Abused, Neglected, Abandoned: Did Roald Dahl Hate Children as Much as the Witches Did?
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Article Title | Abused, Neglected, Abandoned: Did Roald Dahl Hate Children as Much as the Witches Did? |
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Article Category | Blog |
Authors | Cantrell, Kate (Author), Bryce, India (Author) and Gildersleeve, Jessica (Author) |
Publication Title | The Conversation |
Journal Citation | 21 January 2021, pp. 1-3 |
Number of Pages | 3 |
Year | 2021 |
Place of Publication | Carlton, Victoria |
Web Address (URL) | https://theconversation.com/abused-neglected-abandoned-did-roald-dahl-hate-children-as-much-as-the-witches-did-152813 |
Abstract | Described as 'the world’s greatest storyteller', Roald Dahl is frequently ranked as the best children’s author of all time by teachers, authors and librarians. However, the new film adaptation of Dahl’s controversial book, The Witches, warrants a fresh look at a recurrent contrast in Dahl’s work: child protection and care on one hand and a preoccupation with child-hatred, including child neglect and abuse, abandonment, and torture on the other. Dahl himself once admitted he simultaneously admired and envied children. While his stories spotlight children’s vulnerability to trauma, his child protagonists show how childhood can be an isolating but ultimately triumphant experience. |
Keywords | Roald Dahl; The Witches; children's fiction; kid-lit; child abuse and neglect; trauma |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 470506. Children's literature |
360201. Creative writing (incl. scriptwriting) | |
Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q6137/abused-neglected-abandoned-did-roald-dahl-hate-children-as-much-as-the-witches-did
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Abused, Neglected, Abandoned - Cantrell, Bryce, Gildersleeve.pdf | ||
License: CC BY 4.0 | ||
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