lamb to the slaughter short story. lamb to the slaughter section a: understanding the situation...

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter

Short StoryShort Story

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter SECTION A: UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATIONSECTION A: UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION

What preparations had Mary Maloney made for her What preparations had Mary Maloney made for her husband’s return from work? (p27 hardback, p14 softback)husband’s return from work? (p27 hardback, p14 softback)

What other signs were there that she was looking forward to What other signs were there that she was looking forward to him coming home? (p27/p14)him coming home? (p27/p14)

What, according to the story, was the main reason for Mary What, according to the story, was the main reason for Mary seeming so calm and peaceful? (pp27-28/pp14-15)seeming so calm and peaceful? (pp27-28/pp14-15)

What was the first sign for Mary that things were in some What was the first sign for Mary that things were in some way not normal? (p29/p16)way not normal? (p29/p16)

Why had Mary not prepared a meal? (p29/p15)Why had Mary not prepared a meal? (p29/p15) What signs were there that Mr. Maloney was nervous? What signs were there that Mr. Maloney was nervous?

(pp28-29/pp15-16)(pp28-29/pp15-16) What was it that Mr. Maloney told his wife? (p30/p16)What was it that Mr. Maloney told his wife? (p30/p16) Why did Mary go to get meat from the freezer when her Why did Mary go to get meat from the freezer when her

husband had already said he did not want to eat? (p30/p17) husband had already said he did not want to eat? (p30/p17)

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter SECTION B: OBSERVING DETAILS AND MAKING DEDUCTIONSSECTION B: OBSERVING DETAILS AND MAKING DEDUCTIONS

What clues are there in the first paragraph that Mary What clues are there in the first paragraph that Mary Maloney is a good housewife? (p27/p14)Maloney is a good housewife? (p27/p14)

In what ways had pregnancy affected Mary’s appearance? In what ways had pregnancy affected Mary’s appearance? (p27/p14)(p27/p14)

What do you notice about Mr. Maloney’s conversation? What do you notice about Mr. Maloney’s conversation? (pp28-29/p115-16)(pp28-29/p115-16)

““She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man….” She loved to luxuriate in the presence of this man….” (p28/p15). Describe in your own words how Mary felt in the (p28/p15). Describe in your own words how Mary felt in the few minutes after her husband came home.few minutes after her husband came home.

What does Mary first think is the reason for her husband’s What does Mary first think is the reason for her husband’s manner that evening? (p28/15)manner that evening? (p28/15)

In what ways does the author show that she has become In what ways does the author show that she has become slightly anxious? (p28-29/p15-16)slightly anxious? (p28-29/p15-16)

What exactly caused Mary to begin to get frightened? What exactly caused Mary to begin to get frightened? (p29/p16)(p29/p16)

““..watching him with those large bewildered eyes..” ..watching him with those large bewildered eyes..” (p29/p16). What should the author’s mention of her eyes (p29/p16). What should the author’s mention of her eyes remind the reader of at this point? remind the reader of at this point?

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter At the beginning of the story, Mary is presented At the beginning of the story, Mary is presented

as soft and gentle – contented housewife – the as soft and gentle – contented housewife – the last person we would expect to murder her last person we would expect to murder her husband.husband.

Let us consider how Dahl creates this impression.Let us consider how Dahl creates this impression.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONPHYSICAL DESCRIPTION ““there was a slow smiling air about there was a slow smiling air about

her”her” ““the drop of her head was curiously the drop of her head was curiously

tranquil”tranquil” ““the mouth was soft”the mouth was soft”

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter HOMELIFEHOMELIFE ““the room was warm and clean, the curtains the room was warm and clean, the curtains

drawn”drawn” ““fresh ice cubes in the thermos bucket”fresh ice cubes in the thermos bucket” she is sewing.she is sewing.

ATTITUDE TO HUSBANDATTITUDE TO HUSBAND ““she loved to luxuriate in the presence of this she loved to luxuriate in the presence of this

man”man” ““for her this was always a blissful time of day”for her this was always a blissful time of day” hangs up his coat, fetches his slippers, pours hangs up his coat, fetches his slippers, pours

his drink, prepares the meal.his drink, prepares the meal.

