Of course they're real people. They're Oompa-Loompas...Imported direct from Loompaland...And oh what a terrible country it is! Nothing but thick jungles infested by the most dangerous beasts in the world - hornswogglers and snozzwangers and those terrible wicked whangdoodles. A whangdoodle would eat ten Oompa-Loompas for breakfast and come galloping back for a second helping.
In "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl, the Oompa-Loompas are introduced as real individuals who have been brought from their homeland, Loompaland. The narrator describes Loompaland as a perilous place filled with thick jungles and dangerous creatures. Such a setting illustrates the harsh realities of their native environment, which includes fearsome beasts like hornswogglers and snozzwangers. This vivid description emphasizes the challenges these characters have faced.
The mention of the whangdoodle, a fearsome creature that could easily devour multiple Oompa-Loompas, further highlights the danger inherent in their home. This backdrop allows readers to appreciate the Oompa-Loompas' resilience and the juxtaposition of their whimsical, cartoonish demeanor with the perilous nature of the world from which they come. In this way, Dahl combines elements of fantasy and danger, enriching the story's narrative.