Royal Jelly (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
Royal Jelly is a brilliant gem of a short story from Roald Dahl, the master of the sting in the tail.
In Royal Jelly, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a husband and wife, unable to get their new baby to feed, hit upon a novel and disturbing solution . . .
Royal Jelly is taken from the short story collection Kiss Kiss, which includes ten other devious and shocking stories, featuring the wife who pawns the mink coat from her lover with unexpected results; the priceless piece of furniture that is the subject of a deceitful bargain; a wronged woman taking revenge on her dead husband, and others.
'Unnerving bedtime stories, subtle, proficient, hair-raising and done to a turn.' (San Francisco Chronicle )
This story is also available as a Penguin digital audio download read by Oliver-award-winning actor Adrian Scarborough.
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 Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story involves disturbing and sinister themes related to human nature, including a disturbing solution the parents find for their baby who won't feed. This suggests a level of violence or harm, though specific acts of violence are not detailed in the search results. The story is described as a horror story, with elements that are considered frightening, particularly the description of the baby at the end. The narrative is intended to evoke fear and discomfort.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
The story involves disturbing and sinister themes related to human nature, including a disturbing solution the parents find for their baby who won't feed. This suggests a level of violence or harm, though specific acts of violence are not detailed in the search results.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story is described as a horror story, with elements that are considered frightening, particularly the description of the baby at the end. The narrative is intended to evoke fear and discomfort.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. The search results do not indicate any religious practices, beliefs, or ceremonies present in the narrative of 'Royal Jelly'.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
No explicit racial themes or discussions are present in the narrative of 'Royal Jelly'. The search results do not indicate any focus on race or racism in the story.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is mentioned in the narrative of 'Royal Jelly'. The search results do not provide any evidence of strong language or swearing in the text.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
No climate themes or discussions are present in the narrative of 'Royal Jelly'. The search results do not indicate any focus on environmental issues within the story.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is present in the narrative of 'Royal Jelly'. The search results do not indicate any sexual themes or explicit content in the story.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The narrative does not actively discuss, promote, or critique gender roles. While it features a husband and wife, the story's focus is on the sinister plot rather than gender dynamics.
Does Royal Jelly (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the narrative of 'Royal Jelly'. The search results do not provide any evidence of LGBTQ+ content in the story itself.
