Roald Dahl Accomplishments
“A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it” states Roald Dahl in his autobiography (Advameg). Roald Dahl was one of Britain’s most popular authors of children’s books and short stories. Dahl’s many accomplishments were recognized when he received three Edgar Allen Poe awards from the Mystery Writers of America as well as several more awards (Advameg 1). Dahl is well known for his more popular works like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach (Anderson 325). Dahl was an inspiring man who experienced a wild and successful life. Dahl had a rough childhood, and experienced difficulties as an adult in World
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His parents, Harald and Sofie Dahl, were Norwegian. Ironically Dahl was named after the polar explorer Roald Amundsen who discovered the North and South pole (AETN 1). Unfortunately, in 1920 when Roald was only three years old, his older sister, Astri, passed away from appendicitis. Shortly after, his father died of pneumonia at the age of 57 while fishing in the severely cold Antarctic. Roald was always very mischievous and energetic; from a young age, he proved himself a talented trouble maker (Advameg 1). Dahl began his schooling at The Cathedral School in Llandaff, later, at the age of eight, Roald was transferred to a boarding school in England. His time at St. Peter’s was unpleasant to say the least. He was often homesick and frequently wrote to his mother at home. Roald constantly hid his pain in the letters, because of the overwhelming pressure of school censorship. Unfortunately, Roald’s mother died in 1967 (AETN 1). He was never very talented in academics, in fact one of his English teachers had this to say, “I have never met anybody who so persistently writes words meaning the exact opposite of what is intended.” However, Dahl excelled in athletics, specifically, football. Dahl finished his schooling in 1934 and quickly rejected his mother’s offer to send him to Oxford or Cambridge because he simply wanted travel to distant places (Advameg …show more content…
Black or dark comedy is the use or morbid, absurd, or dark imagery for comical purposes. According to Roshan, black humor is the literary device best presented throughout the story (Roshan 6). Two examples stand out in “Lamb to the Slaughter.” First, murder is more commonly associated with grief and sorrow than comedy and laughter. Dahl uses the obscurity of a leg of lamb to lighten the mood and portray the murder and something silly and almost impossible not to smirk at. Likely the ultimate example is near the end when the officers are unknowingly eating the murder weapon. The thought of eating a weapon is so odd that it once again brings about a comedic effect. In addition, the leg of lamb was used to murder a man and they are eating it which is quite grotesque. “Personally, I think the weapon is somewhere near the house. Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack? And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle” (Anderson 324). Even Mary, a woman who just hours before had murdered her husband had to laugh at the peculiar
His parents, Harald and Sofie Dahl, were Norwegian. Ironically Dahl was named after the polar explorer Roald Amundsen who discovered the North and South pole (AETN 1). Unfortunately, in 1920 when Roald was only three years old, his older sister, Astri, passed away from appendicitis. Shortly after, his father died of pneumonia at the age of 57 while fishing in the severely cold Antarctic. Roald was always very mischievous and energetic; from a young age, he proved himself a talented trouble maker (Advameg 1). Dahl began his schooling at The Cathedral School in Llandaff, later, at the age of eight, Roald was transferred to a boarding school in England. His time at St. Peter’s was unpleasant to say the least. He was often homesick and frequently wrote to his mother at home. Roald constantly hid his pain in the letters, because of the overwhelming pressure of school censorship. Unfortunately, Roald’s mother died in 1967 (AETN 1). He was never very talented in academics, in fact one of his English teachers had this to say, “I have never met anybody who so persistently writes words meaning the exact opposite of what is intended.” However, Dahl excelled in athletics, specifically, football. Dahl finished his schooling in 1934 and quickly rejected his mother’s offer to send him to Oxford or Cambridge because he simply wanted travel to distant places (Advameg …show more content…
Black or dark comedy is the use or morbid, absurd, or dark imagery for comical purposes. According to Roshan, black humor is the literary device best presented throughout the story (Roshan 6). Two examples stand out in “Lamb to the Slaughter.” First, murder is more commonly associated with grief and sorrow than comedy and laughter. Dahl uses the obscurity of a leg of lamb to lighten the mood and portray the murder and something silly and almost impossible not to smirk at. Likely the ultimate example is near the end when the officers are unknowingly eating the murder weapon. The thought of eating a weapon is so odd that it once again brings about a comedic effect. In addition, the leg of lamb was used to murder a man and they are eating it which is quite grotesque. “Personally, I think the weapon is somewhere near the house. Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack? And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle” (Anderson 324). Even Mary, a woman who just hours before had murdered her husband had to laugh at the peculiar