Lamb to the slaughter

Summary and key points

Table of content
A Brief Synopsis of 'Lamb to the Slaughter'......................................................................................................:3
Summary.............................................................................................................................................................5
Short summary...............................................................................................................................................6
Setting.................................................................................................................................................................7
Character............................................................................................................................................................7
Themes etc.…......................................................................................................................................................7
Summary of everything so far:............................................................................................................................7
More "stuff".......................................................................................................................................................8
Quiz:................................................................................................................................................................8
Questions & Answers to reading questions:...................................................................................................9
Answers:..........................................................................................................................................................9
1. What does the idiom “lamb to the slaughter” mean?
2. How does Mary feel about her husband?.
3. What do you think Patrick told Mary?
4. The narrator refers to Patrick’s glass of whisky and ice several times.
5. How does Mary Maloney kill her husband? Was it apremeditated or a crime of passion?
6. Are Mrs. Maloney’s reactions and actions after the murder believable?
7. What is your understanding of an alibi? How does she create an alibi? Why does she do this?
8. Why are the police officer's patient with Mary? …?
9. What assumptions do the policemen make about both the murderer and the murder weapon?
10. Why can’t the police officers find the murder weapon?
11. What kind of irony does the writer, Roald Dahl, use in this story? Explain.
12. What does Mary and the reader know that other characters do not know? Give two examples.
A Brief Synopsis of 'Lamb to the Slaughter':
The phrase 'like a lamb to the slaughter' actually has a long and distinguished history in biblical and English
literature, and you might've even read it yourself somewhere. If so, you recognized that it's generally used to
describe a situation into which a person blindly enters without any knowledge of the inherent danger.
The same could be said for certain folks in Roald Dahl's short story 'Lamb to the Slaughter.' The story's title
also works as a dark double entendre, a word or phrase used in a way that conveys two meanings, of its
eventual outcome.
The story opens on Mary Maloney, who's waiting patiently but eagerly for her husband, a police officer, to
get home from work. When he finally does arrive, Patrick Maloney silently takes the drink his wife has
prepared for him, and even makes his own stronger second one.
It's Thursday, and the couple usually dines out on those evenings, but Mary recognizes Patrick may be too
tired, so she offers to prepare dinner, despite her advanced pregnancy. Patrick seems agitated by his wife's
insistence on being useful and asks her instead to listen to what he has to say.
He proceeds to tell her, though he never states it explicitly, that he's planning on leaving her. In a total state
of shock, Mary continues to go about making dinner, heedless to Patrick saying that he's going out.
Coming to the first piece of meat in the basement freezer, a leg of lamb, she takes it upstairs for dinner. She
finds Patrick facing away from her in the den, and without a single thought, clubs him in the back of the head
with the leg of lamb, killing him instantly.
Suddenly realizing the severity of her crime, Mary quickly goes about covering it up. She puts the lamb in
the oven and goes to the local grocer to buy vegetables to complete the dinner.
After returning home and 'finding' her husband dead, she calls the police, who are also friends of the family.
They arrive promptly and investigate. Tired and confused from their investigation, Mary pleads tearfully
with the detectives to let her finish the dinner she was preparing. Out of pity for the new widow, they
concede.
While enjoying the lamb, the men discuss the case, each of them convinced that the murder weapon, which
