THE EXTENDED ANTICIPATORY GUIDE

Statement Agree Disagree Explain

Women should make

dinner for their

husbands.

Police officers’ lives

are safer than other

citizens’ lives

Pregnant women need

special, kind treatment

Women should have

interests outside of

their families

Detectives are good at

noticing details

Murderers always get

caught eventually

DESCRIBE AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE THAT YOU EXPERIENCED WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

Think About:

• What was the change and why was it

unexpected?

• Discuss how you responded to the change and

how the other person responded.

• How were your perspectives on the change

different? The same?

UNIT OVERVIEW

Big Idea: Change Can Be

Unexpected

1. Irony

2. Essential Questions

3. Perspective

← You will be reading

two stories that are

about the Big Idea.

↑You will be looking at

how irony affects the

story and the

characters.

You will be analyzing

how the characters had

different perspectives

about unexpected

change. ↓

You will be focusing on

two essential questions.

→

BY ROALD DAHL

LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• How do people respond to

unexpected change?

• How do authors use irony to build

mystery, tension, and surprise?

ROALD DAHL (1916 – 1990)

• Born in Wales in 1916 and loved stories as a young child.

• He was well traveled – story ideas came from his adventures.

• Had 5 children with his first wife.

• Dahl’s first kids book was The Gremlins in 1943. He was 27.

• Dahl’s real (children's) career didn’t start until the 60’s after he had become a father.

DAHL’S CHARACTERS…

Dahl’s stories are modern-day fairy tales. His

universe is one of magical happenings, peopled

by

characters who are

obviously good

or obviously bad.

‘THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE LAUGHED SO MUCH HIS TEETH RATTLED TOGETHER LIKE

PENNIES IN A MONEYBOX.’

He uses descriptive language to build

a vivid picture in the mind of the reader.

Dahl presents unusual and

improbable events as ordinary.

‘They all peered down

anxiously at the sharks

who were cruising slowly

round and round the

peach.’

From James and the Giant Peach

FAMOUS CHILDREN’S BOOKS

• James and the Giant Peach

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

• The BFG

• Danny, the Champion of the World

• The Twits

• The Witches

• Boy

• Going Solo

• Matilda• The Magic Finger

• Fantastic Mr. Fox

• Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

• The Enormous Crocodile

• George’s Marvelous Medicine• The Giraffe and Pelly and Me

• Esio Trot

• The Vicar of Nibbleswicke

• The Min Pins

THIS LEADS US TO: “LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER”

• What does it mean to be

a “like a lamb”?

• What does it mean to

slaughter someone or

something?

READING FOCUS

• As we read the first page, listen for

words that characterize Mary

Maloney.

If you did not attend live CC, read the first

page of the story now.

DESCRIBE MARY MALONEY’S CHARACTER

• Based on the story, Mary Maloney seems

to be…

• Based on the story, Mary Maloney’s

character can best be described as…

• So far in the story, Mary Maloney appears

to be…

READING FOCUS

• As we read the second page, listen for Why

Mary’s violent action is so unexpected?

What evidence in the text makes her action

surprising?

If you did not attend live CC, read the

second page of the story now.

DESCRIBE YOUR REACTION

• Mary’s violence was unexpected

because…

• I expected Mary to …

• Her action was unexpected

because…

AMBIGUITY

• ambiguity: an element of uncertainty in a text in which something can be interpreted in a number of different ways.

• How is the husband’s reason for breaking up with Mary an example of ambiguity?

• The husband’s reason for leaving is ambiguous because…

PREDICTIONS

• Do you think Mary will get

away with the murder?

• How will she get away with it?

READING FOCUS

• As we read the third page, How does Mary

respond to the unexpected changes in her

life? What does this reveal about her

character?

• How is this section ironic? How does this

irony create suspense in the story?

If you did not attend live CC, read the third

page of the story now.

READING FOCUS

• As we read the last page, What happens

to the murder weapon? How does Dahl

assure his readers understand the irony of

this event?

• Why does Dahl title this story “Lamb to the

Slaughter?” Who is the “lamb” in the story?

Who, or what, is being “slaughtered”?

DID YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?

Statement Agree Disagree Explain

Women should make

dinner for their

husbands.

Police officers’ lives

are safer than other

citizens’ lives

Pregnant women need

special, kind treatment

Women should have

interests outside of

their families

Detectives are good at

noticing details

Murderers always get

caught eventually

MOVIE REVIEW

• Watch the Alfred Hitchcock version of Lamb to

Slaughter on SchoolTube at the following link:

Lamb to the Slaughter Video

• Write a short summary movie review focusing on

how Hitchcock portrays the characters of Mary

and her husband. Was this portrayal similar to the

way you perceived the characters as you read

the story? How was the portrayal similar or different

to your view? Did viewing the visual text change

your interpretation of the story? Explain why or

why not.