Case Study 8
Axe 4
Objet d'étude 4
Roald Dahl under debate
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Act out a library committee meeting.
Your school library is considering what to do with Roald Dahl's books after
recent changes made by publishers. Students, parents, and teachers disagree.
Step into these roles and take part in a lively committee debate, exploring
the arguments and evidence before making a final recommendation.
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1
A publisher's decision
angt-cs8-step1.mp3
Roald Dahl's children's books are being rewritten to remove language deemed offensive by the publisher Puffin.
Puffin has hired sensitivity readers to rewrite chunks of the author's text to make sure the books “can continue to be enjoyed by all today”, resulting in extensive changes across Dahl's work.
Edits have been made to descriptions of characters' physical appearances. The word “fat” has been cut from every new edition of relevant books, while the word “ugly” has also been culled, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is now described as “enormous”. In The Twits, Mrs Twit is no longer “ugly and beastly” but just “beastly”.
Hundreds of changes were made to the original text – and some passages not written by Dahl have been added. But the Roald Dahl Story Company said “it's not unusual to review the language” during a new print run and any changes were “small and carefully considered”.
In The Witches, a paragraph explaining that witches are bald beneath their wigs ends with the new line: “There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.” [...]
References to “female” characters have disappeared. Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, once a “most formidable female”, is now a “most formidable woman”.
Gender-neutral terms have been added in places – where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Oompa Loompas were “small men”, they are now “small people”. The Cloud-Men in James and the Giant Peach have become Cloud-People.
Puffin and the Roald Dahl Story Company made the changes in conjunction with Inclusive Minds, which its spokesperson describes as “a collective for people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children's literature”.
Puffin has hired sensitivity readers to rewrite chunks of the author's text to make sure the books “can continue to be enjoyed by all today”, resulting in extensive changes across Dahl's work.
Edits have been made to descriptions of characters' physical appearances. The word “fat” has been cut from every new edition of relevant books, while the word “ugly” has also been culled, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is now described as “enormous”. In The Twits, Mrs Twit is no longer “ugly and beastly” but just “beastly”.
Hundreds of changes were made to the original text – and some passages not written by Dahl have been added. But the Roald Dahl Story Company said “it's not unusual to review the language” during a new print run and any changes were “small and carefully considered”.
In The Witches, a paragraph explaining that witches are bald beneath their wigs ends with the new line: “There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.” [...]
References to “female” characters have disappeared. Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, once a “most formidable female”, is now a “most formidable woman”.
Gender-neutral terms have been added in places – where Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Oompa Loompas were “small men”, they are now “small people”. The Cloud-Men in James and the Giant Peach have become Cloud-People.
Puffin and the Roald Dahl Story Company made the changes in conjunction with Inclusive Minds, which its spokesperson describes as “a collective for people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children's literature”.
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Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was a Welsh author known for his darkly funny and imaginative children's books, beloved worldwide and often adapted into films and musicals. His work sparks discussions today as publishers reconsider how classic stories are presented to new generations.
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Step 1
1
Watch the video above. Why is Roald Dahl described as having a “complicated legacy”?
2
What kinds of changes have been made to Roald Dahl's books? Give examples from the article.
3
Who decided to make these changes, and for what purpose?
Action!
As members of the library committee, prepare a fact sheet summarising the edits made to Roald Dahl's books and the publisher's justification.
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2
A free-speech argument
“Roald Dahl books get some controversial revisions”, CBS News, 2023.
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Step 2
1
Why does Roy Gutterman describe the changes to Roald Dahl's books as a form of censorship?
2
What message do these edits send to readers and publishers, in his opinion?
3
What alternative solution does he suggest instead of rewriting the books?
Action!
After meeting with Roy Gutterman, record a voice memo for the library committee explaining why he believes Roald Dahl's books should not be edited.
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3
A sensitivity perspective
“How fiction became the latest frontier in the culture wars”,
Sky News, 2023.
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Step 3
1
Why do sensitivity readers and authors support editing older texts like Roald Dahl's?
2
Select two quotes from the video that best illustrate why the edits are justified.
3
What balance do authors and sensitivity readers try to achieve between historical accuracy and contemporary sensitivity?
Action!
The voice memo has sparked debate! Write a few quick responses in the library chat.
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Ready...
- Gather your notes on Roald Dahl and the decision made by the publisher. List the main arguments for and against the rewriting.
Steady...
- Assign roles for the debate. Decide what position each person will take and how you will respond to opposing arguments. Think about key points, evidence, and quotes you want to use.
Go!
- Act out the library committee meeting. Share your arguments, respond to others, and work together to propose a recommendation: Will you keep the original books, adopt the new versions, or suggest a different solution?
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