Category Archives: Roald Dahl

Comprehension Questions – The BFG

The BFG

by Roald Dahl

Grades 5-6; Genre - Fantasy; GRL U; AR pts. 6.0

Kidsnatched from her orphange by a BFG (Big Friendly Giant), who spends his life blowing happy dreams to children, Sophie concocts a plan with him to save the world from nine other man-gobbling cannybull giants.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Sophie. She’s an orphan; isn’t supposed to get out of bed but she did to close the curtain; couldn’t sleep; curious and looked out the window p.9

Chapter 2

  1. Describe the thing Sophie saw. Very tall human like person that walked in the shadows, peeking in the second story windows; pale wrinkly face with huge ears, fierce and devilish eyes, wearing a black cloak and carried a thin trumpet p.14

Chapter 3

  1. Predict what will happen to Sophie. Listen to your child’s answer p.21

Chapter 4

  1. Describe the cave. The giant’s home; a gigantic rock blocks the opening; pitch black until the giant lit a light; gigantic with a high rocky roof; shelves on the walls filled with glass jars; a 12 foot table and chairs to match p.22

Chapter 5

  1. What good news did Sophie hear in this chapter? The giant who captured her doesn’t eat humans p.34

Chapter 6

  1. What did Sophie learn about giants in this chapter? They travel every night and eat humans p.40

Chapter 7

  1. What can the BFG hear with his marvelous ears? Dreams; plants, trees, spiders, butterflies, etc. p.50

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize this chapter. The BFG pulled out some food that he and Sophie thought was disgusting; giants aren’t born, they just appear and are only men; Sophie complimented the BFG and how he talks; he said he wouldn’t steal vegetables from gardens p.54

Chapter 9

  1. How is Sophie clever in this chapter? She hid from the Bloodbottler in the snozzcumber p.65

Chapter 10

  1. Describe frobscottle. A green fizzy drink; the bubbles go down instead of up; delicious; causes whizzpoppers (flatulence) p.72

Chapter 11

  1. Did the BFG have a good argument on page 91? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 12

  1. Describe how the BFG captures dreams? He uses his net like a butterfly net, puts them in jars with lids p.94
  2. Why is the BFG so excited and then so upset in this chapter? He’d caught a wonderful dream, but then he caught a nightmare p.96

Chapter 13

  1. How did the BFG put the nightmare to good use? He gave it to Fleshlumpeater; he dreamt of Jack the Giant Killer p.107
  2. Why did Sophie smile that Fleshlumpeater thought the beanstalk killed giants? Jack used the beanstalk to climb up to the world of giants, not as a weapon to kill them p.108

Chapter 14

  1. Summarize one of the dreams the BFG has captured. P.120-131
  2. How has the BFG learned to write? He borrowed a human’s book p.131
  3. Predict how Sophie and the BFG will stop the other giants from eating children in England. Listen to your child’s answer p.133

Chapter 15

  1. Were you correct in your prediction? Listen to your child’s answer 
  2. Describe Sophie’s plan. The BFG will mix a dream for the Queen of England; Sophie will be on her windowsill and when she wakes up, she’ll tell her giants are real; Sophie’s hoping the queen will send her army to defeat the giants p.141

Chapter 16

  1. Why did the dream given to the queen need to be a nightmare? Giants eating children is nightmarish p.151

Chapter 17

  1. Summarize this chapter. Sophie rode in the BFG’s ear to London; they saw the giants as they ran home from their feast and Sophie was resolved to go forward with the plan; Sophie guided the BFG to the palace p.157

Chapter 18

  1. How did Sophie and the BFG find the queen’s room? The BFG can hear the difference between men and women breathing; when they looked in the room, it looked stately and Sophie recognized the queen p.168

Chapter 19

  1. Did Sophie’s plan go as she hoped? Explain. Yes; there was an article in the paper about the children disappearing and bones below the windows that supported her and the BFG p.174

Chapter 20

  1. What did the queen do to verify Sophie’s and the BFG’s story? Called the countries the giants had visited recently p.202

Chapter 21

  1. How did the BFG help solve the issue of finding the giants? He said the soldiers in the helicopters could follow him p.211

Chapter 22

  1. Summarize this chapter. The BFG led the helicopters to the giants’ land; they drove to the sleeping giants and tied them up only waking up one; Sophie stabbed him with her brooch from the queen and the BFG pretended the giant has been bit by a snake and tied him up; they loaded up all the dreams and the helicopters came to pick up the giants p.213

