Lamb to the Slaughter

by Roald Dahl

1. Correct the mistakes in the following text: (grammar or spelling)

Synopsis
This darkly humorous story is a modern, yet classic tale of irony and suspence. Mary Maloney eagerly awaits her
husband ______
Patrick’s arrival home from work. When he finally arrive, it is obvious that something is wrong. He tells his wife
that that _______
he is leaving her. Shocked beyond reply, Mary begins cook dinner. She grabs a large leg of lamb from the freezer.
_______
She walk up behind her husband and hits him on the head with the frozen meat, killing him. Then she places the leg
_______
of lamb into the hot oven. To establish an alibi, she goes out to the market and calmly asks the shopkeeper for

potatoes and peas for her husband’s dinner. When she return home, she calls the police,
_______
pretending to have just discover her husband’s body. Hours later, as the police search for the murder weapon,
_______
Mary begs them all to eat the leg of lamb she have cooked so that it won’t go to waste. The story ends
_______
 Lamb to the Slaughter
by Roald Dahl

with a final ironic twist as the police officers consume the leg of lamb, all while discussing the mysterious
disappearance of the murder weapon.

2. Answer the following questions.

A. What Influence Does Mary's Pregnancy Have on the Story?

B. What does Patrick say when leaving Mary? Why do you think Are the Exact Words Patrick Says When
Leaving Mary Left Out?
C. Do you think Patrick's Profession is Important in the story? Why/Why not?
D. What Is the Dramatic Irony in "Lamb to the Slaughter"? What other ironies can you find In the story?
E. What Is the Origin and Meaning of the Title "Lamb to the Slaughter"?

3. VOCABULARY
A. Find different ways of walking in the story and make a list of them with their meanings.
B. Look at the following words. Make sure you know their meaning and connect them with the story.
 tranquil  hospitality
 tinkled  spanner
 pregnant  trifle
 premises  gravel
 corpse  sewing
 Lamb to the Slaughter
by Roald Dahl

 drain  rehearse
 fuss  whispering
 supper

SOURCES CONSULTED:

 https://www.varsitytutors.com/englishteacher/lamb-to-the-slaughter-lesson-plans
 Dahl, Roald. Lamb to the Slaughter. Harper's Magazine, 1953, http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/lamb.html