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter However when Patrick breaks the However when Patrick breaks the

devastating news she snaps – kills him. Is devastating news she snaps – kills him. Is this entirely surprising given her love for this entirely surprising given her love for him?him?

Perhaps not. What is surprising is how she Perhaps not. What is surprising is how she manages to cover her tracks.manages to cover her tracks.

Motive?Motive? Not her own life but the life of Not her own life but the life of her unborn child.her unborn child.

Mary becomes Mary becomes cold and calculating cold and calculating - - quickly devises a plan.quickly devises a plan.

““it was extraordinary now how clear her it was extraordinary now how clear her mind became all of a sudden”mind became all of a sudden”

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter PLANPLAN 1. Puts lamb in oven - why?1. Puts lamb in oven - why? 2. Rehearses her lines puts on make 2. Rehearses her lines puts on make

up - why?up - why? 3. Goes to grocer - why? (two reasons)3. Goes to grocer - why? (two reasons) 4. Calls out “Patrick, how are you 4. Calls out “Patrick, how are you

darling?”- why?darling?”- why? 5. Phones police sobbing - falls into 5. Phones police sobbing - falls into

Jack Noonan’s arms “weeping Jack Noonan’s arms “weeping hysterically” - why?hysterically” - why?

6. Offers police a whisky - why? (two 6. Offers police a whisky - why? (two reasons)reasons)

7. Invites police to eat the lamb - why? 7. Invites police to eat the lamb - why? (two reasons)(two reasons)


Mary Maloney gets away with a Mary Maloney gets away with a serious crime through her wits.serious crime through her wits.

Think about and then describe a time Think about and then describe a time when you either:when you either:

Got away with somethingGot away with something Got caught doing something Got caught doing something Tried and failed to get away with Tried and failed to get away with

somethingsomething


Plan out your story first:Plan out your story first:

Set the scene – what were you doing Set the scene – what were you doing at the time? Where were you? Who at the time? Where were you? Who was with you?was with you?

What did you do? Why did you do it?What did you do? Why did you do it? What was the result? How did it turn What was the result? How did it turn

out? How do you feel about on it now?out? How do you feel about on it now?


Part One – “Sometimes we do things Part One – “Sometimes we do things we shouldn’t do, temptation can be we shouldn’t do, temptation can be too strong. One such time with me too strong. One such time with me was when…”was when…”

Part Two – “What happened was Part Two – “What happened was that…”that…”

Part Three – “Looking back at what Part Three – “Looking back at what happened now, I feel…”happened now, I feel…”


Remember – paragraphs indicate a Remember – paragraphs indicate a change in TIME, LOCATION, SPEAKER, change in TIME, LOCATION, SPEAKER, or SUBJECT. or SUBJECT.

Dialogue starts with a capital letter.Dialogue starts with a capital letter. Be clear about where sentences Be clear about where sentences

begin and end.begin and end.


Part One – “Sometime we do things Part One – “Sometime we do things we shouldn’t do, temptation can be we shouldn’t do, temptation can be too strong. One such time with me too strong. One such time with me was when…”was when…”

Part Two – “What happened was Part Two – “What happened was that…”that…”

Part Three – “Looking back at what Part Three – “Looking back at what happened now, I feel…”happened now, I feel…”


Write about a time you did well at Write about a time you did well at something, or failed to do something something, or failed to do something you tried to succeed at. you tried to succeed at.

Remember SET THE SCENE, Remember SET THE SCENE, DESCRIBE CHARACTERS, and DESCRIBE CHARACTERS, and CONCLUDE.CONCLUDE.

Start: “Sometimes we really make an Start: “Sometimes we really make an effort to do something which means effort to do something which means a lot to us. One such time was…”a lot to us. One such time was…”


Mary Maloney - Hero or Villain?Mary Maloney - Hero or Villain? In “Lamb To The Slaughter” we have a In “Lamb To The Slaughter” we have a

main character who is neither totally main character who is neither totally good nor totally bad. She is what is good nor totally bad. She is what is called MORALLY AMBIGUOUS.called MORALLY AMBIGUOUS.

