots of possessions for himself, and he is therefore willing to take lots of vulnerable children and turn them into criminals.

As you're going to see throughout the rest of the story, Fagin is also willing to hurt other characters in order to protect himself.

For example, he asks for Nancy and Bill to kidnap Oliver in order to stop Oliver from going to the police and telling the police about the gang's criminal activities.

Fagin is a villain because he selfishly protects himself and is therefore willing to hurt other people.

But the main villain in our novel is Bill Sikes.

Here's a picture of him.

Bill Sikes is a villain in Oliver Twist.

Now I introduced you to Bill in our last lesson, where we learned about how Bill and Nancy kidnapped Oliver.

Let's now revise two facts about Bill Sikes that we've learned so far.

Bill is a criminal who works with Fagin, and he is also a violent robber.

Now throughout the rest of this lesson, I'm going to demonstrate to you that Bill is a villain.

But first of all, let's revise what we've been through so far.

True or false.

All villains are criminals.

A villain harms other people.

There can be more than one villain in a story.

All villains are ugly.

Press the pause button on your video now and tell the screen whether each of these options are true or false.

Off you go.

I'm now going to give you the answers.

A is false.

All villains are not necessarily criminals.

Many villains are criminals, but a villain does not have to be a criminal.

B is true.

A villain harms other people.

And C is true.

There can be more than one villain in a story.

For example, in our novel "Oliver Twist", we can describe Bill Fagin and Bill Sikes as villains.

And D is false.

All villains are ugly.

That's not necessarily true.

A villain might be very handsome or very beautiful.

However, often villains are ugly in order to make, in order to make them all the more scary.

Well done if you got that right.

So let's first of all look at Bill's villainous appearance.

I'm now going to tell you a little bit about the extract that we're going to read.

We're going to read an extract from earlier in the story.

So this extract isn't about what happens to Oliver.

We'll read that extract later on in this lesson, This extract is the first time that Dickens introduces Bill to the reader, and it's a description of Bill Sikes' appearance.

Bill is a terrifying man.

First of all, he's absolutely massive.

He's got huge shoulders.

He's built like a tank.

He's really tall.

He's got massive leg muscles.

Huge.

He's not the sort of man that you'd want to meet on a dark night.

And he's filthy as well.

His trousers are covered in dirt, and he's wearing a handkerchief that's covered in beer from his mouth.

And his eyes, they're always scowling and angry.

One of them has got lots of colours around it as if he's got a bit of a black eye, because he's just been in a fight.

He looks like the sort of man who belongs in prison.

Now, as you read through this extract, look out for three things, because Dickens describes Bill's appearance to make it very clear to the reader that Bill is a villain.

First of all, Bill looks violent.

Just by looking at his appearance, we can tell that Bill is a violent man.

Secondly, Bill looks like a criminal.

Just by looking at it his appearance, we can tell that he is involved in crime.

And thirdly, Bill looks intimidating.

So Dickens makes it very clear from Bill's appearance that he is a villain.

Let's begin.

"The man who growled out these words, was a stoutly-built fellow of about five-and-thirty, in a black velveteen coat, very soiled drab breeches, laced-up half boots, and grey cotton stockings, which enclosed a bulky pair of legs, with large swelling calves, the kind of legs, which in such costume, always look in an unfinished and incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them.

He had a brown hat on his head and a dirty belcher handkerchief round his neck, with the long frayed ends of which he smeared the beer from his face as he spoke.

He disclosed, when he had done so, a broad heavy countenance with a beard of three days growth and two scowling eyes, One of which displayed various parti-colored symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow." Let's now analyse this extract in a bit more detail.

We're first of all going to look at about how this description of Bill's appearance demonstrates that he is violent.

So first of all, notice the way that Bill talks.

Dickens writes that Bill "growled out these words".

Now when I read this word growled, I am reminded of a wild animal.

This is the sort of sound that a wild animal like a lion or our tiger would make before it attacks its prey.

Dickens is suggesting here that Bill is as violent as a wild animal.

He also may be suggesting that Bill lacks humanity.

Bill does not have the same compassion or sense of right and wrong as the rest of us.

Bill is driven completely by his instincts, just like a wild, violent animal.

Now there's also an interesting description of Bill's eyes.

Let's read this next quotation in pink, these bottom two lines.

