Reading Log-Boy Tales of Childhood

Boy Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?

The text relates the theme by telling the childhood of the author, Roald Dahl. The text starts from he was born until he was 20 years old. Roald Dahl recalled back all the interesting events that occur during his childhood. His journey took places in Cardiff (studied in St.Peter’s School), Llandaff (enrolled in Elmtree House and then Llandaff Cathedral School), Oslo (visited Bestemama and Bestepapa), Tjöme (vacation), Kent (attended classes in Repton), throughout London and East Africa (worked for the Shell Company).

What is the main issue in the text?

The main issue which presents in the text is punishment when doing wrongs. To be specified, it is corporal punishment. Dahl was being canned twice during his childhood. The first one when he was found guilty in playing mouse prank on Mrs Pratchett. Second, he was canned due to misunderstanding between him and Captain Hardcastle over an issue talking in Prep. Besides that, bullying and exploitation also happened at that time. In Repton, a boazer asked him to warm up the toilet and there is also a scene in St Peter’s when Matron put a soap in child’s mouth because the boy was caught snoring.

What quality do you admire or dislike in a character?

The main character in this story is Roald Dahl, the Boy. He was full of imagination and everyday on his life is the best day for him. I like his character because he was courageous. Roald had to deal with teachers and older students who beat him, old ladies who were angry with him, and many other things that other people would have to struggle to handle. He was homesick almost all the time at the different schools, something that his frequent letter writing proves. As I read the novel, I understand how kind he was, when I read about how he became the first captain of a sports team who wasn't made a "boazer" because he refused to hit the younger students.

How does the text develop your understanding of the world?

The text told me that as time passes, everything is changing. The behaviour of a person changes at the certain age or time. As a person growing up, his mind becomes matured. Things are different as child and things are also different when people become adult. This novel makes me realize that I am very lucky to live in a world that is far more modern than Roald Dahl’s world. From the novel, I also know that people in the past were very strict and serious. This shows by Captain Hardcastle, who was very strict during the prep and he never smiled when he did his job.