Embedded Files
What point of view is "Lamb to the Slaughter" told from? How does it affect our understanding of the story?
Why is Patrick's profession important?
Give TWO examples of irony in the story and explain them.
Why is the title of the story symbolic? What's the origin of the name?
This is a very unusual crime story. Explain
Reading Questions
1. Who are the main characters? What are they like?
2. List the things that Mary loves about her husband. What does this list tell you about her relationship with him?
3. What do you think Patrick told his wife when she came home?
4. Why doesn’t Dahl tell the reader exactly what he said to Mary?
5. Why was it a bad time to tell her this?
6. What is Patrick's profession? Why is it important?
7. Do you think Mary planned to murder her husband with the leg of lamb? Why?
8. What are Mary Maloney’s reasons for covering up the crime?
9. Explain in detail how she goes about covering up what she has done.
10.How does Mary’s behavior at the grocery shop contradict what has happened earlier in the story? Why is her visit to the grocery shop an important piece of the story?
11. What do the police do when they arrive?
12.How do you know that they are completely taken in by Mary?
13.What helps confirm Mary’s story to the police?
14.Why does Mary insist the police eat the leg of lamb?
15.How does a male stereotype of women work to Mary’s advantage in her story?
Literary Analysis Questions
1.What point of view is "Lamb to the Slaughter" told from and why is that important? (Different Perspectives)
2.What is the dramatic irony in "Lamb to the Slaughter"?
Lamb to the Slaughter Lesson on Irony
Examples of foreshadowing in the text:
When Patrick Maloney drains his drink in one swallow. The author actually says this is unusual. Another time is when Mary is practicing in front of the mirror before going to the grocer's. The indicates that she is preparing an alibi.
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