Lamb to the slaughter

1. Lamb to the slaughter Roald Dahl LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

2. Brief summary of the story • This story is about how a distraught wife murdered her husband, who had wanted to divorce her, and how she ‘cleverly’ covered her tracks. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

3. Characters • Mary Maloney, protagonist, Main character, a round character, a docile wife who turned into a cruel murderer and a manipulator who tried to cover her tracks. • Patrick Maloney, Antagonist, Main character, an irresponsible husband who wanted to divorce his pregnant wife. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

4. Sam, the grocer, a minor character. • Jack Noonan, a minor character, a police sergeant, who was negligent in carrying his duties, as he drank whiskey and had supper at the crime scene, an unsuspecting person. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

5. Introduction • We were introduced to a docile, pregnant wife, Mary Maloney, who was anticipating her husband’s return from work. • What does ‘docile’ mean? LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

6. Rising action • Her husband returned home and refused any offers from her. He finally broke the news to her, informing her, his decision to divorce her. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

7. Climax: • Mary Maloney killed him with a leg of lamb. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

8. She covers her tracks, by putting the leg of lamb in the oven, by going to the grocery shop to get an alibi, and called the police. The police came to investigate. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

9. Mary Maloney offered the leg of lamb to the sergeants and they literally ate/destroyed the evidence/ murder weapon. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

10. symbols • The lamb, signifies Patrick, who naively thought he could divorce his wife without any repercussions and was slaughtered as a result. • The lamb may also symbolise Mary who is regarded as a timid and meek housewife before she murders her husband. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

11. Point of view • 3rd Person • the whole story was seen via Mary Maloney’s point of view. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

12. Tone • Ironic- the lamb that was supposed to be served as supper to nourish Patrick was in the end, the weapon to be used to kill him. • Tragic- how a couple, who is expecting their first child, end up hurting each other. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

13. Comical – how at the end, the sergeants who were supposed to capture the murderer, unknowingly cooperated with her to destroy the evidence by eating up the murder weapon. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

14. Theme • We should not reject the love shown to us, as rejection can lead to anger and bitter retaliation. (Love and revenge) • There is no strong theme evident in this story. LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER