Roald Dahl: Writing from Experience
Marie Devers
1Born on September 13, 1916, Roald Dahl had an interesting childhood that led to an amazing writing career. Several of his creative works became classics, and children and adults all over the world have been able to relate to his characters and their unique situations. By paying close attention to the details of his life experiences, he created many memories that reappeared in his later works of fiction.
2Roald was born in Wales and named after polar explorer Roald Amundsen, who was famous for being the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. As a child, he was very close to his mother and his grandmother. His mom liked to make up stories about imaginary beasts and tell them to her children. As he got older, Roald began to read adventure stories until he eventually read classics by adult writers like Charles Dickens.
3After high school, Roald traveled and fought in a war, and began writing about his experiences. After he wrote a few short stories, people began to tell him what a wonderful writer he was. As a result of their encouragement, he pursued a career as an author. He wrote suspenseful short stories that usually ended with a surprise twist. After Roald sold some stories, he began to work in a hut that stood in his backyard where he would go every day to write his stories. The hut was a tiny, private building where Roald could be alone with his imagination. Other than a break for lunch, Roald would write for about eight hours a day.
4Many of his outlandish book ideas started as real life experiences. When he was young, Roald attended boarding schools in England. At one school, he and his friends loved to visit the local food shop and stare through the windows at the sweet creations. He did not like being away from his family at school, but he did like that the nearby chocolate factory sent chocolate bars for the students to sample. These experiences were the inspiration for one of Roald’s most famous books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
5Some researchers say that Roald Dahl is one of the most famous children’s writers of all time. Critics suggest that the reason for his enormous success is his ability to see the world from a child’s perspective. He explains that he perfected this talent by having his own children and seeing the world through their eyes. Roald began to author children’s books after telling stories to his young daughters at bedtime. He credits them for teaching him how to write for children. One thing is for sure. Whether making up stories for his own children or millions of young readers all over the world, Roald Dahl has a talent for weaving his experiences into tales that kids love to read.
Question
Which biographical fact about Roald Dahl is mentioned in the passage?
Responses
A He had no children of his own.He had no children of his own.
B His favorite book was about Charlie.His favorite book was about Charlie.
C He wrote novels for children and adults.He wrote novels for children and adults.
D He attended boarding schools in England.He attended boarding schools in England.