Garden Heights Academy · Independent Novel Study
Part 4
for The BFG · Part 4 · Chapters 12–14
a novel by Roald Dahl
This workbook is built on a solid pedagogical foundation, effectively integrating content and language learning based on the CLIL framework (Content and Language Integrated Learning), elevated by our unique 5th C — Connection — and an integrated Standardized Test section that weaves every SAT & TOEFL question type right into the novel, so learners build real test skills easily, naturally, and with fun.
💭 Before You Read · Just for Fun
No right or wrong answers — just think or chat about it: What is the most vivid dream you can still remember — and why do you think THAT one survived? If you could bottle one dream and give it to someone, what would it be and who gets it? And is a nightmare ever useful?
What Happens in Part 4
The BFG takes Sophie to Dream Country, a mysterious misty land where living dreams float through the air like glowing bubbles, and he shows her how he catches, inspects, and stores each dream in labeled glass jars. Back in his cave, the BFG uses his skill as a dream craftsman to concoct a trogglehumper — the worst possible nightmare — carefully blending dream jars with the precision of a master, targeting the most fearsome giant, the Fleshlumpeater. Finally, the BFG returns to Dream Country to select and capture a vivid nightmare showing giants eating children, sealing it in a jar so that the plan to warn the Queen is one step closer to becoming real.
What We Will Study
| Focus | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Imagery & Atmosphere | How Dahl uses vivid sensory language and setting details to make Dream Country feel real and wondrous |
| Show, Don’t Tell | How the BFG’s careful dream-mixing reveals character through action rather than direct description |
| Magic Realism | A world where magical things — living dreams, Dream Country — exist with real emotions and real consequences |
Copyright Notice
This is an independent study guide created by Garden Heights Academy to support reading comprehension and literary analysis. It contains original analysis questions and does not reproduce any text from the novel. The BFG is a work by Roald Dahl. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Roald Dahl, the Roald Dahl Story Company, or any associated rights holders.
Part 1
Vocabulary
Study 10 key words from Chapters 12–14, then answer each question.
Knowledge Bank · Why We Dream
Science · Dreams & the BrainThe BFG catches dreams in jars, but real dreams are caught inside the sleeping brain. Most vivid dreams happen during a stage called REM sleep, short for rapid eye movement, when the eyes flick about beneath closed lids and the mind blazes with activity like waking. Scientists are still puzzling over why we dream, but many believe dreaming helps sort the day’s memories, rehearse our feelings, and file away what matters most. That may be why a happy day can seed a sweet dream while a nagging worry can twist into a nightmare — a real-life trogglehumper. Dahl gives each kind of dream its personality, but nature already sorts them into the golden and the frightening. So when the BFG blows a good dream through a child’s window, he is doing gently and on purpose what every sleeping brain quietly does on its each night.
ⓘ The vocabulary words in this list are selected to help you understand and complete this workbook. Some may not appear verbatim in the original novel.
transparentadj.Ch.12
Clear and see-through; able to be seen through like glass
“The dreams floated like transparent bubbles, almost invisible against the pale mist of Dream Country.”
luminousadj.Ch.12 & 14
Giving off a soft, glowing light; bright and shining
“The golden dream was luminous, glowing softly like a tiny lantern in the BFG’s enormous hand.”
delicateadj.Ch.12
Easily broken or damaged; needing careful and gentle handling
“A dream is a very delicate thing and must be caught with great care and patience.”
concoctv.Ch.13
To make or prepare something by mixing different ingredients or ideas together
“The BFG began to concoct the trogglehumper, carefully selecting jars from the shelves and blending them.”
loathsomeadj.Ch.13
Causing extreme disgust or hatred; completely horrible
“The BFG wanted the nightmare to be truly loathsome — so revolting that even the Fleshlumpeater would wake up shaking.”
deliberateadj.Ch.13
Done on purpose, with full intention; not accidental or rushed
“Each of the BFG’s movements was deliberate and slow — he was in no hurry, because the dream had to be exactly right.”
preciseadj.Ch.13
Exact, accurate, and careful in every detail; done without any mistakes
“The BFG was precise in his work, adding each dream ingredient in exactly the right amount.”
etherealadj.Ch.14
Extremely light and delicate, as if not quite of the physical world; heavenly
“Dream Country had an ethereal quality — it felt as if it could vanish the moment you reached out to touch it.”
eerieadj.Ch.14
Strange and unsettling in a mysterious or ghostly way
“The silence of Dream Country was eerie — not peaceful, but deeply, strangely quiet.”
elusiveadj.Ch.14
Difficult to catch, find, or hold on to
“The most perfect dreams were the most elusive — drifting just out of reach as if they knew they were being chased.”
