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TL;DR: Sophie, an orphan, is snatched from her bed by a giant and carried to Giant Country. Luckily, he is the Big Friendly Giant, who catches dreams and refuses to eat people. When the other giants plan to eat children in England, Sophie and the BFG create a dream for the Queen, who sends the army to capture them.
Table of Contents
The BFG at a Glance
| Author | Roald Dahl |
| First published | 1982 |
| Type | Novel |
| Best for | children who want a funny, imaginative adventure with a lovable giant |
The BFG is a children's novel by Roald Dahl, published in 1982 with illustrations by Quentin Blake. It is famous for the BFG's jumbled, playful language. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Main Characters
- Sophie: A brave, clever orphan girl.
- The BFG: The Big Friendly Giant, who catches dreams.
- The Fleshlumpeater: The biggest and most dangerous giant.
- The Bloodbottler: A giant who eats people.
- The Queen of England: Who helps stop the giants.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
The witching hour
Late at night in an orphanage, Sophie peeks out the window and sees a giant blowing something into a bedroom. The giant sees her and carries her away so that she cannot tell anyone.
Giant Country
Sophie fears she will be eaten. But the BFG explains that he does not eat people. He eats disgusting snozzcumbers and drinks fizzy frobscottle, which causes “whizzpopping.” The other giants, much bigger, gallop off each night to eat “human beans.”
Dream Country
The BFG catches dreams in jars and blows good ones into children's rooms. Sophie learns that the giants plan to eat children at a school in England.
The plan
Sophie has an idea. The BFG mixes a dream for the Queen of England showing the giants' crimes and Sophie on her windowsill. When the Queen wakes, Sophie is really there, and the BFG explains everything over a huge breakfast.
The ending
The army flies to Giant Country, ties up the sleeping giants and drops them into a deep pit. The BFG and Sophie live in houses near the palace. The BFG learns to read and write, and the book hints that he wrote the story himself.
5 Key Takeaways
- Being different is not the same as being bad.
- Friendship can bridge big gaps.
- Bravery helps solve big problems.
- Words can be fun and creative.
- Kindness is stronger than strength.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- Size does not decide who is good.
- Dreams can change the world.
- Even a giant can be gentle.
Who Should Read The BFG?
Read The BFG if you want a funny, imaginative story to read aloud. It suits readers aged 7 and up.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of The BFG:
- Why does the BFG speak in a jumbled way?
- How does Sophie help the BFG?
- Was trapping the giants fair?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether The BFG is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of The BFG, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
If the summary caught your interest, read the opening chapters before you decide. A summary tells you what happens, but the voice and pacing are what make a book work or not.
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What to Read Next
- Matilda by Roald Dahl: another Dahl classic
- The Witches by Roald Dahl: a scary and funny Dahl adventure
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl: a magical journey
Related: 15 Books Like The BFG You’ll Love · Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The BFG about?
An orphan befriends a kind giant and stops the evil giants.
What does BFG stand for?
Big Friendly Giant.
What is frobscottle?
A fizzy drink that makes the BFG whizzpop.
What are snozzcumbers?
Disgusting vegetables the BFG eats.
Who helps Sophie and the BFG?
The Queen of England.
What happens to the giants?
They are trapped in a huge pit.
What age is it for?
About 7 and up.
Is there a film?
Yes, including the 2016 Steven Spielberg film.
How long is it?
About 200 pages.
What is a whizzpopper?
The BFG's word for the noisy, happy burp-like wind that frobscottle causes.
Why does the BFG talk strangely?
He never went to school, so he mixes up words and invents new ones like “scrumdiddlyumptious.”
How tall is the BFG?
About 24 feet, small compared with the other giants, who are around 50 feet tall.
Who are the main characters in The BFG?
The main characters are Sophie, the BFG, the Fleshlumpeater, the Bloodbottler and the Queen of England. Sophie: A brave, clever orphan girl. The BFG: The Big Friendly Giant, who catches dreams. The Fleshlumpeater: The biggest and most dangerous giant.
Is The BFG worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for children who want a funny, imaginative adventure with a lovable giant. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.