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Lamb To The Slaughter Essay

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Lamb To The Slaughter Essay
Teacher Notes: Lamb to the Slaughter
Video analysis (Modern Adaptation) on Yotube. Shown to class http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzGTUHBwI-E&feature=related
Plot Outline Exposition: Characters are introduced: Patrick Maloney- a policeman who has not been promoted in spite of man years of service. Mary Maloney- a dutiful housewife, six months pregnant. Conflict(internal/interpersonal): Patrick has decided to tell Mary that he is leaving her. Mary is very upset by the news. Setting: Cinematic description of the Maloney household. Mood/Atmosphere established: The normal routine of the household is disrupted by the nervous actions of Patrick Maloney and Mary’s jumpy/nervous reaction to her husband’s cold uncaring attitude toward her all work together to establish a tense atmosphere. Rising Action: Suspense is created by the nervous actions of both characters. Mary’s determination to please her husband and Patrick’s cold reaction to her. The author also uses description to build suspense. Patrick’s gulping of the whiskey and the sounds of ice cubes clinking against the glass indicate that he is troubled about something. The reader becomes curious about what he plans to say to his wife. The short dialogue exchanges between the husband and wife increases tension and builds suspense. …show more content…
Patrick? Mary? The Police? The title usually refers to a sacrificial slaughter or an unaware victim. The lamb unknowingly being led the slaughterhouse. The lamb (leg of lamb) does the slaughtering in this story. This is an unexpected result given the usual explanation of the title. (Situational irony) Who is the lamb being led to the slaughter? The lamb like Mary or the unsuspecting Patrick. Depends on your point of view. (Situational Irony—unexpected result) Mary appears gentle like a lamb. In reality her actions are very violent. She actually does the slaughtering in this story. (Situational irony—unexpected
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