Although the overall tone and spirit of Boy is playful and nostalgic, there are many references to childhood illness and death, alarming rudimentary medical practices, and extensive corporal punishment and neglect during Dahl's school days. Teachers should be mindful of students' own life experiences and personal history in reading and discussing these portions of the novel, and ensure students have appropriate outlets to discuss any of their own feelings and memories Dahl's stories may bring up.
More broadly, the thought questions in this lesson plan provide material and ideas that students can use to write short original essays and to develop their powers of analysis. The questions...