1The dreams in Dream Country float like bubbles and are almost invisible — see-through like glass. Which word describes this quality?Ch.12
2True or False: Because dreams are delicate, the BFG must move quickly and grab them before they float away.Ch.12
3Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.13
Word choices:concoctdeliberateloathsomepreciseelusiveeerie- some words will not be used
The BFG worked slowly and — every action was done on purpose, with complete care.
The BFG’s measurements were always — he never added too much or too little of any ingredient.
He began to the nightmare by carefully selecting jars from his shelves and blending them together.
4True or False: “Loathsome” means something wonderful and enjoyable.Ch.13
5Dream Country is described as strange, unsettling, and ghostly quiet. Which word from Ch.14 best captures this quality?Ch.14
6The perfect dreams kept drifting just out of the BFG’s reach, as if they knew they were being chased. Which word means “difficult to catch or hold on to”?Ch.14
7True or False: Something described as “ethereal” feels solid, heavy, and very much of this world.Ch.14
8Fill in the blanks to complete the description of Part 4.Ch.12–14
Word choices:luminoustransparentloathsomeetherealdelicateprecise- some words will not be used
The dreams floated like bubbles, glowing with a soft light, while the BFG handled each one with skill.
9The BFG mixes the trogglehumper with great care and patience, not rushing or guessing. Which choice best describes how he works?Ch.13
10True or False: The vocabulary in Part 4 shows that Dream Country is a place of both beauty and purpose — the BFG’s dream-work is artistic and intentional, not random.Ch.12–14
Part 2
Comprehension
How well do you understand Chapters 12–14?
Knowledge Bank · Following the Steps in Order
Reading Skill · SequencingSome passages describe a process — a set of steps that must happen in the right order — and reading them well means tracking that sequence carefully. Watch how the BFG catches a dream: he listens, lifts his net, sweeps it through the shimmering air, then bottles his catch before it can escape. Swap those steps around and the whole action falls apart, which is exactly why order matters. Writers signal sequence with time words like first, then, next, and finally, small road signs pointing the way through the paragraph. When you notice them, you can picture each stage clearly instead of blurring the action into one lump. A good test of your understanding is whether you could explain the steps to someone else in the correct order. If you can retell the process without tangling it, you have truly followed the writer’s careful plan.
1Where do the BFG and Sophie go in Chapter 12?Ch.12
2True or False: After catching a dream, the BFG immediately blows it into the nearest sleeping person without checking what kind it is.Ch.12
3Which giant is the BFG creating the trogglehumper for in Chapter 13?Ch.13
4Fill in the blanks to complete the summary of Ch.13.Ch.13
Word choices:nightmareFleshlumpeaterjarstrogglehumperSophiecraft- some words will not be used
The BFG creates a , the worst type of , especially for the .
5Write the numbers 1–5 in the boxes to show the correct order of key events across Part 4 (Ch.12–14). Number 1 = what happens first.Ch.12–14
- The BFG shows Sophie how to catch dreams with his net in Dream Country (Ch.12).
- Back in his cave, the BFG carefully mixes dream jars to create the trogglehumper for the Fleshlumpeater (Ch.13).
- The BFG and Sophie return to Dream Country to find the nightmare they need for the Queen’s plan (Ch.14).
- The BFG seals the nightmare showing giants eating children in a jar — the plan is one step closer (Ch.14).
- The other giants head off into the night, leaving the BFG and Sophie free to travel (Ch.12).
6What does Dream Country look like when Sophie and the BFG arrive in Chapter 14?Ch.14
7True or False: In Chapter 14, the BFG takes any dream he can find in Dream Country for the Queen’s plan.Ch.14
8Fill in the blanks to describe what the BFG captures in Dream Country in Ch.14.Ch.14
Word choices:nightmaregiantsjarnetQueenmist- some words will not be used
Using his long , the BFG catches a showing eating children and seals it in a jar.
9According to the BFG in Ch.14, where do all the dreams in the world originally come from?Ch.14
10True or False: A trogglehumper is a wonderful, happy dream that makes the dreamer feel joyful when they wake up.Ch.13
Part 3
Literary Elements
Understanding HOW and WHY Dahl creates certain feelings across Ch.12–14.
