“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl

Anticipation Exercise
Directions: In pairs, read the following statements and decide whether you agree,
disagree, or remain neutral. You must then circle your response and be prepared to
justify your answer to the group.

1. Appearances can be deceiving, often hiding more than they reveal.

Agree / Disagree / Neutral

2. Life can take unexpected turns, changing the course of events in surprising ways.

Agree / Disagree / Neutral

3. People might make decisions under pressure that they wouldn't make otherwise.

Agree / Disagree / Neutral

4. Secrets can be hidden in the most ordinary of things, waiting to be discovered.

Agree / Disagree / Neutral

5. When someone does wrong, you are justified in giving them payback for their
deed.
Agree / Disagree / Neutral

6. When people are under a lot of stress, they can do or say things that they later
regret.
Agree / Disagree / Neutral
 7. Murder is never justified under any circumstance.
Agree / Disagree / Neutral

8. People should seek justice or revenge for a crime of misdeed.

Agree / Disagree / Neutral

In The Title
Directions: Authors chose their titles very carefully. The title can refer to a major
theme in the story. Consider the title of Roald Dahl’s short story. Discuss why you think
the author chose “Lamb to the Slaughter” and what you think it means/symbolises.
 Super Synonyms
Directions: Look up a synonym for each of the following words that appear in the short
story:

1. Tranquil

2. Blissful

3. Frightened

4. Motionless

5. Surprised

6. Ridiculous

7. Extraordinary

8. Unusual

9. Frantic

10. Hum

11. Sob

12. Killed

13. Occasionally

14. Exasperate

15. Persuade

16. Belch
 "Lamb to the Slaughter”: Cloze Test
Summary

Directions: Complete the summary using the words provided in the box below.

In ________________ _________________ engaging story, "Lamb to the Slaughter," we step

into a cozy _________________ where the scent of a homemade meal fills the air. This
seemingly normal scene takes a surprising turn when a frozen leg of _______________
becomes the center of a thrilling mystery. The main character, a
_____________________, faces a sudden problem that requires quick thinking. But as we
soon discover, things are not always as they seem.

The story invites us to __________________ appearances and think critically. Dahl's

clever use of twists and turns keeps us _____________________ at every step. Just when
we think we know what will happen next, the story surprises us, showing that life
can be full of unexpected surprises.

Beyond the kitchen and the mystery, Dahl shares an important message: even the
most ordinary things can hide ___________________. The lamb, usually a ________________
of warmth and comfort, transforms into a key clue that changes the course of the
story. This blending of cooking and mystery demonstrates that life can take
unexpected directions, and sometimes the most unassuming details can hold great
significance.

kitchen question

secrets guessing lamb

symbol housewife Roald Dahl’s

 Multiple Choice Quiz
1. Who is the main character in the story?

A. Mary Maloney
B. Mrs. Patrick Maloney
C. Sam
D. Patrick Maloney

2. Who is the narrator of the story?

A. Mary Maloney
B. Patrick Maloney
C. Sam
D. Unknown

3. What is Mary’s husband’s job?

A. Doctor
B. Dentist
C. Farmer
D. Policeman

4. How many months pregnant is Mary at the beginning of the story?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8

5. What is Mary Maloney's motive for killing her husband?

A. Fear
B. Greed
C. Anger
D. Jealousy
 6. What murder weapon is used by Mary?

A. A sharp knife
B. A gun
C. A leg of lamb
D. Poison

7. What does Mary Maloney do after killing her husband?

A. She goes to sleep

B. She goes to a party
C. She cleans up the crime scene
D. She calls the police

8. What are the names of the two policemen who come to investigate the scene?

A. Flynn and O’ Donnell

B. Roche and Crotty
C. Noonan and O’ Malley
D. Morgan and Potter

9. What is the main plot of the story?

A. Mary Maloney becomes a detective

B. Mary Maloney kills her husband
C. Mary Maloney goes grocery shopping
D. Mary Maloney wins the lottery

10. What does the title 'Lamb to the Slaughter' suggest about Mary Maloney?

A. She is a predator
B. She is a victim
C. She is innocent
D. She is a detective

11. Why does Mary Maloney offer the leg of lamb to the police officers?

A. To show her cooking skills

B. To dispose of the evidence
C. To frame someone else
D. To distract them
 12. What are the moral implications of the story?

