Lamb to the Slaughter Group

Question:

idaa95
idaa95
Student
High School - 9th Grade

This story ends with a dramatic irony. Explain the dramatic irony?

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Posted by idaa95 on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at 1:08 AM and tagged with dramatic irony, lamb to the slaughter.

Answers:

  1. shauger
    shauger Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Dramatic irony occurs when the audience has knowledge of something that some or all of the characters do not, and because of that words or actions have a different meaning.  In "Lamb to the Slaughter" the reader knows that Mary Maloney, having been told by her policeman husband that he is leaving her, has killed him with a frozen leg of lamb.  The dramatic irony occurs when she cooks the lamb and serves it to the men investigating her husband's death while they speculate about what the murder weapon might have been and where is could be.  In fact, one of them remarks the evidence they are seeking is probably "right under their noses." The reader knows they are eating the very weapon they are seeking!  That is dramatic irony.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/lamb-slaughter/summary

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    Posted by shauger on Tuesday February 10, 2009 at 3:57 AM