Lamb to the Slaughter
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Gender and Marriage Role Reversals Food/Consumption Betrayal
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Mary Maloney Patrick Maloney (the husband) Jack Noonan Sam
Symbols
All Symbols Lamb/Leg of lamb
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Dramatic Irony Foreshadowing Genre Imagery Irony Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
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Lamb to the Slaughter

by Roald Dahl
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Gender and Marriage Theme Icon
    Gender and Marriage
  • Role Reversals Theme Icon
    Role Reversals
  • Food/Consumption Theme Icon
    Food/Consumption
  • Betrayal Theme Icon
    Betrayal
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Mary Maloney
  • Patrick Maloney (the husband)
  • Jack Noonan
  • Sam
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Lamb/Leg of lamb Symbol Icon
    Lamb/Leg of lamb
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
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Sam

Lamb to the Slaughter Symbols

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Lamb/Leg of lamb

Lamb/Leg of lamb

Traditionally the lamb is portrayed as a gentle submissive creature, associated with ritual or religious sacrifice (especially in Judeo-Christian tradition). In this story, the figure of the lamb takes on two roles: as both a…

read analysis of Lamb/Leg of lamb

Lamb/Leg of lamb Symbol Icon
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Sam
Previous
Sam
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Lamb/Leg of lamb
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Lamb/Leg of lamb

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