Chapter 23

  1. What did the queen prepare for the giants when the helicopters arrived in London? A large pit they couldn’t climb out of
  2. How did the BFG solve what would be fed the giants? He brought snozzcumbers and snozzcumbers plants to be planted p.237

Chapter 24

  1. What did you like about the conclusion of this story? Listen to your child’s answer p.239

Comprehension Questions – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl

Grade 5; Genre - Fantasy; GRL R; AR pts. 5.0

In this timeless classic, Willy Wonka, a crazy chocolatier, opens his chocolate factory doors for the first time to five lucky children who have randomly purchased the coveted chocolate bars containing the golden ticket. Besides a lifetime supply of chocolate, the children get a chance to tour the mysterious factory with their guide, Willy Wonka.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Charlie. Lives with his parents and both sets of grandparents; they’re very poor; he loves chocolate and only gets it on his birthday; he walks by the largest and most famous chocolate factory on the way to school and wants to go inside to see what it’s like p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Summarize this chapter. Grandpa Joe describes Willy Wonka and how amazing he is p.9

Chapter 3

  1. What shocking information did Grandpa Joe tell Charlie? There are no workers going in or out of the chocolate factory gates; the workers they can see in the windows aren’t ordinary p.14

Chapter 4

  1. Why is it so exciting that people will be able to go into the chocolate factory? It’s been closed to the public and factory workers for over 10 years p.16

Chapter 5

  1. Why is Charlie feeling discouraged about finding a golden ticket? His odds of getting one are very low, since he only gets one chocolate bar a year p.21

Chapter 6

  1. Why does Veruca need a spanking? She’s spoiled and always gets her way; she’s never been disciplined p.25

Chapter 7

  1. Choose a word to describe Charlie in this chapter. Why did you choose it? Listen to your child’s answer; kind, thoughtful, generous, sharing, selfless p.29

Chapter 8

  1. What do all the golden ticket winners have in common so far? They are all selfish and bratty p.34

Chapter 9

  1. Why are Charlie and his grandpa laughing at the end of this chapter? They had a special moment together, and in the excitement of possibly getting the golden ticket they nervously opened the bar, but didn’t find anything p.36

Chapter 10

  1. Why was it important that Charlie save his strength? He did not have enough food to eat and doesn’t have energy to waste p.40
  2. Why is he needing to do this? His dad lost his job and they didn’t have much to eat p.38

Chapter 11

  1. How is Charlie able to purchase the candy bars? What was the consequence? He found a dollar bill half buried in the snow; he received the golden ticket p.43

Chapter 12

  1. What instructions were given on the ticket? The ticket holder is to arrive at 10 am sharp on February 1st; they are to bring one or two family members to look after them p.50

Chapter 13

  1. Summarize this chapter. It’s February 1st and the lucky kids and their family members are waiting to go inside the chocolate factory gates while a large crowd has gathered to observe p.53

Chapter 14

  1. Describe Willy Wonka. A little man wearing a purple coat, green pants, gray gloves, carries a cane with a gold tip and a black top hat; friendly and kind; welcoming; lots of energy p.57

Chapter 15

  1. Describe the chocolate room. Underground; large and beautiful; consists of a valley with green meadows, a chocolate waterfall, chocolate river, enormous glass pipes that carry the chocolate to other rooms to make candy; the trees, flowers and grass are edible; has little men called Oompa-Loompas p.63

Chapter 16

  1. How did Willy Wonka convince the Oompa-Loompas to come work for him? He’d give them all the cacao beans they want to eat p.70

Chapter 17

  1. Why did Willy Wonka say the Oompa-loompas were joking? He didn’t want people to think they had purposely made Augustus go into the pipe p.80

Chapter 18

  1. What did everyone see as they went down the chocolate river? Storeroom doors with signs on them; creams, beans, whips p.86

Chapter 19

  1. Describe the Inventing Room. Secret room only Willy Wonka goes into; the most important room in the factory; where secret inventions are made; looks like a witch’s kitchen with black metal pots, kettles, pans, etc. filled with inventions p.87
  2. Describe one of the inventions listed in this chapter. Everlasting Gobstopper or Hair Toffee p.90

Chapter 20

  1. Who knew what the invention made in this chapter is? How? Violet; she loves gum p.94

Chapter 21

  1. What happened to Violet in this chapter? She took the gum that came out of the machine even though Mr. Wonka told her not to, and she swelled into a blueberry p.95

Chapter 22

  1. How does Mr. Wonka treat Mike Teavee when Mike asks him a question? He doesn’t answer it and tells him to stop mumbling or to stop interrupting him p.105

