I N F L U E N C E S :
Roald Dahl’s writing career was influenced by many important and life changing events. For example his time at school, his duty in the Royal Airforce, having children and travelling the world. These will be explored further below:
Schooling:
When Roald attended a famous British Public School in Repton, he encountered eccentric headmasters and tales of tasting chocolate for a famous company. This memory of tasting chocolate bars stayed with him and inspired Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whilst at school at Llandaff Cathedral School he recalls fond memories of attending a sweets shop. Dahl's love of chocolates/sweets can be exhibited in his books including "The Witches", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me". His childhood/school experiences of chocolate/sweets most certainly influenced many of his most famous books. Additionally, whilst at school, Dahl encountered some overpowering matrons and headmasters, which flowed into the inspiration behind “Miss Trunchball”.
Shell Oil Company/Royal Airforce:
When deployed to Africa working for Shell, the Second World War broke out. Dahl left Shell Oil Company to enlist as in the Royal Airforce, and writes about his experiences in Africa in his memoir 'Going Solo'. When Dahl crashes his plane he received serious injuries, he writes about these experiences in a short story titled "A Piece of Cake", however it was originally published as "Shot Down Over Libya". After these debilitating injuries Dahl is no longer able to fly. He meets a man named C.S Forester who encourages his to write about his experiences of war. He has a piece published in The Saturday Evening Post.
Children/Family:
Roald Dahl’s children undoubtedly had a profound effect on his characters and stories that he wrote in his childrens storybooks. ‘The BFG’ appeared in stories that Dahl told his daughters Olivia and Tessa while putting them to bed. He had more than once climbed up a ladder and pretended to blow dreams in their bedroom window just like the BFG did. Additionally, Dahl’s mother Sofie was the inspiration behind the Norwegian Grandmother in The Witches. Dahl had said that his mother was one of the most influential people on his life. A famous line Dahl once wrote said “had I not had children, I would not have written books for children”, therefore; his children were a great influence on his writing career.
When Roald attended a famous British Public School in Repton, he encountered eccentric headmasters and tales of tasting chocolate for a famous company. This memory of tasting chocolate bars stayed with him and inspired Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Whilst at school at Llandaff Cathedral School he recalls fond memories of attending a sweets shop. Dahl's love of chocolates/sweets can be exhibited in his books including "The Witches", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me". His childhood/school experiences of chocolate/sweets most certainly influenced many of his most famous books. Additionally, whilst at school, Dahl encountered some overpowering matrons and headmasters, which flowed into the inspiration behind “Miss Trunchball”.
Shell Oil Company/Royal Airforce:
When deployed to Africa working for Shell, the Second World War broke out. Dahl left Shell Oil Company to enlist as in the Royal Airforce, and writes about his experiences in Africa in his memoir 'Going Solo'. When Dahl crashes his plane he received serious injuries, he writes about these experiences in a short story titled "A Piece of Cake", however it was originally published as "Shot Down Over Libya". After these debilitating injuries Dahl is no longer able to fly. He meets a man named C.S Forester who encourages his to write about his experiences of war. He has a piece published in The Saturday Evening Post.
Children/Family:
Roald Dahl’s children undoubtedly had a profound effect on his characters and stories that he wrote in his childrens storybooks. ‘The BFG’ appeared in stories that Dahl told his daughters Olivia and Tessa while putting them to bed. He had more than once climbed up a ladder and pretended to blow dreams in their bedroom window just like the BFG did. Additionally, Dahl’s mother Sofie was the inspiration behind the Norwegian Grandmother in The Witches. Dahl had said that his mother was one of the most influential people on his life. A famous line Dahl once wrote said “had I not had children, I would not have written books for children”, therefore; his children were a great influence on his writing career.