60 pages 2 hours read

Roald Dahl

The BFG

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1982

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. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Symbols & Motifs

The BFG’s Dream Collection

The BFG’s collection of thousands of jars of dreams signifies his altruistic nature. It also demonstrates his imaginative and open-minded approach to life. He is privy to and celebrates the secret and mysterious workings of the world, such as the nebulous dreams which are found in Dream Country. The BFG’s labels of the dreams include inventing a car that runs on toothpaste, and this alludes to the recurring theme, The Joy of Silliness and Imagination.

The BFG is motivated in this hobby because he loves to bring happiness to sleeping children. This characterizes him in complete opposition to the other nine giants in Giant Country and demonstrates the fact that he is a kind and compassionate character.

Whizzpopping

Whizzpopping, farting with so much force that a person lifts off the ground, functions symbolically on several levels. Whizzpopping represents the wonder of Giant Country—a place that most humans would not believe exists. Things that are seemingly impossible in the human world are made possible in Giant Country, where even the laws of physics can be reversed: Whizzpopping is achieved by drinking Frobscottle—a carbonated drink where the bubbles travel down instead of up. Whizzpopping highlights that the inhabitants of Giant Country also do not abide by the social norms and niceties of the human world.

Related Titles

By Roald Dahl

Study Guide
logo

Beware of the Dog

Roald Dahl

Beware of the Dog

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

Danny, the Champion of the World

Roald Dahl

Danny, the Champion of the World

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 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

Study Guide
logo

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More

Roald Dahl

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More

Roald Dahl