Morally – to do with being good or bad.Morally – to do with being good or bad. Ambiguous – when you cannot decide Ambiguous – when you cannot decide

one way or the other.one way or the other.

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter TASKTASK Look through the story and see how her actions Look through the story and see how her actions

can be viewed in different ways:can be viewed in different ways:

How she acts towards Patrick when he comes How she acts towards Patrick when he comes home.home.

How she reacts to his statement.How she reacts to his statement. Killing him.Killing him. Her maternal instinct (thinking about her unborn Her maternal instinct (thinking about her unborn

child).child). Covering up the evidenceCovering up the evidence Deceiving the policeDeceiving the police

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter Can a case be made for each of these actions Can a case be made for each of these actions

being good in some way and bad in another?being good in some way and bad in another? MAKES USE OF QUOTES!MAKES USE OF QUOTES! Examples: Examples: Mary is a good wife to Patrick. She says, “Darling, Mary is a good wife to Patrick. She says, “Darling,

shall I fetch your slippers?” to him when he shall I fetch your slippers?” to him when he comes home. This shows how she is concerned comes home. This shows how she is concerned for his well-being.for his well-being.

Mary can be overbearing and doesn’t listen to Mary can be overbearing and doesn’t listen to what Patrick is trying to say. “But, darling, you what Patrick is trying to say. “But, darling, you mustmust eat! I’ll fix it anyway, and then you can have eat! I’ll fix it anyway, and then you can have it or not, as you like.” This shows how she isn’t it or not, as you like.” This shows how she isn’t listening to what he is trying to say.listening to what he is trying to say.

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter TASKTASK Look through the story and see how her actions Look through the story and see how her actions

can be viewed in different ways:can be viewed in different ways:

How she acts towards Patrick when he comes How she acts towards Patrick when he comes home.home.

How she reacts to his statement.How she reacts to his statement. Killing him.Killing him. Her maternal instinct (thinking about her unborn Her maternal instinct (thinking about her unborn

child).child). Covering up the evidenceCovering up the evidence Deceiving the policeDeceiving the police


Lamb to the Slaughter CELLamb to the Slaughter CEL Task: Task: "Mary Maloney is a character "Mary Maloney is a character

who can be both admired and who can be both admired and criticised for her actions.”criticised for her actions.”

By considering how she behaves in By considering how she behaves in the story, show whether you agree or the story, show whether you agree or disagree with this statement.disagree with this statement.


Paragraph 1:Paragraph 1: Begin:Begin: Name the story and the author. Say what Name the story and the author. Say what

kind of story it is. Link your response to the kind of story it is. Link your response to the task. task.

The short story "Lamb to the Slaughter" by The short story "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl is a …Roald Dahl is a …

Paragraph 2:Paragraph 2: Begin: Begin: Briefly summarise the story in your Briefly summarise the story in your

own words. own words. Dahl's short story opens with…Dahl's short story opens with…

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter Paragraph 3Paragraph 3 BeginBegin: : At the beginning of the story, Mary is depicted as a At the beginning of the story, Mary is depicted as a

loving wife…loving wife… Include: Her looking forward to her husband coming homeInclude: Her looking forward to her husband coming home Giving him whisky, greeting him with a kiss, fetching his Giving him whisky, greeting him with a kiss, fetching his

slippers.slippers. Use QUOTATIONS to support what you have written.Use QUOTATIONS to support what you have written.

Example: Mary is a very attentive wife who seeks to please Example: Mary is a very attentive wife who seeks to please her husband. She says, “Darling, shall I fetch your her husband. She says, “Darling, shall I fetch your slippers?”, which shows you how she waits upon him and slippers?”, which shows you how she waits upon him and looks after him.looks after him.

