Boy: Tales of Childhood Multiple Choice Questions
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Questions and Answers

In what year was the author writing these words?

  • 1984 (correct)
  • 1820
  • 1900
  • 1815

    • Where was the author's father from?

  • Waterloo
  • Oslo
  • Sarpsborg (correct)
  • Wellington

    • What did the author's grandfather trade in?

  • Cheese to chicken-wire (correct)
  • Wine to wheat
  • Books to bicycles
  • Silk to spices

    • How old would the author's grandfather have been if he was alive in 1984?

    <p>164 years old</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what age did the author's father break his arm?

    <p>14</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the doctor mistake the fractured elbow for?

    <p>Dislocated shoulder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the narrator's favorite sweets?

    <p>Sherbet Suckers and Liquorice Bootlaces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did Thwaites advise the narrator not to eat Liquorice Bootlaces?

    <p>He claimed they were made from rats' blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites's father tell him about the origin of Liquorice Bootlaces?

    <p>Ratcatchers sell their dead rats to the Liquorice Bootlace Factory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Thwaites's father claim the rats are turned into liquorice?

    <p>They wait until they've got ten thousand rats, then they dump them all in</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites's father say about ratcatchers and the Factory?

    <p>Many ratcatchers have become millionaires by selling their dead rats to the Factory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's weekly pocket money?

    <p>Sixpence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What business did Harald Dahl and his friend set up in Cardiff?

    <p>Shipbroking</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did Harald Dahl meet his second wife, Sofie Magdalene Hesselberg?

    <p>Oslofjord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What tragic event occurred after Marie gave birth to their second child?

    <p>Marie died</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What physical limitation did Harald Dahl have for the rest of his life?

    <p>He had one arm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Harald Dahl and his friend understand the importance of to steamships?

    <p>Coal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Oscar Dahl become the wealthiest man in La Rochelle, France, for?

    <p>Owning a fleet of trawlers and a canning factory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Harald Dahl's expertise?

    <p>Gardening and collecting alpine plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What influenced Roald Dahl's mother to stay in Wales?

    <p>Her husband's wish for their children's education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What caused the deep grief for Harald Dahl?

    <p>The death of his daughter, Astri</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant challenge for Roald Dahl's mother after Harald's death?

    <p>Being a widow with five children</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What had a lasting impact on Roald Dahl's early life?

    <p>The family's difficult experiences in Wales</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Harald Dahl believe in the superiority of?

    <p>English schools</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's most vivid memory of kindergarten?

    <p>Riding a tricycle to school with his sister</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did the family move to a smaller house in Llandaff, Wales?

    <p>To accommodate the growing family after the birth of their fifth child</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's first clear memory of Llandaff Cathedral School?

    <p>Seeing an older boy riding a bicycle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's second clear memory of Llandaff Cathedral School?

    <p>Stopping at a sweet-shop with his friends on the way to and from school</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's strongest childhood desire?

    <p>To have a bike like the older boy's and ride it confidently down the hill with no hands on the handlebars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the narrator's childhood memories provide insight into?

    <p>His early experiences and desires, shaping his future aspirations and perceptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the doctor mistake the fractured elbow for?

    <p>A dislocated shoulder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what year was the author writing these words?

    <p>1984</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where was the author's father from?

    <p>Sarpsborg</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the author's grandfather trade in?

    <p>Cheese to chicken-wire</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Harald Dahl's expertise?

    <p>Merchant trading</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How old would the author's grandfather have been if he was alive in 1984?

    <p>164 years old</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites's father claim about the origin of Liquorice Bootlaces?

    <p>They were made from rats’ blood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the young Thwaites ask his father about Liquorice Bootlaces?

    <p>How do they turn the rats into liquorice?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites's father tell him about ratcatchers and the Liquorice Bootlace Factory?

    <p>The manager pays tuppence for each rat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's favorite sweets?

    <p>Sherbet Suckers and Liquorice Bootlaces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites advise the narrator about eating Liquorice Bootlaces?

    <p>He should never eat them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the father of Thwaites do for a living?

    <p>He was a doctor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the occupation of Roald Dahl's father, Harald Dahl?

    <p>An expert gardener and collector of alpine plants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the cause of Harald Dahl's death?

