"Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl

• "Lamb to the Slaughter" is a story by Roald Dahl.
• The handout includes deep-thinking questions and a real-world writing task.

Procedure for Analyzing the Story

• The story should be read together as a class, or independently if time is short.
• Give each student a copy of the questions on page 2. Students can work independently or in pairs.
• After collecting answers, start a class discussion to solidify understanding of themes and techniques.
• Provide each student with a blank police report from page 5 for homework after the discussion.
• Students share crime scene sketches in small groups before the teacher collects them the next day.
• The Alfred Hitchcock show's 25-minute version of the story is available as a video.

Copyright Information

• The full text of the story is not provided due to copyright law.
• Access to the story is available through textbooks and websites.
• Examples of websites include:
  • classicshorts.com/stories/lamb.html
  • depa.univ-paris8.fr/IMG/pdf/lamb_to_the_slaughter_by_roald_dahl-2.pdf
  • blich.co.il/sites/default/files/content/Lamb%20to%20the%20Slaughter%20-%20Roald%20Dahl.pdf

Questions for Analysis

• Evidence is present to support Mary Maloney's love for her husband despite her killing him.
• The reason for Patrick's leaving is not explicitly stated.
• A leg of lamb was chosen as the murder weapon possibly for its symbolic value and biblical allusion.
• The story includes black humor and dramatic irony.
• Readers often anticipate the ironic twist ending.
• Mary's character as sympathetic is open to interpretation.
• Mary's pregnancy and Patrick's profession influence the story.
• Appearances versus reality is a significant theme.

Key Answers and Interpretations

• Mary's love is shown in her anticipation of Patrick's arrival and her reaction upon finding his body.
• Patrick's reason for leaving is left to interpretation, possibly to encourage reader sympathy for Mary.
• A leg of lamb is a symbolic choice, alluding to innocence and sacrifice.
• Examples of dark humor include Mary's conversation with the grocer and the policemen's comments while eating the lamb.
• The realization that Mary will destroy the evidence often occurs when Officer Noonan mentions finding the weapon.
• Mary's pregnancy explains her motives and increases sympathy.
• Patrick's profession heightens the irony, as Mary exploits the officers' familiarity and potential myopia.
• The theme of appearances versus reality is supported by the initial domestic scene, Mary's docile facade, and the police's familiarity with Mary.

Police Report Example

• An example police report indicates the details of the crime.
• Mary Maloney called the police to the address at 5:40 p.m.
• She discovered her husband's body in the living room.
• Patrick Maloney had been struck on the head with a blunt object.
• Mary last saw him alive at 5:10 p.m.
• She went to the store to buy groceries and produced a receipt from Sam Supermarket for 5:25 p.m.
• Nancy Neighbor did not see or hear anything unusual.
• The murder weapon is not found at the premises.
• The reporting officer is Detective Jack Noonan.
• The suspect's name is unknown, and no arrest was made.