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Author Study: Roald Dahl

Last updated about 4 years ago

8 questions

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Use the provided information, video, and link(s) to answer the following questions about Roald Dahl and his career. Exposure to this content will better help you understand the various Dahl titles we will read in our short story unit.

Although his name might not sound too familiar to you, you are likely to have read one of his stories or seen a movie adaptation of one of his famous works. Roald Dahl is famous for writing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, and Matilda (among other great ones). Keep moving forward below to learn about Mr. Dahl and how he came to be one of the most beloved childrens book writers and author to some bizarre and macabre stories geared toward mature readers.

Question 1

1.

Question 2

2.

Question 3

3.

Before moving forward, please be sure that you have carefully watched the video embedded above and ALSO have read THIS BIOGROAPHY.COM ARTICLE on Roald Dahl.

Question 4

4.

Question 5

5.

Question 6

6.

Draw an image that makes you think of Roald Dahl and/or his work.

Question 7

7.

Question 8

8.

As a child, Roald Dahl was... (select all that apply)

the victim of physical abuse at one of his boarding schools.

sent away to live with his unfriendly aunt and uncle due to his parents' deaths in an auto accident.

a well-mannered boy who never misbehaved.

a rambunctious, mischievious kid who clashed with authority figures.

introduced to mythical Norwegian tales told by his mother at bedtime.

Which of the following stories was inspired by the loss of Dahl's father?

James and the Giant Peach

Matilda

The BFG

The Witches

Which of the following events inspired Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

The Reese's Company sending chocolates to Dahl's town to be given out on Halloween.

The Hershey Company sending chocolates to Dahl's church to be tested by church goers.

The Nestle Company sending chocolates to Dahl's home as a gift for the family.

The Cadbury Company sending chocolates to Dahl's school to be tested by students.

After reading the Biography.com article, please place the following events of Dahl's life in the correct sequence.

James and the Giant Peach published in 1961

Born on September 13, 1916 

Graduated from Repton in 1932

Became a World War II fighter pilot

Wrote his first story for children, The Gremlins, in 1942 

Identify each statement as True or False by dragging it to its correct category.

Dahl's "darker" children's stories were inspired by the abuse he experienced as a youngster at boarding school.

Dahl was seriously injured in World War II while serving on a submarine.

Dahl's widow allows all of his books and/or stories to be made into film.

Roald Dahl was in the airforce and worked for the British Foreign Intelligence Service later in life.

Eventually, Dahl came to despise film versions of his stories.

TRUE

FALSE

Part 1: Which of the following statements best describes Roald Dahl and his work? *Note: Re-read Dahl's biographical info again from the point of this link (look for the highlighted section heading and continue to the end).

Dahl was an unsuccessful childrens' book writer.

Dahl actually never enjoyed writing; he did it for the money.

Dahl began writing after he was forced to do so while in boarding school.

Dahl had a knack for knowing how to interest two audiences: both children and adults.

Part 2: Which of the following quotes from Roald Dahl below best supports your answer in the question above?

"As I went on the stories became less and less realistic and more fantastic."

“You have to keep things ticking along. And if you think a child is getting bored, you must think up something that jolts it back."

“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”

"I want to go straight from school to work for a company that will send me to wonderful faraway places like Africa or China."