NEB class 11 4th Story The Wish by Roald Dahl

 4^th Story

The Wish

             Roald Dahl

The Wish is a short story by Roald Dahl about a boy who loves to dream. Every night before sleeping, he thinks about wonderful adventures and exciting places. He enjoys his imagination so much that he wishes he could stay in his dreams forever. The story shows how powerful and fun a child’s imagination can be, making even ordinary moments feel magical.

About the Writer

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a famous British writer.Roald Dahl was a famous British writer known for his imaginative and creative stories for children. His works often focus on childhood experiences, fantasy, fear, and courage.

Plot (Short)

A small boy imagines that the colored carpet in his house is a dangerous path of burning coals and poisonous snakes. He tries to reach the door by stepping only on safe parts. When he loses balance and touches a “snake,” he cries out in fear. The story ends mysteriously with his mother calling him.

Setting

The story is set inside the boy’s house, mainly in the hallway and near his bedroom, during daytime or evening. Much of the action takes place in the boy’s imagination.

Characters

• The Boy – The main character; imaginative, fearful, and brave.
• Mother – A minor character who calls the boy at the end.

Main Themes

• Power of imagination
• Fear and courage
• Childhood innocence
• Self-confidence
• Facing challenges

Summary
The Wish by Roald Dahl is a short story about a young boy who uses his imagination while lying on a carpet. He pretends the red patches are burning coals, the black ones are poisonous snakes, and only the yellow ones are safe to step on. The boy imagines this as a game to test his bravery. Earlier, he had made a wish, hoping to get a new bicycle. His mother warns him that wishes can come true in strange and unexpected ways. As he plays, the game turns intense and frightening. Just as he is about to reach the end, he slips toward a black patch, and the story ends suddenly. It teaches that wishes and imagination can lead to unexpected and scary outcomes.

Summary in detail

This short story “The Wish” has been written by Roald Dahl and is based entirely on the imagination of the main character, a small boy. The story beautifully presents how a child’s mind can transform ordinary objects into exciting and frightening adventures. Through a simple game played on a patterned carpet, Dahl explores the power of imagination, fear, and courage.

The story begins with the boy picking a scab from his knee and throwing it onto the carpet in the hallway of his house. The carpet is designed with red, black, and yellow patterns. Soon, the boy begins to imagine that the red parts are burning coals and the black parts are poisonous snakes, while the yellow parts are the only safe places to step. He creates a rule for himself that if he reaches the front door by stepping only on the yellow sections, he will be rewarded with a puppy.

As he moves forward, his imagination becomes more intense and realistic. He talks to the imagined snake and begs it not to bite him, showing how deeply he is involved in his fantasy. His fear grows when he loses balance and his hand accidentally touches a black part, which he believes is a snake. He cries out loudly in terror.

The story ends in a mysterious way, with his mother calling for him behind the house. Because of this unclear ending, some critics suggest that the boy might actually be crossing a dangerous swamp and imagining it as a carpet to give himself courage.

Overall, “The Wish” highlights the vivid imagination of children and shows how self-confidence can help overcome fear. Although the boy dreams of getting a puppy, his true motivation is to face danger bravely and prove his courage.

 Understanding the text

 a. What did the child do to the scab on his knee?

The child noticed a small scab on his knee and began to play with it absent-mindedly. He gently picked it off using his fingernails and placed it on his thigh for a moment. Then, with a quick movement of his finger, he flicked it away into the distance. The scab landed on the patterned carpet in the hallway. This simple action marks the beginning of the story and leads directly to the boy noticing the strange colors of the carpet, which later become the foundation of his imaginative adventure.

b. What kind of effect did the carpet have on the child?

The carpet had a powerful effect on the child’s mind and imagination. Its red, black, and yellow colors fascinated him deeply, making the ordinary hallway look magical and mysterious. He had never paid such close attention to it before, but now the colors seemed bright and alive. As he stared at them, his imagination took control, and he began turning the carpet into a dangerous landscape of fire and snakes. The carpet drew him completely into his fantasy world, where fear and excitement mixed together.

c. What was he afraid of while walking across the carpet?

While walking across the carpet, the child was afraid of stepping on the red parts and touching the black parts. In his imagination, the red areas were burning coals that could burn his feet, and the black areas were poisonous snakes that could bite him. He believed that only the yellow sections were safe. Every step filled him with tension and fear because he felt surrounded by danger. His imagination made the threat feel real, and he moved slowly and carefully to avoid being “burned” or “bitten.”

d. What motivated and encouraged the child to start and continue on his journey?

The child was motivated by his own imagination and the reward he promised himself. He believed that if he could cross the carpet safely by stepping only on the yellow parts, he would be given a puppy. This imaginary prize encouraged him to begin the journey and continue despite his growing fear. His desire to prove his bravery also pushed him forward. Even when he became frightened, he did not want to give up, because reaching the end meant success, courage, and the happiness of owning a puppy.

e. What did the child see as he looked down on the black patterns of the carpet?

When the child looked down at the black patterns on the carpet, he imagined them as poisonous snakes. In his mind, they were alive, moving slightly, watching him closely, and ready to strike if he made a mistake. He even spoke to one of them, begging it not to bite him. The black shapes no longer looked like simple designs but dangerous creatures. This shows how strongly his imagination controlled his thoughts and how real his fear had become during the journey.

Reference to the context

a. The writer creates two voices in the story. Who are they?

