Compare the two approaches to the detective story as shown in "The Speckled Band" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl.

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February 2001                 Wider Reading                  Maryanne Parker             

Mrs Anderson

Compare the two approaches to the detective story as shown in “The Speckled Band” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl.

Both of these short stories, “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl and “The Speckled Band” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, are written by very famous authors.  They are also both detective stories.  However apart from this they have very little in common.  Although both stories do reflect the language and customs of the era in which they were written.

The woman’s roles, for example, reflect the times in which the stories were written.  In Lamb to the Slaughter Mary Maloney is a typical 1950’s housewife, she tries to please her husband by fetching drinks, hanging up his coat and feeling anxious of his dinner.  “She took his coat and hung it in the closet.”  Similarly the role of Helen Stoner is very much of a ‘damsel in distress’ who requires male assistance.  She has no money or access to it until after marriage.  She also has no means of escape from Dr Roylett except through marriage.  She is possible still mourning for her sister “A lady dressed in black and heavily veiled” this is not unusual for the 1890’s.

  Sir   Arthur Conan Doyle has written his story to appeal to the 1890’s audience.  When books were expensive and were one of the few means of entertainment around.  The Speckled Band was written specifically for the upper class, educated people as shown by the language used.  Likewise Roald Dahl has written his story to entertain an audience of the 1950’s. Therefore this story was written for a larger audience, which explains the simpler language used.  

In Lamb to the Slaughter the language is informal and more relaxed.  “Hullo Darling.” On the other hand The Speckled Band is unfamiliar and formal, “Good morning madam.”  Also the Speckled Band uses old fashioned words such as “would fain” page 151 and “gaiters” page 164.  Lamb to the Slaughter is situated in America.  The language used suggests this.  “Store” and “closet” are used but in English we would say “shop” and “cupboard”.  Both stories make use of conversation to develop plot and characters, however The Speckled Band uses it more frequently.  Lamb to the Slaughter and The Speckled Band both use descriptive language to develop the setting.

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Both stories begin in someone’s home.  In The Speckled Band the beginning is at Sherlock Holmes’ rooms.  In Lamb to the Slaughter in Mary Maloney’s home.  “The room was warm and clean.”  Immediately we get the impression that Mary Maloney is a typical housewife, that the room is cosy.  This is a perfect setting for this type of story because it makes the murder unexpected.  Here the stories begin to differ Lamb to the Slaughter takes place mainly in Mary Maloney’s home.  Where as in The Speckled Band use is made of various settings, coach, countryside, lodge and manor.  The ...

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