Lamb to the Slaughter What is needed for

Lamb to the Slaughter

• What is needed for a perfect murder? • Create a plot diagram for the story. (this will be submitted for marks)

Characterization – see PDF

Character Charts Mary Patrick

Questions • Why does Dahl choose to use third person limited omniscient? • How does limiting the perspective to Mary’s thoughts limit a reader’s understanding of the story? Do you think it causes us to empathize with Mary? Why? • How would our understanding change if the story were told from another point of view? Create a chart.

Compare/Contrast Mary -We know Mary’s thoughts because it is written in third person limited. -Direct characterization -Begins the story as a kind wife. Begins nervous. -She looks like she in a trance after hearing he’s leaving her -Sad and confused -She wants the husband to stay -The murder is a surprise – no prior indication that she is angry -Fear and stress after killing her husband -She tried to behave naturally and normally when detectives come -She ends the story with a crazy giggle “Death by Scrabble” wife -we know her thoughts through the husbands thoughts. -indirect characterization -happy, normal -Relaxed and happy for most of the story -We guess her thoughts because of the Point of View -Unusual behaviour – making tea when it’s hot out. She’s checking her husbands reaction. She’s collecting information about her husband’s feelings. -Wife’s calm, she just watches her husband die. No reaction. Very indifferent.

• Explore how themes of betrayal and revenge are presented in the story. • What types of irony are used in this story?

• Reflect on the idea of Mary as the “lamb to slaughter”. • What is foreshadowing? Give some examples of foreshadowing in the story