The Landlady By Roald Dahl Roald Dahl He

The Landlady By Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl • He was born in Wales on 13 September 1916. • He was a novelist, short story writer, poet, and screenwriter. • His short stories are known for their unexpected endings, and his children's books for their unsentimental, often very dark humour. • He died in Oxford, on 23 November 1990 of a blood disease.

His works • Some of his most famous works are: • Children’s story • Matilda • Charlie and the chocolate factory. • Children’s poetry • Revolting Rhymes • Adults (Short Stories) • Lamb to the Slaughter • The Landlady

About the story… • Which aspects of the house make Billy feel it would be a good place to stay? • Why didn’t Billy go to the pub? Why did Roald Dahl use the alliteration ‘BED AND BREAKFAST, BED AND BREAKFAST’ • What was unusual about the way the landlady responded to the doorbell? • Which aspects of the landlady’s appearance and voice make her seem trustworthy? • What supernatural aspects can you find in the story?

About the story… • What evidence is there that the landlady had been expecting a guest? • How are Billy and the Landlady described along the story? • There are no guests in the boarding house. What does this clue foreshadow? • What are the first signs that the landlady is very odd? • Billy doesn’t finish his sentence about Christopher Mulholland. What was he about to say? • What other cases of foreshadowing can you find in the story?

About the story… • Why is it frightening when the landlady says Mr Temple had perfect skin "just like a baby's"? • What do you think the landlady means when she says "I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away? " • How do you think Billy will die? Explain why you think so.

About the story… • What had happened to the other two guests? • Could Billy realize what was going to happen to him? • What do you think he would have found if he had gone upstairs?

The deadly tea! • In the story 'The Landlady' we are led to understand that two previous guests of the landlady died while staying at her house. The new guest, Billy Weaver, is offered tea and is told that one of the previous guests drank lots of tea. Billy doesn't like the taste which, he thinks 'tasted faintly of bitter almonds'. Murder story writers would ascribe this taste to food or drink poisoned with arsenic.

Dangerous women • In Victorian times, there were many women poisoners recorded. Arsenic was easily obtained in Victorian times in the form of fly-papers. • These could be soaked and the arsenic obtained. Ladies of fashion used arsenic for cosmetic purposes as well as killing husbands!

• After you read ‘The Landlady’ explain the following claim: Write an essay explaining the importance of appearances and how they can be deceptive making reference to the story.