has yet to be found, is 'probably right under (their) noses.'
Characters in 'Lamb to the Slaughter' Mary Maloney certainly isn't Matilda's Miss Honey, but she's not really
Miss Trunchbull, either. In fact, she's the model 1950s housewife. Dutiful even to a fault, she takes pleasure
in providing her husband with a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere to come home to. She loves Patrick and
his company and wants nothing more than to share a happy life together with him. However, when her
unwavering and devoted service is thrown away for no apparent reason, something breaks. With a child soon
on the way, it would seem that Mary's life of wedded bliss is almost complete. But it's all been jeopardized
by Patrick's sudden decision to end it.
In total shock and denial, Mary is unable to make sense of this decision, and it would appear that she simply
goes into survival mode. A pregnant widow would've had a much easier time in the '50s than a pregnant
divorcee. Although she is dazed and in shock right up until she whacks Patrick on the head, as soon as the
deed is done, she is remarkably clear and calculating. As the wife of a detective, she knew what the
punishment would be, so she hurries to cover her tracks, and does so quite successfully.
Perhaps too pleased with herself, although some might find her actions justified, she even laughs when she
overhears the detectives talking about their search for the weapon, which they happen to be presently
consuming.
Patrick Maloney isn't alive for most of the story, so we don't learn too much about him personally. However,
we can gather enough on his character by his sudden and unwarranted decision to leave his wife and unborn
child. He appears to struggle with the choice and even seems too ashamed to look her directly in the eye
when he tells her. He also attempts to smooth the situation over by assuring Mary that he'll send her money
and see that she's taken care of.
Ultimately, though, Patrick is simply a selfish man worried only about his reputation on the force and is in no
way concerned with Mary's emotional needs or unwavering faithfulness.
Jack Noonan and the other police investigators are colleagues of Patrick's and friends of the family, which
severely impairs their judgment during their investigation. Given their fondness for Mary, they overlook
several important issues, such as there being no sign of forced entry or the fact that she continues to cook
supper immediately after her husband's death.
Setting of 'Lamb to the Slaughter' The physical location for Dahl's short story could be just about any sleepy
little American suburb, but the time frame is perhaps what's most important to the setting. America in the
1950s was notoriously harsh on women, particularly those who were divorced. Even today, certain social
circles in the United States frown on the practice, and there have historically been huge stigmas placed on
those, especially females, who've gone through such a separation. What's more, Mary is pregnant, which
would make providing for herself and her child all the more difficult, especially if Patrick didn't follow
through with his pledge to take care of her financially.
Also, these investigators don't have access to all of the forensic techniques and technology that we might find
in the field today, or on the television show CSI. This, combined with their blind trust and sympathy for
Mary, critically disables the detectives from finding the real culprit behind the murder.
Lesson Summary
Roald Dahl's 'Lamb to the Slaughter' is a short story about the murder of police detective Patrick Maloney
by his wife Mary. Driven to homicide after her husband's unexpected announcement that he's leaving her and
their unborn child, Mary quickly regains her senses after fatally killing him with the leg of lamb. She is able
to cover her tracks and escape suspicion, because of her close relationship to Patrick's police colleagues, and
the inefficiencies of 1950s crime scene investigation.
The story's title is actually a double entendre, a word or phrase used in a way that conveys two meanings -
playing on the surprise of Patrick's murder, as well as on the weapon used to perpetrate it.
 Summary
As the "Lamb to the Slaughter" short story opens, a pregnant Mary Maloney is waiting for her husband
Patrick to come home from work. She has turned on the lamp beside Patrick's chair and has collected the
ingredients for his evening cocktail. After Patrick arrives and settles into his chair, Mary notices that he
guzzles the drink she prepares for him. Patrick is a policeman, tired from the day's work, and Mary offers to
bring his slippers for his aching feet. The couple usually goes out to eat on Thursdays, but Mary offers to
prepare dinner on this Thursday night since Patrick is exhausted. He declines the offer and asks her to sit
down. Patrick then delivers some shocking news to Mary.
