Literature and Politics - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Literature and Politics Charlie and the Chocolate Factory By Roald Dahl Dahl's Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is an unusual piece of literature; accepted by children and adults alike today as an exciting fantasy world, though originally criticised as racist, politically incorrect and immoral. Today's revision of the novel has therefore been adapted for a racially aware society. Nevertheless, it can still be seen as akin to a communist fantasy world; the Oompa Loompas are all equal and work for the common good, and the children (with the exception of Charlie, the underdog who ultimately benefits from the dictator- like figure Willy Wonka) are symbols of capitalism, such as the gluttonous Augustus Gloop and the spoilt Veruca Salt, who come to their end through "sadistic or extreme"1 retribution. The novel, therefore, appears to combine in the microcosm of the chocolate factory the religious- based ethics and retributive justice portrayed in Victorian morality plays with a communist style dictatorship reminiscent of Marx's ultimate utopia. The analogy of the factory as a symbol of communism, a criticism directed at Dahl's other novels such as James and the Giant Peach,2 is prevalent throughout the book. Charlie's father Mr Bucket, for example, is the epitome of the poor worker in a capitalist system; "however hard he worked.... [he] was never able to buy one half of the

  • Word count: 1546
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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My Reding Biography.

Dada! That was the first word I said. Ever since then I have learnt many obscure words by reading books. I have never enjoyed reading but if I find a book I like the looks of, I read it. This is how I learn new words and have a better English education. Ever since I was a toddler I have NEVER enjoyed reading books apart from when I choose them. My mum and I used to go down to Carshalton library and choose a book to read together. I ALWAYS chose the books with hardly any writing in and a lot of pictures but my mum however chose the books with loads of words on a page with hardly any pictures. When my mum took them out I used to go all stroppy and not talk to her. Now I just look back and laugh! When we got home my mum used to make me read a chapter to her or I can read it on my own in front of her. So I decided to read it on my own. This was where my mum got out of hand! Whenever I said I had finished a chapter she asked me what had happened in the chapter, then I panicked. I said I needed to go to the toilet but I never returned as I knew I would have to try and tell her what had happened in that chapter. Every day when I returned from school I knew that I would have to face reading a chapter of a book. During school when we had tutorial, the teacher set us some work and told us to get on with it. While doing that she picked on some people to read to her.

  • Word count: 1824
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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The BFG Chapter 9.

English: The BFG Chapter 9 What is the purpose of this Chapter? By this stage in the book it has become obvious that Sophie is a strong girl, who is not easily intimidated, and Sophie is more comfortable understanding that the BFG means her no harm, and the two have now formed a close friendship. The Chapter's chief purpose, indicated by its title, is to introduce a giant named the Bloodbottler. Setting the BFG aside, the Bloodbottler is the closest Sophie has encountered another giant. The Chapter furthermore establishes the fact that the BFG is not one of the other giants and difference are clearly shown, for example The Bloodbottler refers to the BFG as "Runt" and is accusing him of "petting" a human in his cave. In a deeper underlying plot, the chapter is creating the bond between the BFG and Sophie, showing his compassion and resilience to let her be harmed. At the end of "The Bloodbottler", it is comprehensible that the BFG and Sophie are going to hatch a plan to prevent the other giants from eating any more children and make them vanish, sparking the plot of the remainder of the story. What Characters are being presented? As previously recognized, the chapter introduces another giant on a more personal scale with Sophie and with the reader, than in "The Giants" (Chapter 5). The Bloodbottler is a 'gruesome sight'. A deep and imaginative description is given by

  • Word count: 772
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Book Review - "Sunwing" by Kenneth Oppel

Book Review Oral : 4th June 2003 Book Reviewed : Sunwing Author : Kenneth Oppel This book is the epic sequel to the first book, Sunwing, which is an outstanding story of how a colony of Silverwing bats loose their home to a colony of owls, and they make their way south to their hibernation grounds. In the first book, Shade a newborn is undersize and weak, and during their flight south, he gets caught in a storm, and on his journey he makes a new friend, Marina. Together they set off to try and find the rest of the colony. On the way they encounter many obstacles, and together they manage to overcome those trials. When they finally find the rest of the colony, they all rejoice and set off to Hibernaculm, the Silverwing hibernation grounds in search of Shades father, Cassiel who was captured by bigger and more evil bats before Shade was born.... In the second book, Sunwing, Shade is determined to find his father, and together with other elders of the colony, they all set out in search of Cassiel. The move further south and on their journey, Shade discovers a large building which houses a huge, man-made forest. Without thinking Shade quickly enters the building, not realising that it is a one-way entrance. The building is home to thousands of different bats, and it is as warm as a summer night. There is plenty of food and the colony end up living there for some time, and

  • Word count: 885
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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