Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
Not found
Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
Get the full theme breakdown in the app
Detailed evidence, confidence ratings, and source citations for every theme.
Download for iOSExample theme card
Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Neck is a short, sharp, frightening story from Roald Dahl, the master of the shocking tale
In Neck, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a sculpture comes between a scheming wife and her put-upon husband . . .
Neck is taken from the short story collection Someone Like You, which includes seventeen other devious and shocking stories, featuring the wife who serves a dish that baffles the police; a curious machine that reveals the horrifying truth about plants; the man waiting to be bitten by the venomous snake asleep on his stomach; and others.
'The absolute master of the twist in the tale.' (Observer)
This story is also available as a Penguin digital audio download read by Julian Rhind-Tutt.
Roald Dahl, the brilliant and worldwide acclaimed author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, and many more classics for children, also wrote scores of short stories for adults. These delightfully disturbing tales have often been filmed and were most recently the inspiration for the West End play, Roald Dahl's Twisted Tales by Jeremy Dyson. Roald Dahl's stories continue to make readers shiver today.
Frequently asked questions
Is Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story contains elements of violence, particularly involving a character who is harmed in the neck, which is implied to be a significant and sinister act. This aligns with the story's theme of the darker side of human nature. The story is described as a 'sharp, frightening' tale, indicating elements that could be considered scary, particularly due to its sinister themes and the darker aspects of human nature.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
The story contains elements of violence, particularly involving a character who is harmed in the neck, which is implied to be a significant and sinister act. This aligns with the story's theme of the darker side of human nature.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story is described as a 'sharp, frightening' tale, indicating elements that could be considered scary, particularly due to its sinister themes and the darker aspects of human nature.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. The search results reference Roald Dahl's background and beliefs but do not indicate any religious practices, beliefs, or themes in 'Neck.'
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
No explicit racial themes are present in 'Neck.' The search results mention other works by Dahl and discussions about racism but do not indicate any racial themes in this specific story.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is present in 'Neck.' The search results do not mention any use of strong language or profanity in the story.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes are present in 'Neck.' The search results reference other aspects of Dahl's life and interests but do not indicate any environmental themes in this specific story.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is present in 'Neck.' The search results reference other works by Dahl that may contain adult themes, but there is no indication of sexual content in this specific story.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. While it features a scheming wife and her husband, it does not promote or challenge traditional gender expectations in a significant way.
Does Neck (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes present in the narrative of 'Neck.' The search results mention other works by Roald Dahl and discussions about LGBTQ+ representation in general but do not provide any evidence of LGBTQ+ content in this specific story.
