PLOT
WHEN DOES THIS STORY TAKE PLACE?
1950'S
Main issue or problem for the character
CONFLICT
WHAT IS IT CALLED WHEN THE READER KNOWS SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THE CHARACTERS DOESN'T KNOW?
DRAMATIC IRONY
WHAT DO WE TRADITIONALLY LEARN ABOUT IN THE EXPOSITION?
SETTING, CHARACTERS
WHAT IS AN ALIBI? IN YOUR OWN WORDS
A STORY TO PROVE SOMEONE WAS SOMEWHERE ELSE DURING A CRIME
WHAT IS THE CONFLICT?
MARY'S HUBBY TELLS HER HE IS LEAVING
A conclusion from hints
INFERENCE
WHAT CAN THE READER INFER FROM PATRICK DRINKING 2 DRINKS?
HE WAS STRESSED/NERVOUS TO TELL HER HE WAS LEAVING
WHAT PART OF PLOT DOES THE TENSION BUILD?
RISING ACTION
WHO DOES MARY USE AS AN ALIBI?
THE GROCER
WHEN MARY GOES TO THE CELLAR TO GRAB THE LAMB, WHAT PART OF PLOT IS THIS?
RISING ACTION
Notes to help you understand a story
ANNOTATE
WHY WAS IT DRAMATIC IRONY WHEN THE POLICE SAID THEY BELIEVED THE MURDER WEAPON WAS IN THE HOUSE?
BECAUSE IT WAS. IT WAS IN THE OVEN.
WHAT IS THE CLIMAX IN LAMB?
MARY KILLS HER HUSBAND
WHY DOES MARY ASK THE GROCER FOR HELP?
SHE WANTED TO CREATE A STORY WHERE THERE WAS A CONVERSATION.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE FALLING ACTION IN LAMB?
MARY TRIES TO COVER UP THE MURDER (ALIBI, MURDER WEAPON)
Main ideas of a story, most important parts
SUMMARY
CAN WE INFER MARY WILL GET AWAY WITH MURDER? WHY?
THE MURDER WEAPON IS GONE.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE RESOLUTION?
THE POLICE EAT THE MURDER WEAPON
WHAT DOES MARY GET FROM THE GROCER?
PEAS, POTATOES, CHEESECAKE
WHAT TRADITIONALLY HAPPENS IN THE RESOLUTION OF A STORY?
ALL OF THE PIECES HAVE FALLEN INTO PLACE & WE LEARN IF THE PROTAGONIST ACHIEVED THEIR GOAL.
Perspective or who is telling the story
POINT OF VIEW OR PERSPECTIVE
WHAT IS IRONIC ABOUT THE POLICE EATING THE LAMB?
THEY ARE DISCUSSING THE CASE AS THEY ARE EATING THE MURDER WEAPON
WHAT DOES MARY WANT AS THE PROTAGONIST?
SHE WANTS TO HAVE A LOVELY NIGHT WITH HER HUSBAND. SHE ENDS UP WANTING TO HIDE THE MURDER.
HOW DOES THE POLICE VERIFY MARY'S ALIBI?
THEY SEND A DETECTIVE TO SPEAK WITH THE GROCER