You know that saying, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts?” It doesn’t apply to this book. Or at least, it’s not any different from what’s on the outside, because in The BFG, physical descriptions reflect the nature of the characters or places. The people-eating giants are horrifically ugly. Dream Country is full of mist. Even bad-tasting vegetables look like a science experiment gone horribly wrong.
The only character who looks different at different times is the BFG himself. In the beginning, when Sophie thinks he’s going to eat her, we read about his huge teeth. But later, when he reveals himself to be gentle, he has a weird, huge kind of beauty. It’s Sophie’s story, after all, so beauty is in the eye of Sophie.
Questions About Appearances
- How does Sophie’s opinion of the BFG’s looks change over the course of the story?
- What does the description of Giant Country show us about giants? How does the description of Dream Country reflect dreams?
- How do you think the Queen thinks of the BFG when she first sees him?
- Describe how Sophie looks from the BFG’s point of view.
Chew on This
The narration in The BFG compares the giants’ mouths to food often in order to emphasize the danger of the creatures.
Sophie’s change of clothes from her nightie to the princess’s dress and brooch represents her growth of power and status.