How does Roald Dahl create a vivid picture of boarding school life in his story?
Roald Dahl creates a vivid picture of boarding school life by focusing on the relationships between the students and the teachers. The teachers are often depicted as overbearing, which is a common perception of boarding school instructors. The students, on the other hand, form alliances and have their own little hierarchies within the school. Dahl also describes the physical environment in detail, from the drafty dormitories to the echoing hallways. He shows how the students interact with these spaces, whether it's hiding in a corner to avoid a teacher or running through the corridors during a prank. All these elements combined make the boarding school in his story come alive in the reader's mind.
Dahl uses detailed descriptions. He describes the old, creaky buildings of the boarding school, which immediately gives a sense of the place's age and perhaps a bit of spookiness. Also, his descriptions of the strict teachers with their stern looks and booming voices make the power - hungry authority figures very real.
