Lamb to the Slaughter (Roald Dahl)
Why is the scene where police officers eat the leg of lamb in "Lamb to the Slaughter" considered dramatic irony?
The reader knows the lamb is the murder weapon, but the officers believe they are doing Mary a favor.
What is the primary internal conflict faced by the narrator in "Lather and Nothing Else"?
The tension between his professional identity as a barber and his political duty as a revolutionary.
Why is the $50,000 payment at the end of "Button, Button" an example of situational irony?
The money is the payout from Arthur's life insurance policy rather than a reward from an organization.
In "Ruthless," what does Judson Webb's refusal to give his wife a key to his "special closet" reveal about him?
He is an obsessively possessive individual who values property over human relationships.
Justify
to explain or give a good reason for
How does Patrick Maloney's behavior, such as "draining" his drink in one swallow, contribute to the story's suspense?
It signals unusual behavior and creates tension before his major announcement.
What does the barber mean by the phrase, "By lather, and nothing else"?
He chooses to maintain his professional and moral boundaries rather than becoming a murderer.
What does the resolution of "Button, Button" suggest about Norma's relationship with Arthur?
Her self-centeredness prevented her from truly understanding or knowing him.
What narrative role does Marcia play in "Ruthless" to build suspense?
She acts as a moral warning, labeling Judson's plan as murder.
Ruthless
cruel and unworried about causing pain to others
In "Lamb to the Slaughter," what specific action most clearly marks Mary Maloney's shift from a devoted wife to a calculated criminal?
The rehearsal of her smile and voice in the mirror before visiting the grocer.
What is the situational irony revealed at the end of "Lather and Nothing Else"?
Torres was fully aware of the barber's potential to kill him and entered the shop to test him.
In "Button, Button," what is the implication of Mr. Steward's final question: "Do you really think you knew your husband?"
Norma's lack of empathy and shared values made her husband a "stranger" to her, fulfilling the button's condition.
In "Ruthless," what is the situational irony found in the story's conclusion?
Judson becomes the victim of the very deathtrap he set for an intruder.
Vindictive
having or showing a desire for revenge
Which specific thought process in "Lamb to the Slaughter" supports the idea that Mary's cover-up is for her child?
Her wondering about the laws regarding murderers with unborn children.
In "Lather and Nothing Else," what reason does Captain Torres give for visiting the barber despite being warned he might be killed?
He came to find out for himself, noting that "killing isn't easy."
What is the most significant point of disagreement between Norma and Arthur in "Button, Button"?
The moral definition of murder and the value of a human life, regardless of distance.
According to Judson Webb in "Ruthless," what gives him the right to "make his own laws"?
His desire to protect his personal property.
Intrigue
to raise one's curosity or interest