Knowledge Bank · Dahl’s Craft in Part 4
Language · Simile SpotlightA simile compares two things using the words like or as, painting a picture by holding one thing beside another. Dahl fills Dream Country with them, describing the drifting dreams as something you can almost see glowing and floating past. A simile is gentler than a metaphor because it admits the comparison — it says a dream is like a bubble, not that it flatly is one — and that little word invites you to imagine the likeness for yourself. The device works by lending the qualities of a familiar thing, a soap bubble’s shimmer and fragility, to something you have never seen, a captured dream. This is how writers make the impossible feel real and touchable. As you read, hunt for the words like and as, then pause on the picture each one builds. Every simile is Dahl quietly handing you a fresh pair of eyes.
📚 Literary Devices in This Part · definitions & examples
Atmosphere is the overall feeling a setting creates. In Ch.12 Dahl describes Dream Country as gray, misty, silent, and softly glowing, which gives the place a strange, dreamlike, magical atmosphere.Show, don’t tell means revealing something through actions and details instead of stating it directly. Dahl never says “the BFG is a skilled craftsman”; instead he shows the BFG carefully netting, sorting, and bottling each dream.Magic realism blends magical elements into an otherwise ordinary, matter-of-fact world. In Dream Country, dreams are real objects you can catch in a net and keep in jars — yet the BFG treats this magic as completely normal, everyday work.
The questions below are mixed — not grouped by device. Decide which device each one is about.
1Dahl describes Dream Country as gray, misty, silent, and softly glowing. What kind of atmosphere does this create?Ch.12
2True or False: “Show, don’t tell” means a writer reveals something through actions and details instead of stating it directly.Ch.12–14
3Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.12–14
Word choices:magic realismnetrhymecontrasthumor- some words will not be used
Treating magical events as everyday and ordinary is called . The BFG catches the floating dreams using a long .
4Dahl does not state that the BFG is skilled — he shows it by describing how carefully the BFG catches and bottles each dream. This technique is called —Ch.12–14
5True or False: Magic realism blends magical elements into an otherwise realistic, matter-of-fact world.Ch.12–14
6Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.12
Word choices:atmospheremistyrhymehumor- some words will not be used
The overall feeling a setting gives the reader is called its . Dahl makes Dream Country feel dreamlike by describing it as gray and .
7Dreams are magical floating objects the BFG catches in a net, yet he treats catching them as ordinary, everyday work. This blend of magic and the ordinary is called —Ch.12–14
8True or False: The gray, misty, silent description of Dream Country is meant to create a loud, busy, cheerful atmosphere.Ch.12
9Fill in the blanks with the correct words.Ch.13–14
Word choices:actionsdreamsrhymeatmosphere- some words will not be used
A writer who reveals a character through and details instead of plain statements is using “show, don’t tell.” Dahl shows the BFG’s care as he bottles the glowing .
10The BFG catches dreams in a net and bottles them like jam — and treats all of it as ordinary work. Which pairing best names Dahl’s techniques here?Ch.12–14
Part 4
Think Deeper
Four deeper challenges — no single-word recall. Read, weigh the evidence, and reason it through.
Knowledge Bank · The BFG as a Guardian
Social-Emotional · KindnessEvery night, unseen and unthanked, the BFG creeps to children’s windows and blows lovely dreams into their sleep. No one knows he was there; no one claps or rewards him. This makes him a guardian, a protector who gives quietly and asks nothing back. Dahl draws a beautiful contrast: the giant is huge and could frighten anyone, yet he uses his great power only to comfort. That is the definition of gentle strength — being mighty enough to harm and choosing, always, to help instead. The trogglehumpers he keeps locked away show he understands the other side too, the fear a nightmare brings, which is why he works to spare children from it. True kindness, the story suggests, is not loud or proud; it is the good you do when no one is watching and no thank-you is coming. The BFG’s dreams are a nightly gift of pure, secret care.
1Claim: “The BFG secretly does good by giving children happy dreams.” — choose the two details that best prove it.Claim & Evidence
2A good dream (phizzwizard), or a bad dream (trogglehumper)? Tap each item to send it left or right.Sort into two
◄ A phizzwizardA trogglehumper ►
3Match each cause to its result. For each cause, pick its result.Cause & Effect
The BFG travels to Dream Country→
He sorts the dreams he catches→
He finds a golden phizzwizard→
He catches a trogglehumper→
4Fill both blanks to complete the reasoning.Build the Argument
The BFG blows good dreams into children’s rooms because , which shows that .
