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Post Reading Activity
Does Roald Dahl want the reader to think Mary Maloney Is a victim or a villain?
Explain how you came to your conclusion.
2. Can murder ever be justified?
Explain your answer.
3. Write the police report of the murder case.
Write the report Sergeant Jack Noonan would have made on the case. Invent necessary details if they aren’t in the story. Start it like this: I received a telephone call from Mary Maloney at 6:15pm.
4. Write a newspaper report of the incident. Assume that the reporter has interviewed Sgt Noonan and Mrs Maloney. Include their comments in your report.
Note that a newspaper report has a headline, a short paragraph of one or two sentences outlining the story and then about 150 words going from most important details to least important. In a newspaper story paragraphs have only one sentence. Read some newspaper stories before you start writing.
5. Write Mary Maloney’s diary entry for the night of her husband’s murder.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents Lamb to the Slaughter
Lamb to the Slaughter
As you watch this filmed version of a short story by Roald Dahl, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. The film opens with the woman arranging flowers in a vase.
2. The husband kisses his wife on the cheek.
3. The husband pours himself 2 drinks.
4. The woman is expecting a baby boy.
5. The man wants to divorce his wife because of another woman.
6. His wife does not believe him at first.
7. The freezer is in the kitchen.
8. The woman eats an orange just after the murder.
9. She phones her friend Polly to cancel dinner.
10. She goes to the butcher’s.
11. She phones the police on her return and then simulates a fight scene.
12. It was five minutes to six when she went shopping.
13. The doctor is wearing a hat.
14. The doctor says the victim’s head is cut with a lot of blood everywhere.
15. The detective notices that tonight her husband had his drinks straight rather than with soda and ice.
16. The woman lies about who kissed who.
17. The husband usually took his coat off before having a drink.
18. The blow to the victim’s head was from a baseball bat.
19. The detective tells the woman to go to bed at 10:50 p.m.
20. The murder victim was armed.
21. The detectives suspect it was a woman who committed the murder.
22. The roast beef is burned.
23. The woman offers the men some coffee because, according to her, her husband always appreciated being offered coffee.
24. It is cold outside.
25. Seven men sit down to eat the meat.
26. The meat weighed about 8 or 9 pounds.
27. The woman laughs because she’s happy her husband is dead.
Additional possibilities for the Post Reading Task:
The author uses dialogue in a specific way up until the husband reveals his thoughts to Mary, when we are left to guess at what he says. Why do you think Dahl uses this technique and do you find it effective? How?
Write your own version of the husband’s dialogue to his wife. What did he say?
Mary and Patrick Maloney go to a marriage coach. Write a dialogue that happens with the marriage coach. OR write the marriage coach’s advice to the Maloney couple.
Mary Malloney is on trial. Do you think she planned the murder or was caught up in the moment? Did she intend to kill her husband?
Is Mary Maloney a victim or a villain? Defend your answer. קרבן או נבל
Imagine that Mary Maloney wants to join a dating website to find a new husband. Create her profile. What is Mary looking for in a husband? How would Mary describe herself to potential dates? Include her hobbies, interests, skills, likes, and dislikes.
Whose side are you on? True Mary Maloney might have had good reason to hurt her husband. Explain three reasons why she is justified in her actions. Bring evidence from the story. True Patrick Maloney planned on leaving his pregnant wife, but he didn’t deserve to die. Write an argument that shows that Patrick was a decent guy. Give three reasons that explains how he was a good husband, bring evidence from the story.
Playlist: Think of the different scenes in the story. Match a song to each scene and create a playlist. Give the link to your playlist. Why did you choose each song? Write 1-2 sentences for each song.
About Roald Dahl
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