    <p>Pneumonia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What influenced Roald Dahl's mother to stay in Wales after Harald Dahl's death?

    <p>Her desire to honor her husband's wish for their children's education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Harald Dahl strongly believe in the superiority of?

    <p>English schools</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the lasting impact of the family's difficult experiences in Wales on Roald Dahl's early life?

    <p>Shaped his upbringing and future</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the occupation of Harald Dahl's brother, Oscar Dahl?

    <p>An art and fine furniture dealer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the name of Harald Dahl's shipbroking firm in Cardiff?

    <p>Aadnesen &amp; Dahl</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did Harald Dahl meet his second wife, Sofie Magdalene Hesselberg?

    <p>Oslofjord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What tragic event occurred after Marie gave birth to their second child?

    <p>Marie died</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did Harald Dahl and his friend set up their shipbroking business?

    <p>Cardiff</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the year when Harald Dahl's arm was amputated at the elbow after a terrible accident?

    <p>1877</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Harald Dahl understand the importance of to steamships?

    <p>Coal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's most vivid memory of kindergarten?

    <p>Riding a tricycle to school with his sister</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the narrator attend kindergarten?

    <p>Elmtree House kindergarten in Llandaff</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's second clear memory of Llandaff Cathedral School?

    <p>Stopping at a sweet-shop with his friends on the way to and from school</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's strongest childhood desire?

    <p>To have a bike like the older boy's and ride it confidently down the hill with no hands on the handlebars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator's father believe in?

    <p>The magic of English schooling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator's mother do after her husband's death?

    <p>She moved to England to fulfill her husband's wish</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator and his friends find underneath a loose floor-board at the back of the classroom?

    <p>A big hollow space</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator's friends find among their secret hoard under the floor-board?

    <p>A dead mouse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites do with the dead mouse that the narrator and his friends found?

    <p>Took it out by its tail and waved it in front of their faces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator suggest to do with the dead mouse?

    <p>Not to throw it away</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did someone shout about the dead mouse that the narrator and his friends found?

    <p>It stinks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator's friends suggest doing with the dead mouse?

    <p>Throw it out of the window quick</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was the second stroke worse than the first?

    <p>The cane landed almost exactly across where the first one had struck</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it mentioned that Mr Coombes probably did not chalk the cane beforehand?

    <p>It was considered unsporting and an admission of lack of expertise</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was the third stroke even worse than the second?

    <p>The narrator's backside was already bruised and wounded</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was chalking the cane considered unsporting?

    <p>It was seen as an admission of lack of expertise</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Mr Coombes demonstrate expertise in using the cane?

    <p>He was able to land the second stroke almost exactly across where the first one had struck</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did the fourth stroke cause intense pain?

    <p>The narrator's entire backside seemed to be affected by the previous strokes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who organizes the students by form and demands absolute silence during the schoolyard incident?

    <p>The deputy headmaster</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who accuses a boy of being a thief, causing a commotion and pointing at another boy as well?

    <p>Mrs. Pratchett</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who does Mrs. Pratchett identify as another culprit during the schoolyard incident?

    <p>The narrator</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What causes anxiety and tension among the students during the schoolyard incident?

    <p>The headmaster inspecting each boy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who instills fear and speculation among the students by unexpectedly gathering the entire school in the playground?

    <p>Mr. Coombes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who do the students appeal to after Mrs. Pratchett's accusation causes fear and confusion?

    <p>Mr. Coombes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who administers the physical punishment known as caning to the boys?

    <p>Another teacher at the school</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Mrs. Pratchett's attitude towards the punishment of the boys?

    <p>She eagerly encourages the punishment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does the caning have on the boys?

    <p>They suffer in silence and feel traumatized</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the story primarily expose?

    <p>The insensitivity of the adults involved</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the narrative shed light on?

    <p>The lasting psychological effects of abuse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the atmosphere portrayed in the scene of caning?

    <p>Intense and distressing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the consequence of the Mouse Plot on Mrs. Pratchett's sweet shop?

    <p>The sweet shop was closed and the Gobstopper jar was shattered with the dead mouse inside.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites suggest as a potential outcome of the Mouse Plot on Mrs. Pratchett?

