Garden Heights Academy · Independent Novel Study

Chapter 2 Study Guide

for The BFG · Chapter 2 "Who?"

a novel by Roald Dahl

Grades 3-540 min5 Parts

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).

What Happens in Ch.2

Sophie stares at the tall, dark figure moving down the street. She realizes it is far too big to be a human — its head is higher than the upstairs windows. It must be a giant! She watches the giant stop at each house, take something from his suitcase, and blow it through a long trumpet into the bedrooms where children are sleeping. Then, suddenly, the giant turns and sees Sophie watching him. Frightened, she dives back into bed.

What We Will Study

Focus	What It Means
Suspense	How Dahl keeps us nervous and curious as Sophie watches the giant
Mystery & Inference	Working out what the giant is doing, just as Sophie does
Description	How Dahl uses size and shadow to make the giant feel real and strange

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. This guide is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by Roald Dahl, the Roald Dahl Story Company, or any associated rights holders. Students should read the original book, available from libraries and booksellers.

🌍Knowledge Bank · A Giant in a Human World

Content · Story Logic In Chapter 2, Sophie works out that the figure is a giant because it is far too tall to be human — its head is higher than the upstairs windows. Dahl makes us figure this out slowly, right alongside Sophie. This is a clever storytelling move: instead of just telling us "a giant appeared," he lets us discover it, which makes the moment more exciting and real.

Part 1

Vocabulary

Study the words from Ch.2, then answer each question.

📚Knowledge Bank · Words That Show Movement

Language Writers choose movement words carefully. In this chapter the giant moves in spurts — short, sudden bursts — rather than smoothly. A word like that tells you how something moves and helps you picture it. As you read, notice the verbs Dahl picks: they do a lot of work in a short space.

figuren.Ch.2

The shape of someone or something you cannot see clearly

"A tall, dark figure moved slowly along the row of quiet houses."

spurtsn.Ch.2

Short, sudden bursts of movement, then a pause

"The figure travelled in spurts — stopping, then darting forward, then stopping again."

crouchingv.Ch.2

Bending low to stay hidden or small

"The giant kept crouching low so the shadows would hide his enormous body."

mistyadj.Ch.2

Filled with thin fog; slightly hard to see through

"Across the misty street, the shapes of the houses looked soft and grey."

frozenadj.Ch.2

Unable to move, often because of fear

"Sophie stood frozen at the glass, too scared to move even one finger."

enormousadj.Ch.2

Extremely large in size

"No human could be that enormous — the figure was taller than the rooftops."

1Sophie could not see the shape clearly, but she could tell it was tall and dark. What is the best word for a shape you cannot see clearly?Ch.2

2True or False: If something moves in "spurts," it moves smoothly and steadily without ever stopping.Ch.2

3Fill in each blank with the correct word.Ch.2

Word choices:enormousfrozenmistyspurtstrumpetsuitcase- some words will not be used

The giant was so that his head rose above the rooftops.

Sophie was so scared she stood completely at the window.

Across the street, the houses looked soft and grey.

4True or False: "Crouching" means standing up as tall and straight as possible.Ch.2

5The giant bent down low to keep himself hidden in the shadows. Which word describes this?Ch.2

Part 2

Comprehension

How well do you understand Ch.2?

🌙Knowledge Bank · Dreams in a Trumpet

Content · Foreshadowing In this chapter Sophie sees the giant blow something from a long trumpet into children's bedrooms. We don't yet know what it is — but the book will later reveal he is blowing dreams to sleeping children. Dahl plants this mystery early. When a story shows you something strange before explaining it, that is a clue worth remembering.

1How does Sophie know the figure is NOT a human being?Ch.2

2True or False: The giant walks straight down the middle of the street without stopping.Ch.2

3What does the giant do at each house he stops at?Ch.2

4Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.Ch.2

Word choices:suitcasetrumpetwindowladderdoorgarden- some words will not be used

The giant carried a long in one hand and a large in the other.

5Write the numbers 1-5 in the boxes to show the correct order. Number 1 = what happens first.Ch.2

Sophie realizes the figure is a giant because it is far too tall to be human.
Sophie sees a tall, dark figure moving down the misty street.
The giant blows something from his trumpet into a child's bedroom.
She watches the figure stop and peer into each house along the street.
The giant suddenly sees Sophie, and she dives back into bed.

Part 3

Literary Elements

Understanding HOW and WHY Dahl creates certain feelings.

🧉Knowledge Bank · Letting the Reader Discover

Author's Craft Dahl could have written "Sophie saw a giant." Instead, he shows her noticing clues — the huge height, the shadow, the strange movements — and working it out step by step. Letting the reader discover something alongside the character is a powerful tool that pulls us into the story.

Suspense

Suspense is the nervous, excited feeling that makes you want to know what happens next. Dahl builds it by having Sophie watch the giant for a long time before anything happens — we keep wondering what he will do.

1Why does Dahl have Sophie watch the giant for a long time before he notices her?Ch.2

Imagery & Description

Imagery is descriptive language that helps you picture something in your mind. Describing the giant as tall, black, thin, and hiding in shadows makes a clear, eerie picture — even though we can't see his face.

2Dahl describes the giant as "very tall and very black and very thin." What does this description mostly help the reader do?Ch.2

Inference

Inference means figuring something out from clues instead of being told directly. Sophie infers the figure is a giant from its size. Good readers make inferences too.

3True or False: When Sophie decides the figure must be a giant, she is making an inference from clues.Ch.2

4Fill in the blanks with the correct literary terms.Ch.2

Word choices:suspenseinferenceimagerydialoguerhymesetting- some words will not be used

The long, slow wait while Sophie watches the giant creates , and figuring out that he is a giant from clues is an .

5The chapter is titled "Who?" Why is this a good title for what happens?Ch.2

Part 4

Think Deeper

These questions have only one correct answer. Think carefully!

💭Knowledge Bank · Clues the Giant May Be Kind

Author's Craft The giant seems scary — but look closely at what he actually does in Ch.2: he gently blows something into children's rooms and tries hard not to be seen. These small details are quiet clues that this giant might not be dangerous after all. Strong readers notice when actions don't quite match first impressions.

1The giant takes great care to hide in shadows and not be seen. What does this suggest?Ch.2

2The giant gently blows something into children's bedrooms instead of harming them. What might this hint about him?Ch.2

3True or False: Sophie is the only person who sees the giant, which makes her part in the story special.Ch.2

4Why is the moment when the giant SEES Sophie so important?Ch.2

5Fill in the blanks to complete the idea.Ch.2

Word choices:curioussecretboreddangersleepysafe- some words will not be used

Because Sophie is enough to keep watching, she becomes the only human who knows the giant's .

Part 5 · 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. The feedback below checks only the basics — length, spelling, and grammar — not whether your ideas are right or wrong. It is meant for classroom discussion and creative practice, so feel free to use your imagination!

Writing Task - Ch.2 "Who?"

Imagine you are Sophie at the window, watching the giant move down the street. Describe what you see, hear, and feel. What do you think the giant is doing, and are you frightened or curious? Write at least 40 words.

You can start with: "I pressed my face against the cold glass and held my breath. The tall shape was getting closer, stopping at every house, and I could not look away because..."

0 / 40 words minimum

Chapter 2 Complete!

You finished "Who?"

Here are your auto-graded results:

-

points from auto-graded questions

Your Writing

Your optional writing was checked automatically for length, spelling, grammar, and key parts of the scene. Scroll back to Part 5 anytime to read your feedback and improve your work.

Roald Dahl

"Don't gobblefunk around with words."

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.