Lamb to the Slaughter
How would you characterize Mary Maloney?
Sweet, caring, a good wife, loving
What is the mood of the story when Rainsford and Whitney are on the yacht at the beginning?
Creepy, uneasy, nervous
Who is the protagonist of the story?
Eckles
What is the name of the narrator?
He doesn't have one
The simplest definition for this device is "a problem"
Conflict
Who is Sam? What is his role in the story?
Describe the outside of General Zaroff's home. What impression does it give to any visitors?
Gargoyles, iron spiked gate, located on cliffs, massive, lots of lights. It gives the impression that visitors are not welcome.
What is one example of foreshadowing in the story?
"Stay on the path!! NEVER step off!"
"There's a stiff penalty for anyone who breaks the rules"
Election results...
Provide an adjective that describes the mood of the story.
The device gives hints or clues about what might happen in the future.
Foreshadowing
Why does Mary kill her husband?
He tells her that he's leaving her. We do not know the reason.
Identify TWO examples of conflict within the story.
Rainsford vs. the jungle/the ocean
Rainsford vs. Ivan
Rainsford vs. Zaroff's dogs
What does Eckles do in the jungle that ends up changing the future?
He disobeys instructions by stepping off the path and kills a butterfly.
Is the narrator crazy or insane? Provide an example from the text to support your point
Vernon to decide.
The time and place in which a story takes place.
Setting
What does Mary use to murder her husband? Why are the police unable to find it?
A frozen leg of lamb. The police cannot find it because Mary feeds it to them for dinner.
What is the climax of the Most Dangerous Game?
When Rainsford jumps out from behind the curtains in Zaroff's bedroom.
Rich, over-confident, nervous, disobedient
Aside from the plot (the story itself), what else does the narrator do to help us feel the mood of the story?
Language, repetition of words/phrases, gives us a crazy and not so reliable narrator
When the audience or reader knows something the characters do not.
Dramatic irony.
Explain the irony of the story. (Hint: there are TWO examples)
The police officers end up eating the murder weapon they are looking for. The title itself is ironic - a lamb is an animal that seems so sweet and innocent and it was used to murder a man.
Explain the double meaning of the title "the Most Dangerous Game".
What is the "sound of thunder" in the story? (2)
The T-Rex and the gun shot when Travis kills Eckles
What is the symbolism of the vulture eye?
The narrator was afraid that the old man (despite having a bad eye) would be able to see who he really was.
How the story makes the reader feel
Mood