Compare and Contrast: Speckled Band & Lamb to the Slaughter

Compare and Contrast: Speckled Band & Lamb to the Slaughter

Compare and Contrast Essay Writing
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" and "Lamb to the Slaughter"


"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" by Arthur Conan Doyle, which is one of the short Sherlock Holmes stories and "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl are two short stories which belong to the genre Murder/Mystery. There are many similarities between Arthur Conan Doyle's and Roald Dahl's works. For example both of them handle with a murder submitted by a relative of the victim. On the other hand they differ in many ways, the point of view they are told from or the style of writing.

"Lamb to the Slaughter" sets of in a council house. The author opens up the story by introducing us to the perpetrator, Mrs Maloney. The story is written from the third point of view. The protagonist, Mary Maloney is lonely, waiting for her husband to come home from work, as usual. The opening mood is comfortable and cosy. The story is supposed to seem stereotypical, turns out not to be though. The beginning scene shows a typical housewife waiting for her husband. Mary Maloney is pregnant in her 6 months. The author creates a stereotypical wife picture of her, expect for the fact that she seems to love her husband a little to much. This gives everything a creepy touch. "The adventure of the speckled band", on the other hand is written from the first person point of view and opens up with Dr. Watson the narrator of the story reminiscing. He tells the reader about old cases and remembers one which stands out to him. The story is stereotypical, opening to an old-fashioned Sherlock Holmes detective story.

Roald Dahl creates a very comfy and warm setting. The House in which the story "Lamb to the Slaughter" mainly takes place in has a small garden and is described as a place full of love and secureness. Phrases like "…and went forward to kiss him…", "The room was warm and clean…" and "There was a slow smiling air about her…" emphasize the pleasant mood of the setting....

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