63 pages 2 hours read

Roald Dahl

James And The Giant Peach

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1961

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Chapters 8-13

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 8-9 Summary

Spiker’s plan is to charge people to visit and photograph the giant peach, so they build a fence around it and sell tickets at the gate. James is forced to stay inside and watch through the bars of his window. He begs his aunts to let him join in, “I haven't met any other children for years and years”, but they call him a “disgusting little brute” (26) and lock him inside with no food. At the end of the day, Spiker and Sponge order James to go outside and clean up the mess left by the visitors around the peach tree. It is already nighttime, but they show no mercy and shut the door behind him, leaving him alone in the garden in the dark. James, scared and hungry, stands alone in the night, trembling with fear. He looks at the giant peach shining in the moonlight, like a wonderful “tremendous silver ball” (28). Suddenly he feels that the garden is “alive with magic” (28) and excitement replaces his fear. He senses that something wonderful is about to happen. James finds himself drawn towards the peach. He climbs the fence and rubs his face against the soft peach fuzz.

Related Titles

By Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

Beware of the Dog

Roald Dahl

Beware of the Dog

Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

Billy and the Minpins

Roald Dahl

Billy and the Minpins

Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

Boy: Tales of Childhood

Roald Dahl

Boy: Tales of Childhood

Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

Danny, the Champion of the World

Roald Dahl

Danny, the Champion of the World

Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

George's Marvelous Medicine

Roald Dahl

George's Marvelous Medicine

Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

Lamb To The Slaughter

Roald Dahl

Lamb To The Slaughter

Roald Dahl

Study Guide

logo

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

Study Guide

logo

The Magic Finger

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

The Magic Finger

Roald Dahl, Illustr. Quentin Blake

Study Guide

logo

The Way Up To Heaven

Roald Dahl

The Way Up To Heaven

Roald Dahl