The Twits

Many of the perspectives offered by the story’s narrator are ones shared by Dahl. With this in mind, explore where Dahl ends and the narrator begins. Can authors completely separate themselves from their stories, or do all stories contain at least some part of their creator? Does knowing that the narrator shares Dahl’s perspective change how you understand the book? Why or why not?

The narrator makes the distinction that Mr. Twit has always been terrible but Mrs. Twit has not. What context does this offer to the characters? Does it make any important distinctions between them? Why or why not? Why do you think Dahl chose to include this information? Would the story have been different if both the Twits had once been beautiful or both always been terrible? Why or why not?

From reading The Twits, what lessons have you learned about the importance of kindness and compassion? What do Mr. and Mrs. Twits’ attitudes toward one another and the animals say about how we treat others? Have you noticed twit-like tendencies in yourself? How might you change your outlook and behavior to be less like the Twits?

Consider the times when Dahl’s narrator breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the reader. How did these moments affect your reading experience? Did they enhance the story? Why or why not? If so, what did they offer that the story otherwise didn’t have? If not, how would the story have been better without them?

Considering the book’s major theme of Actions Have Consequences, discuss how the Twits’ choices led to their downfall. From even before the opening of the book, what actions and choices lead to the consequences that ultimately result in the Twits succumbing to the shrinks? How could they have avoided this fate by making different choices? Are the fates we find completely controlled by the choices we make? Why or why not?

The boys in Chapter 16 only show up once in the story and have no lasting impact on the outcome of events. Why do you think Dahl chose to include this chapter? Does this chapter bring anything to the story that isn’t already covered in other chapters? Could this chapter be removed without consequence to the book? Would you replace it with anything? If so what?

In Chapter 2, the narrator explains that Mr. Twit has always been a twit and becomes more of a twit as he ages, suggesting that people never really change. Do you agree with this idea? Why or why not? What evidence from the book or real life makes you believe in your stance?

Explore the messages The Twits offers about communication through the monkeys and the Roly-Poly Bird. How do language barriers keep people from finding common ground or learning to get along? What are the benefits of removing these barriers? Are there drawbacks to increasing the efficacy of communication? Support your answer with evidence from the text.