Irony
What does irony mean?
the opposite of what you expect to happen in a story
How does Mary feel about her husband at the beginning of the story? Give evidence from the text to support your answer.
She loves him very much, is delighted, and looking forward to his arrival.
What is Patrick's inner conflict in the beginning of the story?
He wants to tell his wife that he is leaving her, but he doesn't know how.
How can Mr. Maloney (Patrick) be characterized in the story?
Cold-hearted, mean, unkind, dishonest, disloyal
The men are eating the lamb and do not know that it is an actual murder weapon. What type of irony is this?
(situational, verbal, or dramatic)
dramatic irony
Why is Mary smiling at the end of the story?
She killed her her husband and fooled the police detectives.
What is the inciting incident or main conflict of 'Lamb to the Slaughter'?
Mary Maloney’s husband Patrick tells her something terrible, so she kills him with a leg of lamb.
How would you characterize Mary after she kills her husband?
shocked, clever
This is when a speaker says one thing, but means another. What type of irony is this?
(situational, verbal, or dramatic)
verbal irony
Why is Mary so emotional when she sees her husband lying dead on the floor for the first time?
She realizes what she has done and understands that she really did love her husband.
What happens in the resolution of 'Lamb to the Slaughter?'
Mary Maloney laughs because the cops eat the murder weapon, so she thinks she’ll get away with her crime.
How would you characterize the policemen in the story?
foolish, naive, too trusting, kind
Mary kills her husband and gets away with it. What type of irony is this?
(situational, dramatic, or verbal)
situational irony
What infererence do the police make about the murder weapon? What do they think it is?
a heavy object made of metal
Describe an event that happens in the rising action of the story.
Mary goes to the grocery store to create an alibi for herself.
She comes back home and calls the police, pretending to be surprised.
How does Mary's character change from the beginning to the end of the story?
She changes from being calm, pleasant, and delightful to clever, cunning, and devious.
'Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack?'
This quote is an example of ____________ irony.
(situationa, dramatic, or verbal)
verbal irony
In your opinion, was the murder pre-meditated or a crime of passion?
Answers will vary.
What do the police do with the murder weapon? Why is this an important part of the plot?
They eat it. This is important to the plot because the evidence is destroyed and Mary gets away with the murder.
How would you characterize Sam (the grocer) in the story?
helpful, unaware