Patrick's words are not revealed in the story, but he is apparently planning to leave his pregnant wife: "It
didn't take long, four or five minutes at most, and she sat very still through it all, watching him with a kind of
dazed horror as he went further and further away from her with each word." Patrick then says that he will
support her financially, but he hopes that she won't make a "fuss" because that would be bad for his job.
Mary is horrified by Patrick's words, but she slips briefly into denial, thinking that if she just behaved
normally the problem would just go away. Mary decides that she will prepare dinner, so she removes a
frozen leg of lamb from the freezer in the cellar. When she returns with the lamb, he tells her not to cook
dinner because he is going out. After Patrick reveals this plan, Mary walks behind him and hits him in the
head with the leg of lamb.
Once she realizes that she has killed her husband, Mary suddenly comes out of the shock she has been
experiencing. She puts the lamb in the oven to cook and begins to think of an alibi. She decides to go to the
local grocer's, but first she practices what she will say. She knows she needs to make this visit to the grocer
appear to be just like her regular trips to the store. Mary goes to the store and asks Sam, the grocer, for
vegetables. She says that she is cooking dinner for Patrick, and asks Sam's opinion on cooking frozen lamb.
Sam suggests cheesecake for dessert, which Mary purchases, saying, "Perfect. He loves it."
When Mary returns from the store, she calls the police and reports that she has found her husband dead. The
police arrive, determine that Patrick has been struck in the head, and begin to search for the murder weapon.
Mary tells the officers that she found her husband when she returned from the grocery store. An officer talks
to Sam, the grocer, who confirms that nothing seemed unusual when Mary came to his store.
The police continue their investigation by taking fingerprints and continuing to look for the murder weapon.
They believe an object such as a heavy metal vase was used to kill Patrick, but they find nothing in the house
that could have been used to kill him. After Patrick's body is removed, one of the officers notices that the
meat is still cooking in the oven. Mary says that she cannot eat, but she offers the lamb to the assembled
policemen who have been working through their regular dinner time. They reluctantly agree to eat the leg of
lamb without realizing that they are consuming evidence. As they eat, the policemen continue to speculate on
the whereabouts of the weapon. It is "probably right under our noses," a policeman says as he eats the lamb,
while Mary quietly laughs to herself.
 Short summary
"Lamb to the Slaughter" is a short story written by Roald Dahl. The narrative explores themes of deception,
crime, and unexpected reactions to shocking events. The story revolves around Mary Maloney, a pregnant
woman awaiting her husband's return from work.
In Part One, Mary is portrayed as a devoted and content wife. She eagerly anticipates her husband's arrival,
and the atmosphere in their home is warm and peaceful. However, her husband delivers unexpected news—
he is leaving her. Mary reacts impulsively, grabbing a frozen leg of lamb from the freezer and fatally striking
him with it.
Part Two delves into Mary's immediate reaction to the crime. She contemplates the consequences of her
actions, especially concerning her unborn child. In an attempt to create a normal facade, Mary goes to the
grocery store to buy ingredients for dinner, all the while pretending that everything is fine.
Part Three presents the aftermath of the crime. Mary returns home and finds her husband's lifeless body. She
contacts the police, and they arrive promptly to investigate. The narrative emphasizes Mary's acting skills as
she convincingly feigns shock and grief. The police search for the murder weapon, discussing theories about
its location.
In Part Four, the detectives question Mary about potential weapons, and she offers them the lamb she had
intended for dinner. As they eat the evidence, Mary silently laughs, revealing her cunning nature and the
unexpected turn of events.
The story is known for its dark humor, twist ending, and the exploration of how individuals can react under
intense pressure. Roald Dahl skillfully uses suspense and irony to engage the reader in this unconventional
crime tale.
Setting
Most of the events in "Lamb to the Slaughter" are set in the Maloney home. Mary and Patrick's home is a
scene of 1950s domestic tranquility. Mary is a pregnant housewife, who waits with her sewing for her
husband to return from work. She makes certain that he enters a home with everything set to his liking; she
turns on the lamp beside his favorite chair and is prepared to make him a drink when he comes home from
work. The only other location in the story is the grocery store, where Mary cements her alibi with Sam, the
grocer.

