““Lamb to the Slaughter”Lamb to the Slaughter”

This is only a guide to help you This is only a guide to help you understand the story.understand the story.

Who is the author?Who is the author?

Roald DahlRoald Dahl

For what else is Roald Dahl known?For what else is Roald Dahl known?James & the Giant PeachJames & the Giant Peach (1961) (1961) Charlie & the Choc. FactoryCharlie & the Choc. Factory (1964) (1964)

Screenplay for Fleming’s James Bond Screenplay for Fleming’s James Bond novel novel You Only Live TwiceYou Only Live Twice (1967). (1967).

She is anxiously awaiting her She is anxiously awaiting her husband Patrick’s return home husband Patrick’s return home

from a day’s work as a local from a day’s work as a local police officer.police officer.

What is Mary Maloney doing What is Mary Maloney doing when the story begins?when the story begins?

He is preoccupied and He is preoccupied and appears to be appears to be

aggravated at something. aggravated at something. He responds to her He responds to her

questions in an irritated, questions in an irritated, matter-of-fact manner.matter-of-fact manner.

What is Patrick Maloney’s What is Patrick Maloney’s reaction to his wife’s attentative reaction to his wife’s attentative behavior when he gets home?behavior when he gets home?

He is leaving her.He is leaving her.

What can we assume that Mr. What can we assume that Mr. Maloney’s tells his wife?Maloney’s tells his wife?

She is in such disbelief She is in such disbelief that she pretends that that she pretends that he didn’t speak at all he didn’t speak at all and says that she will and says that she will start making dinner.start making dinner.

What is her initial reaction to the What is her initial reaction to the news?news?

She goes to the She goes to the basement and gets basement and gets

a frozen leg of a frozen leg of lamb to put in the lamb to put in the

oven.oven.

What does she decide to cook?What does she decide to cook?

She hits her She hits her husband over the husband over the

head and kills him.head and kills him.

When Mrs. Maloney returns When Mrs. Maloney returns upstairs with the frozen meat, what upstairs with the frozen meat, what

does she do?does she do?

She is most She is most concerned about concerned about her unborn child.her unborn child.

At this point after the murder, what At this point after the murder, what is her primary concern?is her primary concern?

She places the meat She places the meat in a pan and puts it in in a pan and puts it in

the oven. the oven. She then primps in She then primps in the mirror and goes to the mirror and goes to

the grocery story.the grocery story.

How does Mrs. Maloney establish How does Mrs. Maloney establish an alibi?an alibi?

In your opinion, when Mrs. Maloney In your opinion, when Mrs. Maloney returns home and “finds” her husband returns home and “finds” her husband dead on the floor, are her tears real?dead on the floor, are her tears real?

No. One might say she rehearsed the whole No. One might say she rehearsed the whole act on the way home from the store.act on the way home from the store.

Yes. One might say that Dahl writes, “All the Yes. One might say that Dahl writes, “All the old love and longing for him welled up inside old love and longing for him welled up inside her, and she ran over to him, knelt down her, and she ran over to him, knelt down beside him, and began to cry her heart out.  It beside him, and began to cry her heart out.  It was easy.  No acting was necessary.”was easy.  No acting was necessary.”

She lies about the murder.She lies about the murder. She pretends to be sick so she doen’t have She pretends to be sick so she doen’t have

to get up and leave the room.to get up and leave the room. She offers them alcohol to make them feel She offers them alcohol to make them feel

relaxed.relaxed. She uses her husband’s friendships with the She uses her husband’s friendships with the

officers to her advantage.officers to her advantage.

How does Mrs. Maloney manipulate the How does Mrs. Maloney manipulate the police?police?

She asks the police officers She asks the police officers for a “favor” - she invites for a “favor” - she invites them, the friends and co-them, the friends and co-workers of Patrick, to eat workers of Patrick, to eat the dinner that she was the dinner that she was cooking – leg of lamb!cooking – leg of lamb!

What is the most important aspect of What is the most important aspect of Mrs. Maloney’s manipulation.Mrs. Maloney’s manipulation.

ABSOLUTELY!ABSOLUTELY!

The police officers eat the The police officers eat the only piece of evidence!only piece of evidence!

Does Mrs. Maloney get away with Does Mrs. Maloney get away with murder?murder?