Introduction to Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a famous British author born in 1916 in Wales. His parents were from Norway. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Air Force, which is the military branch that flies planes. After the war, in the 1940s, he started writing books and short stories.
Career Highlights
Roald Dahl is most famous for his children’s books. Some of his best-known works include:
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: A story about a boy named Charlie who wins a golden ticket to visit a magical chocolate factory.
- George’s Marvellous Medicine: A fun tale about a boy named George who creates a special medicine for his grandmother.
Dahl also wrote stories for adults. Many of his books have been turned into films, which makes his stories even more popular.
Key Points to Remember
- Birth: Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916.
- Parents: His parents were Norwegian.
- Military Service: He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
- Writing Career: He began publishing stories in the 1940s.
- Famous Works: Some of his famous books are “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “George’s Marvellous Medicine.”
- Films: Many of his books have been adapted into movies.
Questions for Understanding
Easy Level Questions
- Where was Roald Dahl born?
- A) England
- B) Wales
- C) Scotland
- D) Ireland
- What nationality were Roald Dahl’s parents?
- A) Welsh
- B) Norwegian
- C) English
- D) Irish
- What military service did Roald Dahl join?
- A) Navy
- B) Army
- C) Royal Air Force
- D) Coast Guard
- In which decade did Roald Dahl start publishing books?
- A) 1930s
- B) 1940s
- C) 1950s
- D) 1960s
- What is the title of Roald Dahl’s famous book about a chocolate factory?
- A) The Chocolate Factory
- B) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- C) Willy Wonka’s Factory
- D) The Great Chocolate Adventure
- Who is the main character in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”?
- A) George
- B) Charlie
- C) Willy Wonka
- D) Grandma
- What type of stories did Roald Dahl write for adults?
- A) Comic books
- B) Novels
- C) Short stories
- D) Both B and C
- What is “George’s Marvellous Medicine” about?
- A) A magic potion
- B) A chocolate recipe
- C) A grandmother
- D) A boy named Harry
- Which of these was NOT a focus of Roald Dahl’s writing?
- A) Children’s books
- B) Historical novels
- C) Stories for adults
- D) Short stories
- What happened to many of Roald Dahl’s books?
- A) They were never published
- B) They were turned into films
- C) They were banned
- D) They were written in Norwegian
Medium Level Questions
- In what year did Roald Dahl pass away?
- A) 1980
- B) 1990
- C) 2000
- D) 1970
- What role did Roald Dahl have during World War II?
- A) A pilot
- B) A teacher
- C) A soldier
- D) A writer
- Which of Roald Dahl’s works features a character named Willy Wonka?
- A) Matilda
- B) The BFG
- C) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- D) The Twits
- How did Roald Dahl’s background influence his writing?
- A) He only wrote about Norway
- B) His childhood experiences shaped his stories
- C) He ignored his parents’ culture
- D) He didn’t write about his life
- What can you say about the themes in Roald Dahl’s books for children?
- A) They are always sad
- B) They often include magic and adventure
- C) They are about war
- D) They are very boring
- Roald Dahl wrote a story about a girl with special powers. What is the name of that book?
- A) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- B) The BFG
- C) Matilda
- D) The Witches
- Which book tells the story of a giant friendly giant?
- A) The Twits
- B) The BFG
- C) George’s Marvellous Medicine
- D) Fantastic Mr Fox
- Many adults enjoy reading Roald Dahl’s stories. What type of stories did he write for them?
- A) Scary and serious
- B) Humorous and clever
- C) Only poetry
- D) Only biographies
- How did Roald Dahl’s experiences in the Royal Air Force influence his writing career?
- A) He didn’t write about war
- B) He used his adventures in his stories
- C) He only wrote about flying
- D) He stopped writing after the war
- Which of these characters is NOT from a Roald Dahl book?
- A) Willy Wonka
- B) Matilda
- C) Harry Potter
- D) The BFG
Hard Level Questions
- What was the name of Roald Dahl’s first published children’s book?
- A) The Twits
- B) James and the Giant Peach
- C) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- D) The BFG
- In which year was “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” first published?
- A) 1964
- B) 1970
- C) 1954
- D) 1980
- What unique style is Roald Dahl known for in his writing?
- A) Rhyming
- B) Dark humour and whimsical characters
- C) Historical accuracy
- D) Realistic fiction
- What did Roald Dahl do before becoming a full-time writer?
- A) He was a teacher
- B) He worked in a chocolate factory
- C) He was a fighter pilot
- D) He worked in a bank
- Which of these works was published posthumously (after his death)?
- A) The BFG
- B) Matilda
- C) The Minpins
- D) Fantastic Mr Fox
- How many children did Roald Dahl have?
- A) 2
- B) 4
- C) 5
- D) 6
- Which of Roald Dahl’s books was inspired by his childhood experiences?
- A) The Twits
- B) The BFG
- C) Matilda
- D) Boy: Tales of Childhood
- Roald Dahl’s stories often feature what kind of characters?
- A) Boring adults
- B) Brave children and quirky adults
- C) Animals only
- D) Historical figures
- What was the main theme of “George’s Marvellous Medicine”?
- A) Family relationships
- B) The power of imagination
- C) The importance of health
- D) Overcoming fears
- Which of these adaptations was made into a film starring Johnny Depp?
- A) The BFG
- B) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- C) The Witches
- D) Fantastic Mr Fox
Answers and Explanations
Easy Level Answers
- B) Wales
- B) Norwegian
- C) Royal Air Force
- B) 1940s
- B) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- B) Charlie
- D) Both B and C
- A) A magic potion
- B) Historical novels
- B) They were turned into films
Medium Level Answers
- B) 1990
- A) A pilot
- C) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- B) His childhood experiences shaped his stories
- B) They often include magic and adventure
- C) Matilda
- B) The BFG
- B) Humorous and clever
- B) He used his adventures in his stories
- C) Harry Potter
Hard Level Answers
- B) James and the Giant Peach
- A) 1964
- B) Dark humour and whimsical characters
- C) He was a fighter pilot
- C) The Minpins
- B) 4
- D) Boy: Tales of Childhood
- B) Brave children and quirky adults
- B) The power of imagination
- B) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
