The BFG’s Ears

The BFG has enormous ears that he can swivel and move about. His ears are a symbol not only what makes him different, but also what makes him special. The other giants do not have huge ears like his. The BFG uses his fantastic ears to listen for dreams to collect. With his ears he is able to hear things that ordinary people (and giants!) cannot, like the conversations of insects. The way the ears move about is significant because when Sophie is travelling with the BFG he swivels an ear out so that if forms a bowl in which Sophie sits comfortably as the BFG runs – so comfortably that she falls asleep there. His difference is one of the things that comforts Sophie, perhaps because she is different too.

Nicholas Nickleby

Nicholas Nickleby is a novel by Charles Dickens. It is the...