“Lamb to the Slaughter”Roald Dahl

Pg. 317Point of View: 3rd person limited

Vocabulary for “Lamb to the Slaughter” Journal Prompts. Every day, we will be focusing on a new

vocabulary word. Use ONE sheet of paper to record all of your

journals.Look up the vocabulary word, and respond to

the journal prompt. Please follow all directions. Short, incomplete

sentences will be marked down.

Journal Prompts: Journal #1: Describe a place where you feel placid. Where is it?

What does it look like? Provide vivid imagery. (4-5 sentences).

Journal #2: Read the following allusion: It has rained so long it seems it has rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Explain how this is an allusion, and what the allusion is from. (2-3 sentences).

Journal #3: Mary luxuriates in the presence of her husband. Describe someone who makes you feel warm and complete, someone you are drawn to. (4-5 sentences)

Journal #4: Read the following allusion: “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.” What story is this allusion referring to, and what is the speaker implying? (2-3 sentences)

Journal Prompts: Journal #5: Read the following allusion: Christy didn't like to spend money. She was no

Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities. Explain why this is an allusion, and what the allusion is referring to. (2-3 sentences)

Journal #6: Mary is bewildered by her husbands strange behavior. She has no idea about the bad news she is about to receive. Describe a time when you were unsuspecting and had no idea that bad news was coming. Help us to feel your bewilderment in that moment. (4-5 sentences)

Journal #7: Describe an injury you acquired where your blood congealed. (4-5 sentences).

Journal #8: Read the following allusion and tell me what Taylor Swift is referring to in her allusion. (2-3 sentences).

Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter And my daddy said stay away from Juliet But you were everything to me I was begging you please don't go and I said…

Journal #9: Make a list of five ways to be hospitable to guests in the classroom. (4-5 sentences).

Irony Practice:On a piece of paper, draw the tree map on

the following slide.Write down the provided definitions.Then, think of an example to write down for

each column.

Irony

Dramatic irony

Situational irony

Verbal irony

Definition: In a story, when the audience knows something the character does not know.

Example: (sample answer)

Definition: When what happens is the opposite of what is expected.

Example: (sample answer)

Definition: When a speaker says one thing but means another.

Example: (sample answer)

Ex. from story:

Ex. from story:

Bill Gates didn’t graduate high school and is a billionaire.

No example from story for this column

Ex. from story:“Mary Maloney simply walked up behind him…and swung the big frozen leg of lamb high in the air and brought it down… on the back of his head” (320).This is situational irony because one wouldn’t expect Mary to kill her husband since she loves him.

Irony Practice:On the back of your tree map, number your

paper from 1-6. Look at each scenario, and identify whether

the scenario is situational, dramatic, or verbal irony.

Include a short explanation of why the scenario is the type of irony you selected.

http://www.ereadingworksheets.com/reading-worksheets/irony-worksheet.pdf

Text Dependent Questions: “Lamb to the Slaughter” pg. 317On a separate sheet of paper, labeled “Lamb

to the Slaughter Questions,” respond to each of the questions on the next slide; providing evidence for each response.

Restate question in your responses:

“Lamb to the Slaughter Questions”

1) At the beginning of the text, how does Dahl describe Mary’s characteristics? What textual evidence does the author use to describe Mary and her house in order to achieve this effect? (pages 317)

In the beginning of the text, Mary is described as a neat and seemingly content housewife with a calm attitude. This is shown with the passage “there was a slow smiling air about her, and about everything she did. The drop of the head as she bent over her sewing was curiously tranquil” (317). One can derive that she is a neat person due to the orderliness of her house. This is show with the statement, “the room was warm and clean” (317).

2) Describe Patrick’s characteristics. What textual evidence does the author use to describe him in order to achieve this effect? (page 317 and 318).

3) On page 318, Dahl describes the husband’s glass of whiskey and ice several times. How is it described? Why do you think he focuses on this object? Cite evidence to support your answer.

“Lamb to the Slaughter Questions”4) On page 319, describe the ways that Patrick’s

demeanor and comments change Mary. Why does Mary undergo these changes? Use textual evidence to prove the effect Patrick’s comments have on Mary’s actions.

5) The police officers do not suspect Mary for the murder. How does her behavior play a role in assuring this didn’t happen? Provide evidence (page 321-322).

“Lamb to the Slaughter Questions”

6) What happens to the murder weapon? How does Dahl assure his readers understand the irony of this event? Cite the evidence from the story that foreshadows this event.

7) Why does Dahl title this story “Lamb to the Slaughter?” Who is the “lamb” in the story? Who, or what, is being “slaughtered?” Cite evidence.

Revisiting the Irony Tree Map:Work with an elbow partner to add to the

chart at least 4 examples of situational and dramatic irony from the text. Write the quotes from the story under the appropriate column on the tree map.

Below it, add 1-2 sentences commentary on why the quote is an example of situational or dramatic irony.

The Importance of Irony in “Lamb to the Slaughter”Situational Irony: When something happens that

is the opposite of what we would normally expect to happen or would find appropriate.You are spraying shaving cream into your friend’s

face and it blows back into your face.

Dramatic Irony: The reader knows something important that some or all of the characters do not know.Example: There is a big, scary monster hiding

behind the closed door that our heroine is about to open.

The Importance of Irony in “Lamb to the Slaughter”

1) Topic sentence: In the story….(what happens?) (Include title, author’s names, and characters’ names). Dahl uses dramatic and situational irony to create a sinister tone to the story.

2) For example, Dahl uses situational irony when… (concrete detail –direct quote)

3) This means…..(How does the passage create irony?)4) This matters, because… (How does #2 help create a sinister tone?)5) In addition, an example of dramatic irony is when… (concrete detail CD) 6) This means….(How does the passage create irony?)7) This matters, because….(How does #5 help create a sinister tone?)8) In conclusion, 

Opinion paragraph:Read and copy down the following prompt:Is Mrs. Maloney a psychopath or is she a

normal woman driven to desperate measures?

Write a body paragraph responding to the above prompt.

Use the opinion paragraph format on the following slide:

Opinion paragraph format:1) Topic sentence: In the story “Lamb to the Slaughter,” Mrs. Maloney

ruthlessly kills her husband; revealing she is a……. 2) For example,… (concrete detail –direct quote)3) Additionally,…..(concrete detail-direct quote)4) Therefore… (How does #2 and #3 reveal Mrs. Maloney is a psychopath or desperate?)5) In addition, (concrete detail CD) 6) Also,….(concrete detail)7) This specifically….(How does #4 and #5 reveal Mrs. Maloney is a psychopath or desperate?)8) In conclusion, 

Color-coding information: topic and concluding sentence is blueConcrete detail is redCommentary is green