The Story
The Bell and Dragon
What is the Plot?
The sequence of events in the story
Who is the main character in 'The Landlady'?
Billy
What event sets the plot in motion?
Billy arrives in Bath by train
What does the stuffed parrot symbolize in the story?
A warning sign
Pit bulls are responsible for roughly what percentage of deadly bite attacks?
66% to 69%
I'll take 60% as that is what I said yesterday.
What city does Billy Weaver arrive in at the beginning of the story?
Bath
What is foreshadowing?
Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story
What is Billy's occupation?
He is a young businessman traveling for work
What is the climax of the story?
Billy realizes the tea tastes strange and the landlady's true nature becomes clear
What is one major theme of 'The Landlady'?
Appearances can be deceiving
Which two groups are most likely to suffer from a deadly pit bull attack?
Children and the elderly
What does Billy notice is unusual about the animals in the landlady's house?
What type of irony occurs when the reader knows something the character does not?
Dramatic Irony
Which character trait makes Billy vulnerable to the landlady?
His politeness and tendency to ignore his instincts
What is the climax of the story?
When the tea tastes poisoned and we realize what is going to happen to Billy.
Why is the room so low of a price?
Can pit bulls lock their jaw?
no
What does Billy realize about the names in the guest book?
He recognizes them from newspaper stories about missing persons
What is the mood of 'The Landlady'?
Eerie and suspenseful with growing dread
How does the landlady's characterization create tension?
She appears kind and motherly but has sinister undertones
What type of conflict is central to 'The Landlady'?
Person vs. Person
Character vs. character (Billy vs. the landlady)
What is the point of the Guestbook?
It represents a record of victims and a warning Billy fails to heed
What is the second most likely breed to fatally bite poeple?
What specific detail about the tea suggests the landlady may be poisoning Billy?
Tastes like bitter almonds
How does Dahl develop suspense in 'The Landlady'?
Through subtle clues, Billy's ignored instincts, and the landlady's odd behavior
What does Billy's internal conflict reveal about his character development?
His struggle between social politeness and survival instinct shows his tragic flaw
How does the open ending contribute to the story's overall impact?
It leaves Billy's fate unknown, forcing readers to infer the horror
What deeper theme does Billy's downfall illustrate about human nature?
People often ignore warning signs to maintain social politeness and avoid discomfort
Are most pit bull attacks provoked or unprovoked?
Almost all pit bull attacks are unprovoked as far as we can tell.
94% unprovoked vs 43% provoked