Boy: Tales of Childhood

1. Boy: Tales of Childhood By Roald Dahl

2. Before Reading: Connect to Your Life • Label the next available page in your LNb, “Boy: Tales of Childhood.” • Complete the following journal prompt. Be sure to write at least 3-5 sentences, and be prepared to discuss. • Pranks can take on many forms– funny or not so funny, harmless or harmful. They may also have unforeseen consequences. Describe a prank that you have played or that has been played on you. What were the consequences of the prank? How would you categorize it? • Read the Build Background section on page 533 in your literature book.

3. Before Reading: Understand Vocabulary • You can use antonyms to define unfamiliar words. • His voice was reassuring, but there was something malignant in his eyes. • The two italicized words are antonyms. • Which one is more familiar to you? • What does it mean? • Based on this information, what does malignant mean?

4. Before Reading: Understand Vocabulary • Define each of the underlined vocabulary words by using its italicized antonym. • The simple plan became increasingly elaborate as time went by. • Far from being attractive, the idea was loathsome. • The flourishing candy shop stood next to an unsuccessful hat shop. • The cake, instead of being served dry, was saturated with a delicious syrup.

5. First Reading: Understand Dialect • One of the ways that an author makes a character come alive for the reader is by using dialect, a type of language spoken by people of a particular class or region. • A dialect may differ from standard language in grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. • As you read the excerpt from “Boy: Tales of Childhood,” pay attention to the dialect of Mrs. Pratchett– not only what she says, but how she says it. • Complete the dialect ws as you complete your first silent reading of “Boy.”

6. Discussion Questions • How does Dahl view the mouse plot as an adult? • Of what does Mrs. Pratchett wrongly accuse the boys? • Is Mrs. Pratchett’s dislike of the boys more justified or understandable than their dislike of her? Why or why not? • What frightens Dahl most about the prank? • What is the boys’ attitude toward Dahl when he has the idea for the prank? How does their attitude change when they find the shop closed?

7. Second Reading: Connecting • A reader’s process of relating the content of a literary work to his or her own knowledge and experience is called connecting. • This helps you understand what you read because you will be able to make sense and understand the material more easily. • As you read, pay attention to the selections events and to the characters’ thoughts, feelings, actions, and emotions. • Note these connections on the Connecting ws as you complete the second reading of the story.

8. Third Reading: Characterization • Nonfiction writers use the same techniques to develop characters as fiction writers do. • What are some methods of characterization? • Description of character’s appearance • Description of character’s words, actions, or thoughts • Character’s self-description • Other characters’ descriptions of a character • Other characters’ thoughts about a character • Other characters’ actions toward a character • Direct description from the author • The setting in which the character is found

9. Third Reading: Characterization • How does the narrator of “Boy” describe the character on the bicycle? • He is twelve years old. • He is skilled at bicycle riding. • He is brave and graceful. • He wears long trousers and a scarlet school cap. • Complete the Characterization ws while you read the story for the third time.