Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Creative Writing: Short Story From the Perspective of Another Character”

In this activity, students will write a creative story about one of the characters in Dahl’s story.

“The Landlady” centers on the interactions between Billy and the titular character; however, the reader learns about two other characters, who, although mentioned by name, are not given a backstory. Furthermore, the reader only learns about the landlady from the perspective of Billy. In this Activity, you will write a short story providing background to one of the characters other than Billy. Use the questions below to guide your writing:

• Who is your character? What is their background?
• How are they related to the landlady (if applicable)?
• Which characters do they interact with?
• What is their fate? What is the climax of their story?
• How does their story relate to the landlady and Billy’s interaction?

After writing your story, present the work in an in-class reading. Consider the variety of interpretations regarding the characters’ backgrounds in your peers’ creative works.

Teaching Suggestion: This Activity invites students to reflect upon Dahl’s characterization in their own creative writing piece.