In this activity, students will examine the author’s attitude and make inferences based on details from the text.
The first example is when Grandpa Joe says, "That ticket'll go to some nasty little beast who doesn't deserve it!" This demonstrates the author’s point of view on spoiled and selfish children.
The second example is when the oompa-loompas sing, "Augustus Gloop! Augustus Gloop! The great big greedy nincompoop!" Through the song of the oompa-loompas, the author shares his opinion of greedy children.
The last example is when Willie Wonka says, "So I have to have a child. I want a good sensible loving child, one to whom I can tell all my most precious candy-making secrets - while I'm still alive." The author believes in rewarding the "good" children by giving Charlie the factory.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard examining the author's point of view as seen through various characters in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Invite students to share their interpretations of the author’s attitude using evidence from the text. This deepens understanding and lets students see how others analyze point of view.
Read a short excerpt aloud and think aloud as you spot clues about the author’s feelings or opinions. Demonstrating this process helps students develop independent analysis skills.
Provide prompts like ‘I think the author feels… because…’ or ‘The author shows their attitude when…’. These tools scaffold critical thinking and support all learners.
Ask students to relate the author’s perspective to situations from their own lives. This makes literary analysis more meaningful and memorable.
The author's attitude in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is critical of greedy and selfish behavior but supportive of kindness and honesty. Roald Dahl uses characters and their actions to show that good, sensible children are rewarded, while spoiled or greedy children face consequences.
To teach point of view, have students identify quotes from different characters and discuss what these reveal about the author's opinions. Use activities like creating storyboards or illustrating scenes to help students analyze and visualize the author's perspective as it comes through in the story.
Examples include Grandpa Joe's comment about undeserving children, the oompa-loompas' song criticizing greed, and Willy Wonka expressing his wish to reward a kind, loving child. These moments demonstrate the author's values regarding behavior and character.
Roald Dahl rewards Charlie because he represents goodness, humility, and love. By making Charlie the heir to the factory, the author emphasizes that positive traits are valued and ultimately rewarded over selfishness or greed.
An easy activity is to have students use a template to identify and illustrate three instances showing the author's point of view in the story. They can describe each example and create a matching scene, helping them connect text details to author attitude.