Dahl and Narrative: Review

Read this sentence from paragraph three of "The Bicycle and the Sweet Shop":

"The sweet-shop in Llandaff in the year 1923 was the very centre of our lives."

Now read these sentences from paragraph five of "The Bicycle and the Sweet Shop:"

"The mere sight of her grimy right hand with its black fingernails digging an ounce of Chocolate Fudge out of a jar would have caused a starving tramp to go running from the shop. But not us. Sweets were our life-blood. We would have put up with far worse than that to get them."

How do the sentences from paragraph five relate to paragraph one?

• They give an explanation of how Dahl and his friends love candy.

• They give an explanation of how Dahl and his friends want to prank Mrs. Pratchett,

• They give an explanation of Dahl and his friends' experience at Llandaff Cathedral School.

Based on paragraph four of "The Bicycle and the Sweet Shop," Dahl writes, "She never smiled. She never welcomed us when we went in, and the only times she spoke were when she said things like, ‘I’m watchin’ you so keep yer thievin’ fingers off them chocolates!’ How does Dahl likely feel when he first enters the candy shop?

• Excited

• Intimidated

• Impressed

• Comforted

What is the central idea of "The Bicycle and the Sweet Shop?"

• Candy is sweet.

• Friendship can help us get through difficult situations.

• It's always best to get revenge on someone who wrongs you.

• New adventures can be exciting and scary.

In "The Great Mouse Plot," Dahl uses figurative langauage in lines 29-31 when he writes, "We were strutting a little as we entered the shop. We were the victors now and Mrs. Pratchett was the victim.” What can readers infer about the kids’ attitude from this language?

• The kids were sullen.

• The kids were feeling anxious or nervous.

• The kids were prideful.

• The kids were confident.

Dahl uses figurative language to describe Mrs. Pratchett in “The Bicycle and the Sweet Shop” when he writes in lines 21-22, “She was a small skinny old hag with a moustache on her upper lip and a mouth as sour as a green gooseberry.” What can readers infer about Mrs. Pratchett from this language?

• Mrs. Pratchett is always kind to Dahl and his friends.

• Mrs. Pratchett is a cruel, older woman.

• Mrs. Pratchett is a nurturing, lovely woman.

How does Dahl's attitude about going to the sweet shop change from the beginning to the end of "The Bicycle and the Sweet Shop?

• He notices Mrs. Pratchett's behavior and doesn't like it, he comes up with a scheme to get back at her.

• He notices Mrs. Pratchett's behavior and finds himself comfortable with going to the sweet shop everyday.

• He notices how candy surrounds the sweet shop, he has a deeper connection to candy.

What idea is developed when Dahl writes, "But by far the most loathsome thing about Mrs Pratchett was the filth that clung around her. Her apron was grey and greasy. Her blouse had bits of breakfast all over it, toast-crumbs and tea stains and splotches of dried egg-yolk. It was her hands, however, that disturbed us most. They were disgusting. They were black with dirt and grime. They looked as though they had been putting lumps of coal on the fire all day long."

• Young boys can be very mischievous.

• Parents are worried about sending their child to a new school.

• Some adults can be very unpleasant.