The BFG

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For other uses, see BFG.

The BFG (which stands for "Big Friendly Giant") is a children's book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake, first published in 1982. An animated film based on the book was released in 1989 with David Jason providing the voice of the BFG and Amanda Root as the voice of Sophie (a character Dahl based on his own granddaughter).


[edit] Snozzcumber

The Snozzcumber is a fictional food featured prominently in this novel. The Snozzcumber resembles a cucumber but differs in various respects. The snozzcumber varies from nine to twelve feet long. It is striped lengthwise black and white, with wart-like growths all over its surface. It, along with Frobscottle (which gives them whizzpoppers), is the sole diet of the BFG until he has captured the man-eaters. Having done so, he feeds them snozzcumbers for the rest of their lives – an apparent act of revenge, due to the snozzcumber's repulsive flavor.

[edit] Connections to other works

The BFG is mentioned in Dahl's earlier children's book Danny, the Champion of the World, in which he is featured in a bedtime story told to the protagonist Danny by his father.

Jack is mentioned as the only human the giants fear. They have very little knowledge of Jack the Giant Killer; their ignorance causes them to conflate him with the folktale, "Jack and the Beanstalk", which also featured man-eating giants. Because none of them know what a beanstalk is, they assume it is a weapon.

The BFG should not be confused with The Friendly Giant, a long-running Canadian television character, or the BFG 9000, a weapon in the Doom video game series.

The snozzcumber and the term 'friendly giant' are mentioned in the book Inkheart.

[edit] Editions

v • d • e
Works by Roald Dahl
Children's stories
Children's poetry
Revolting Rhymes (1982) · Dirty Beasts (1983) · Rhyme Stew (1989)
Adult novels
Adult short story collections
Non-fiction
Plays
The Honeys (1955)