Roald Dahl's Classic Works in Original Form Following Backlash.
Roald Dahl's classic backlash.
Script:
Children's author Roald Dahl's "classic" works will soon be available to readers in their original form, following backlash against efforts to edit his books to fit modern sensibilities. Publisher Penguin Random House has announced that 17 of Dahl’s books will be published in their original form as "The Roald Dahl Classic Collection" later this year. This move will give consumers the chance to read Dahl in "whichever way they wish," according to a company spokesperson.In recent days, criticism has been directed at revisions made to several of Dahl's books, which removed language that could be seen as offensive. The changes included omitting or replacing words related to weight, gender, and race. For example, the “enormously fat” 9-year-old boy in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was simply called “enormous," while the “Cloud-Men” from “James and the Giant Peach” became “Cloud-People." Miss Trunchbull, the principal in “Matilda," did not have a “horsey” face, and “eight nutty little idiots” became “eight nutty little boys."
Francesca Dow, managing director of Penguin Random House Children’s, said in a statement, "As a children's publisher, our role is to share the magic of stories with children with the greatest thought and care. Roald Dahl’s fantastic books are often the first stories young children will read independently and taking care of the imaginations and fast-developing minds of young readers is both a privilege and a responsibility."
"we’ve been deeply moved by the strength of feeling."
The decision to publish the original versions of Dahl's books comes after the company received significant backlash for altering the books' contents. The spokesperson said, "The last few days have demonstrated just how important Roald Dahl’s stories are to fans all around the world, and we’ve been deeply moved by the strength of feeling." The spokesperson also added that the most important thing is that the stories continue to be enjoyed by all readers, regardless of age.
Questions:
Part 1: Comprehension
Read and summarize the article thinking of who, what, when, where & why.
Part 2: True or False Questions
a) True or False - Roald Dahl's books were revised to remove language that could be seen as offensive. T/F
b) True or False - The original versions of Dahl's books will not be published as "The Roald Dahl Classic Collection". T/F
c) True or False - Dahl's books are often the first books children read. T/F
d) True or False - The spokesperson for Penguin Random House said that the most important thing is that only children should enjoy Roald Dahl's stories. T/F
Part 3a: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary/phrases.
a) "Backlash"
b) "Omitting"
c) "Privilege"
d) "Altering"
Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use - Write an example sentence using the words from 3a.
a) Backlash:
b) Omitting:
c) Privilege:
d) Altering:
Part 5: Talking Points
Part 6: Role play Scenarios
You are a member of a book club and you're discussing Roald Dahl's books. Some members prefer the original versions while others prefer the revised versions. Roleplay a conversation where you debate the merits of each version and try to come to a consensus on which one is best.
You are a children's book author and you're meeting with a group of young readers to discuss the controversy surrounding Roald Dahl's books. Roleplay a conversation where you ask the children about their thoughts on the matter and whether or not they think it's important to read books in their original form.
You are a parent who is concerned about the changes made to Roald Dahl's books and you're meeting with your child's school librarian to discuss whether or not the original versions should be included in the school library. Roleplay a conversation where you discuss the pros and cons of each version of the book and come to a decision about what's best for the students.
Part 7: Writing Activity
Compare and Contrast - Do you prefer to watch movies or read books? why?
Part 8: Critical Thinking - A “classic” backlash
A proposal has been submitted to your local council stating that all schools should use the altered books and an investigation should be carried out to see if there are other books that need to be changed.
You are part of a panel that will decide if this should happen or not.
Team A supports the idea and Team B is against the idea.
Discuss this proposal in groups then come back and reach a consensus on the best possible solution.
Answers:
Part 1: Comprehension
The main idea of the article is that children's author Roald Dahl's "classic" works will be published in their original form, following backlash against efforts to edit his books to fit modern sensibilities. The article discusses how publisher Penguin Random House will release 17 of Dahl's books as "The Roald Dahl Classic Collection" later this year, giving consumers the chance to read Dahl in "whichever way they wish." The article also talks about recent revisions made to several of Dahl's books, which removed language that could be seen as offensive. The article explains how the decision to publish the original versions of Dahl's books comes after the company received significant backlash for altering the books' contents. Overall, the article is written to inform readers about the controversy surrounding the revisions of Roald Dahl's books and the decision to publish the original versions.
Part 2: True or False
A: True B: False C: True D: False
Part 3a: Guess the meaning of unknown vocabulary or phrases.
a) "Backlash" Answer: This word refers to a strong negative reaction to something, especially a public or official response to something that is deemed unacceptable or offensive. In the context of the article, it refers to the criticism and objections raised by readers against the revisions made to Roald Dahl's books.
b) "Omitting" Answer: I think this means to leave out because in the article they talk about leaving out things like weight and age from the books as these things could cause offense, for example “enormously fat” 9-year-old boy.
c) "Privilege" Answer: This word refers a special right or advantage granted to a person or group. In the context of the article, it refers to the responsibility of the publisher to share the magic of stories with children and to take care of the developing minds of young readers.
d) "Altering" Answer: I think this refers to make changes to something because in the article they talk about how the company faced a backlash for making changes to the books.
Part 3b: Vocabulary in Use: Write an example sentence using the words from 3a. (examples)
a) Backlash: After the controversial decision, there was a significant backlash from the public.
b) Omitting: The report was incomplete, omitting crucial details about the project's progress.
c) Privilege: Having access to quality education is a privilege that not everyone enjoys in my country.
d) Altering: She was altering her dress to make it fit perfectly for the wedding.
Part 7: Writing (example)
I enjoy both watching movies and reading books, but my preference often depends on my mood and available time. Movies are visually captivating, offering a quick and immersive storytelling experience. They bring characters and scenes to life in a way that books sometimes can't match. On the other hand, reading books allows me to engage my imagination more actively. I can picture characters and settings uniquely in my mind, and books often provide more in-depth insights into characters' thoughts and emotions. Both mediums have their strengths, and I appreciate them for different reasons.
