lamb to the slaughter intro lesson
TRANSCRIPT
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
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?
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.
→
BY ROALD DAHL
LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
• How do people respond to
unexpected change?
• How do authors use irony to build
mystery, tension, and surprise?
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.
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.
‘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.
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
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
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?
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.
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…
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.
DESCRIBE YOUR REACTION
• Mary’s violence was unexpected
because…
• I expected Mary to …
• Her action was unexpected
because…
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…
PREDICTIONS
• Do you think Mary will get
away with the murder?
• How will she get away with it?
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.
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”?
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
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.