George's Marvelous Medicine

Roald Dahl was known for his collaborations with Quentin Blake, who illustrated several of Dahl’s books, including George’s Marvelous Medicine. Analyze one or more of Blake’s illustrations: How do they add to or expound upon Dahl’s text?

Consider Mr. and Mrs. Kranky as foil characters: How are they similar, and how do they differ?

What does George’s Marvelous Medicine suggest about the relationship between humans and animals?

Consider the list of ingredients that George adds to his medicine. What do they suggest about his family’s lifestyle?

Grandma contradicts herself on several occasions. Analyze one or more of these contradictions. What does it reveal about Grandma? Is it resolved at some point? If so, how?

How, if at all, has George changed by the end of the story?

Identify one or more instances of a poetic device, such as rhyme or alliteration. How does it enhance the reader’s experience?

Why might Dahl have chosen to set this story on a farm in the countryside?