Summary
The BFG, short for "The Big Friendly Giant," is a children's novel by Roald Dahl. Set in a world of giants, the book draws on a short story in Dahl's earlier book, Danny, the Champion of the World. The story features Sophie, an orphan, and the BFG, whose journey addresses themes of friendship and overcoming perceptions.
Plot
The BFG begins in an orphanage, where a girl named Sophie catches a glimpse of a giant carrying a suitcase and trumpet-like instrument. She soon learns that he is the Big Friendly Giant (BFG), whose job is to collect dreams and distribute good ones to children. Unlike typical giants, he does not eat humans but insteads gets his sustenance from a vegetable called a snozzcumber. The BFG becomes her friend and offers to take her to his home in Giant Country.
Sophie and the BFG navigate various challenges. The Bloodbottler, a menacing giant, invades the BFG’s cave, forcing Sophie to hide inside a snozzcumber. The Bloodbottler unknowingly spits her out. Their adventures take them to Dream Country, facing taunts from other giants like the Fleshlumpeater. In Dream Country, Sophie sees a nightmare caught by the BFG. He uses it to create chaos among the giants.
Sophie devises a plan to stop the flesh-eating giants. She and the BFG contact the Queen of England, presenting her with a nightmare that reveals the giants' existence. Convinced, the Queen organizes a military mission to capture the giants.
A fleet of helicopters, led by Sophie and the BFG, goes to Giant Country. Most giants are captured easily, but the Fleshlumpeater resists. Sophie pretends he is bitten by a snake, allowing soldiers to control him.
The giants are imprisoned in a pit and fed snozzcumbers. Sophie and the BFG receive international recognition. They settle into a home near the Queen, with the BFG continuing his work as the Royal Dream-Blower.
Characters
Sophie: An orphan assisting in the capture of hostile giants. Her actions serve as a key element in the story.
The BFG (Big Friendly Giant): A 24-foot giant dedicated to giving children good dreams. He consumes only snozzcumbers, avoiding human prey unlike his peers.
The Queen of England: Based on Queen Elizabeth II, her role is crucial in planning the neutralization of malevolent giants.
Mrs. Clonkers: The head of the orphanage where Sophie resides. Her harsh treatment of orphans represents the difficult reality Sophie escapes.
Mr. Tibbs: The Queen's butler, managing the logistics of hosting the BFG at the palace through practical solutions.
Mary: A maid to the Queen who assists in linking the royal world with Sophie and the BFG's realm.
Head of the Army: A military leader advocating for firearms. This leader initially doubts the giant problem but becomes crucial in the resolution plan.
Head of the Air Force: Supports bombing strategies, reflecting military skepticism and hesitance in addressing the giant threat.
The Fleshlumpeater: The main antagonist among the giants, leading others with a threatening demeanor.
The Bloodbottler: A subordinate of the Fleshlumpeater, involved in a significant encounter in the BFG’s cave that underscores the giants' danger.
Other Man-Eating Giants: Includes characters like Bonecruncher and Manhugger. Each character has specific hunting traits, contributing to the perilous depiction of Giant Country.
Themes
Friendship
The BFG centers on the friendship between Sophie, a young orphan, and the BFG, a gentle giant. Despite their differences, they form a significant bond. Their relationship shows that genuine connections can cross physical and cultural divides. Sophie’s growing trust in the BFG indicates that true friendship is built on shared understanding and mutual goals, such as their plan to protect humans from other giants.
Judging by appearances
The BFG warns against judging by appearances. Although the BFG's size and form initially frighten Sophie, she learns to admire him as she discovers his kindness. This relationship challenges assumptions based on looks, suggesting the importance of understanding a person's true character.
Human vs. giant violence
Dahl contrasts the violence of giants with human conduct, prompting reflections on moral judgments. The BFG critiques human behavior, pointing out the hypocrisy of condemning giants while humans also commit violence. Sophie considers the ethical perspectives of both groups, examining human behavior and morality.
Inspiration behind The BFG
Roald Dahl's The BFG stems from his personal connections and life experiences. The character of the Big Friendly Giant takes inspiration from Dahl's friend Walter "Wal" Saunders, a 6 foot, 5 inch tall builder known for ear-wiggling and humorous malapropisms. These traits influence the BFG's language, Gobblefunk.
The character Sophie nods to Dahl's granddaughter, Sophie Dahl. She recalls Dahl as a dedicated storyteller who entertained at family gatherings. Dahl often pretended to be the BFG, using a trumpet outside Sophie's window to mimic dream-catching. These influences suggest Dahl's ability to incorporate real-world experiences into his narratives.
Quick facts
The BFG was inspired by a short story from Roald Dahl's earlier book, Danny, the Champion of the World.
Quentin Blake illustrated The BFG, like many of Dahl's other books.
The BFG is dedicated to Dahl's daughter, Olivia, who passed away at age seven.
The protagonist, Sophie, was named after Dahl's granddaughter.
The BFG character is based on a real person, Walter Saunders, who inspired Dahl's creative language, Gobblefunk.
Since its publication in 1982, The BFG has sold over 37 million copies worldwide.
The story features unique elements like snozzcumbers, the fizzy drink frobscottle, and the dream-catching concept.
The BFG character captures and distributes pleasant dreams to children worldwide.
The BFG is portrayed differently from typical giants, choosing not to eat humans and highlighting compassion and kindness.
The BFG has been adapted into an animated film, a stage play, and a live-action movie directed by Steven Spielberg.
Spielberg's 2016 film adaptation marked his first Disney-branded collaboration.
Royal Mail issued commemorative stamps featuring the BFG and Sophie in 2012.
Film adaptations
The BFG has inspired two major film adaptations. The first is a 1989 animated feature with David Jason voicing the main character. The 2016 version, directed by Steven Spielberg, presents the story in live-action with CGI. Mark Rylance, through motion-capture, portrays the BFG. This version emphasizes the giant's gentle nature and features a score by John Williams. It combines digital effects with real-world settings.
Both films stay true to Dahl's original work but target different audiences. The animated film offers a surreal take, while Spielberg's adaptation delivers a visually rich experience. These adaptations demonstrate the lasting impact of Dahl's story and its cross-generational appeal.
About the author
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was an influential figure in children's literature. A native of Wales, he began his writing career after his experiences as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II. Known for their use of humor and inventive language, his stories often feature clever children outsmarting adults. His notable works include James and the Giant Peach (1961), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964), The BFG (1982), The Witches (1983), and Matilda (1988). Many of his books have been adapted for stage and screen and continue to delight young readers.
