FACILITATORS GUIDE THE LANDLADY BY ROALD DAHL

Background

To prepare for the discussion check out some of these materials, which offer background
information.

Official Roald Dahl website: https://www.roalddahl.com/roald-dahl/stories/k-o/kiss-kiss
Official Roald Dahl YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/officialroalddahl

Derda, M. ed. (2016). Roald Dahl. The Landlady." Short Stories for Students, , vol. 42, Gale, 2016,
p. 126. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
This article provides extensive background on Dahl and the story.

Ulin, D. (July 21, 2016). Roald Dahls Twisted, Overlooked Stories for Adults. The New Yorker.
Retrieved from
https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/roald-dahls-twisted-overlooked-stories-for-
adults on November 7, 2017.

Wertheimer, L. (2010). Roald Dahl: The Story of the 'Storyteller'
Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129825567
Interview of biographer Donald Sturrock on NPR that provides background information
on Dahl.

The story as a PDF is available here:

An audio version via YouTube is available here: https://youtu.be/BFWBsMeIYlM

Before the Book Club Discussion
Post intriguing or useful information or media on Facebook and Good Reads to pique
interest, e.g. links in the Background section.
Remind participants of the date of the discussion so they start reading in time.
Post guidelines for discussion in Appendix A include this citation:


During the Discussion
Strive for a many points of view and accept differing views.
Call attention to the Good Reads guidelines for discussing linked to our group.
Ask follow up questions, If participants are unclear,.
Monitor the site twice a day. When two people facilitate, have one check in early in the
day and the other later. Stir up the discussion by adding questions or asking participants to
comment on a passage youve selected.
Share some background information from Short Stories for Students (named The Landlady
in box.net folder) each day.

 FACILITATORS GUIDE THE LANDLADY BY ROALD DAHL

Leading the Discussion

Opening

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your favorite short stories.

Have you read any of Roald Dahls work? If so what, when and what were your impressions
of those stories?

Questions about the story

What did you think of the beginning of the story?

What are three words youd use to describe Billy?

What did you think of Billy? Do you think he was foolish? Explain your answer.

What are three words youd use to describe the story? Explain why you chose those
words?

How does this story compare with Dahls other works?

What questions do you have for the group? Did anything perplex or intrigue you?

Billy seemed mysteriously drawn to the Bed and Breakfast after seeing the sign. Do you
believe there was a supernatural element to the story Dahl underplayed? What was the
significance of the landlady remembering the names of her animals but forgetting the
names of the men she killed? Discuss the irony of the landlady using taxidermied animals
to fool Billy into thinking her home was welcoming. Do you believe there was a reason the
landlady did what she did?

More questions are available in the accompanying Short Stories for Students reference
(citation page 1).

Add in some questions pertaining to your own reading of the story, i.e. what struck you or piqued
your curiosity? (e.g. I wondered why Billy was so drawn to the Bed and Breakfast, when apparently
few other travelers were. What are we to make of that? Was it to save money? Because the
woman seemed so nice.)


 FACILITATORS GUIDE THE LANDLADY BY ROALD DAHL

Conclusion

Would you recommend this to someone else? Who? Why?

Explain how to complete the survey.
Explain about the next session, i.e. what well read or how well select our next book.
Announce when the next discussion will open.

 FACILITATORS GUIDE THE LANDLADY BY ROALD DAHL

Appendix A

Participants Guidelines

1. Support your views Use specific passages as evidence.

2. Dont be dismissive Disagree civilly and respectfully.

3. Read with a pencil (or e-highlighter) Read carefully and
make notes so you remember what struck you.

4. Choose words that dont put people on the defensive.
Rather than saying an aspect of the reading was horrible,
use
words that dont put people on the defensive.