Chapter 23

  1. Describe Willy Wonka’s behavior in this chapter. He’s losing patience with everyone except Charlie and Grandpa Joe; he’s not very nice and is calling people names p.107
  2. What does Mr. Wonka mean, “the square candies look round”? The candies have faces on them and look around the room p.108

Chapter 24

  1. How was Veruca disrespectful in this chapter? She didn’t listen to Willy Wonka and went into the room to get herself a squirrel p.111
  2. What was the consequence? The squirrels threw her into the garbage chute; there’s an incinerator at the bottom that may be lit p.113
  3. Who is to blame for her disrespectful behavior? She and her parents p.118

Chapter 25

  1. Describe the elevator. Glass; covered in black buttons that travel all over the factory; goes very fast; on the same track as another elevator so they could crash; goes in all directions p.118

Chapter 26

  1. What will “…change the world”? Being able to reach into a television and grab a chocolate bar p.129

Chapter 27

  1. What happened to Mike Teavee. He didn’t listen and became the first person to be sent by television, so he became tiny and will need to be stretched out p.130

Chapter 28

  1. Summarize this chapter. Mr. Wonka told Charlie he’d won since he was the only child left; they got into the elevator and shot through the roof of the factory; they saw the other children leave the factory p.142

Chapter 29

  1. What’s the result of each of the children’s choices that are going home? They will deal with the consequences of their choices for the rest of their lives p.148

Chapter 30

  1. Why did Willy Wonka invite children to come to the factory? To choose who he would like to give it to after he’s taught them all his secrets and how to run the factory p.151

Comprehension Questions – James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Grades 4-5; Genre - Fantasy; GRL S; AR pts. 4.0

James Henry Trotter loses his parents and is forced to live with his evil aunts. Luckily, he is given magic crystals, which he accidentally spills on his aunts' decrepit peach tree. One of the peaches begins to grow, and grow, and grow. Finally, James climbs into the peach and it rolls away from his aunts' yard and his miserably lonely life. With the giant peach, he begins a new life, making friends along the way with hilarious characters like the Grasshopper and the Earthworm.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe James’s situation. He lived near the ocean with his parents until he was 4 years old; his parents were killed by a rhinoceros in London one day and he went to live with his two horrible aunts who wouldn’t allow him to leave the garden where they lived; a peach tree was in the garden, but it never bore fruit p.1

Chapter 2

  • Describe the main character’s aunts. Selfish, lazy, thought they were beautiful, mean to James; Aunt Sponge was fat and short with piggy shaped eyes and sunken mouth; Aunt Spiker was tall and lean, would spit when she talked p.5

Chapter 3

  1. Who approached James and what did he give him? An old man; magic crystals p.10

Chapter 4

  1. What instructions did the man give James and what did he promise him? Put them in a large jug of water with ten hairs from his head and drink; wonderful things will happen to him p.12

Chapter 5

  1. Where did the crystals disappear to? Why? James tripped and the crystals all disappeared into the ground near the peach tree p.13

Chapter 6

  1. What was peculiar about the peach tree? A peach was growing on it p.16

Chapter 7

  1. What did Aunt Spiker want to do with the peach? Make money by charging people to see it p.24

Chapter 8

  1. What did the aunts have James do that day? Stay in his room locked up and clean up the garbage after everyone left p.26

Chapter 9

  1. What did James feel in the moonlight? Something more peculiar was going to happen to him p.28

Chapter 10

  1. Summarize this chapter. James found a hole in the peach and climbed into it, crawling down a tunnel to the middle of the peach, through a doorway into the peach pit p.30

Chapter 11

  1. Why was James terrified in this chapter? He thought the human sized insects were going to eat him p.34

Chapter 12

  1. How did the insects get to be so large and human like? The magic crystals p.38

Chapter 13

  1. Describe how James felt about his new friends? He liked them, they were kind and helpful p.43

Chapter 14

  1. Where were the creatures and James going? They didn’t know, they just wanted to go somewhere to get away from James’s aunts and the hill they were on p.45

Chapter 15

  1. What happened to James’s aunts? The peach rolled over them and they were smashed p.48

Chapter 16

  1. What book, also written by Roald Dahl, was referenced in this chapter? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory p.50

Chapter 17

  1. Describe the journey James and the creatures had to the ocean? They were tossed around, hitting into each other until they landed on the water p.53

Chapter 18

  1. What good news did James have for the creatures in this chapter? They wouldn’t starve because they had the peach to eat p.60

Chapter 19

  1. What attacked the peach and why were the creatures worried? Sharks; with each bite from the sharks, the peach will be eaten away p.66

