The Sound Machine (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
The Sound Machine is a short, sharp, frightening story from Roald Dahl, the master of the shocking tale.
In The Sound Machine, Roald Dahl, one of the world's favourite authors, tells a sinister story about the darker side of human nature. Here, a curious invention reveals a horrifying truth about plants . . .
The Sound Machine 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 sculpture comes between a scheming wife and her put-upon husband; 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 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 The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The story includes elements of violence, particularly in the context of Klausner's obsession with sound, which leads to a disturbing revelation about the sounds made by plants. The narrative implies a violent act involving an axe, which contributes to a sense of horror. The story is described as frightening and sinister, with elements that evoke horror related to the sounds of nature and the protagonist's mental state. The depiction of the tree's noise is particularly unsettling.
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have violence?
The story includes elements of violence, particularly in the context of Klausner's obsession with sound, which leads to a disturbing revelation about the sounds made by plants. The narrative implies a violent act involving an axe, which contributes to a sense of horror.
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have scary content?
The story is described as frightening and sinister, with elements that evoke horror related to the sounds of nature and the protagonist's mental state. The depiction of the tree's noise is particularly unsettling.
Does The Sound Machine (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 Sound Machine.'
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have racial/cultural content?
No explicit racial themes are present in 'The Sound Machine.' The narrative does not address race or racism as a central theme.
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have profanity?
No profanity is present in the text of 'The Sound Machine.' The search results do not indicate any use of strong language.
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have climate change?
The story touches on themes related to nature and the environment, particularly through Klausner's discovery about the sounds of plants, which can be interpreted as a commentary on humanity's relationship with nature.
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have sexual identity?
No sexual content is present in 'The Sound Machine.' The narrative focuses on sound and obsession rather than any sexual themes.
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have gender roles?
The story does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. It focuses on the character's obsession with sound rather than gender dynamics.
Does The Sound Machine (A Roald Dahl Short Story) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes explicitly present in the narrative of 'The Sound Machine.' While some sources mention queer characters in other contexts, they do not pertain to this specific story.
