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Dahl’s story was suggested by his friend Ian Fleming, who created James Bond. Dahl adapted Fleming’s Bond novel You Only Live Twice for the big screen; he also co-wrote the screenplay for the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was also based on a Fleming novel. And it was Fleming who suggested the idea for ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’, telling his friend that he should write a story about a woman who murders her wife with a leg of mutton (not lamb) which she then serves to the investigating officers.

‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ is a 1953 short story by Roald Dahl (1916-90), which was initially rejected for publication but was later adapted for television on several occasions. Included in Dahl’s collections Someone Like You (1953) and Tales of the Unexpected (1979), the story is about a wife who murders her unfaithful husband with a frozen leg of lamb before hatching a plan to ensure she isn’t caught for her crime.

‘Lamb to the Slaughter’: analysis

Dahl’s story was suggested by his friend Ian Fleming, who created James Bond. Dahl adapted Fleming’s Bond novel You Only Live Twice for the big screen; he also co-wrote the screenplay for the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was also based on a Fleming novel. And it was Fleming who suggested the idea for ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’, telling his friend that he should write a story about a woman who murders her wife with a leg of mutton (not lamb) which she then serves to the investigating officers.

‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ can be categorized as a horror story (although given the lack of any supernatural element, ‘thriller’ is perhaps a more apposite label), although we should also pay attention to the darkly humorous elements of the tale: features in keeping with Dahl’s writing as a whole.

The story reflects – but then subverts – a common trope of the early 1950s: namely, the wife as the faithful homemaker while the husband goes out to work. At the beginning of ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’, Mary Maloney cannot do enough for her husband, waiting patiently and eagerly for him to arrive home, fetching his drink, asking him about his day

But when the stability of her world crumbles in a few minutes when Patrick tells her that he is leaving her (although it isn’t mentioned, we assume he has met someone else), she changes very quickly – and easily – from dutiful wife to cold-blooded murderer.

In other words, once the role she has settled into over the years, that of being ‘Mrs. Patrick Maloney’, is taken away from her, she finds herself able to switch in and out of that role with ease. After a brief rehearsal at home, she is able to convince the grocer that she is still the dutiful wife once again: an act she performs again for the policemen.

In the last analysis, then, ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ is a short story about how easily the meek and loving housewife can transform into a cold and calculating killer. It is Mary’s sudden change that makes the story so unsettling, and the lack of remorse she shows for her crime; but her choice of murder weapon and method of disposing of the evidence makes this story as much black comedy as an out-and-out horror tale.

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"Two Kinds" is a short story by Amy Tan that explores the theme of the strained relationship between a Chinese immigrant mother and her American-born daughter. The story is set in San Francisco in the 1960s, and is narrated by Jing-mei, the daughter of the immigrant mother.

The story begins with Jing-mei's mother, who wants her daughter to become a prodigy like the ones she has seen on television. She enrolls Jing-mei in various activities such as piano lessons, singing lessons, and even chess, but Jing-mei resists and feels pressured to meet her mother's expectations.

As the story progresses, Jing-mei begins to rebel against her mother's expectations and becomes more defiant. She purposely plays the piano poorly at a recital, causing her mother to become angry and disheartened. This leads to a rift in their relationship that lasts for many years.

The climax of the story occurs years later, when Jing-mei's mother offers her the piano as a gift, and Jing-mei realizes that her mother had always wanted her to succeed in her own way. Jing-mei plays a song she learned as a child, and as she does so, she realizes that she has finally found a way to connect with her mother and understand her struggles as an immigrant.

Tan's use of vivid imagery and sensory language creates a palpable atmosphere of tension and conflict between Jing-mei and her mother. The story's setting in San Francisco, acity known for its diversity and immigrant population, serves as a metaphor for the struggles of cultural assimilation and identity.

Overall, "Two Kinds" is a powerful and emotional story that explores the complex relationship between a mother and daughter, and the struggle to find identity and acceptance in a new country. It highlights the challenges faced by immigrants and their families, and the importance of understanding and empathy in bridging cultural divides. Through the character of Jing-mei, the story emphasizes the need for self-discovery and the value of finding one's own voice in the face of cultural expectations and pressures.

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 “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe 

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 “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe 

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"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a Gothic short story by Edgar Allan Poe that explores the themes of guilt, madness, and the consequences of obsession. The story is narrated by an unnamed protagonist who is obsessed with an old man's "vulture eye." The protagonist's obsession with the eye leads him to plan and execute the murder of the old man.

The story is told through the protagonist's perspective, which is unreliable due to his madness and distorted perception of reality. The narrator's thoughts and actions become increasingly erratic and unstable as the story progresses, and his guilt and paranoia over the murder of the old man consume him.

One of the story's most notable features is Poe's use of symbolism. The "vulture eye" represents the protagonist's own guilt and fear, while the sound of the old man's heart beating represents the protagonist's own conscience and the inevitability of his punishment.

The story's climax occurs when the protagonist is driven to confess to the murder due to the sound of the old man's heart, which he imagines he can still hear even after the murder has been committed. The story ends with the protagonist being arrested and driven to madness by his own guilt and obsession.

Poe's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and haunting atmosphere. His descriptions of the protagonist's thoughts and actions are chilling and unsettling, and his use of repetition and rhythm in the story's pacing adds to the sense of tension and suspense.

Overall, "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a powerful and disturbing story that delves into the darkest depths of the human psyche. Poe's exploration of themes such as guilt, madness, and obsession continues to captivate readers and inspire other works of literature and media to this day. The story's unreliable narrator and use of symbolism and imagery make it a classic example of Gothic literature and a must-read for fans of horror and psychological fiction.

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"All Summer in a Day" is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury that explores the theme of the cruelty of human nature and the consequences of jealousy. The story is set on Venus, where the sun only appears for two hours once every seven years. The young protagonist, Margot, was born on Earth and remembers what it was like to experience the sun. She is bullied by her classmates, who are jealous of her memories of the sun and the attention she receives from the teacher.

The story is told primarily through the perspective of the children, who are portrayed as cruel and selfish. They tease and taunt Margot, locking her in a closet and denying her the opportunity to see the sun when it finally appears. The children are so consumed by their own jealousy and desire to experience the sun that they are willing to hurt Margot to get what they want.

The story's climax occurs when the sun appears and the children are finally able to experience it. However, their joy is short-lived as they realize the gravity of what they have done to Margot. They feel guilty and ashamed, and the story ends with the children crying and feeling remorseful for their actions.

Bradbury's use of vivid imagery and sensory language creates a palpable atmosphere of longing and anticipation for the sun. The story's setting on Venus, a planet with a hostile environment, serves as a metaphor for the harshness of the children's actions and the cruelty of human nature.

Overall, "All Summer ina Day" is a poignant and thought-provoking story that highlights the dangers of jealousy and the importance of empathy and compassion. It encourages readers to reflect on their own actions and consider the impact they have on others. Through the character of Margot, the story emphasizes the importance of appreciating the beauty of life and not taking it for granted.