How Does Roald Dahl Create Tension In Lamb To The Slaughter

277 Words1 Page

The short story, "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl, tells the troubling story of young, pregnant Mary Maloney, who finds out that her husband Patrick plans to divorce her. She loves her husband, but responds with a crime of passion. Dahl uses predictable behavior and brief dialogue to create suspenseful undertones and emotional tension.In Roald Dahl's "Lamb to the Slaughter," The decision to hit him with a lamb leg.Mary's response to Patrick's news of divorce is unexpected. She doesn't scream, cry, plead, question or demand answers. Her calm response intensifies the suspense. She confidently gets a frozen lamb leg out of the freezer and hits her husband over the head. Even though readers first see Mary as a stereotypical submissive housewife

Open Document