Continue: Continue: These are admirable qualities and show her love These are admirable qualities and show her love for Patrick, but…for Patrick, but…

Explain how all the attention could be too much for Patrick, Explain how all the attention could be too much for Patrick, that she might be too clingy and smothering him.that she might be too clingy and smothering him.


Paragraph 4Paragraph 4 Begin:Begin: Mary can also be regarded as being tense Mary can also be regarded as being tense

and impatient and our admiration begins to and impatient and our admiration begins to falter… falter…

Explain how she –Explain how she – talks too muchtalks too much tries to be super efficienttries to be super efficient won't listen to Patrick when he tells her he won't listen to Patrick when he tells her he

wants a divorcewants a divorce

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter Paragraph 5Paragraph 5 Begin: Begin: The most obvious criticism of Mary comes The most obvious criticism of Mary comes

from the fact that she viciously murders her from the fact that she viciously murders her husbandhusband

CriticiseCriticise - -Wrong to take lifeWrong to take life Situation could have been discussedSituation could have been discussed Were her reasons totally selfish?Were her reasons totally selfish? Continue:Continue: However it can be argued that her However it can be argued that her

actions were also admirable.actions were also admirable. Mention: Mention: Difficult because she loved him Difficult because she loved him She has been treated badly She has been treated badly She is pregnant She is pregnant Patrick's heartless attitudePatrick's heartless attitude


Paragraph SixParagraph Six Begin: Begin: Mary can be further admired Mary can be further admired

for her strong maternal instinct.for her strong maternal instinct. Mention: Mention: Concern for her unborn childConcern for her unborn child Totally selfless – not worried about Totally selfless – not worried about

her own fate.her own fate.


Paragraph SevenParagraph Seven Begin: Begin: The construction of a The construction of a

convincing alibi can also be thought convincing alibi can also be thought of as an admirable action.of as an admirable action.

Mention:Mention: She thinks quicklyShe thinks quickly She carries it off skilfullyShe carries it off skilfully It works effectivelyIt works effectively


Paragraph EightParagraph Eight Begin: Begin: Once more, however, criticism Once more, however, criticism

can be made regarding her actions.can be made regarding her actions. Mary can be seen as being Mary can be seen as being

cunning/crafty/calculating/dishonest.cunning/crafty/calculating/dishonest. Include detail (QUOTE from the story) Include detail (QUOTE from the story)

to support what you have to say.to support what you have to say. E.g. think about how she prepares E.g. think about how she prepares

herself when going to the shop.herself when going to the shop.

Lamb To The SlaughterLamb To The Slaughter Paragraph NineParagraph Nine Begin: Begin: Mary’s deceiving of the police further Mary’s deceiving of the police further

muddies our opinion of her.muddies our opinion of her. She is clever and quick-witted:She is clever and quick-witted: Makes them drink whiskyMakes them drink whisky Encourages them to eat the evidenceEncourages them to eat the evidence Makes them feel sorry for her.Makes them feel sorry for her. BUT:BUT: Her actions are wrong and frightening.Her actions are wrong and frightening. Becomes a cunning and sly personBecomes a cunning and sly person Her laughter at the end shows her calculating Her laughter at the end shows her calculating

nature, and her incapability of dealing with what nature, and her incapability of dealing with what she has done.she has done.


Paragraph TenParagraph Ten CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION Begin: Begin: Overall I admire/criticise Mary Maloney.Overall I admire/criticise Mary Maloney. Choose only one option!Choose only one option! Sum up how you feel about Mary Maloney, Sum up how you feel about Mary Maloney,

referring to points already made and weighing referring to points already made and weighing up the evidence – do you think her good or up the evidence – do you think her good or bad points are the stronger? Remember that bad points are the stronger? Remember that although there are reasons to criticise her, although there are reasons to criticise her, there are reasons to admire her – and vice-there are reasons to admire her – and vice-versa!versa!

lamb to the slaughter short story. lamb to the slaughter section a: understanding the situation...

Documents

mary maloney

slaughter section b

slaughter short story

situation section

main reason

husbands manner

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