Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Poison is a short, sharp, frightening story from Roald Dahl, the master of the shocking tale
In Poison, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a man waits in paralysing fear for the venomous snake asleep on his stomach to awaken . . .
Poison 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; a very unusual painting which proves to be more valuable than anyone, especially its owner, could ever have predicted; 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 Richard E. Grant.
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 Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story involves a tense situation where a man is in fear of a venomous snake on his stomach, which can be interpreted as a form of psychological violence due to the intense fear and stress experienced. However, there are no explicit acts of violence between characters. The story is described as a 'short, sharp, frightening' tale, focusing on the darker side of human nature and the intense fear of a venomous snake, which could be considered scary for readers.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
The story involves a tense situation where a man is in fear of a venomous snake on his stomach, which can be interpreted as a form of psychological violence due to the intense fear and stress experienced. However, there are no explicit acts of violence between characters.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story is described as a 'short, sharp, frightening' tale, focusing on the darker side of human nature and the intense fear of a venomous snake, which could be considered scary for readers.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content is present in the story 'Poison.' The search results include discussions about Roald Dahl's views on religion but do not reference any religious practices or themes within the story itself.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
The story addresses themes of racism, particularly in the context of British colonialism in India. It is noted that the narrative reveals how racism can act like a poison, affecting all characters involved.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is present in the story 'Poison.' The search results do not indicate any use of strong language within the narrative.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes or environmental discussions are present in 'Poison.' The search results do not indicate any content related to climate issues in this specific story.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is present in the story 'Poison.' The search results mention other works and analyses but do not indicate any sexual themes or innuendos in this specific story.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story does not actively discuss or promote gender roles. While it features male characters, there is no thematic exploration of gender expectations or stereotypes within the narrative.
Does Poison (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the narrative of 'Poison.' The search results focus on other works by Roald Dahl and do not indicate any LGBTQ+ content in this specific story.
