The Magic Finger

“And suddenly a sort of flash comes out of me, a quick flash, like something electric. It jumps out and touches the person who has made me cross.”

Simile is used to compare the flash to an electric charge, communicating the utter power of the magic finger. By describing the power as jumping out and touching people, the power appears to have a will of its own. The magic finger is described here as being triggered by anger and other strong emotions, foreshadowing what is to follow and developing the theme of The Power of Emotion.

“BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! went the guns.”

The repetition of “BANG!” mimics the sound of gunshots, creating a rhythmic and onomatopoeic effect that makes the moment more real. This auditory imagery emphasizes the violence of the hunting activity, which develops the theme of The Importance of Empathy. The abruptness and frequency of the gunshots show how careless the hunters are, emphasizing their lack of attention at the beginning of the story to the damage they are causing.

“All the way home those four ducks flew around in the sky above their heads, and nothing would make them go away.”

The phrase “nothing would make them go away” personifies the ducks, attributing persistence and agency to them and suggesting that something sinister and strange is going on. The ducks’ continued presence serves as a reminder of the harm caused by the Greggs’ hunting and is the beginning of their lesson in having empathy for the vulnerable. This moment foreshadows the transformation, where the Greggs will experience firsthand the impact of their actions.

“The night was very still. There was a yellow moon over the trees on the hill, and the sky was filled with stars.”

Dahl’s use of descriptive imagery paints a serene night scene, contrasting with the impending chaos that follows in the morning. The “yellow moon” and “filled with stars” phrases communicate a sense of calm and beauty, setting a peaceful backdrop, much like the cliche “calm before the storm.” The contrast emphasizes the terrors that follow.

“They had wings and no arms. And they were really tiny. They were about as big as robins.”

The simile “as big as robins” provides a visual comparison for readers to imagine the new size of the Gregg family. The absence of arms and the presence of wings symbolize a loss of the power that they once had as humans, particularly the power to hold a gun. Their small size and bird-like features emphasize this vulnerability, forcing them to experience life from the perspective of the creatures they once hunted.

“‘Oh, isn’t it lovely!’ cried William. ‘I’ve always wanted to know what it feels like to be a bird!’”

William’s exclamation reflects a childish fascination with the idea of being a bird and acts as a contrast with his brother’s later realization that he could be eaten by a predator. The use of “lovely” contrasts with the hardships the Greggs will soon face. This quote relates to the theme of The Importance of Empathy for human change, as the Greggs will soon learn just how difficult life can be for a bird, spurring their own transformation.

“Just because we have wings, we don’t have to eat bird food.”

This statement demonstrates the Greggs’ resistance to their new lives as birds, and the denial they are in about their position. It characterizes them as naive and unable to understand what is happening to them. The moment foreshadows the challenges the Greggs will face in adjusting to their new lives and the lessons they will learn.

“Then there came a very funny noise. It was like a bird laughing.”

The description “like a bird laughing” uses a simile to communicate an unfamiliar and unsettling sound, creating an eerie atmosphere. The personification of the bird as “laughing” suggests that the birds are mocking the Greggs, showing the reversal of roles. The Greggs were once the ones laughing at the protagonist and the animals they hunted. This moment hints that the Greggs are about to face the consequences of their actions.

“Then came the rain. It rained and rained, and the water ran into the nest and they all got as wet as could be—and oh, it was a bad night!”

This line uses repetition (“rained and rained”) and imagery to emphasize the discomfort and suffering the Greggs’ experience while living as birds. The simplicity of the language (“oh, it was a bad night!”) matches a child’s tone, paralleling the narrator’s voice and making the emotional impact accessible to young readers. The nest, a symbol of vulnerability and adaptation, becomes a harsh environment, showing how the Greggs now face the kind of hardships wild animals endure.

“‘Yesterday you shot my children,’ said the duck. ‘You shot all six of my children.’”

This quote uses direct and plain speech to deliver a devastating truth, allowing young readers to grasp the seriousness of the Greggs’ past actions. The repetition of “you shot” emphasizes personal responsibility and causes a strong emotional impact, contrasting earlier scenes where hunting was treated lightly. It shows the full cost of cruelty from the animals’ perspective, leading both the characters and readers to reflect on the consequences of violence and reinforcing the importance of empathy.

“Then the black that was before their eyes turned to blue, to green, and then to gold, and suddenly, there they were, standing in lovely bright sunshine in their own garden, near their own house, and everything was back to normal once again.”

This sentence uses color imagery and a flowing rhythm to emphasize the shift from chaos back to peace again. The movement from “black” to “gold” mirrors the Greggs’ journey of understanding and transformation. The use of “lovely bright sunshine” symbolizes rebirth and clarity, suggesting the Greggs have changed for the better. The abrupt return to normal life marks the resolution of the story’s conflict but suggests they have learned a lifelong lesson.

“Then, high above their heads, they heard the call of a wild duck. They all looked up, and they saw the four birds, lovely against the blue sky, flying very close together, heading back to the lake in the woods.”

The phrase “lovely against the blue sky” evokes awe and respect, and the ducks flying “very close together” emphasizes family and humanizes the ducks. This moment contrasts with the Greggs’ earlier violence and shows how nature thrives when left alone. It acts as a gentle but powerful conclusion to the animals’ side of the story.

“They were surrounded by ducks, doves, pigeons, sparrows, robins, larks, and many other kinds that I did not know, and the birds were eating the barley that the boys were scattering by the handful.”

This scene has a joyful mood and illustrates the Greggs’ transformation from hunters to helpers. Surrounded by peaceful birds and feeding them by hand, the boys show an active choice to care for, not harm, nature. They have learned to have empathy through the powerful lesson they were taught. The long list of bird species celebrates diversity in wildlife and highlights that, while before, the birds were all the same to the Greggs, they have now become more real through their specificity and individuality.