Lamb to the Slaughter
This study guide will help you analyse the text “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl. We will show you examples of elements in the text that will be relevant for your analysis. In these notes, we will focus on the summary, structure, characters, setting, narrator and point of view, language, theme and message, and we will help you put the text into perspective.
Presentation of the text
Title: “Lamb to the Slaughter” (1953)
Author: Roald Dahl
Published in: “Harper’s Magazine”
Genre: Short Story
Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was a British novelist, mostly famous for his children’s fiction. For his stories and novels for children, Dahl was awarded the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1983. Among his most famous literary works are “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “Matilda” and “James and the Giant Peach”. The short story “Lamb to the Slaughter” belongs to Dahl’s fiction for adults and it skilfully explores elements of the horror genre and black comedy.
Excerpt
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