Unleashing imagination!
Finding your inspiration can be a difficult thing. So, let's take a look at one of the most imaginative writers out there: Roald Dahl!
‘"Meanings is not important," said the BFG. "I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right."’ – The BFG
Creative writing is not about being right, it's about being left, up or under. It is about exploring your own imagination. However, before we dive into Roald Dahl's imagination, here's a quick question.
What do you know about the works of Roald Dahl? Write down your answers on the worksheet.
Roald Dahl
One of the most beloved storytellers of all time must have such a great imagination. So, where did his imagination go, what was his inspiration?
Watch and listen to the video and then answer the following questions.
How did Roald Dahl get into writing?
What were the first things he wrote?
Where did his inpiration for his stories come from?
Did you recognize the inspiration for any of his books? Which ones?
For more information on Roald Dahl, visit the official Roald Dahl website.
Roald Dahl's inspiration
‘Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable...’ – Matilda
Roald Dahl didn't do anything in a small way, but his stories did start out small.
“You start with the germ of an idea,” he once said, “…a tiny germ… a chocolate factory? … a peach, a peach that goes on growing…”
A friend that has large ears and a big sharp nose?
Listen to this interview with Roald Dahl's daughter Lucy about how the story of The BFG first came to life.
Describe how telling small stories about the same character each night, could have helped Roald Dahl to build up the story of the BFG.
The BFG
Roald Dahl's children were the first to experience the story of The BFG, but eventually the story became known worldwide. You have probably read The BFG at some point in your life. Or seen the movie.
Your task is to match up the images with the scene descriptions and then place them in order. It will also give you a first insigth into how a story can flow.
1. The BFG takes Sophie to Dream Country to catch dreams.
2. The Queen dreams and believes the story when meeting Sophie and the BFG
3. The BFG introduces Sophie to Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle.
4. Sophie, a young orphan, spots a giant from her bedroom window.
5. Sophie learns about the other giants who eat children every night.
6. The Queen's army captures the giants and imprisons them in a deep pit.
7. Sophie and the BFG devise a plan, a dream, to stop the child-eating giants.
8. The giant kidnaps Sophie to prevent her from revealing his existence.
9. Sophie discovers the giant is the Big Friendly Giant (BFG), who collects and delivers dreams.
Original images by Quentin Blake
Think you've got it? Then go have a look at a summary of the book.
Germ of an idea
Now that you know a bit more about Roald Dahl and his book The BFG, it is time to dive into creating your own germ of an idea.
Once you have finished this part of the lesson, send your worksheet to your teacher and fellow aspiring writers for feedback.