1
Lamb to the SlaughterThis is only a guide to
help you understand the story.
2
Who is the author?

• Roald Dahl

For what else is Roald Dahl known?

• James the Giant Peach (1961)
• Charlie the Choc. Factory (1964)
• Screenplay for Flemings James Bond novel You
  Only Live Twice (1967).

3
What is Mary Maloney doing when the story begins?

• She is anxiously awaiting her husband Patricks
  return home from a days work as a local police
  officer.

4
What is Patrick Maloneys reaction to his wifes
attentative behavior when he gets home?

• He is preoccupied and appears to be aggravated at
  something. He responds to her questions in an
  irritated, matter-of-fact manner.

5
What can we assume that Mr. Maloneys tells his
wife?

• He is leaving her.

6
What is her initial reaction to the news?

• She is in such disbelief that she pretends that
  he didnt speak at all and says that she will
  start making dinner.

7
What does she decide to cook?

• She goes to the basement and gets a frozen leg of
  lamb to put in the oven.

8
When Mrs. Maloney returns upstairs with the
frozen meat, what does she do?

• She hits her husband over the head and kills him.

9
At this point after the murder, what is her
primary concern?

• She is most concerned about her unborn child.

10
How does Mrs. Maloney establish an alibi?

• She places the meat in a pan and puts it in the
  oven.
• She then primps in the mirror and goes to the
  grocery story.

11
In your opinion, when Mrs. Maloney returns home
and finds her husband dead on the floor, are
her tears real?

• No. One might say she rehearsed the whole act on
  the way home from the store.
• Yes. One might say that Dahl writes, All the
  old love and longing for him welled up inside
  her, and she ran over to him, knelt down beside
  him, and began to cry her heart out.  It was
  easy.  No acting was necessary.

12
How does Mrs. Maloney manipulate the police?

• She lies about the murder.
• She pretends to be sick so she doent have to get
  up and leave the room.
• She offers them alcohol to make them feel
  relaxed.
• She uses her husbands friendships with the
  officers to her advantage.

13
What is the most important aspect of Mrs.
Maloneys manipulation.

• She asks the police officers for a favor - she
  invites them, the friends and co-workers of
  Patrick, to eat the dinner that she was cooking
  leg of lamb!

14
Does Mrs. Maloney get away with murder?

• ABSOLUTELY!
• The police officers eat the only piece of
  evidence!