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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Ideas for Group Discussions

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Few people who read this story ever forget it. The image of the policemen consuming the evidence remains as vivid as when it was first encountered. Steering a discussion about "Lamb to the Slaughter" in a productive direction can be challenging. Instead of merely admiring the story's powerful emotional impact, it’s important to delve into its deeper themes. One area worth exploring is the story’s underlying values: Is it justifiable that a woman murders her husband and escapes punishment? Can someone's intense adoration abruptly turn into murderous rage? Would the woman genuinely feel no remorse for her actions?

Another effective approach to discussing the story is to examine its technical elements. "Lamb to the Slaughter" exemplifies a popular literary form—the very short, tightly focused mystery story (often referred to as the "short-short story"). For such a story to succeed, it must feature a brief, sensational event at its core, with characters that are easily identifiable stereotypes. The narrative needs to be shocking and surprising, either by challenging genre conventions (in this case, the mystery genre), defying social norms, or presenting an ingenious plot twist. Which of these elements does "Lamb to the Slaughter" deliver?

1. When scrutinizing a brief entertainment piece like "Lamb to the Slaughter," it can be tempting to find logical and plot inconsistencies. However, the story was designed to entertain, not to serve as a profound thesis on marital murders. Nonetheless, aspiring short story writers might find it valuable to examine the unanswered questions in Dahl's narrative. For instance, wouldn’t the victim have confided in someone—perhaps a fellow police officer—about his intention to divorce his wife? Wouldn’t she be the prime suspect in the crime? (Even if she becomes a suspect, the murder weapon is gone, and the grocer can provide her with an alibi.)

2. What qualities make the story unforgettable? It’s insufficient to simply say it has a good plot twist. What makes the twist memorable? What elements within the story support the twist, making it impactful upon reading?

3. Some readers familiar with Dahl's other works are surprised to discover that "Lamb to the Slaughter" is one of his creations, despite his other ventures into mystery writing. If this is true for you, why are you surprised? What aspects of his other works might lead one to believe that "Lamb to the Slaughter" was written by someone else? What does "Lamb to the Slaughter" reveal about Dahl's versatility as a writer?

4. "Lamb to the Slaughter" invites its audience to relish the delicious irony of the police consuming the very murder weapon they are seeking. What are the ethical implications of this? Are we, as the audience, finding pleasure in a murder? Why do we feel amused rather than disgusted?

5. Does "Lamb to the Slaughter" possess enduring appeal? In other words, will it continue to be read and appreciated a century from now? Or are its attributes specific to the 1950s, making it lose significance as our culture evolves?

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