    <p>Mrs. Pratchett may have had a heart attack from the shock of finding the dead mouse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the children rush to in order to avoid being late after the Mouse Plot?

    <p>School</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrative create in the reader?

    <p>A sense of suspense and unease</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the children attend prayers after the Mouse Plot?

    <p>Assembly Hall</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thwaites accuse the narrator of after the Mouse Plot?

    <p>Being a murderer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the mode of transport for most of the journey to the final destination?

    <p>Boat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the cavalcade head to after leaving the Grand Hotel?

    <p>Oslo docks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Nanny fear about the small coastal steamer?

    <p>It would sink</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the sensation experienced while sailing down the Oslo-fjord on a tranquil summer’s day?

    <p>Absolute peace and beauty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was notable about the granite rocks on the islands?

    <p>They were so smooth that one could sunbathe on them without a towel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the small coastal steamer do every hour or so along the coast?

    <p>It stopped at small wooden jetties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the Headmaster's demeanor when he greeted the narrator and his mother?

    <p>Polite but intimidating</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was distinctive about one of the Headmaster's front teeth?

    <p>It was edged with gold</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the Headmaster's hair appear?

    <p>Slicked down with hair-cream</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Headmaster instruct the narrator to do upon arrival?

    <p>Report to the Matron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the narrator's mother react to the Headmaster's suggestion to leave?

    <p>She kissed the narrator and left promptly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's initial emotional response after his mother left?

    <p>He began to cry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was included in the breakfast at the hotel on the island of Tjöme?

    <p>Cold meats, fish, eggs, cheeses, and traditional Norwegian goat's cheese</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the family use for daily activities in the early days of their summer trips?

    <p>Row-boat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the family acquire as the children grew older and learned to swim?

    <p>Small motor-boat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the motor-boat have that required a specific method to start?

    <p>Unreliable one-cylinder engine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the family's daily routine change with the acquisition of the motor-boat?

    <p>They could now travel much farther afield and explore different islands before swimming off the rocks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the family's summers in Norway filled with?

    <p>Simple pleasures, exploration, and swimming adventures in the fjord</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the doctor remove from the author's mouth during the procedure in Oslo?

    <p>Adenoids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the author and their mother use for fishing bait?

    <p>Mussels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who expressed fear during the boating trips?

    <p>The author's Nanny</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the author feel after the procedure in Oslo?

    <p>Groggy and discomfort</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the author's grandmother suggest they rest after returning from the medical procedure?

    <p>In a chair</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the author feel during the medical procedure in Oslo?

    <p>Shock and outrage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the mode of transportation used by Roald Dahl and his mother on his first day at boarding school?

    <p>Taxi ride to catch a paddle-steamer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the tuck-boxes, commonly possessed by English prep school boarders, store?

    <p>Food and treasures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the tuck-boxes for English prep school boarders in the 1920s?

    <p>Parents sent parcels of tuck to their children due to limited food provisions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the description of St Peter's School in Weston-super-Mare?

    <p>A three-story stone building on a hill</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the scene upon arrival at St Peter's School on Roald Dahl's first day?

    <p>Bustling with small boys, parents, trunks, and tuck-boxes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrative offer insights into regarding English prep schools in the 1920s?

    <p>Significance of tuck-boxes and limited food provisions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator smell before losing consciousness?

    <p>The scent of chloroform and ether</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What color were the circles that appeared before the narrator's eyes?

    <p>Blood-red</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the Matron's purpose in dropping soap flakes into Tweedie's mouth?

    <p>To stop Tweedie from snoring</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Tweedie react after the soap flakes were dropped into his mouth?

    <p>He began coughing and spluttering</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of the soap flakes being dropped into Tweedie's mouth?

    <p>Tweedie started gurgling and produced white bubbles around his lips</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Matron instruct Tweedie to do after the incident?

    <p>Wipe off the soap from his face</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator wonder about as the Matron dropped soap flakes into Tweedie's mouth?

    <p>Whether Tweedie would choke or be harmed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the Matron's motivation behind dropping soap flakes into Tweedie's mouth?

    <p>To discipline Tweedie for snoring</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator compare feeling homesick to during their first term at St. Peter's?

    <p>Feeling seasick</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator's nanny tell a story about that made the narrator nervous about using old toothbrushes?

