Lamb to the SlaughterLamb to the Slaughter

By: Roald DahlBy: Roald Dahl

CharactersCharacters

Mary MaloneyMary Maloney Detective Patrick Detective Patrick

MaloneyMaloney Sam- grocerSam- grocer Jack Noonan- police Jack Noonan- police

officerofficer

SettingSetting

EveningEvening Maloney HouseholdMaloney Household 1950’s1950’s United StatesUnited States

ExpositionExposition

Mary Maloney, 6 Mary Maloney, 6 mo. pregnant, mo. pregnant, learns that her learns that her husband, Patrick, a husband, Patrick, a detective, is detective, is leaving her.leaving her.

Rising ActionRising Action

1. Mary hits him in the head with the 1. Mary hits him in the head with the frozen lamb.frozen lamb.

2. She establishes an alibi by going 2. She establishes an alibi by going to the grocery store.to the grocery store.

3. She returns home and calls the 3. She returns home and calls the police, claiming that she found her police, claiming that she found her husband dead.husband dead.

ClimaxClimax

The police officers The police officers eat the lamb!eat the lamb!

Falling ActionFalling Action

Mary giggles to Mary giggles to herself.herself.

ResolutionResolution

Mary gets away Mary gets away with murder with murder because the police because the police officers ate the officers ate the murder weapon!murder weapon!

Point of ViewPoint of View

Third Person Limited OmniscientThird Person Limited Omniscient

(Don’t write this part) The narrator is (Don’t write this part) The narrator is not a character in the story. The not a character in the story. The narrator only knows the thoughts narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings that Mary is having.and feelings that Mary is having.

ThemeTheme

Things are not always as they seem.Things are not always as they seem.Be careful who you trust.Be careful who you trust.

Can you think of any other themes Can you think of any other themes that are present in the story?that are present in the story?

ToneTone

IronyIrony

(Don’t write this part.) It is ironic (Don’t write this part.) It is ironic that a lady who appears to be that a lady who appears to be wonderful wife has murdered her wonderful wife has murdered her husband. It is also ironic that he is a husband. It is also ironic that he is a detective and his police officer detective and his police officer friends eat the murder weapon so friends eat the murder weapon so there is no evidence against his wife!there is no evidence against his wife!

Video LinkVideo Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmpY9cpe6g8&feature=related

(Alfred Hitchcock, 1958) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)