41 pages • 1 hour read
David WalliamsGangsta Granny
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Ballroom Dancing
In Gangsta Granny, ballroom dancing represents family disagreements, adding to the story’s theme of Navigating Family Relationships. In the story, Ben’s parents are obsessed with ballroom dancing—much to Ben’s chagrin. Ben often feels lonely and misunderstood because of how his parents prioritize ballroom dancing over him: “Now, Ben’s mum and Dad loved ballroom dancing. Sometimes Ben thought they loved it more than they loved him” (12). Their differing opinions on ballroom dancing create tension between Ben and his parents, who hope that one day he will embrace dancing as well. Mum and Dad even want Ben to pursue dance himself and become a professional ballroom dancer, ignoring his dream of becoming a plumber.
This intense disagreement leaves Ben ashamed of his passion for plumbing, and he hides his plumbing magazine from his parents. At the end of the story, Ben’s parents accept that he is uninterested in dancing and are more open-minded about his dream of working as a plumber. As a result, Ben has less ballroom dancing talk—and family conflict—in his life.
Cabbage Soup
Granny’s cabbage soup is a symbol of generational differences and misunderstandings. Granny and Ben have completely different perspectives on her classic soup. Granny enjoys making it and eating it every day, while Ben is disgusted by its flavor, texture, and smell. This is indicative of the many interests or behaviors that separate Ben and Granny and make it difficult for them to connect. While Granny favors homemade meals, frugality, and routine, Ben longs for something more tasty, novel, and interesting.
The soup’s meaning changes over the course of the story, as Granny begins using tins of the soup as a tool in her “heists.” She nearly breaks a window with one when Ben first catches her in the supposed act of robbing a jewelry store, and she suggests using another tin to break the case of the Crown Jewels when Ben’s plan fails. By uniting what each character wants—Ben wants to try something fun and pursue his hobby and Granny wants Ben to enjoy spending time with her—cabbage soup helps them with Overcoming Generational Difference. The soup that had originally symbolized their differences thus becomes a symbol of their bond, as it shows their fresh interest in spending time together and trying new things.
The Jewels
Granny’s secret jewels represent the ‘hidden treasure’ of Granny’s fun and nurturing personality and wealth of life experience. Ben dislikes spending time at Granny’s house until he discovers the jewels she has hidden in the cookie tin. By keeping the jewels in the tin, the author suggests that Granny always wanted to be a kind and fun grandma but struggled to show certain sides of her personality in her relationship with Ben. The “jewels,” or Grandma’s depth of character, wasn’t readily apparent; Ben had to be curious enough to search for it. This contributes to the story’s theme of Deepening Relationships with Curiosity and Discovery.
By uncovering the jewels, Ben is also able to uncover this different side of Granny’s personality. The precious gems allow Ben to imagine that Granny really is a “gangsta” and not merely a “textbook granny,” opening his mind about her. For instance, by discussing the jewels with his grandmother, Ben sets aside his previous judgments and begins to enjoy her storytelling, companionship, and sense of adventure. Once he has discovered the hidden treasure that is Granny, Ben begins to have fun with her and appreciates the role she plays in his life.
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By David Walliams
