Verified Document

Roald Dahl Is The Author Thesis

He had been once more nominated for the prize in 1978, but he would only receive it at his second nomination, five years later (Wands, 2010). Several of his works were adapted to television and the big screen. 4. Dahl's Matilda

Matilda is one of the most representative works for Roald Dahl for several reasons. First, it is part of the series addressed to children. Then, it has been so well received by the public that it was put into film in 1996. Finally, it is inspired from the author's own life and experiences at the boarding school. Matilda is as such the story of a young girl, Matilda Wormwood, with high intelligence, who is neglected by her parents that force her to watch television, and abused by her teachers, mainly Miss Trunchbull. Miss' Trunchbull's niece, Miss Honey appreciates Matilda's intelligence, but her efforts to move the young girl to a more advanced class are impeded by her ruthless aunt. As Matilda discovers her telekinetic powers, she plays a trick to convince Miss Trunchbull to return the estate she had stolen from her niece. At the end of the book, Matilda's family moves and leaves her with Miss Honey (Dahl, 2004).

The story presented in Matilda is an apparently sad one, and parents might feel reluctant to reading it to their children or to encouraging them to read it. In spite of this perception nevertheless, the book has elements of amusement,...

It is as such an educative work, teaching children to make the right decision and to stick up for themselves. But what is even more so important is for parents to discuss the book with their children and to assure them that it is fantasy, rather than reality.
5. Dahl's Literary Influence

As it has been mentioned throughout the previous pages, Dahl' inspiration for his children's stories came from his own life, namely his experiences while at boarding school. At that age, he simply could not understand how an adult could be so cruel and unfair to a defenseless child. These feelings gave birth to books such as Matilda in which the young rebel against the cruel matures.

Another source of inspiration was constituted by the author's own mother. He recollects how she would tell him and his siblings stories of her home town in Norway. "The young Roald loved stories and books. His mother told Roald and his sisters tales about trolls and other mythical Norwegian creatures. "She was a great teller of tales," Roald said, "Her memory was prodigious and nothing that ever happened to her in her life was forgotten" (Infloox, 2009). As a tribute to her, he even constructed a character in her honor (the grandmother in The Witches).

Then, aside mother and school, Dahl's work was also influenced by the classic writers. Like Matilda, young Dahl enjoyed reading, and he early on began to read the works of classics. So many of his later stories are inspired from Rudyard Kipling's or Charles Dickens's writings.

Sources used in this document:
References:

Dahl, R., Matilda, Puffin Books, 20004, ISBN 0142402532

Liukkonen, P., Roald Dahl (1916-1990), Pegasos, 2008, http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/rdahl.htm last accessed on January 14, 2010

Wands, D.C., Roald Dahl (1916-1990),Fantastic Fiction, 2010, http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/roald-dahl / last accessed on January 14, 2010

Roald Dahl, Infloox, 2009, http://www.infloox.com/person?id=6a5f6877 last accessed on January 14, 2010
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Roald Dahl's Life & Works
Words: 3007 Length: 8 Document Type: Term Paper

Many adult readers disagree with the portrayed unreality of Dahl's books because in life everything is not fair, and good does not always win. Even when the hero of the Witches is permanently turned into a mouse, the reader is assured by the main character that, "I honestly don't feel especially bad about it. I don't even feel angry. In fact, I feel rather good" This lack of remorse is

Matilda By Roald Dahl
Words: 2113 Length: 8 Document Type: Essay

Essay Topic Examples 1. The Theme of Intelligence and Knowledge in 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl: Explore how Roald Dahl portrays intelligence as a tool for empowerment and liberation in 'Matilda', focusing on the eponymous character's journey from oppression to self-actualization through the acquisition and use of knowledge. 2. Parental Figures and Child Characters: Discuss the contrasting portrayals of adults and children in 'Matilda', examining how Roald Dahl presents the figures of authority versus the

Children's Literature: Author Study Most
Words: 2120 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

In spite o the accusations of being a misogynist and encouraging the young minds to embrace such theories related to gender stereotypes, Polly and Diggory, the first two children to populate the series, are far from impersonating stereotypes. Polly appears to be a smart and sensitive young girl, wiser to some degree than her friend, Diggory. In opposition to the children who regardless of their gender, seem to share similar

Pigs Three Little Pigs the
Words: 663 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Finally, I loved the ending and its sardonic twist; it is Red Riding Hood who not only kills the wolf, but then kills the remaining pig and has him made into a traveling case. While the reader naturally believes that Red Riding Hood is there to help the pig, she in fact is more dangerous than the wolf she was called in to kill. As the poem says, "Ah, piglet

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate
Words: 1161 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Clearly, a child's tendency to over-indulge is seen as something that must be curtailed. Finally, we have the Oompa Loompas - our Greek chorus. After each tragedy befalls one of the children or their parents (or both) the Oompas recite a poem. "Dear friends, we surely all agree / there's almost nothing worse to see / Than some repulsive little bum / Who's always chewing gum." These poems seem to

Anthropomorphic Anthropomorphism Anthropomorphic Art How
Words: 2001 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

4. Alexandre Gabriel Decamps Figure 8. Alexandre Gabriel Decamps' "The Monkey Painter," 1833. (Source: http://dalihouse.blogsome.com/2007/04/26/beasts-get-the-babes Figure 9. ( Source: http://www.artandpopularculture.com/Image:The_Experts%2C_1837_by_Alexandre-Gabriel_Decamps.jpg) Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps was an artist who often used animals portrayed as human beings to satirize society and especially the formal artistic community of the time. He was opposed to falsity and pretentions and the often biased views of the academic art coterie of the time was a subject of some of his works. This can be

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now