Part 5
Standardized Test · Inference & Author’s Purpose
Part 4 trains the two “reading between the lines” skills — Inference (what must be true even if unstated) and Author’s Purpose (why a detail is there) — plus Vocabulary in Context and Factual Detail, in the styles the SAT and TOEFL use. Read the passage (the highlighted words are tested below), then choose the answer best supported by the text.
Knowledge Bank · Reading Between the Lines
Test Skills · Part 4An Inference question asks what the passage proves without saying: find the clue sentences, then choose the answer they force to be true — never the one that just “sounds possible.” A Purpose question asks what job a sentence does: is it an example? a contrast? a hook? Try reading the paragraph without that sentence — whatever went missing is the purpose. Both skills reward slowing down at the exact lines the question points to.
Every night, without asking permission, your brain puts on a private film festival. Dreams arrive mainly during REM sleep — the stage when your closed eyes flick rapidly back and forth — and they occur far more often than people think: four to six dreams a night. Most are forgotten within minutes of waking, which is why many people wrongly believe they “never dream at all.” Why does the sleeping brain bother?
Scientists believe dreaming is part of the night’s housekeeping: while the body rests, the brain sorts the day’s events, filing important memories and sweeping out clutter. Emotional experiences get special treatment — which may explain why the most vivid and intense dreams tend to follow our most emotional days. A dream, on this view, is the visible spray thrown up as the brain churns through its filing. Even nightmares seem to have a job: many researchers see them as safe rehearsals, the brain practicing fear so real danger finds us less unprepared. And all of it is fragile: most dreams fade within ten minutes of waking unless we recall them at once. The film festival plays nightly — but the cinema burns its own reels at dawn.
Original passage written for Garden Heights — not a quotation from the novel.
1As used in the passage, the word “occur” most nearly means —SAT · Words in Context
2In the passage, the word “vivid” is closest in meaning to —TOEFL · Vocabulary
3According to the passage, when do dreams mainly arrive?TOEFL · Factual Information
4According to the passage, why do many people believe they never dream?TOEFL · Factual Information
5According to the passage, what does the brain do while the body rests?TOEFL · Factual Information
6In the passage, the word “recall” is closest in meaning to —TOEFL · Vocabulary
7The passage most strongly suggests that a person who wants to remember a dream should —SAT · Inference
8Why does the author call dreams “the visible spray thrown up as the brain churns through its filing”?SAT · Text Structure & Purpose
9According to the passage, what job might nightmares have?TOEFL · Factual Information
10Insert Text (TOEFL). Look at the four squares [1]–[4] in the excerpt below. They show where this sentence could be added:
“A frightening chase, for instance, may simply be the brain practicing how to escape danger.”
“A frightening chase, for instance, may simply be the brain practicing how to escape danger.”
Scientists think dreams have a real purpose. [1] Each night the sleeping brain sorts through the day. [2] It files away memories and works through feelings. [3] Some dreams may even rehearse dangers safely. [4]
Where would the sentence fit best?TOEFL · Insert TextPart 6 · Optional
Creative Writing
A bonus challenge to practice your English. Take your time and have fun with it.
About This Section
This writing task is optional and is not part of your auto-graded score. It is meant for classroom discussion and creative practice.
Writing Task — Part 4 “The Trogglehumper”
Imagine you are watching the BFG carefully crafting the trogglehumper nightmare for the Fleshlumpeater. Describe what you see, hear, and feel as he selects each jar, blends the dream ingredients, and works with slow, deliberate precision. Use vivid sensory language to make the reader feel the strangeness and power of what is being made. Write at least 40 words.
You can start with: “The BFG moved to his shelves without a word, and I watched from my hiding place as his enormous fingers reached for the first jar…”
0 / 40 words minimum
🗣 Teach It · Just for Fun (optional)
No right or wrong — close the screen and tell someone nearby what happened in this part. Can’t find anyone? Tell yourself out loud. The moment you teach it, you truly understand it.
Part 4 Complete!
You finished Chapters 12–14: Dream-Catching, A Trogglehumper for the Fleshlumpeater, Dreams
Here are your auto-graded results:
-
points out of 100
Your Writing
Your writing was checked for length, spelling, and grammar. Scroll back to Part 5 to read the feedback.
Independent study guide by Garden Heights Academy. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Roald Dahl or the Roald Dahl Story Company. Contains original analysis only; no text from the novel is reproduced. Reference text: This workbook follows Roald Dahl’s classic text (the standard Puffin edition sold worldwide). Revised 2023 UK editions change some wording and may not match the vocabulary studied here.