Characters
In addition to several unnamed police officers, "Lamb to the Slaughter" characters are:
1. Mary Maloney is Patrick Maloney's pregnant wife.
2. Patrick Maloney is Mary Maloney's husband. He is a policeman (detective).
3. Sam works at the grocery store where Mary buys vegetables to accompany the lamb she is cooking.
4. Jack Noonan is one of the policemen who tries to comfort Mary after her husband's death.

Themes etc.…
In "Lamb to the Slaughter", Dahl examines the difference in appearance and reality. The Maloney's home is a
picture of domestic bliss, with Mary spending her days keeping house and sewing. The reality, however, is
apparently quite different since Patrick comes home and reveals that he is planning to leave his wife.
Mary seems to be a passive wife whose only purpose is to meet her husband's every need. Once Patrick says
that he plans to leave her, however, Mary abandons the illusion of passivity by cracking Patrick's skull with a
frozen leg of lamb and then cleverly planning to cover up the crime.
Mary Maloney is shown to be a loving caregiver to her policeman husband when the story opens. She
carefully tends to her tired husband, Patrick, when he comes home from work. Mary is at first portrayed as a
stereotypical 1950s housewife, cooking, sewing, and waiting for her baby's birth. Divorce is unthinkable to
Mary, in part because she is pregnant and has no way to support herself and the child. In addition, there was
a stigma associated with divorce in the 1950s, and Mary had clearly done everything she could to ensure that
her husband was happy. When Patrick says he is going to leave her, Mary feels betrayed. She does not kill
Patrick in a rage, however, but rather calmly strikes him with the frozen lamb. She then carefully sets about
to conceal her role in the crime.
Food, which ordinarily sustains life, is actually used to destroy life in this story. In addition, the food Mary
buys at the store, is used to cover up the murder.
At the beginning of the story, Mary appears to be the lamb that is being led to the slaughter when Patrick
says he is leaving. Though she may have been unaware of his intention, Mary soon proves that she is not the
innocent lamb, however, as she kills her husband with the frozen lamb. Thus, Patrick becomes the "lamb to
the slaughter." He is completely unaware that she will literally slaughter him with a leg of lamb.

Summary of everything so far:

Roald Dhal published "Lamb to the slaughter" in 1953. The short story concerns Mary and Patrick Maloney.
When Patrick tells his pregnant wife Mary that he intends to leave her, she murders him by striking his head
with a frozen leg of lamb. She then ingeniously covers up the crime. She buys vegetables at the store as if
nothing is amiss, then feeds the lamb to the policemen who come to investigate the murder. There are several
screen adaptations of Dahl's famous short story, notably a version that appeared in "Alfred Hitchcock
Presents".
 More "stuff"
Summary video:
Quiz:
1. Which of these is NOT a character in Roald Dahl's Lamb to the Slaughter?
 Jack Noonan
 Patrick Maloney
 Mary Maloney
 Roald Dahl
2. Mary Maloney is surprised by what bit of unexpected news in Lamb to the Slaughter?
 She's pregnant.
 Her husband's leaving her.
 Her husband's dead
 Her husband's having an affair.
3. In Lamb to the Slaughter, what does Mary do after killing Patrick with the frozen leg of lamb?
 Calls the police
 Buries the body
 Prepares dinner
 Runs off with a lover
Questions & Answers to reading questions:

1. What does the idiom “lamb to the slaughter” mean?

2. How does Mary feel about her husband? Support your answer by giving three examples/quotes from
the story.
3. What do you think Patrick told Mary? Can you find evidence that supports your answer in the story?
4. The narrator refers to Patrick’s glass of whisky and ice several times. How is it described? Why do
you think the narrator focuses on this object?
5. How does Mary Maloney kill her husband? Do you think that the murder was premeditated” or a
“crime of passion”?
6. Are Mrs Maloney’s reactions and actions after the murder believable?
7. What is your understanding of an alibi? How does she create an alibi? Why does shedo this?
8. Why are the police officers patient with Mary? Do you think they would have treated her the same if
she had been a man?
9. What assumptions do the policemen make about both the murderer and the murder weapon? Why do
you think that they make these assumptions?
10. Why can’t the police officers find the murder weapon?
11. What kind of irony does the writer, Roald Dahl, use in this story? Explain.
12. What does Mary and the reader know that other characters do not know? Give two examples
Answers:
1. What does the idiom “lamb to the slaughter” mean?
- The idiom "lamb to the slaughter" refers to someone who is unsuspecting, innocent, and being
led to a harmful or dangerous situation without realizing it.