    <p>Toothbrush bristles causing appendicitis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Matron initially suspect as the cause of the narrator's symptoms?

    <p>Overeating</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the doctor find when performing a physical examination on the narrator?

    <p>Normal temperature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was called to fetch the narrator after the doctor and Matron conferred?

    <p>The narrator's mother</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of the narrative?

    <p>The narrator's experiences with homesickness and attempts to manipulate their way back home</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the make of the family's first motor-car?

    <p>De Dion-Bouton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many driving lessons did the protagonist's half-sister have before driving the motor-car?

    <p>Two half-hour lessons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the special feature of the car to keep the wind off the back-seat passengers?

    <p>A windscreen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the family's reaction as the sister increased the speed of the car?

    <p>Both fearful and joyful</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the engine's reaction as the speed of the car increased?

    <p>Roared and the car vibrated</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the make of the motor-car the family acquired?

    <p>De Dion-Bouton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the speed of the car at the time of the crash?

    <p>35 miles per hour</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who arrived at the scene of the accident?

    <p>A man with a horse and cart</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the car proceed towards after the accident?

    <p>The doctor's surgery in Cardiff</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the doctor do before making a house call?

    <p>Taped the nose in place</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the narrator eventually receive medical attention?

    <p>At a nursery table</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the text primarily highlight?

    <p>The resilience and resourcefulness of the characters involved</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the signal for frantic activity in the classroom?

    <p>The teacher shouting 'Use door as fan. Open all windows.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the boys use to open the top windows in the classroom?

    <p>A long pole with a hook on the end</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the teacher's explanation for the unpleasant smell in the classroom?

    <p>It's the cabbage that does it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the boys do when the teacher gave the signal for frantic activity?

    <p>Some opened windows while others used the door as a fan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the teacher's initial response to the unpleasant smell in the classroom?

    <p>Sniffing the air delicately</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the boys do when the teacher cried, 'This is not to be tolerated'?

    <p>They played along and asked if he was feeling ill.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the engine capacity of the narrator's motorcycle?

    <p>500 cc</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the narrator keep his motorcycle during his last term at Repton?

    <p>In a garage along the Willington road about two miles away</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the narrator disguise himself with when riding his motorcycle on Sundays?

    <p>Helmet, goggles, old raincoat, and rubber waders</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the narrator ride his motorcycle on Sundays?

    <p>All over Derbyshire</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator's age when he left school for Newfoundland?

    <p>Eighteen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did the narrator's ship depart from for Newfoundland?

    <p>Liverpool</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the consequence for the last Fag to arrive after a House Boazer's call?

    <p>They would be chosen for a task</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the main basis of the fagging system at Repton School?

    <p>Hierarchy and power dynamics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did a House Boazer do by yelling 'Fa-a-ag'?

    <p>Summoned any Fag and assigned them tasks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the narrator, Dahl, asked to do as a Fag at Repton School?

    <p>Warm a Boazer's toilet seat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the fagging system at Repton School create for the younger students?

    <p>An environment of fear and servitude</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did a House Boazer inspect the study for, while the Fags cleaned it?

    <p>Dust with a white glove</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the protagonist's role at Repton that granted him the power to select team members and award 'colours' to others?

    <p>Captain of Fives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the protagonist's title at Repton that involved responsibilities such as arranging fixtures with other schools and pinning notices on the school notice-board on match days?

    <p>Captain of Fives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was the protagonist not made a Boazer at Repton?

    <p>Unpredictable nature and dislike for rules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary reason for the protagonist's lack of recognition as a Boazer at Repton?

    <p>Unpredictable nature and dislike for rules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the game at Repton that required strong wrists, quick hands, and a swift eye?

    <p>Fives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What brought the protagonist pleasure at Repton due to his proficiency, contrasting with the experience of those who were not good at games?

    <p>Games-playing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What influenced the speaker's decision to pursue a career that would allow him to travel?

    <p>Limited air travel opportunities in the early 1930s</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the starting salary of the speaker when he joined the Shell Company as an Eastern Staff Trainee?

    <p>Five pounds a week</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organization did the speaker join for an exploration of Newfoundland before starting his job?

    <p>The 'Public Schools’ Exploring Society'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What notable photograph did the speaker capture while training for the RAF in 1940?

