Some classic stories and childhood favorites are now being modified or come with warnings in case they offend modern readers.
In recent years, many children’s books have faced scrutiny over word choice or content.
Staples such as Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, have been given a disclaimer after York St John University warned students about the “colonialist narratives” some stories may contain.
The warning was posted on the website of the Rees-Williams Collection of Children’s Literature Stories, which includes another classic: Peter and Wendy by JM Barrie.
He stated that the stories may contain “colonialist narratives”, with vocabulary and illustrations that may appear “racist”, giving some of the stories a warning about “white supremacy”.
Oompa Loopas have in recent years been redesignated as gender neutral, a concept that was foreign to Roald Dahl’s original work.
Harry Potter has also been affected by trigger warnings, including ‘fatophobia’, which may be linked to scenes like this immortalized in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
The warning was posted on the website of the Rees-Williams Collection of Children’s Literature Stories, which includes another classic: Peter and Wendy by JM Barrie.
He stated that the tales may contain “colonialist narratives”, with vocabulary and illustrations that may appear “racist”, giving the classic tales a warning about “white supremacy”.
The university previously told the Daily Telegraph that the “guidance” has been in existence since 2019 and that it has a “responsibility” to inform students of any content that may be “offensive and outdated”.
This is not the only children’s classic that has been impacted recently: Harry Potter readers have been aware of the “fatphobia” contained in magical stories.
A Web page, Booktriggerwarnings.comcompiled a list of warnings for thousands of books that readers should proceed with caution.
The site says it is “dedicated” to ensuring that book lovers are “better informed” and “more confident” when choosing their reads.
Almost every Harry Potter book comes with several warnings. The first of the stories, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, comes with six trigger warnings.
They include body horror, bullying, child abuse, fatphobia, self-sacrifice and violence.
The “child abuse” warnings come from the Dursleys’ treatment of Harry by forcing him to sleep under the stairs.
Meanwhile, readers have also criticized JK Rowling for depicting evil characters as “fat”, calling them “fatphobic”.
Almost every Harry Potter book comes with several warnings. The first of the stories, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, comes with six trigger warnings.
Jane Austen was another author on the site, with her classic, Emma, featuring warnings about “cross-age romance.” In the photo: a scene from the film Emma.
In the story, Dudley is described as “very fat and hated exercise”, Rubeus Hagrid is considered “too big to allow it”.
Jane Austen was another author on the site, with her classic, Emma, featuring warnings about “cross-age romance.”
It was first published in 1816 and follows the dangers of misinterpreted romance in Regency England.
However, the guide included on the website tells readers to beware of an “age gap romance” and “implied grooming” within the book.
The warnings relate to Emma’s affair with Mr Knightley, who describes Emma as “quick and confident” at the age of 10, when he would have been 27 or 28.
Warnings about the classics aren’t the only obstacles facing beloved novels; some have even had the lyrics changed.
Roald Dahl’s books were extensively rewritten by censors last year after publisher Puffin hired sensitive readers.
Willy Wonka’s Oompa Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have now become gender neutral and new editions no longer use the word “fat.”
The changes sparked a wave of outrage from parents, with some saying they would boycott the updated stories.
The Roald Dahl Story Company, which controls the rights to the books, previously said it worked with Puffin to revise the texts because it wanted to ensure that “all children today continue to enjoy Dahl’s wonderful stories and characters.”
Warnings about the classics aren’t the only obstacles facing beloved novels; some have even had the lyrics changed. In the image: a scene from the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Willy Wonka’s Oompa Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have now become gender neutral and new editions no longer use the word “fat.” Pictured: Augustus Gloop and Mrs. Gloop in the 2005 film.
The language was reviewed in partnership with Inclusive Minds and any changes were “small and carefully considered,” the company said.
Another publisher, Penguin Random House, last year added warnings about “language and attitudes” to the latest edition of Nobel laureate Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises.
The warning said: “The publisher’s decision to present it as originally published is not intended to be an endorsement of the cultural representations or language contained herein.”
Despite being considered one of America’s greatest novels, The Sun Also Rises faced criticism for its anti-Semitic tropes.