Characters and Glossary of the novel

Roald Dahl ("Boy")

Roald Dahl, nicknamed "Boy," is the author and protagonist of the novel. The child of
Norwegian immigrants living in Wales and England, Dahl is viewed by the authorities as a
troublemaker at the schools he attends. Although his father considers English schools to be
the best in the world, Dahl lives in constant fear of being disciplined with vicious canings
from school officials. Instead of continuing with education by going to university, Dahl takes
a job at Shell Oil. Later in life, Dahl will become one of the world's most widely read
children's authors.
Harald Dahl
The author's father, Harald, is a Norwegian shipbroker who makes a comfortable living for
his family after starting a shipbroker company in Wales. In the wake of his daughter's death,
Harald falls ill and dies of pneumonia several weeks later.
Sofie Dahl
Dahl's mother, Sofie, is a Norwegian woman who moves to Wales after meeting her husband,
Harald. When her daughter and husband die with weeks of each other, Sofie decides to stay
in the UK because she hopes to fulfill her husband's wish that his children attend English
schools, which he believed to be the best in the world.

Mrs. Pratchett
Mrs. Pratchett is the despicable and grubby owner of the candy shop near Dahl's elementary
school. As revenge for her unpleasantness toward him and his friends, Dahl devises a plan to
put a dead mouse in her gobstoppers jar. Afterward, she goes to the boys' school and talks the
Headmaster into punishing the boys by hitting them with a cane.
Mr. Coombes
Mr. Coombes is the Headmaster of the elementary school Dahl attends as a young boy. He
disciplines Dahl and other misbehaving boys with brutal canings.
Matron
The Matron is a nurse responsible for overseeing the boys' health and well-being while they
live at boarding school. An imposing, large-chested woman, the Matron strikes fear into
Dahl's heart because she is looking for any excuse to send pupils for a caning from the
Headmaster. At one point, she confiscates the keys to the tuck boxes, leaving Dahl famished
for six weeks.
Captain Hardcastle
Captain Hardcastle is one of the teachers Dahl most fears while at boarding school. He has
bright orange hair and an orange mustache that curls up at the ends. When he overhears Dahl
ask another boy for a writing nib, Hardcastle accuses him of cheating on his essay and sends
him to the Headmaster for a caning.
The Headmaster of Repton Prep School
The Headmaster at Repton is a short clergyman known for the vicious beatings he doles out
to boys at the school. Dahl considers it hypocritical that the man preaches mercy and
forgiveness in the chapel while carrying on with such brutal punishments. Dahl finds it even
more ironic when the man eventually becomes Archbishop of Canterbury, meaning he
crowns Queen Elizabeth II in an event half the world watches on TV.
Thwaites
Thwaites is a childhood friend of Roald Dahl. Because Thwaites's father is a doctor, Thwaites
impresses his friends with facts purportedly learned from his father. Thwaites eggs on Dahl to
prank Mrs. Pratchett with a dead mouse, later accusing Dahl of murder when he suspects
Pratchett had a heart attack upon finding the mouse.
Dahl's Elder Sister
Referred to by Dahl as his "ancient" sister, Dahl's eldest sibling is approximately a decade
older than Dahl. She is the biological child of Harald and Marie, Harald's first wife, although
she is raised most of her life by Dahl's biological mother. She drives the family car into a
hedge on the day they receive it, causing an accident that nearly takes Dahl's nose off his
face. She also becomes engaged to a young English doctor whom the rest of her family
decide to prank after he spoils their summer vacation.
Dahl's Sister's Fiancé
Dahl's sister's fiancé is a young English doctor. He accompanies the family on their summer
holiday to Norway. When his presence irritates the family, Dahl stuffs his pipe with goat
droppings and the entire family watches eagerly as he coughs and splutters, claiming
someone has poisoned him.

Boy: Tales of Childhood Glossar

autobiography
a story of a person's life as told by the person
Wales
part of the United Kingdom, a country west of England on the Atlantic Ocean
Welsh
term for the people and language of Wales
Norway 
Nordic country west of Sweden with a land mass extending to the Arctic Circle
Norwegian
term for the people and language of Norway
tricycle
three-wheeled variation on the bicycle usually ridden by children who cannot balance yet on
a bike
gobstopper
British term for a jawbreaker candy, a hard round candy with different-colored layers
licourice bootlace
British term for long string of licorice candy
cavity
empty space found within a solid object
soggy
soft and wet
caning
term for striking a person with a walking stick made of bamboo cane
skaal
Norwegian equivalent to "cheers"
outhouse
a toilet without plumbing housed in a separate building away from the main house
anesthetic
substance that reduces a person's sensitivity to pain, administered during operations
adenoids
enlarged lymphatic tissue between the throat and nose that may limit breathing and speaking
in children
tonsils
two masses of lymphoid tissue found on each side of the root of the tongue, often removed to
preempt infection
seedy
squalid, sordid
Headmaster
British equivalent to a school principal, the person in charge of running the school
bosom
term for a woman's chest
shell shock
now known as post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition in which exposure to warfare results
in lasting psychological and psychosomatic issues