    <p>The Arch of Ctesiphon in Iraq</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which teacher supported the speaker by organizing an exhibition during his school years?

    <p>Arthur Norris</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the speaker's primary reason for choosing a career that would allow him to travel to faraway places?

    <p>Desire for adventure and exploration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Early Schooling and Childhood Memories

    • The narrator's father believed in the magic of English schooling and wanted his children to be educated in England.
    • The narrator's mother, after her husband's death, moved from Wales to England to fulfill her husband's wish of educating their children in England.
    • The family moved to a smaller house in Llandaff, Wales, after the birth of their fifth child.
    • The narrator attended Elmtree House kindergarten in Llandaff at the age of six, but has very few memories of it.
    • The narrator's most vivid memory of kindergarten was riding a tricycle to school with his sister.
    • At the age of seven, the narrator started attending Llandaff Cathedral School, but remembers very little about his time there.
    • The narrator's first clear memory of Llandaff Cathedral School was seeing an older boy riding a bicycle and feeling impressed by his freedom and confidence.
    • The narrator's second clear memory of Llandaff Cathedral School was stopping at a sweet-shop with his friends on the way to and from school.
    • The narrator's strongest childhood desire was to have a bike like the older boy's and ride it confidently down the hill with no hands on the handlebars.
    • The narrator's memories of his early schooling are limited, but he vividly recalls the excitement of small things, such as riding a tricycle and visiting the sweet-shop.
    • The narrator's childhood memories provide insight into his early experiences and desires, shaping his future aspirations and perceptions.
    • The text highlights the narrator's formative years and the impact of his surroundings on his early memories and aspirations.

    Early Schooling and Childhood Memories

    • The narrator's father believed in the magic of English schooling and wanted his children to be educated in England.
    • The narrator's mother, after her husband's death, moved from Wales to England to fulfill her husband's wish of educating their children in England.
    • The family moved to a smaller house in Llandaff, Wales, after the birth of their fifth child.
    • The narrator attended Elmtree House kindergarten in Llandaff at the age of six, but has very few memories of it.
    • The narrator's most vivid memory of kindergarten was riding a tricycle to school with his sister.
    • At the age of seven, the narrator started attending Llandaff Cathedral School, but remembers very little about his time there.
    • The narrator's first clear memory of Llandaff Cathedral School was seeing an older boy riding a bicycle and feeling impressed by his freedom and confidence.
    • The narrator's second clear memory of Llandaff Cathedral School was stopping at a sweet-shop with his friends on the way to and from school.
    • The narrator's strongest childhood desire was to have a bike like the older boy's and ride it confidently down the hill with no hands on the handlebars.
    • The narrator's memories of his early schooling are limited, but he vividly recalls the excitement of small things, such as riding a tricycle and visiting the sweet-shop.
    • The narrator's childhood memories provide insight into his early experiences and desires, shaping his future aspirations and perceptions.
    • The text highlights the narrator's formative years and the impact of his surroundings on his early memories and aspirations.

    The Great and Daring Mouse Plot

    • The narrator claims to have come up with the idea for the Mouse Plot to prank Mrs. Pratchett by putting a dead mouse in her sweet shop jar.
    • The narrator puts the dead mouse in the Gobstopper jar while Thwaites distracts Mrs. Pratchett.
    • Mrs. Pratchett becomes agitated and orders the children out of the shop.
    • The next day, the sweet shop is closed, and the Gobstopper jar is shattered with the dead mouse lying in the wreckage.
    • The children feel uncomfortable and begin to suspect that something is not right.
    • Thwaites suggests that Mrs. Pratchett may have had a heart attack from the shock of finding the dead mouse.
    • The narrator is accused of being a murderer by Thwaites.
    • The children rush to school to avoid being late for prayers.
    • They attend prayers in the Assembly Hall with the teachers sitting on the platform facing them.
    • The story implies the potential consequences of the Mouse Plot on Mrs. Pratchett.
    • The text creates a sense of suspense and unease in the reader.
    • The narrative is filled with tension and the fear of potential consequences for the children's actions.

