Lamb to the Slaughter

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Lamb to the slaughter - Roald Dahl

What do you know about Roald Dahl?
Do you know any of his books?

Books:

Charlie's chocolate factory

Mathilda

James and the giant peach

The fantastic Mr Fox

BFG

The witches

Lamb to the slaughter

Roald Dahl

British author

Wrote both children's and adult books and stories

Children's stories often funny

Adults stories often bizar. 

Who are the main characters in Lamb to the Slaughter?

Who are the secondary characters of Lamb to the Slaugher?

How was the main character feeling at the start of Lamb to the slaughter? Why?

1. angry
2. sick
3. calm
4. sad

''Now and again she would glance up at the clock, but without anxiety, merely to please herself with the thought that each minute gone by made it nearer the time when he would come... When the clock said ten minutes to five, she began to listen, and a few moments later, punctually as always, she heard the tires on the gravel outside, and the car door slamming, the footsteps passing the window, the key turning in the lock. She laid aside her sewing, stood up, and went forward to kiss him as he came in.''

What was the husband drinking?

1. water
2. soda
3. wine
4. whiskey

page 2

When he came back, she noticed that the new drink was dark amber with the quantity of whiskey in it.

How does the husband treat his wife?

page 2-3

"Darling," she said. "Would you like me to get you some cheese? I haven't made any supper because it's Thursday."

"No," he said.

"I think it's a shame," she said, "that when a policeman gets to be as senior as you, they keep him walking about on his feet all day long."

He didn't answer...

Her eyes waited on him for an answer, a smile, a little nod, but he made no sign.

What do you think the husband has told the wife?

page 3

''This is going to be a bit of a shock to you, I'm afraid," he said. "But I've thought about it a good deal and I've decided the only thing to do is tell you right away. I hope you won't blame me too much.''

page 4

"So there it is," he added. "And I know it's kind of a bad time to be telling you, bet there simply wasn't any other way. Of course I'll give you money and see you're looked after. But there needn't really be any fuss. I hope not anyway. It wouldn't be very good for my job."

page 2

This was her sixth month with cild.

How do you think this impacts her emotionally? How does she react?

page 4

Her first instinct was not to believe any of it, to reject it all. It occurred to her that perhaps he hadn't even spoken, that she herself had imagined the whole thing. Maybe, if she went about her business and acted as though she hadn't been listening, then later, when she sort of woke up again, she might find none of it had ever happened.

"I'll get the supper," she managed to whisper, and this time he didn't stop her.

What did Mary use to kill Patrick?

page 4

At that point, Mary Maloney simply walked up behind him and without any pause she swung the big frozen leg of lamb high in the air and brought it down as hard as she could on the back of his head.

What did Mary do with the leg of the lamb after she killed her husband?

1. She burned it.
2. She cooked it.
3. She burried it.
4. She hid it somewhere on the premises.

What was Patrick's profession?

page 4

It was extraordinary, now, how clear her mind became all of a sudden. She began thinking very fast. As the wife of a detective, she knew quite well what the penalty would be.

What do the police do with the murder weapon?

page 8 (pdf in Teams)

There was a good deal of hesitating among the four policemen, but they were clearly hungry, and in the end they were persuaded to go into the kitchen and help themselves. The woman stayed where she was, listening to them speaking among themselves, their voices thick and sloppy because their mouths were full of meat.

"Have some more, Charlie?"

"No. Better not finish it."

"She wants us to finish it. She said so. Be doing her a favor."

"Okay then. Give me some more."

Do you think Mary will get away with the crime? Do you think she should?

What did you learn today?

Is there anything you don't understand?

Week Task

Complete & Write a summary (in Teams):

• Short Stories – Toy Shop - Harry Harrison (1962)

Learn:

• p.170 – Theme words ‘‘Expressing your opinion’’ & ‘‘Films & series’’

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Extra comprehension questions

quizlet.com

quizlet.com