illustrated tablesetting with a plate containing a large lamb-leg roast resting on a puddle of blood

Lamb to the Slaughter

by Roald Dahl

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Lamb to the Slaughter

In "Lamb to the Slaughter," Roald Dahl utilizes various literary devices, including irony, foreshadowing, metaphor, and imagery, to enhance the story's depth and engage readers. Situational and...

17 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

In "Lamb to the Slaughter," key symbols include the leg of lamb, which represents both domesticity and violence, as it transitions from a meal to a murder weapon. Another symbol is the lamb itself,...

2 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

"Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl features main characters Mary and Patrick Maloney. Mary, a devoted and pregnant housewife, experiences a shocking transformation after Patrick, her policeman...

15 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

The title "Lamb to the Slaughter" in Roald Dahl's story is rich with symbolism and irony. It suggests innocence and vulnerability, as in the biblical phrase "like a lamb to the slaughter," yet it is...

9 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

In Roald Dahl's "Lamb to the Slaughter," the "lamb" symbolizes both Patrick and Mary. Patrick, the husband, is the literal lamb slaughtered by Mary, losing his life and innocence. Mary, initially...

2 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

In Roald Dahl's "Lamb to the Slaughter," the lamb symbolizes both innocence and revenge, illustrating the theme of devotion's potential for violence. Mary Maloney, a devoted wife, is initially...

8 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

In "Lamb to the Slaughter," subtle details that readers might easily overlook include Mary Maloney's meticulous planning and calm demeanor after the murder, her rehearsed alibi, and the irony of the...

3 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

Metaphorically, "lead a lamb to the slaughter" implies innocence and unsuspecting vulnerability, as seen in the story's characters. Mary Maloney initially embodies the lamb, appearing naive and...

1 educator answer

Lamb to the Slaughter

A pun is a humorous play on words that exploits different meanings or similar sounds. In "Lamb to the Slaughter," the title itself is a pun. Typically, "lamb to the slaughter" suggests innocence...

1 educator answer

Lamb to the Slaughter

"Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl uses the title as a clever double entendre, symbolizing both the murder weapon—a frozen leg of lamb—and the unsuspecting husband, Patrick Maloney, who is killed...

10 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

In "Lamb to the Slaughter," Mary Maloney is the protagonist who murders her husband, Patrick, after he reveals he is leaving her. Patrick is the unsuspecting victim whose death drives the plot. The...

3 educator answers

Lamb to the Slaughter

The story is told in the first person (I) narrative, with the narrator (the author) keeping his opinion to himself throughout. The only clues given as to the narrator's attitude are when he...

1 educator answer

Lamb to the Slaughter

The lamb, traditionally a symbol of innocence and peace, is used ironically in "Lamb to the Slaughter" to represent violence and revenge. The frozen leg of lamb becomes a murder weapon, subverting...

1 educator answer