“Lam b to the Slau ghter”

–by Roald Dahl

Lam b to the Slau ghter
– by Roald Dahl

Comprehension Questions
Page 10

1. To whom is the author referring in the first paragraph as ‘her’? ________________________

2. For whom is Mary waiting? ________________________

3. Paraphrase the author’s description of Mary’s mood.

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4. Define translucent.

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Page 11

5. Define placid.

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6. There is a difference between her tone of voice and his when they greet each other. How does Dahl
create this effect?

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7. Examine the fifth paragraph, which begins “For her, this was always...” What is the author’s purpose
for this paragraph?

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Created by Preston Hapon “Lamb to the Slaughter” p. 1

8. What sounds are described on this page? What effect does this have on the tone?

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9. Describe two things Mary’s husband does which help warn the reader that something is different on
this day.

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10. What is special about Thursdays?

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11. How does the author use Mary’s perspective to signal something is wrong?

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12. The author doesn’t make it clear what Mr. Maloney has told Mary. What impression is created,
however?

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13. What mood is created by describing Mr. Maloney’s face being in shadow?

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Page 13

14. What does Dahl reveal about Mary Maloney that makes it plausible for her to kill her husband?

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Created by Preston Hapon “Lamb to the Slaughter” p. 2

15. Why is Mary worried about waiting “until the tenth month?”

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Page 14

16. Why does Mary talk to the mirror as she is in her bedroom?

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17. Mary goes to the store to buy a few items. What is the real reason she goes there?

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18. Define peculiar.

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Page 15

19. Why has the author written that Mary wasn’t expecting to find anything when she arrived home?

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20. How does the reader know that Mary really is saddened by what has happened?

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21. How is the character Jack Noonan introduced?

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22. What is important about the police who arrive at the house, that adds to the suspense and danger?

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Created by Preston Hapon “Lamb to the Slaughter” p. 3

23. How do the police detectives treat Mary?

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Page 16

24. Why does the author use fragments of conversation among the detectives? (two reasons)

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25. What offer does Jack Noonan make?

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26. What punctuation seems to be missing? Why might the author have done this?

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27. What is the one phrase clearly stated by Jack Noonan on this page? How does it increase the suspense?

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28. What is a spanner? What is a ‘torch’? (page 17) What do these tell you about the author?

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Created by Preston Hapon “Lamb to the Slaughter” p. 4

Page 17

29. How does sharing the whiskey affect the mood of the situation?

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30. How does Mary behave toward Jack Noonan when she first invites him to have dinner?

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Page 18

31. Mary is not in the kitchen with the men. How does she know they are eating the meat?

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32. One type of irony is a situation which is humorous because the audience knows something the
characters do not. How does this describe the irony at the end of the story?

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33. How is sound used to enhance the humor of the situation?

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Created by Preston Hapon “Lamb to the Slaughter” p. 5