A. Revenge is a dish best served cold

B. Murder is justified in certain circumstances
C. Cooking can be a deadly skill
D. Lying is always wrong

13. What is the theme of the story?

A. Deception
B. Love
C. Betrayal
D. Revenge

14. What is the significance of the frozen leg of lamb?

A. It symbolizes the coldness of revenge

B. It is a red herring
C. It represents Mary Maloney's love for cooking
D. It is a murder weapon

15. How does the title 'Lamb to the Slaughter' contribute to the suspense of the
story?

A. It misleads the reader

B. It adds tension to the climax
C. It foreshadows the murder
D. It creates a sense of mystery

16. What is the moral dilemma faced by the reader?

A. Whether Mary Maloney should get away with murder

B. Whether Mary Maloney should be punished
C. Whether Mary Maloney should turn herself in
D. Whether Mary Maloney should be forgiven
 17. What is the moral lesson of the story?

A. Love conquers all

B. Revenge is sweet
C. Appearances can be deceiving
D. Crime doesn't pay

18. How does the title 'Lamb to the Slaughter' relate to the events in the story?

A. Mary Maloney is a chef

B. Mary Maloney is a vegetarian
C. Mary Maloney kills her husband with a lamb leg
D. Mary Maloney raises lambs on a farm

19. What does the story suggest about the nature of justice?

A. Justice is subjective
B. Justice is absolute
C. Justice is blind
D. Justice is swift

20. What is the role of the police officers in the story?

A. To eat the leg of lamb

B. To arrest Mary Maloney
C. To solve the murder
D. To provide comic relief
 Creative writing: Informal Letter

• Informal letters are sent to people you know such as friends or family.
• Pretend you are Mary and have been found guilty of murdering your husband.
• Write an informal letter to your deceased husband’s colleagues, Noonan and O Malley,
justifying your actions and persuading them that you are in fact a good person who made a
terrible mistake.
• You must use at least 2 persuasive language techniques (modal verbs, rhetorical questions,
statistics, emotive language, repetition etc).

Success criteria:

• I have used the correct format for an informal letter

• I am writing from the point of view (POV) of Mary

• I have justified my actions and demonstrated that I am a good person

• I have used at least two persuasive language techniques

• I have checked my work for spelling and grammar

 Creative writing: Diary Entry
Create:

Imagine you are the protagonist. You have just killed your husband after he delivered some
devasting news. You are six months pregnant and used a leg of lamb to murder your spouse
(a detective). Create a personal diary entry based on the aftermath of the murder. You may
include information concerning your marriage, the led up to the crime, your fears about the
future and justifications for killing your husband.

Remember: diary entries are extremely personal. Use personal and emotive language.

Success criteria;

• I have used the correct format for a diary entry

• The nature of the task is addressed

• I have used personal and emotive language

• The language I am using is appropriate in tone

• I have checked my work for spelling and grammar

 Newspaper Article
Directions: Imagine you are a newspaper reporter. You have been
asked by your editor to write a serious broadsheet article about the
death of a local detective, Patrick Maloney, who was murdered by his
wife, Mary . Remember to use informative, clear language.

Success criteria:
• (must) Name of your newspaper

• (must) Title of article

• (must) By-line

• (must) Strapline

• (must) Date

• (must) Factual writing: who, what, where, when, why

• (should) One interview with a source: this could be the

policemen, a neighbour, a family friend etc
•
• (could) Include an appeal for any witnesses who were in the
area at the time of the crime
Directions: Design a comic strip to visually represent the short story. You must write a caption under
each image detailing what’s happened. You should also include important quotes when designing
your comic strip.