“The Landlady”

1. “The Landlady” • Picture this: You’ve just arrived in a lovely new town by train and your looking for a place to stay. You find a bed and breakfast that looks very enchanting (nice) on the outside. You decide to stop and look in the window. What do you think you might see?

2. The Landlady Objective: TSWBAT explain the purpose of & make predictions about events and character actions by analyzing the author’s use of foreshadowing. By Roald Dahl

3. Meet the AuthorRoald Dahl • Born in Wales (1916-1990) • He often writes stories with dark humor. • Some familiar stories: James and the Giant Peach Matilda Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The BFG

4. Literary Element Used • Foreshadowing: the use of clues or hints suggesting events that will occur later in the plot. HINT:As you read “The Landlady” put yourself in the place of the main character (protagonist). Pay close attention to what Billy sees and senses.

5. Characters • Protagonist is seventeen year old Billy Weaver • Antagonist -Owner of the Bed & Breakfast, The Landlady

6. Setting The story takes place in Bath, England probably during the mid-1900s.

7. Pre-reading information Billy Weaver arrives in Bath, England after taking the train from London. He's never been to the town before. However, he's due to start a new job there soon, and he's excited at the prospect. He heads toward The Bell and Dragon, which is a pub he's been told he could spend the night at. On the way though, he notices a sign in the window of a nearby house: "BED AND BREAKFAST.” Will it turn out to be what he expects????

8. Questions for Note-taking:Remember to explain your answers with EVIDENCE/DETAILS from the story. 1. Why is Billy in Bath, and where is he headed? (page 73) 2. What does the landlady do AND say that shows she is unusually well-prepared for Billy’s arrival? (pages 74 and 75)

9. Questions for Note-taking:Remember to explain your answers with EVIDENCE/DETAILS from the story. 3. How does the author hint at a future event in the following statement? What possible event might the landlady’s statement foreshadow? (page 76) “Everyone has to do that because it’s the law of the land, and we don’t want to go breaking any laws at this stage in the proceedings, do we?” 4. What clue hints at something strange about the scene with the dog? (page 76)

10. Discussion Questions 5. What might the peculiar smell suggest? (page 79) 6. a. What has the landlady said that seems to contradict the following statement: (page 79) [Refer to pages 76-77.] “Left?” she said. “But my dear boy, her never left. He’s still here. Mr. Temple is here. They’re on the fourth floor, both of them together.? 6. b. How does she refer to the two men on pages 76-77? 7. What do you suspect has happened to both guests? How did you arrive at that conclusion? (page 79) 8. How does the landlady’s statement foreshadow what will happen to Billy? (page 79) “I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away.”

11. TRUE/FALSE TRUE 1. The Landlady answers the door before Billy can remove his hand from the door bell. 2. Billy thought the Landlady’s fee to stay at the bed and breakfast was too much. 3. Billy believes he had heard of the Landlady’s previous guests. 4. The Landlady meant Billy no harm. 5. The tea taste strange to Billy because it is poisoned Foreshadowing: List at least one event that helped to foreshadow the ending FALSE TRUE FALSE TRUE

12. Sequence of Events Put the events in order • The Landlady offers Billy strange poisoned tea • Billy arrives in Bath and needs a place to stay • The Landlady asks him to sign the guest book • Billy questions the Landlady about her previous guest • The Landlady answers the door too (strangely) quickly 5 1 3 4 2