    Roald Dahl's First Day at Boarding School

    • In 1924, Roald Dahl's grandmother warned him about frequent visits to doctors and mentioned common medical practices at the time.
    • In September 1925, at the age of nine, Roald Dahl began his boarding school adventure at St Peter's School in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England.
    • Weston-super-Mare was described as a seaside resort with a long beach, pier, hotels, and shops, located across the Bristol Channel from Cardiff, Wales.
    • Dahl's first day at boarding school was marked by a taxi ride with his mother to catch a paddle-steamer from Cardiff Docks to Weston-super-Mare.
    • He wore a new uniform with his name on it and carried a brand new trunk and tuck-box, which was a common possession for English prep school boarders.
    • Tuck-boxes were used to store food and treasures, and parents sent parcels of tuck to their children by mail due to the school's limited food provisions.
    • St Peter's School was a three-story stone building on a hill, with one-third reserved for the Headmaster's family and the rest for around 150 boys.
    • The arrival at St Peter's was a bustling scene with small boys, parents, trunks, and tuck-boxes, and the Headmaster greeting everyone.
    • The school's environment and practices were described, including the layout, playing fields, and the Headmaster's interaction with the students and parents.
    • Dahl's apprehension about the unknown experience of being away from home for the first time was highlighted.
    • The text provides a vivid description of the environment, transportation, and belongings associated with Dahl's first day at St Peter's School.
    • The narrative offers insights into the customs and practices of English prep schools in the 1920s, including the significance of tuck-boxes and the limited food provisions.

    Road Accident and Nose Injury

    • The car was speeding at around 35 miles per hour when it crashed into a hedge, causing injuries to the passengers.
    • The narrator's nose was almost completely severed in the accident, and their mother used a handkerchief to hold it in place.
    • Despite the lack of immediate help or communication means, the car's engine started after the crash.
    • A man with a horse and cart arrived at the scene, but was more concerned about his thousand fresh-laid eggs than the injured passengers.
    • The mother insisted on getting the injured child to a doctor, despite the glass and mess in the car.
    • The car, driven by an inexperienced sister, proceeded slowly and cautiously towards the doctor's surgery in Cardiff.
    • Upon reaching the doctor, it was discovered that the narrator's nose had been nearly severed and required immediate medical attention.
    • The doctor promised to sew the nose back on and temporarily taped it in place before making a house call.
    • The narrator was taken home with the nose taped in position, and later received medical attention at home.
    • The narrator was eventually taken to a nursery table and prepared for a medical procedure to reattach the nose.
    • The text highlights the chaotic and tense aftermath of the accident, the urgency of seeking medical help, and the determination of the mother to ensure the narrator's well-being.
    • The story captures the dramatic and unexpected events following the accident, as well as the resilience and resourcefulness of the characters involved.

    Early Career and Passion for Photography

    • The speaker's passion for photography developed during his school years, leading to an exhibition organized by a supportive teacher, Arthur Norris.
    • He continued to pursue photography after leaving school and gained recognition, including awards from prestigious societies.
    • His interest in photography led him to capture a notable photograph of the Arch of Ctesiphon in Iraq while training for the RAF in 1940.
    • Despite the opportunity to attend Oxford or Cambridge, he chose to pursue a career that would allow him to travel to faraway places like Africa and China.
    • He applied for jobs with companies that would send him abroad and was accepted by Imperial Chemicals and a Finnish lumber company, but he was most interested in the Shell Company.
    • Despite discouragement from his Housemaster, he applied for a position with the Shell Company and was one of the few selected from a pool of 107 applicants.
    • He joined the Shell Company as an Eastern Staff Trainee at the age of eighteen, with a starting salary of five pounds a week.
    • Before starting his job, he embarked on an exploration of Newfoundland with the "Public Schools’ Exploring Society," led by a member of Captain Scott's last expedition to the South Pole.
    • His decision to pursue a career that would allow him to travel was influenced by the limited air travel opportunities in the early 1930s, making faraway places like Africa and China seem distant and magical.
    • He chose to forgo a family trip to Norway to participate in the exploration of Newfoundland, marking a transition from his school years to his professional career.
    • The speaker's determination to pursue his passion for photography and his desire for adventure and exploration during his formative years shaped his early career choices and laid the foundation for his future experiences.
    • The text provides insight into the speaker's early life, his passion for photography, and his aspirations for a career that would offer opportunities for travel and adventure.

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