This Giant Has a Heart
During King Arthur's reign, giants roam the land. They terrify people, and no one can stop them. Then comes Jack.
Jack, a ubiquitous figure in English fairy tales, is a lazy lad. But he can outsmart anyone. In fact, this distinctive trait is the reason why he appears in other stories. (In case you don't have a clue, then you have forgotten Jack Frost.)
"Jack and the Giant Beanstalk" is the story that children will most remember, of how a humongous plant becomes the link between humans and giants. Imagine a floating realm within the clouds, a heavily-forested region where monsters of human appearance live. They prefer the crunching of human bones during meal time. In the world of fairy tales, anything is possible. It's no surprise, then, that this well-known tale appears in "The BFG".
Roald Dahl may have been inspired by Jack's exploits, incorporating his familiar themes of young orphans and abusive guardians. But the outcome would be unexpected.
Anything goes during the witching hour
"The mountain was dark blue and all around it the sky was gushing and glistening with light. Bits of pale gold were flying among delicate frosty-white flakes of cloud, and over to one side the rim of the morning sun was coming up red as blood."
Sophie's story begins during the witching hour, when everything is still and no one can hear any sound of breathing. She is afraid of peeking out of the window, as she might be punished. But curiosity prevails. She is rewarded with an unusual sight, a twenty-four-foot tall giant hopping on every house and blowing something through the window. He stops upon seeing her.
The young orphan soon found herself in a desolate wasteland, not quite of this Earth. He lives along nine other giants, and he happens to be the diminutive one. (The nine are fifty foot tall.) They leave at dusk, searching for humans for nourishment. And they don't have the same taste. (One of them likes to eat Swedes because he relishes the sweet and sour taste.) When Sophie learns about the giants wanting to eat English children, she has the queen in mind. If Her Majesty can only dream about a catastrophe that is about to take place.
Dahl created his most endearing characters for "The BFG". It stands for the Big, Friendly Giant, a middle-aged fellow who wants a human pet. But Sophie is so much more. The book also features Queen Elizabeth II, who makes a strong impression on the young readers. (Her Majesty won't have any objections to Dahl's depiction of her.) BFG likes to go to a misty place, catching dreams for the sleeping kids. This is probably the best part about the book, which gives the little ones an idea about the images they see before waking up. No one really knows its origin, not even the place where the giant dwells. But the author only wants his readers to believe. And the rest follows.
Don't forget to peek out of the window and check your surrounding.