2. How does Mary feel about her husband? Support your answer by giving three examples/quotes from
the story.
- Mary's feelings for her husband seem positive and affectionate:
o "She loved the warmth that came out of him when they were alone together."
o "She loved the shape of his mouth, and she especially liked the way he didn't complain
about being tired."
o "It was a wonderful time of day."

3. What do you think Patrick told Mary? Can you find evidence that supports your answer in the story?
- The story doesn't explicitly reveal what Patrick told Mary, but it is suggested that he is leaving
her. Evidence: "This is going to be a big shock to you, I'm afraid," and "But I've thought about it
a good deal and I've decided that the only thing to do is to tell you immediately."
- We can presume that he wants to leave her for work reasons or him not wanting her to be in
danger (could also be because he's cheating).

4. The narrator refers to Patrick’s glass of whisky and ice several times. How is it described? Why do
you think the narrator focuses on this object?
- The glass of whisky and ice is described as a strong drink that Patrick consumes. The narrator
focuses on it to emphasize Patrick's exhaustion and the unusual behavior that follows, setting the
stage for the shocking revelation. It also becomes a symbol of the impending conflict in their
relationship.
- Another aspect we can focus on is the fact that we can "hear" the ice clinking against the glass,
thus creating a very tense atmosphere in this scene hence the quietness.

5. How does Mary Maloney kill her husband? Do you think that the murder was premeditated or a
crime of passion?
 - Mary kills her husband by striking him on the back of the head with a frozen leg of lamb. The
murder appears to be a crime of passion, as it is a spontaneous and impulsive act in response to
Patrick's shocking announcement.

6. Are Mrs. Maloney’s reactions and actions after the murder believable?
- Mrs. Maloney's reactions are intentionally exaggerated for the sake of dark humor and irony.
While they may not be entirely realistic, they serve the narrative's satirical tone and contribute to
the unexpected turn of events.

7. What is your understanding of an alibi? How does she create an alibi? Why does she do this?
- An alibi is evidence that proves a person was not present at the scene of a crime. Mary creates an
alibi by going to the grocery store and interacting with people to establish a false timeline,
making it seem like she couldn't have committed the murder. She does this to divert suspicion
and ensure that she is not immediately linked to the crime.

8. Why are the police officer's patient with Mary? Do you think they would have treated her the same if
she had been a man?
- The police officers are patient with Mary likely due to their assumption that she is a grieving
wife. Gender may influence their approach, as societal stereotypes might lead them to perceive a
woman as less likely to commit a violent crime. If Mary had been a man, they might have
approached the situation with more suspicion.

9. What assumptions do the policemen make about both the murderer and the murder weapon? Why do
you think that they make these assumptions?
- The policemen assume the murderer is a man and that the weapon is a large, blunt object. These
assumptions are based on traditional gender roles and common methods of violence, reflecting
societal stereotypes, and influencing their investigative approach.

10. Why can’t the police officers find the murder weapon?
- The police officers can't find the murder weapon because Mary cleverly serves it to them as
dinner. They unknowingly consume the evidence.

11. What kind of irony does the writer, Roald Dahl, use in this story? Explain.
- Roald Dahl employs dramatic irony, where the audience (and Mary) knows something, the other
characters do not. The readers are aware of Mary's crime, but the police and other characters
remain oblivious, creating tension and humor.

12. What does Mary and the reader know that other characters do not know? Give two examples.
- Mary and the reader know:
o That Patrick is leaving her before he announces it.
o That the murder weapon is the leg of lamb, which the police unknowingly consume.