Autobiography - Lesson 5 - Captain Hardcastle Worksheet

In an extract from Roald Dahl's autobiography "Boy," Captain Hardcastle is vividly portrayed as a man marked by his experiences and eccentric appearance. Described as having a "savage face" with a "deeply corrugated brow," he is suggested to possess limited intelligence. His life philosophy is depicted as one of mistrust and defensiveness, viewing men as adversaries and small boys as potential threats. The Captain's physical mannerisms are equally distinctive, with an incessantly twitching orange head and accompanying grunts, symptomatic of what was rumored among the boys to be shell-shock from his military service in the Great War. Despite holding onto his military title of Captain in civilian life, which the boys considered rather unimpressive, his perpetual restlessness painted a picture of a man forever marked by his past.

In another section of Dahl's autobiography, Captain Hardcastle is further described through the eyes of the schoolboys at St Peter's, where he was not only a feared master but also an athletic figure on the football field. His lean, muscular physique, with legs likened to ram's legs and skin the color of mutton fat, was accentuated by his sports attire. His striking vermilion hair, slicked back with brilliantine, and his meticulously straight parting were as much a part of his character as his extraordinary moustache. This facial hair, a thick orange hedge that curled upwards in an elaborate fashion, was the subject of much speculation among the boys. They imagined it required meticulous grooming, possibly involving curling tongs or a toothbrush, to maintain its impressive curl. Captain Hardcastle's appearance, combined with his demeanor, left an indelible impression on the students, one that Roald Dahl captures with his characteristic descriptive flair.