Chapter 20

  1. What was James’s plan to save them from the sharks? Take string from the spider and silk worm and tie it from the peach stem to seagulls to lift the peach out of the water p.70

Chapter 21

  1. Why did James become the captain of the peach ship? He took charge p.75

Chapter 22

  1. What word would you use to describe James in this chapter? Listen to your child’s answer; determined, hard worker, clever, smart p.75

Chapter 23

  1. Why do you think the peach wasn’t damaged by the sharks? Listen to your child’s answer; magic, the sharks couldn’t get their teeth into it p.83

Chapter 24

  1. List one thing James learned in this chapter? How grasshoppers play music; where their ears are; where crickets and katydids ears are p.87

Chapter 25

  1. Summarize what James learned in this chapter? How each of his insect friends help the world p.89

Chapter 26

  1. How did James help the centipede in this chapter? He saved him; the centipede fell over the edge of the peach into the water and James asked silk work to spin rope and went in after him p.95

Chapter 27

  1. What caused hail stones to hit the peach? The Cloud-Men because Centipede called them names p.104

Chapter 28

  1. What danger were the friends in this chapter? The Cloud-Men saw them and threw whatever they could at them p.112

Chapter 29

  1. Why is Centipede upset in this chapter? The Cloud-Men hit him with paint and he was stuck p.113

Chapter 30

  1. What freed Centipede? The Blood-Men dumped water on them and it washed the paint off p.118

Chapter 31

  1. What did the author say the weather is a result of? The Cloud-Men working their sinister magic upon the world below p.120

Chapter 32

  1. What’s James’s plan to get the peach down to the earth? Cut a few of the strings holding the peach p.122

Chapter 33

  1. What did the people in America think the peach was? A bomb p.123

Chapter 34

  1. Why did the friends think they were going to die? An airplane came through the air and sliced through every string holding the peach p.126

Chapter 35

  1. Summarize this chapter. People in the city thought they were going to die along with those in the peach p.127

Chapter 36

  1. What saved the peach? It fell onto the Empire State Building p.128

Chapter 37

  1. What helped the fire fighters and police officers not be afraid of the creatures in the peach? James spoke up for them p.134

Chapter 38

  1. Why was James so happy in this chapter? 10,000 Children asked if they could try the peach; he’d never seen so many children in his life p.141

Chapter 39

  1. Summarize the conclusion of this story. It describes what happens to each of the creatures and James; James was so happy to have so many children who wanted to meet him and hear his story p.145

Comprehension Questions – Danny, the Champion of the World

Danny, the Champion of the World

by Roald Dahl

Grades 4-6; Genre - Fiction; GRL T; AR pts: 6.0

A young English boy describes his relationship with his father and the special adventure they share together.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1 

  1. What’s the setting of this story? Danny’s home in England at a gas station p.3

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Danny’s father. Funny, hard worker, eyes would smile, loving, storyteller p.8
  2. Describe the BFG. Big friendly giant; made up character in father’s stories; 3x’s as tall as an ordinary man; hands as large as wheelbarrows; lived in a vast underground cavern; only comes outside when it’s dark; powder factory where he would make magic powder out of children’s dreams; great sense of hearing; catches good and bad dreams; makes dreams turn real p.9

Chapter 3

  1. Use examples from the story to describe how Danny feels about his father. He loves him and loves spending time with him; his dad walked to and from school; he helped him make a kite, fire cannon, playhouse, stilts, etc p.16
  2. What do you like to do together with your father, or father figure? Listen to your child’s answers. 

Chapter 4

  1. What’s Danny’s father’s deep dark secret? He likes to go poaching p.28
  2. What’s poaching and why is it wrong? the illegal practice of trespassing on another's property to hunt or steal game without the landowner's permission p.28
  3. Where did Danny’s father learn to love the challenge of poaching? From his father p.28

Chapter 5

  1. List two methods Danny’s grandfather used to catch pheasants. The Horsehair Stopper and the Sticky Hat p.34
  2. Why doesn’t Danny’s dad want to take him poaching yet? His dad’s out of practice and he doesn’t want to get Danny hurt p.40

Chapter 6

  1. Why doesn’t Danny’s father like Mr. Hazell? He threatened Danny with a gun for no reason when he came to the filler station last year p.42
  2. Why is it important for Danny’s father to leave right at 6pm? He wants to get to the woods at twilight so it’s easy for him to hide in the shadows and the pheasants haven’t roosted in the tops of the trees p.46

