Going Solo

How do Chapters 1-6 differ from 7-15? What elements remain the same?

Analyze how Dahl uses irony, satire, and understatement to convey the senselessness of military conflict. What specific incidents illustrate the absurdity of the wartime experience?

Investigate how Going Solo reflects the broader historical context of World War II and British colonialism. How does Dahl’s experience in the war and colonial Africa serve as a microcosm for understanding the era?

Analyze specific incidents where Dahl confronts ethical challenges. How does the memoir grapple with the morality of wartime actions and the choices soldiers must make?

Examine how Dahl contrasts the idealism of modern warfare with the reality of technological limitations. What does this say about the preparedness and value of human life in war?

Analyze the narrative voice in Going Solo. How does Roald Dahl’s use of first-person perspective influence the reader’s understanding of the events and characters? What effect does Dahl’s hindsight have on the way he recounts his wartime experiences?

Examine Dahl’s depiction of colonial Africa. How does Dahl portray the social and cultural dynamics of British colonial life? What does his account reveal about the attitudes and experiences of expatriates in Africa during the late 1930s?

Examine how Roald Dahl’s account of his crash in the Libyan Desert serves as a narrative turning point. How does this event affect his subsequent experiences and outlook on his role in the RAF?