How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
“You is trying to change the subject,” the Giant said sternly. “We is having interesting babblement about the taste of the human bean. The human bean is not a vegetable.” “Oh, but the bean is a vegetable,” Sophie said. “Not the human bean,” the Giant said. “The human bean has two legs and a vegetable has no legs at all.” (5.21-23)
Sophie’s still trying to understand the way the BFG speaks, which is why she gets confused about bean vs. being. Especially since a “bean” is something humans eat, and humans are basically bean-sized somethings that giants eat.
Quote #2
“They say the English is tasting ever so wonderfully of crodscollop.” “I’m not sure I quite know what that means,” Sophie said. “Meanings is not important,” said the BFG. “I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left instead of right.” (6.27-29)
You may not know what “crodscollop” is (it sounds like a kind of fish?), but according to the BFG, there’s something wonderful about the taste. So if you like fish, you’re in for a treat. Also, this is the first time he uses “left” to mean wrong. That’s a word that’s going to pop up a lot more, so keep an eye out for it.
Quote #3
“Your brain is full of rotten-wool.” “You mean cotton-wool,” Sophie said. “What I mean and what I say is two different things,” the BFG announced rather grandly. (8.12-14)
Here’s another example of the author’s clever wordplay. By replacing “cotton” with the word “rotten,” he makes the BFG’s insult sound like even more of a burn.