45 pages 1 hour read

Roald Dahl

Danny, the Champion of the World

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1975

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Literary Context: Roald Dahl’s Legacy

Dahl was born in Wales in 1916. He trained as a fighter pilot and fought in World War II, rising to the rank of wing commander in the Royal Air force. After the war, Dahl became a critically acclaimed author, writing both children’s and adult literature, poetry, biographies, and screenplays. He has won multiple literature awards, including the Surrey School award (UK 1978), and the California Young Reader Medal (USA 1979) for Danny the Champion of the World.

Many of Roald Dahl’s books follow a similar thread: A young protagonist who is a clever underdog, ultimately gets the upper hand over an authoritative or oppressive adult. Dahl’s stories often focus on the generosity and morality of people in poverty who have suffered tragedy, such as Charlie (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, published in 1964), James (James and the Giant Peach, 1961), Matilda (Matilda, 1988), and Sophie (The BFG, 1982), while reviling the wealthy characters, equating them with greed, immorality, and heartlessness. Strong, clever, and protective father figures feature prominently in Dahl’s works, for example William (in Danny the Champion of the World) and Mr. Fox (in Fantastic Mr.

Related Titles

By Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Beware of the Dog

Roald Dahl

Beware of the Dog

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Billy and the Minpins

Roald Dahl

Billy and the Minpins

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Boy: Tales of Childhood

Roald Dahl

Boy: Tales of Childhood

Roald Dahl

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Esio Trot

Roald Dahl

Esio Trot

Roald Dahl

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Fantastic Mr Fox

Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mr Fox

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

George's Marvelous Medicine

Roald Dahl

George's Marvelous Medicine

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Going Solo

Roald Dahl

Going Solo

Roald Dahl

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

James And The Giant Peach

Roald Dahl

James And The Giant Peach

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Lamb To The Slaughter

Roald Dahl

Lamb To The Slaughter

Roald Dahl

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Matilda

Roald Dahl

Matilda

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Skin

Roald Dahl

Skin

Roald Dahl

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

The BFG

Roald Dahl

The BFG

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

The Landlady

Roald Dahl

The Landlady

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

The Magic Finger

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

The Magic Finger

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

The Twits

Roald Dahl

The Twits

Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

The Way Up To Heaven

Roald Dahl

The Way Up To Heaven

Roald Dahl

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

The Witches

Roald Dahl

The Witches

Roald Dahl