Here is a summary movie review of the Alfred Hitchcock version of Lamb to the Slaughter: In the film adaptation, Hitchcock portrays Mary Maloney as a kind, gentle housewife who is devoted to taking care of her husband. She appears to be content in her domestic role. Her husband is depicted as distant and dismissive of Mary. When he tells her he wants a divorce, it is a complete shock to Mary's system. Watching the visual portrayal of their relationship confirmed my interpretation from reading the text. I saw Mary as a traditional, nurturing wife, so seeing her interact lovingly with her husband aligned with that. Her husband seemed detached, which matched the ambiguity around his stated reason for leaving

1. THE EXTENDED ANTICIPATORY
GUIDE
Statement Agree Disagree Explain
Women should make
dinner for their
husbands.
Police officers’ lives
are safer than other
citizens’ lives
Pregnant women need
special, kind treatment
Women should have
interests outside of
their families
Detectives are good at
noticing details
Murderers always get
caught eventually

2. DESCRIBE AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE THAT
YOU EXPERIENCED WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
Think About:
• What was the change and why was it
unexpected?
• Discuss how you responded to the change and
how the other person responded.
• How were your perspectives on the change
different? The same?

3. UNIT OVERVIEW
Big Idea:
Change
Can Be
Unexpected
1. Irony
2. Essential
Questions
3.
Perspective
← You will be reading
two stories that are
about the Big Idea.
↑
You will be looking at
how irony affects the
story and the
characters.
You will be analyzing
how the characters had
different perspectives
about unexpected
change. ↓
You will be focusing on
two essential questions.
→

4. BY ROALD DAHL
LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

5. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
• How do people respond to
unexpected change?
• How do authors use irony to build
mystery, tension, and surprise?

6. ROALD DAHL (1916 – 1990)
• Born in Wales in 1916 and
loved stories as a young child.
• He was well traveled – story
ideas came from his
adventures.
• Had 5 children with his first
wife.
• Dahl’s first kids book was The
Gremlins in 1943. He was 27.
• Dahl’s real (children's) career
didn’t start until the 60’s after
he had become a father.

7. DAHL’S CHARACTERS…
Dahl’s stories are modern-day fairy tales. His
universe is one of magical happenings, peopled
by
characters who are
obviously good
or obviously bad.

8. ‘THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE LAUGHED SO
MUCH HIS TEETH RATTLED TOGETHER LIKE
PENNIES IN A MONEYBOX.’
He uses descriptive language to build
a vivid picture in the mind of the reader.

9. Dahl presents unusual and
improbable events as ordinary.
‘They all peered down
anxiously at the sharks
who were cruising slowly
round and round the
peach.’
From James and the Giant Peach

10. FAMOUS CHILDREN’S BOOKS
• James and the Giant Peach
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• The BFG
• Danny, the Champion of the World
• The Twits
• The Witches
• Boy
• Going Solo
• Matilda
• The Magic Finger
• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
• The Enormous Crocodile
• George’s Marvelous Medicine
• The Giraffe and Pelly and Me
• Esio Trot
• The Vicar of Nibbleswicke
• The Min Pins

11. THIS LEADS US TO:
“LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER”
• What does it mean to be
a “like a lamb”?
• What does it mean to
slaughter someone or
something?

12. READING FOCUS
• As we read the first page, listen for
words that characterize Mary
Maloney.
If you did not attend live CC, read the first
page of the story now.

13. DESCRIBE MARY MALONEY’S
CHARACTER
• Based on the story, Mary Maloney seems
to be…
• Based on the story, Mary Maloney’s
character can best be described as…
• So far in the story, Mary Maloney appears
to be…

14. READING FOCUS
• As we read the second page, listen for Why
Mary’s violent action is so unexpected?
What evidence in the text makes her action
surprising?
If you did not attend live CC, read the
second page of the story now.

15. DESCRIBE YOUR REACTION
• Mary’s violence was unexpected
because…
• I expected Mary to …
• Her action was unexpected
because…

16. AMBIGUITY
• ambiguity: an element of
uncertainty in a text in which
something can be interpreted in a
number of different ways.
• How is the husband’s reason for
breaking up with Mary an example of
ambiguity?
• The husband’s reason for leaving is
ambiguous because…

17. PREDICTIONS
• Do you think Mary will get
away with the murder?
• How will she get away with it?

18. READING FOCUS
• As we read the third page, How does Mary
respond to the unexpected changes in her
life? What does this reveal about her
character?
• How is this section ironic? How does this
irony create suspense in the story?
If you did not attend live CC, read the third
page of the story now.

19. READING FOCUS
• As we read the last page, What happens
to the murder weapon? How does Dahl
assure his readers understand the irony of
this event?
• Why does Dahl title this story “Lamb to the
Slaughter?” Who is the “lamb” in the story?
Who, or what, is being “slaughtered”?

20. DID YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?
Statement Agree Disagree Explain
Women should make
dinner for their
husbands.
Police officers’ lives
are safer than other
citizens’ lives
Pregnant women need
special, kind treatment
Women should have
interests outside of
their families
Detectives are good at
noticing details
Murderers always get
caught eventually

21. MOVIE REVIEW
• Watch the Alfred Hitchcock version of Lamb to
Slaughter on SchoolTube at the following link:
Lamb to the Slaughter Video
• Write a short summary movie review focusing on
how Hitchcock portrays the characters of Mary
and her husband. Was this portrayal similar to the
way you perceived the characters as you read
the story? How was the portrayal similar or different
to your view? Did viewing the visual text change
your interpretation of the story? Explain why or
why not.