Beware of the Dog

Peter Williamson is a dynamic protagonist who undergoes a psychological journey throughout the story. He begins as a competent pilot whose confidence masks the severity of his injury, and he ends the story as a determined character willing to uncover the seriousness of his situation. While “Beware of the Dog” can be categorized as war fiction, the story focuses not on Peter’s battles as a fighter pilot but on his psychological battle for the truth. Far from the action-packed sequences expected of most war stories, Dahl’s tale centers on a protagonist who is largely immobile and bedridden, with the notable exception of Peter’s climactic crawl to and from the window—an action he takes to find out the truth about his location. While other characters serve important roles, the narrative is centered on Peter and his subjective perception of his surroundings. His changing relationship to fear and truth anchors the major plot beats.

Techniques like tone, interior monologue, and vivid sensory detail establish that Peter is an assured and experienced fighter pilot. The limited third-person narration closely mirrors Peter’s