The Wish: Roald Dahl

 

Summary

The story is about an adventure made by a small boy who is fascinated to pick off a scab painlessly formed on his healed wound on his knee-cap to fling it with his little finger onto the carpet. The scab flies for some time and ultimately lands on one edge of the colorful carpet furnished in the big hall below the staircase and up to the door.

The carpet exercises an imaginative and creative effect on the boy’s mind and he decides that the red parts are red hot lumps of coal that can burn him whereas the black portion stands for venomous snakes-adders, cobras, and pythons that can bite him to death. He further decides that only the yellow areas are safe to walk upon. He resolves, he takes a challenge to reach the front door walking only on the yellow edges. He is hopeful, if he succeeds in his mission, he will be rewarded with a gift of a puppy for his birthday the following day. He takes the challenge safely for almost half of the distance though at one point, he nearly touches snakes and cries. At another point, he is clearly stuck neither able to move his front leg back nor raise left to the front. The story ends cryptically with his mother looking for him behind the house.


The story takes the readers through the imaginative world of the boy. The events before him unfold through his emotionally charged mind vividly and full of adventure and suspense.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. What did the child do to the scab on his knee?

The child picked a scab off his knee-cap and flung it with his little finger. The scab flew for some time and ultimately landed on one edge of the colorful carpet.

b. What kind of effect did the carpet have on the child?

The carpet inspired the boy to enter into the world of fantasy associated with the carpet. The boy created an imaginative world of a challenge that he resolved to undertake to create a self-image of a hero.

c. What was he afraid of while walking across the carpet?

He was afraid of snakes that could bite him to death and also the hot lumps of live coal that could burn him while walking across the carpet.

d. What motivated and encouraged the child to start and continue on his journey?

The scab that lifted off without hurting himself encouraged him to take up a mission. Moreover, the hope of getting a puppy as a birthday gift the following day motivated him to start and continue on his journey.

e. What did the child see as he looked down on the black patterns of the carpet?

As the boy looked underneath his legs when he was stuck firmly, he saw the oily bodies of the snakes writhing in the black winding river. He thought the river is full of snakes and they have sensed his close presence to stir their heads.

Reference to the context

a. The writer creates two voices in the story. Who are they?

The writer creates two voices in the story. They are the narrator’s voice and the character’s voice. The narrator describes the boy in one morning sitting on the last rung of the staircase playing with his scab on the knee-cap with his little fingers. The boy’s voice, we feel, as he creates a world of fantasy looking at the colorful carpet where the scab has landed previously. The narrator’s voice takes us through childhood innocence. The boy as the protagonist takes us through his imaginative world.

b. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

 “...the black parts are snakes, poisonous snakes, adders mostly, and cobras, thick like tree-trunks round the middle, and if I touch one of them, I'll be bitten and I'll die before tea time. And if I get across safely, without being burnt and without being bitten, I will be given a puppy for my birthday tomorrow.”

 

i. What does ‘the black part’ mean?

ii. Who is the speaker?

iii. Why doesn’t the speaker want to be burnt?

i. ‘The black part’ means venomous snakes.

ii. The little child is the speaker.

iii. The speaker doesn’t want to be burnt and bitten for a puppy for his birthday the following day.

c. Which images and metaphors are used in the story?

The author has skillfully crafted imagery and metaphors in the story. The first image he presents is that of a scab. The boy's overwhelming curiosity fascinates him as he notices the soft-and-ready-to-go-off scab which represents a special challenge he can't ignore. The carpet comes alive with its images of fire and snakes. The carpet also becomes a metaphor for the boy to undertake a challenge to satisfy his adventure. The red patterns stand for hot lumps of coals, which can burn him. On the other hand, the black parts are writhing poisonous snakes. The snakes symbolically stand for evil, falsehoods, and temptations. The boy's resolve of go across the carpet speaks of the challenges of life he has to encounter as he grows up in his life-journey to maturity.

d. Summarize the short story “The Wish” in about 200 words.

 

The story is about an adventure made by a small boy who is fascinated to pick off a scab painlessly formed on his healed wound on his knee-cap to fling it with his little finger onto the carpet. The scab flies for some time and ultimately lands on one edge of the colorful carpet furnished in the big hall below the staircase and up to the door.

The carpet exercises an imaginative and creative effect on the boy’s mind and he decides that the red parts are red hot lumps of coal that can burn him whereas the black portion stands for venomous snakes-adders, cobras, and pythons that can bite him to death. He further decides that only the yellow areas are safe to walk upon. He resolves, he takes a challenge to reach the front door walking only on the yellow edges. He is hopeful, if he succeeds in his mission, he will be rewarded with a gift of the puppy for his birthday the following day. He takes the challenge safely for almost half of the distance though at one point, he nearly touches snakes and cries. At another point, he is clearly stuck neither able to move his front leg back nor raise left to the front. The story ends cryptically with his mother looking for him behind the house.


The story takes the readers through the imaginative world of the boy. The events before him unfold through his emotionally charged mind vividly and with full of adventure and suspense.

e. The story shows the events through the eyes of the narrator and the child. Comparing the two styles, who presents more interesting or effective view for the readers? Why?

The story shows the unfolding of events through the eyes of the narrator as well as the child.  Comparing the two styles, the child presents a more interesting view for the reader through his inquisitive and powerful imagination. The scene before him as witnessed is apparent and exciting. We sense the images shaped in his mind are real and he is, in reality, trying to overcome danger. He imagines the colorful carpet as a store-house of an enthralling piece of an adventurous journey. Through his consciousness, we encounter red hot lumps of coal and poisonous snakes as if they are real before us.

f. Is “The Wish” a story about self-confidence overcoming fear or about greed? Give your arguments.

This is a story about self-confidence overcoming fear. The initial success concerning the scab emboldens the boy to take a challenge. He builds self-control, self-image, and self-confidence to take a mission to its fruitful conclusion. The boy is anxious and optimistic that he will reach the destination without any trouble. He had succeeded in walking on the brick path without touching the cracks. He also had an experience of rescuing himself when he was lost in the Piper woods. It is also to be noted that he was equally motivated by greed—wanting the dog—but that seems secondary to the desire to face and overcome challenges. The boy, after all, knows that he is not really going to be rewarded with a puppy. Thus, basically, it is a story about self-confidence overcoming fear

 

Reference beyond the text

 

a. Do you think our wish can be fulfilled? Why or why not?

 

Yes if our wish is a cherished dream of life, it can be fulfilled provided we consistently work at it putting sincere efforts. However, if it is pleasant thinking or pipe dream not backed by resolve and perseverance, wish can’t be realized in life.

 

b. Why do you think some people might have a frightening nature? What would you suggest to them to overcome it?

 

Some people might have a frightening nature. This can be a physiological abnormality and can be treated by a medical professional.  However, if it is a lack of confidence, parents can give better socialization to young people so that they learn to grow up assertive and bold.

 

 

c. Write a folktale that you have heard or read.

 

Write a fairy tale you have read in your schooling like that of the woodcutter and his axe.