Button Button
In 'Button, Button,' what is the specific consequence Mr. Steward describes if the button is pushed?
Someone they do not know will die, and they will receive $50, 000.
In 'Lamb to the Slaughter,' what is Mary Maloney’s initial state before her husband arrives home?
She is a devoted, pregnant housewife waiting contentedly for her husband.
In 'Ruthless' by William Dane Ross, why does Judson Webb decide to poison his whiskey?
To get revenge on a thief who broke into his cabin the previous winter.
In 'Lather and Nothing Else,' what is the barber's secret identity?
He is a revolutionary and an informant for the rebels.
This device involves the author giving hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.
What is foreshadowing?
What is the 'twist' at the end of Richard Matheson's 'Button, Button'?
Arthur dies, and Mr. Steward suggest that Norma didn't really know her husband.
What does Mary use as the murder weapon in 'Lamb to the Slaughter'?
A frozen leg of lamb.
What happens to Judson immediately after he poisons the whiskey?
He slips on an acorn and hits his head, knocking himself unconscious.
What is Captain Torres's reputation in the town?
He is a brutal military leader known for executing rebels.
This refers to the perspective from which the story is told (e.g., 1st person or 3rd person).
What is point of view?
How does Arthur's reaction to the box differ from Norma's in 'Button, Button'?
He finds the proposition immoral and refuses to participate.
How does Mary dispose of the murder weapon?
She feeds it to the investigating police officers.
Who gives Judson the poisoned whiskey at the end of 'Ruthless'?
Alec, the caretaker, who is trying to help him recover from his fall.
What is the primary internal conflict the barber faces while shaving the Captain?
Whether to be a murderer for his cause or an honorable barber.
This is the "sense of growing tension" or "anxious uncertainty" a reader feels.
What is suspense?
What does the button symbolise in the story?
Norma's hidden desire for power over others.
Why do the police officers fail to suspect Mary in 'Lamb to the Slaughter'?
She has a perfect alibi provided by the local grocer.
What is the central theme of 'Ruthless'?
Vindictiveness and the idea that 'the hunter becomes the hunted.'
What does the barber ultimately decide to do?
He gives him a perfect shave and lets him walk out alive.
In an argument, these are the facts or quotes used to support a claim.
What is relevant evidence?
What is the significance of the $50,000 life insurance policy in 'Button, Button'?
It is the exact amount promised by Mr. Steward for pushing the button.
What is the 'darkly humorous' irony at the end of Dahl's story?
The police officers think the weapon is 'right under their noses.'
How does Mabel’s character contrast with Judson’s in 'Ruthless'?
She is compassionate and believes that the punishment should fit the crime.
What does Captain Torres reveal at the very end of 'Lather and Nothing Else'?
He knew the barber was a rebel and came to see if he would kill him.
This is the logical explanation that connects the evidence to the claim.
What is reasoning?