Roald Dahl
Did Roald Dahl go to university?
No.
Who is the protagonist?
Billy Weaver.
What occurs during the exposition?
Billy Weaver is introduced
What is one of the conflicts that take place?
person vs. person
Are the animals alive? What happened to them?
No. They were taxidermized by the Landlady.
What year was Roald Dahl born?
1916
Who is the antagonist?
The Landlady.
State the plot elements in order for this narrative.
Exposition, rising action, climax
What is one of the conflicts that take place?
internal conflict (person vs. self)
What are Chrysanthemums traditionally used for?
Funerals.
How did Roald Dahl contribute to his country in world war 2?
fighter pilot for the royal air force
Where does the story begin?
At a train station in Bath, United Kingdom.
What takes place in the resolution?
Unfortunately this is a unique plot, so there is no resolution.
Why was the internal conflict more clear than external conflict?
The narrator deliberately wants to delineate Billy's thoughts so that he can make a clear connection to the theme of the difference in expectations and reality.
What were Billy's opinions on the animals at first glance?
He found a strange comfort in them and believed they were a telltale good sign.
What was Dahl's oldest sister's name? What happened to her?
Astri and she died of an appendix infection.
Where was Billy going before he saw the boarding house?
The Bell and Dragon.
What is one significant event(s) that leads to the climax?
Billy realizes that there have been only two other patrons at the Bed and Breakfast and he has a vague memory of them. He most likely knew them from the news.
When do you think Billy started to against his initial judgement of the Landlady?
When he reads the guest book and observes the stuffed animals, something begins to stir in his mind and he questions the Landlady's true motives.
What is the perceived substance in the tea?
Poison, most likely arsenic.
What was the name of Roald Dahl's first book?
Gremlins
What makes the Bed and Breakfast so alluring to Billy?
Bright sign that reads Bed and Breakfast, vase of yellow chrysanthemums, bright burning fire, and animals. There seems to be an odd connection between him and the boarding house.
Explain what occurs at the climax?
Billy drinks the poisoned tea and he subsequently feels drowsy.
Give a clear example of person vs. person conflict. (Hint: it occurs on a mental level)
The Landlady interrupts Billy's thoughts to ensure that he does not remember what happened to the boys.
What theme do most symbols connect to? What is their purpose?
These symbols create a sense of safety and comfort, which gradually turn into cautionary signs. Most symbols connect to the theme of conceptions against reality.