Rummins (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
Rummins is a short, sharp, chilling story from Roald Dahl, the master of the shocking tale.
In Rummins, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a macabre story about the darker side of human nature. Here, the men building a hay rick one summer find that the heat and rats are the least of their worries . . .
Rummins 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 Jessica Hynes.
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 Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story contains elements of violence, particularly when a character named Bert is described as hacking into hay with a knife and hearing a grating noise, suggesting potential danger. This indicates a level of physical action that may be unsettling, though specific violent acts are not detailed. The story is described as chilling and macabre, focusing on the darker side of human nature. This suggests elements that could be considered scary, particularly in the context of the characters' experiences while building a hay rick.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
The story contains elements of violence, particularly when a character named Bert is described as hacking into hay with a knife and hearing a grating noise, suggesting potential danger. This indicates a level of physical action that may be unsettling, though specific violent acts are not detailed.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story is described as chilling and macabre, focusing on the darker side of human nature. This suggests elements that could be considered scary, particularly in the context of the characters' experiences while building a hay rick.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have religious themes?
No religious content is present in 'Rummins'. The search results reference Roald Dahl's background and other works but do not indicate any religious themes or practices within the story itself.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
There are no explicit racial themes or discussions in 'Rummins'. The search results do not indicate any content related to race or racism within the story.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is mentioned in 'Rummins'. The search results do not provide any evidence of strong language or inappropriate words in the text.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
There are no themes related to climate or environmental issues in 'Rummins'. The search results do not provide any indication of such content within the story.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
There are no references to sexual content in 'Rummins'. The search results do not indicate any romantic or sexual themes within the narrative.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The focus is on the narrative's chilling elements rather than on gender dynamics or representation.
Does Rummins (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the book 'Rummins'. The search results primarily focus on general discussions about LGBTQ+ literature and do not provide any specific content related to this short story.