Roald Dahl creates two main voices in “The Wish”: the voice of the narrator and the voice of the child. The narrator speaks in a calm, objective, and descriptive manner. This voice explains what the boy is doing from the outside, such as picking the scab, looking at the carpet, and moving across it. It helps readers understand the physical actions and the setting clearly.

The second voice is the voice of the child’s inner thoughts and imagination. This voice is emotional, fearful, and dramatic. Through it, readers experience how the carpet turns into burning coals and poisonous snakes. The child even speaks to the imagined snake, begging it not to bite him. This voice reflects the intense feelings of a young mind—fear, excitement, and hope.

Together, these two voices allow readers to see both the real situation and the imaginary world. The narrator gives structure and clarity, while the child’s voice brings life, tension, and creativity to the story.

b. Summarize the short story “The Wish” in about 200 words.

“The Wish” by Roald Dahl is a short story about a small boy whose imagination transforms an ordinary moment into a frightening adventure. The story begins when the boy picks a scab from his knee and flicks it onto the carpet in the hallway. The carpet has red, black, and yellow patterns, which attract his attention.

Soon, the boy imagines that the red parts are burning coals and the black parts are poisonous snakes, while the yellow parts are safe. He creates a challenge for himself: if he can reach the front door by stepping only on the yellow parts, he will be rewarded with a puppy. As he moves forward, his imagination becomes stronger, and his fear grows. He even speaks to a “snake,” asking it not to bite him.

When he loses his balance and touches a black part of the carpet, he cries out in terror. The story ends mysteriously with his mother calling him from outside the house. Some readers believe this suggests he may have been crossing a real dangerous place while imagining it as a carpet.

The story highlights the power of imagination and a child’s struggle between fear and courage.

c. The story shows the events through the eyes of the narrator and the child. Comparing the two styles, who presents a more interesting or effective view for the readers? Why?

The child presents a more interesting and effective view for readers. While the narrator calmly describes the boy’s actions, the child’s perspective brings emotion, tension, and excitement into the story. Through the child’s eyes, a simple carpet becomes a dangerous land filled with fire and snakes. This transformation makes the story vivid and suspenseful.

The child’s thoughts allow readers to feel his fear, hope, and determination directly. When he talks to the snake or carefully places his feet, readers experience his danger as if it were real. His imagination turns an ordinary hallway into a dramatic adventure, which keeps readers engaged.

In contrast, the narrator’s voice is neutral and factual. It helps explain what is happening but does not create strong emotional involvement. The child’s voice, however, shows how powerful imagination can be and how real fear feels to a young mind.

Therefore, the child’s viewpoint is more effective because it makes the story lively, emotional, and memorable, allowing readers to connect deeply with his experience.

d. Is “The Wish” a story about self-confidence overcoming fear or about greed? Give your arguments.

“The Wish” is mainly a story about self-confidence overcoming fear, not about greed. Although the boy imagines that he will get a puppy as a reward, this desire is secondary. What truly drives him is his need to face the challenge he has created.

Throughout the story, the boy is terrified of the burning coals and poisonous snakes. His fear is strong, yet he continues moving forward step by step. This shows courage and determination. He wants to prove to himself that he can cross the dangerous path without giving up.

The puppy represents encouragement, not greed. The boy likely knows that it is only part of his imagination. His real struggle is against his fear. When he talks to the snake and carefully places his feet, he is practicing bravery.

Therefore, the story emphasizes how a child uses imagination to build confidence and face danger. It shows that courage does not mean the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite being afraid.

Reference beyond the text

a. Do you think our wish can be fulfilled? Why or why not?

The idea of whether a wish can be fulfilled depends on various factors, such as the nature of the wish, the effort put into achieving it, and the circumstances surrounding it. In a literal sense, wishing for something doesn’t always guarantee that it will come true, especially if the wish is unrealistic or based purely on desire without any action to support it. However, in a more metaphorical sense, our wishes or goals can often be fulfilled through hard work, determination, and persistence.

For example, if someone wishes for success, it is more likely to be fulfilled through focused effort, planning, and resilience rather than waiting passively for success to happen. On the other hand, some wishes might be beyond our control, like wishing for something that requires a change in external factors or circumstances that we can’t influence.

In stories like The Wish by Roald Dahl, the fulfillment of a wish often comes with consequences or an unexpected outcome, teaching readers that the act of wishing alone isn't always enough—it is the choices we make and the actions we take that shape our outcomes. So, while some wishes can be fulfilled, it’s important to recognize that the process often involves more than just wishing; it requires effort, patience, and careful consideration of the consequences.

b. Why do you think some people might have a frightening nature? What would you suggest to them to overcome it?

Some people may have a frightening nature due to a variety of reasons, often rooted in personal experiences, fears, or insecurities. People with a frightening or intimidating demeanor might have faced challenging life situations, such as trauma, rejection, or negative experiences, that shaped how they interact with others. This can lead to defensive behavior, aggression, or a lack of trust in others, which may make them appear frightening. Additionally, certain personality traits like being highly assertive or competitive can also contribute to an intimidating presence, even if the person is not consciously trying to scare others.

To overcome a frightening nature, it’s important for individuals to work on building self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Understanding why they react in certain ways and acknowledging their fears or insecurities can help them manage their behavior. Practicing empathy and learning to see situations from others' perspectives can also soften their approach. Developing communication skills, such as using a calm tone, open body language, and being mindful of facial expressions, can help others feel more at ease.

Seeking support through therapy or counseling can also be beneficial, especially if past trauma or deep-seated fears contribute to their intimidating nature. Ultimately, overcoming a frightening nature requires self-reflection, patience, and the willingness to make small, consistent changes to how one interacts with others.