This is a description of one of Bill's eyes.

"One of which displayed various parti-colored symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow." So one of his eyes has lots of different colours around it.

It looks, it may be round a bit bruised, and it's very clear how Bill has received this injury.

He's received this injury because he has been damaged by a blow.

Dickens is suggesting that Bill has been in a recent fight.

So this first time that we meet Bill, Dickens is making it very clear that this character lives a very dangerous reckless lifestyle in which he might be involved in a lot of violence.

Press the pause button on your video now, and take notes upon this quotation.

In a minute we're going to write a short paragraph upon it.

Off you go.

Okay, let's now look at our question.

You're now going to complete a task in which you write a paragraph.

Now to help you, I'm going to give you a bit of a rough paragraph plan to help you structure your answer.

Here's the paragraph plan.

Let me read through it with you.

The parts of the paragraph in blank are the parts that you need to write yourself in your own words.

Dickens presents Bill as a violent villain through describing, if I were you, I would now add a quotation.

This description suggests, I would now analyse this first quotation.

Dickens further emphasises Bill's violent nature through describing, I would now add a second quotation.

This description suggests, and now I would analyse the second quotation.

Now to help you write this paragraph, you've got a key word and key phrase box.

There's two quotations here, and two key words.

Try to use both key words and the two quotations.

Press the pause button on your video now and complete this paragraph in your book or on your page.

Off you go.

Let's now take a look at an exemplar for this paragraph.

Here's our acceptable answer.

Dickens presents Bill as a violent villain through describing how this character "growled" at his dog.

This description suggests that Bill is like a wild animal.

Dickens further emphasises Bill's violence nature through describing one of his eyes having "various parti-colored symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow".

This description suggests that Bill has recently been injured in a fight.

And here's our good answer.

Dickens presents Bill as a violent villain through describing how this ruffian "growled" at his dog.

This description suggests that Bill is like a fierce predator growling before it devours its prey.

This brute seems more like a wild animal than a human being.

Dickens further emphasises Bill's violent nature through describing how one of this villain's eyes had "various parti-colored symptoms of having been recently damaged by a blow" in a fight.

Such descriptions indicate that Bill pursues a reckless and dangerous lifestyle.

Well done for your hard work there.

Let's now move on to our second idea about how Bill is clearly a villain through this description of his appearance.

This description of Bill's appearance makes it very clear that he is a criminal.

And this is a quotation that demonstrates that Bill is a criminal.

I'll now read the whole thing.

"The man who growled out these words was in very soiled drab breaches, which enclosed a bulky pair of legs, the kind of legs, which in such costume, always look in an unfinished and incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them." Now, I know what you might be thinking.

What does that word fetters me? Well, fetters are chains.

And look carefully at what Dickens is saying.

Dickens is saying that Bill Sikes has the kind of legs that look unfinished and incomplete "without a set of fetters to garnish them".

In other words, Bill's legs look unfinished without there being chains around them.

Dickens is suggesting that Bill really belongs in chains.

In other words, Bill is a violent criminal who belongs in prison.

This man is so evil and dangerous that he has no place in respectable society at all.

Bill is such a dangerous criminal that the place that he belongs is prison.

So through this description of Bill's appearance, Dickens makes it very clear that this character is a criminal.

Press the pause button on your video now, and take some quick notes upon this quotation before we write our next paragraph.

Off you go.

Let's now take a look at our paragraph.

Complete the paragraph.

Dickens presents Bill as a villainous criminal through describing, I'd now add a quotation.

This description suggests, and here are some key words and key phrases that you can use.

Press the pause button on your video now, and complete this paragraph in your book or on your page.

Off you go.

Let's now take a look at our exemplar paragraphs.

Here's our acceptable answer.

Dickens presents Bill as a villainous criminal through describing how this character's legs looked "in an unfinished and incomplete state without a set of fetters to garnish them." This description suggests that Bill looks like he should be wearing chains because he should be in prison.

And here is our good answer.

Dickens presents Bill as a villainous criminal through describing how this ruffian's legs looked "unfinished" "without a sets of factors to garnish them." This description suggests that Bill's appearance is so menacing that it looks like he should be kept captivated in prison "fetters." This brute clearly belongs to a dangerous criminal underworld and has no place in respectable society.

Well done for your hard work again.

Let's now go on to our third idea.

