Lamb to the Slaughter

1. PART A: Which statement identifies the theme of the text?

• There are some betrayals that cannot be forgiven.
• It is important to admit your guilt when you do something wrong.
• Always keep a calm and clear head during times of stress.
• People can act unpredictably when they are betrayed by someone they love.

2. PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• “But I’ve thought about it a good deal and I’ve decided the only thing to do is tell you right away. I hope you won’t blame me too much.” (Paragraph 33)
• “At that point, Mary Maloney simply walked up behind him and without any pause she swung the big frozen leg of lamb high in the air and brought it down as hard as she could on the back of his head.” (Paragraph 42)
• “It was extraordinary, now, how clear her mind became all of a sudden. She began thinking very fast. As the wife of a detective, she knew quite well what the penalty would be.” (Paragraph 47)
• “All the old love and longing for him welled up inside her, and she ran over to him, knelt down beside him, and began to cry her heart out.” (Paragraph 76)

5. PART A: How would you describe Mary’s decision to kill her husband?

• She was fueled by hate after he told her that he no longer loved her.
• She was fueled by desperation when she realized he wouldn’t help her raise their baby.
• She was fueled by hurt that he was leaving her.
• She was fueled by madness and not aware of her actions.

6. PART B: Which section from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• “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.” (Paragraph 34)
• “‘And I know it’s kind of a bad time to be telling you, bet there simply wasn’t any other way.’” (Paragraph 35)
• “It occurred to her that perhaps he hadn’t even spoken, that she herself had imagined the whole thing.” (Paragraph 36)
• “When she walked across the room she couldn’t feel her feet touching the floor.” (Paragraph 38)

7. How does paragraph 45 help develop the plot of the story?

• It reveals that she felt guilty about killing her husband.
• It reveals that she felt shocked by her own actions.
• It reveals that she was disgusted by her own actions.
• It reveals that she was relieved after killing her husband.