Chapter 7

  1. Why was Danny so worried when his dad didn’t return from poaching on time? He might have gotten hurt by the Keepers p.49
  2. Describe Danny’s adventure as he drove to Hazell’s wood. He took the car he and his dad had been fixing and started out slowly but drove faster and faster; a policeman passed him, and he was able to get off the track so the policeman couldn’t find him; he waited until the policeman was gone, then drove the rest of the way to the woods p.51

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize what happened to Danny’s father that night? He fell into a pit and broke his ankle; the Keepers didn’t recognize him but said they would be back in the morning with Mr. Hazell p.64
  2. How did Danny and his father get back to the car? Danny got a rope out of the car and his father climbed up it, then Danny helped his dad back to the car p.66
  3. What could happen with the rope being left behind? Listen to your child’s answer p.69

Chapter 9

  1. Why was Danny’s father able to tell Doc Spencer what had happened to his ankle? Doc Spencer was his friend and liked to go poaching and fishing too p.75
  2. How did Doc Spencer feel about Mr. Hazell? He didn’t like him either, he kicked his dog without a reason p.77

Chapter 10

  1. Why did Danny’s father want to catch 200 pheasants from Mr. Hazell’s wood by October 1st? To ruin the opening of hunting season and humiliate Mr. Hazell p.84
  2. If you were to pick a word to describe this action, what would it be? Revenge, vindictiveness, vengeance.
  3. Do you agree with this course of action? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 11

  1. What’s the Sleeping Beauty? The technique to capture 200 birds; soak raisins, cut them open, fill with some powder from a sleeping pill and sew back up; spread them out in the woods for the peasants to eat, then when they’ve fallen out of the trees asleep, go pick them up p.91

Chapter 12

  1. Was that a fair punishment Danny received for talking in school? Listen to your child’s answer p.106
  2. How is beating up Danny’s teacher like poaching the pheasants? Danny’s father wants to get back at both of them for doing wrong to him and his son p.112

Chapter 13

  1. Why did Danny feel like he had worms squirming around in his stomach? He was nervous about the Sleeping Beauty operation that night p.115
  2. What did Danny learn about his mother in this chapter? That she sewed well and made his father’s clothes; she enjoyed poaching with his father p.116
  3. Why is it so important Danny and his father leave on time for the woods? So, they can arrive 25 minutes before sunset to spread out the raisins p.119

Chapter 14

  1. Tell me a time you’ve been scared like Danny. Listen to your child’s answer. 
  2. What does the author mean when he wrote, “this was the moment of danger, the first thrill of all”? To some people, they like the experiment when they’re in danger, it gives them a thrill p.130

Chapter 15

  1. Why wasn’t Danny’s father worried when a keeper saw them along the hedge? They were on public property, so the Keeper couldn’t hurt them or tell them what to do p.138
  2. Why are Danny and his father waiting there? For the Keepers to leave and for the birds to fall asleep p.139

Chapter 16

  1. Why was Danny’s father worried the plan wouldn’t work? Birds’ instincts might not let them fall from the trees p.143
  2. What was Danny worried about when the birds were falling from the trees? That a Keeper would be in the woods watching them p.149
  3. How were they to get the birds home? His father hired a taxi p.150

Chapter 1 

  1. Who is Danny’s father going to share the birds with? Charlie the taxi driver, Doc Spencer, the village’s police officer p.153
  2. Why is Mrs. Clipstone going to deliver the birds? So, Danny’s father doesn’t get caught p.155
  3. Do you agree with what Danny and his dad have done? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answers. 

Chapter 18

  1. What kitchen appliances did Danny’s father want to purchase and why? They didn’t have an oven or a deep freezer; to keep their 50 pheasants in and to roast them when they were ready to eat one p.158

Chapter 19

  1. How did Mrs. Clipstone deliver the babies to the station? In the bottom of a baby carriage with her baby on top p.164
  2. What happened to the peasants on her way to the filling station? They started waking up p.169
  3. Who do you think Danny sees at the station? Mr. Hazell p.172

Chapter 20

  1. Who helped settle Mr. Hazell’s accusations and how did he do it? Sergeant Samways; he ran around the station to scare the birds to fly around and into Mr. Hazell’s car; Mr. Hazell didn’t like the birds all over his car and found more birds inside p.180

Chapter 21

  1. How would you feel if you were Mrs. Clipstone’s baby? Listen to your child’s answer p.187
  2. How many pheasants were left? 6 p.189
  3. How did the doctor grab them when the peasants were all flying away? He didn’t; those 6 pheasants had more than one raisin, so they continued to sleep p.189

Chapter 12

  1. Explain how Danny felt about his dad. He loved him and thought he was the best dad p.196