Bill is intimidating.

Let's now read through this quotation here.

"The man who growled out these words was a stoutly-built fellow of about five-and-thirty in very soiled drab breeches, which enclosed a bulky pair of legs with large swelling calves.

He disclosed a broad heavy countenance with a beard of three days growth and two scowling eyes." So let's look at this first quotation here.

We get told that Bill is stoutly built.

That means he's very broad.

He's very muscular.

He's very big.

And we next get this description of Bill's large swelling calves.

This is a description of Bill's massive leg muscles.

So Dickens is making it very clear that Bill is strong and muscular.

He's got big muscles.

Now this makes Bill very intimidating and makes me as a reader, think to myself, that Bill could cause any of the other characters a great deal of harm very quickly.

If Bill attacks another character, he could kill them very quickly because he's so big and muscular and strong.

Now there's another quotation here that makes me think that Bill is very intimidating.

It's this one here, this description of Bill's scowling eyes.

This suggests that Bill is very angry.

It's as if he's about to explode in a sudden fit of rage and anger and violence.

Once again, this description makes me think that Bill seems very intimidating and frightening.

You can now press the pause button on your video and take some notes upon this quotation.

Off you go.

Let's now take a look at our paragraph.

Complete the paragraph.

Dickens presents Bill as an intimidating villain through, I would add a quotation here.

This description suggests, I would now analyse my quotation.

Dickens further emphasises Bill's intimidating appearance through, I'd add a second quotation here.

This description suggests, and then I would analyse the second quotation.

Here's some key words and key phrases that you can use to analyse.

Press the pause button on your video now and complete this paragraph in your book or on your page.

Off you go.

Let's now take a look at our exemplar paragraph.

Here's our acceptable answer.

Dickens presents Bill as an intimidating villain through describing how this character is "stoutly built" and has "large swelling calves." This description suggests that Bill is strong and muscular.

Dickens further emphasises Bill's intimidating appearance through describing his "two scowling eyes." This description suggest that Bill looks angry and scary.

Here's our good answer.

Dickens presents Bill as an intimidating villain through describing how this brute is "stoutly built" and has "large swelling calves." This description suggests that Bill has a broad and muscular physique.

Such physical prowess indicates that this ruffian could easily cause great damage to any of his victims. Dickens further emphasises Bill's intimidating appearance through describing this villain's "two scowling eyes." This description suggests that Bill looks angry, as if he is on the edge of exploding in a sudden act of violence.

Well done for all of your hard work.

As you can see, Dickens uses this description of Bill's appearance to make it very clear that this character is a villain.

Bill looks violent, Bill looks like a criminal, and Bill looks intimidating.

Now Bill is also very clearly a villain through his behaviour.

We're now going to read the next part of our novel.

In our last lesson, Bill and Nancy kidnapped Oliver.

Well, Bill now drags Oliver through the dark streets of London, back to Fagin's gang.

In this extract, Oliver arrives back at Fagin's gang.

He's taken back by Nancy and Bill.

Remember Nancy and Bill are in a relationship.

They're boyfriend, girlfriend, but Nancy feels quite guilty about what she's done.

She feels terrible for kidnapping this innocent boy.

Now, when Oliver arrives back to Fagin's gang, he looks around him and then tries to escape.

Bill's dog, Bullseye, then begins to attack Oliver, and Nancy tries to stop it.

Now look at how Bill responds to this.

It's very clear that Bill is a villain.

"Oliver jumped suddenly to his feet, and tore wildly from the room, uttering shrieks for help, which made the bare old house echo to the roof.

'Keep back the dog, Bill!' cried Nancy, springing before the door and closing it, as the Jew and his two pupils darted out in pursuit.

'Keep back the dog; he'll tear the boy to pieces.

' 'Serve him right!' cried Sykes, struggling to disengage himself from Nancy, the girl's grasp.

'Stand off from me, or I'll split your head against the wall.

' 'I don't care for that, Bill.

I don't care for that,' screamed the girl, struggling violently with the man, 'the child shan't be torn down by the dog, unless you kill me first.

' 'Shan't he!' said Sykes, setting his teeth.

'I'll soon do that, if you don't keep off.

' The housekeeper flung the girl from him to the further end of the room, just as Fagin, the Jew, and the two boys returned, dragging Oliver among them." Now as you can see, Bill's behaviour in this extract is very frightening and clearly villainous.

