Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The BFG. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant ask the Queen of England for help. With mixed dreams the BFG gives her, the Queen believes them, and soldiers capture the nine man-eating giants and drop them into a pit in London. The BFG and Sophie live next to Buckingham Palace, and the BFG learns to read and write, hinting that he wrote the book himself.
Quick facts
– Book: The BFG by Roald Dahl
– First published: 1982
– Type: A children's novel
– Tone of the ending: Joyful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Sophie, an orphan, sees a giant blowing dreams into children's windows. He snatches her and takes her to Giant Country. He is the Big Friendly Giant, who catches dreams and eats snozzcumbers instead of children, unlike the other giants, such as the Fleshlumpeater and the Bloodbottler.
What Happens at the End of The BFG
Sophie persuades the BFG to stop the other giants from eating children, and together they mix a special dream showing the Queen exactly what is happening: giants raiding England, and a little girl and a friendly giant waiting on her windowsill. The BFG blows it into the Queen's bedroom. When she wakes, she finds Sophie there and believes the story. The BFG is served a gigantic breakfast at Buckingham Palace. The Queen calls in the heads of the army and air force. Guided by the BFG, helicopters fly to Giant Country, and soldiers tie up the nine giants while they sleep. The giants are lowered into a huge pit, where they are fed snozzcumbers forever. The BFG is given a house next to the palace, with a cottage for Sophie, and he receives gifts from around the world. He learns to read and write, and the book suggests he wrote this story himself.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- The giants are captured.
- The Queen helps.
- The BFG learns to write.
- Sophie finds a home.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Sophie | Lives with the BFG |
| The BFG | Becomes famous |
| The Fleshlumpeater | Imprisoned |
| The Queen | Helps |
What the Ending Means
The ending celebrates kindness and friendship.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers enjoy the BFG's invented language, from 'whizzpopping' to 'snozzcumber,' and many remember it as Dahl's warmest book. Dahl dedicated it to his daughter Olivia, who died young.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Friendship. Sophie and the BFG.
Kindness. The BFG is kind.
Courage. Sophie is brave.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The BFG as joyful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Roald Dahl to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are joyful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Roald Dahl closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
Steven Spielberg's 2016 film ends with Sophie and the BFG living separately, with the BFG returning to Giant Country.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The BFG with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about friendship, and do you agree with Roald Dahl's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as joyful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces friendship and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Roald Dahl leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The BFG often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The BFG earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of The BFG on Amazon
Books to Read After The BFG
- Matilda by Roald Dahl
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Related: The BFG by Roald Dahl: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like The BFG You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The BFG?
Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant ask the Queen of England for help. With mixed dreams the BFG gives her, the Queen believes them, and soldiers capture the nine man-eating giants and drop them into a pit in London. The BFG and Sophie live next to Buckingham Palace, and the BFG learns to read and write, hinting that he wrote the book himself.
Is the ending of The BFG happy or sad?
Most readers call it joyful.
What does the ending of The BFG mean?
The ending celebrates kindness and friendship.
Is the ending of The BFG the same in the adaptation?
Steven Spielberg's 2016 film ends with Sophie and the BFG living separately, with the BFG returning to Giant Country.
Who wrote The BFG and when was it published?
The BFG was written by Roald Dahl and first published in 1982.
Is The BFG worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy children's novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Roald Dahl prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The BFG before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.