Why does Mary Maloney kill her husband Patrick?

She's tired of looking after him

In the very last line - "And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle." - why does Mary Maloney giggle?

She's free of her abusive husband

We know Patrick is upset when he gets home for all the following reasons EXCEPT...

he answers "no" to Mary's questions.

Roald Dahl does not tell us exactly what Mr. Maloney says to Mrs. Maloney, but we can still tell he is leaving her. Why is this?

He does say, he will "see that she's looked after" so we know he won't be there to do it

We know from her reaction that it's bad news

That's the only possible thing he could have said

What excuse does Mrs. Maloney offer for serving the detectives the lamb?

Patrick was a friend of theirs and he wouldn't hear of them going hungry while working

She cooked it especially for them

They're worked a long hard day and thus they must be hungry

Why does Mrs. Maloney wait on her husband like she does?

The story takes place in the 1950's and this is normal behaviour

She's leaving him so wants to be extra nice before she does

Why does the author tell us that Mrs. Maloney is pregnant?

It sets the stage for how betrayed she feels due to being committed in more ways than one to the relationship

The detectives will assume she didn't do it because she's pregnant

What evidence from the text tells the reader that Patrick was nervous to talk to Mary?

“There was a little muscle moving near the corner of his left eye.”

“He lifted his glass and drained it in one swallow.”

“He had finished the second drink and was staring down into the glass, frowning.”

What evidence tells us that Patrick was selfish?

Patrick tells her that he hopes she will not make a fuss because it would not be good for his job.

Patrick drinks two drinks before talking to Mary about his plan to leave her.

Patrick tells Mary that he will leave her some money.

“Then she made the drinks, a strong one for him and a weak one for herself; and soon she was back again in her chair with the sewing, and he was in the other chair, holding the tall glass, rolling it gently so that the ice knocked musically against the side of the glass.” The strong and weak drink are symbolic of

the amount of power each has in the story.

the bad news Mr. Maloney gives Mary.

What is the significance of the title “Lamb to the Slaughter”?

Patrick and Mary are both like lambs to the slaughter because they have no idea what is about to happen to them.

Lamb is Patrick's favorite meal.

The police can't find the murder weapon.

Why do you think Dahl chose to write the story primarily from Mary’s perspective?

The story becomes more interesting because the reader knows about her thoughts and feelings.

The other characters were not as interesting.

The story becomes more frightening because we know how much she hates Patrick.

Because her name is Mary, and the story is about lamb.

Why is Patrick’s name not mentioned until halfway through the story?

He does not appear to care for his wife as much as she cares for him.

The reader doesn’t need to know his name.

He is not an important character.

Why is Patrick leaving Mary?

The text doesn't give a reason.

Lamb to the Slaughter Review

Authored by Anna Panagi

English

7th - 10th Grade

CCSS covered

Used 267+ times

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40 questions

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Why is Mary Maloney smiling as she waits her husband’s return at the beginning of the story?

She knows she will get even with him that night.

She loves him and always finds his return a “blissful time of day.”

She knows he won’t speak to her for a while, and she is looking forward to the peace and quiet.

She likes being able to have a drink of whiskey with him.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is Mr. Maloney’s job?

Minister, member of the clergy

Police detective

Butcher

Stock broker

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Mr. Maloney can be characterized as ___________

Honorable and innocent

Disloyal and untrustworthy

Gentlemanly and kind

Totally evil

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is Mrs. Maloney’s motive for going to get the lamb from the freezer?

She wants to use it to hit Patrick.

She is nauseated at the idea of eating what she already made for dinner.

She thinks she should go about her business as usual and then things will be all right.

She thinks she can win Patrick back with her cooking.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which word does not describe Mrs. Maloney’s immediate reaction to realizing she has killed her husband?

Remorseful

Surprised

Clear-minded

Shocked

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What do the police do with the murder weapon?

They eat it without knowing it is the murder weapon.

They leave it in the garage.

They eat it although they know it is the murder weapon.

Nothing. They never find the spanner.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

"Her skin - for this was her sixth month with child - had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger, darker than before"
What does this sentence tell us?

She's pregnant

She's worried

She's looking after children

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.7.2

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Lamb to the Slaughter Review

Why is Mary Maloney smiling as she waits her husband’s return at the beginning of the story?

What is Mr. Maloney’s job?

Mr. Maloney can be characterized as ___________

What is Mrs. Maloney’s motive for going to get the lamb from the freezer?

Which word does not describe Mrs. Maloney’s immediate reaction to realizing she has killed her husband?

What do the police do with the murder weapon?

"Her skin - for this was her sixth month with child - had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger, darker than before" What does this sentence tell us?

Why does Mary Maloney kill her husband Patrick?

Before he leaves her, what does Mary Maloney's life revolve around?

In the very last line - "And in the other room, Mary Maloney began to giggle." - why does Mary Maloney giggle?

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"Her skin - for this was her sixth month with child - had acquired a wonderful translucent quality, the mouth was soft, and the eyes, with their new placid look, seemed larger, darker than before"
What does this sentence tell us?