First of all, Bill gets very angry with Nancy.

Nancy is trying to protect Oliver right now.

Nancy still cares for Oliver a great deal, even though she helped kidnap him.

And she's trying to stop the dog from attacking Oliver.

Now look at what Bill says here.

He says this to his girlfriend, Nancy.

"Stand off from me or I'll split your head against the wall." That's a very horrible, violent threat to make to someone.

And next he says this.

Nancy says the child, Oliver, shan't be torn by the dog "unless you kill me first." And this is how Bill responds.

"Shan't he!" said Sikes, setting his teeth.

"I'll soon do that, if you don't keep off." So Bill is now threatening to kill Oliver, to rip Oliver apart himself if his dog does not do that work.

And then, Bill flings Nancy, the girl, from him to the further end of the room.

He chucks her across the room.

It's a sign of his great violence and his terrifying strength.

Let's now see what happens next.

Fagin now becomes very angry with Oliver and begins to try to beat him, and Nancy isn't happy about this at all.

Nancy now tries to defend Oliver.

Now look at how Bill responds.

Once again, we will see that Bill's behaviour is very villainous and evil.

"'Well, then, keep quiet,' rejoined Sikes, with a growl like that he was accustomed to use when addressing his dog, 'or I'll quiet you for a good long time to come.

' Nancy, the girl laughed again, even less composedly than before, and darting a hasty look at Sikes, turning her face aside, and bit her lip till the blood came.

'You're a nice one,' added Sykes, as he surveyed her with a contemptuous air, 'to take up with the humane and genteel side.

A pretty subject for the child, as you call him, to make a friend of.

' 'God Almight help me, I am!' cried the girl passionately, 'and I wish I had been struck dead in the street, or had changed places with them we passed so near tonight, before I had lent a hand in bringing Oliver, or him, here.

He's a thief, a liar, a devil, all that's bad from this night forth.

Isn't that enough for the old wretch, without blows?'" Now look at Bill's behaviour here.

These are the words that he says to his girlfriend, Nancy.

He says, "Keep quiet," but he talks to her "with a growl like that he was accustomed to use when addressing his dog." So he's talking down to Nancy here.

He's talking to her as if she is an animal.

And then he says these very chilling words.

He says, "Or I'll quiet you for a good long time to come." In other words, Bill is threatening to kill Nancy here.

After this Nancy faints and Oliver is locked up in his room with the gang.

Let's now test your understanding of that extract.

Which two people does Bill threaten during this extract? I'll give you a clue.

One of them is his girlfriend and the other one is an orphan.

It is, of course, Oliver and Nancy.

Bill threatens Oliver and Nancy.

Question two.

Why does Nancy become angry with Fagin? I'll give you a clue.

What is Fagin doing to Oliver? Of course, Fagin is trying to hit Oliver, and Nancy wants him to stop.

Nancy becomes angry with Fagin because he hits Oliver across the head.

Question three.

What happens to Nancy at the end of his extract? I'll give you a clue.

She's unconscious at the end of this extract.

Of course she faints.

Nancy faints at the end of this extract.

So well done if you got that right.

So as you can see, Bill is very obviously a villain in our story.

A villain is a bad character who harms other people or breaks the law to get what they want.

And Bill's behaviour is villainous.

He kidnaps Oliver.

That shows that he's a criminal, he commits this crime against Oliver.

He threatens to split Nancy's head against the wall if she doesn't stop defending Oliver.

Bill threatens to join his dog, Bullseye, and tear Oliver apart.

He growls at Nancy in a voice he was accustomed to use when addressing his dog, He threatens to kill Nancy if she doesn't stop defending Oliver.

As you can see, Bill is a vile character who is very clearly a villain.

He is violent, he is a criminal, and he is intimidating.

Well done for all of your hard work today.

If you would like to, you can do our extension task.

How does Dickens present Bill as a villainous character in this extract? Write a paragraph or essay on the question above.

If you would like to complete this task, pause the video here, and complete this paragraph or essay in your book or on your page.

Off you go.

And that brings us to the end of today's lesson.

Well done for all of your amazing work.

In our next lesson, Oliver is forced to take part in a burglary.

And one of your favourite characters is going to be shot.

I'll see you next time.

And before you leave us, make sure that you complete your quiz.