The Elevator Attacked By a Knid
Quentin Blake's illustrations craft this image for the reader in the most vivid way, but Dahl himself manages to implant it in the reader's mind even without assistance. The image of the Elevator tied up by a Knid as it trails the Commuter Capsule below is implausible, hilarious, and scary all at the same time. Though most of the Wonka/Charlie tales is plausible, sometimes Dahl ratchets up the craziness to an unbelievable degree.
Balancing the Budget
While deciding what to do about the "enemies" or "aliens" inside the Elevator, the Chief Financial Adviser to the President suddenly brags that he has finally balanced the budget. In reality, this would mean he evened out debt and spending, but in this fantastical world, he is literally balancing the thick budget on his head. Dahl's image here reminds us of his cleverness and his keen way of poking and prodding at the English language and its colloquialisms, cliches, and aphorisms.
Out of Bed
Wonka and Charlie try to get the old ones out of bed for nearly the entire time they are in space and in the factory, but it is only when they realize they might have to miss out on meeting the President do they leap out of bed like gazelles. It is an image of sheer delight and hilarity: seeing three wizened old people in their nightshirts fly out of bed is not an everyday occurrence.
Chocolate Factory
The image of the chocolate factory itself is one of the most famous in children's literature. The chocolate river, trees, and candy adornments are every child's (and adult's) dream; it is an improbable and magical place, and it speaks to the ineffable joys of childhood.
