Roald Dahl wrote many children’s stories and poems that have not only been published as books but also adapted into plays and films.
This month’s theme involves writing inspired by Roald Dahl.
To give you an idea read the following:
Roald Dahl’s children’s writing includes........
- Funny stories & characters, including fabulous child heroes.
- Gruesome detail – every horrible smell, sight and bad habits
- Larger than life characters with big personalities & memorable physical descriptions
- Frank honest storytelling: Dahl never holds back from telling the reader about scary or nasty things. He never talks down to children but instead treats them as the intelligent people they are.
- Made up foods
- Made up words
- Inventions & recipes
- Fantastical imaginative places, people & objects
- Triumph: He championed the poor, victimised, bullied etc...
- Friendship, loyalty and kindness
- Brave and intelligent heroes on fabulous but difficult adventures that are often scary
- Heroes that overcome personal disadvantages and nasty villains
- Imaginative character names
- Honest, frank, unflinching writing
- Villains that hate & are cruel to children and animals. But who are taught a lesson in the end.
Some Examples:
Roald Dahl’s witches are not like in fairy tales. Instead they disguise themselves as lovely ladies with a secret passion for squelching children. The book’s introduction reads like a warning and the heroes are a boy and his grandmother who must save children from the High Witch’s devilish plan. This story is full of scary and gruesome descriptions and funny moments.
In many of Dahl’s stories the caregivers (e.g. parents or pet owners) are mean and horrible. George’s grandmother is cruel and disgusting. George tries to create a concoction to cure his Grandmother’s nastiness.
Matilda’s parents consist of a Dad described as a ‘Mean crooked crook’ and a stupid mother who thinks Matilda should watch more TV and read fewer books.
James lives with two mean aunts ‘Sponge’ and ‘Spiker’. James receives a magic bag from a mysterious man but drops it underneath their peach tree. Later a peach begins to grow to gigantic proportions and a whole adventure begins.
The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is different to his fellow giants. The ‘Bloodbottler’ and ‘Fleshlumpeater’ giants are big bad giants who like to gobble up children. The BFG befriends orphan Sophie and introduces her to his world of imagination and magic. The BFG uses his own special words and eats/drinks strange things. His job is to catch dreams and blow them into children’s bedrooms. The BFG and Sophie are on a mission to save the world’s children from the evil giants.
In the Magic Finger the heroine finds that when she gets angry her magic finger can cause havoc. Disliking her neighbours love of hunting, in a temper she points her magic finger at them and they end up transformed into birds.
In Fantastic Mr Fox, Mr Fox outwits the nasty farmers ‘Boggis, Bunce & Bean’. There is great humour in the animal being cleverer than the farmers.
In ‘Revolting Rhymes’ Roald Dahl retells well known fairy tales in his own unique way so that we have Red Riding Hood pulling a pistol from her knickers and talking with an attitude never seen in the original telling. If you haven’t read these, whatever age you are, you must! I dare you not to be laughing out loud!!!................................................
There are many more Roald Dahl stories, books, plays and films to explore. Check out the EXTRA page for more ideas. Also for more info, fun and games visit www.roalddahlday.info & the other Roald Dahl sites linked from this one.
We look forward to reading your writing either about Roald Dahl and his writing or your own original ideas inspired by his love of witty imaginative stories.
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