Short story - The landlady

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Learning Targets

At the end of the lesson you will be able to understand the plot of the story and describe the characters in 'The Landlady' by Roald Dahl.

Roald Dahl

The story 

'The Landlady' is a short

story about a young man

who arrives in an

unfamiliar city one

evening and is looking for

a place to stay. He seems

irresistibly attracted to a

private house with yellow

flowers in the window

next to a notice: BED & BREAKFAST

The Landlady

Learning targets: To analyze the characters and understand the plot of the story 

The characters 

• Billy Weaver
• The Landlady
• ?

What do we learn about the characters and how are they presented in the short story?

	Protagonist	Anta gonist	Major	Minor	Static	Dynamic
Billy
Landlady

The antagonist is Patrick, he creates the problem by cheating and wanting to leave his pregnant wife. Mary is the protagonist, she solves this problem by killing him and getting away with it. 

	Protagonist	Anta gonist	Major	Minor	Static	Dynamic
Billy	X		X			X
Landlady		X	X			X

Characters

Foreshadowing in Literature

Foreshadowing is a literary device in which a writer gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. It creates suspense and helps the readers develop expectations about the upcoming events.

Foreshadowing in 'The Landlady'

In 'The Landlady', Roald Dahl skillfully employs foreshadowing to create an eerie atmosphere and hint at the sinister nature of the landlady and her bed and breakfast.

Briskness

1. Snelheid
2. zwakheid
3. zwaarte
4. luiheid

Emanate

1. vervagen
2. verdrinken
3. voortkomen
4. ontwijken

Swanky

1. saai
2. luxueus
3. bescheiden
4. slordig

Blotchy

1. glad
2. bobbelig
3. donker
4. vlekkerig

Neglect

1. verwaarlozing
2. nalatigheid
3. begrip
4. herinnering

Congenial

1. onvriendelijk
2. boosaardig
3. gelijkgestemd
4. vreemd

Rapacious

1. bescheiden
2. rustig
3. gul
4. hebzuchtig

to be dotty

1. krankzinnig zijn
2. traag zijn
3. gezond zijn
4. vergeetachtig zijn

Peculiar

1. logisch
2. normaal
3. vertrouwd
4. eigenaardig

Themes

Death: the death of the animals, the two previous guests and Billy.

Betrayal: in stead of hospitality, the landlady kills her guests.

Innocence: Billy is young and naive and doesn't see the dangers facing him.

Supernatural: Billy was attracted to the bed & breakfast as if he was lured by witchcraft (the landlady being the witch).