1. February 24, 2011 No writing prompt –please get out your vocabulary
Vocabulary review
“Lamb to the Slaughter” discussion
“The Catbird Seat” by James Thurber

2. Vocabulary – quiz will be Tuesday, March 1
placid - calm
alibi – state of having been elsewhere when a crime was committed
tranquil – free from agitation or movement
congeal –to change from fluid to solid
foist – to introduce surreptitiously or to force another to accept something
prerogative – special right or privilege
pittance – small amount
stoutly – with determination
luxuriate – to revel in, to indulge in
trifle (not the dessert) – something of little value

3. Review “Lamb to the Slaughter”
How does Mary’s behavior change after the murder?
Is Mary guilty of murder or is she temporarily insane? Explain
Why is Patrick leaving her?
Is Mary justified? Why or why not?
Will Mary be better off? Will her child? Why?
How are Mary and Patrick lambs?

4. Another way of fighting back
Writing Prompt (yes, I know it’s the middle of class) Do “good kids” get away with more? Does having a good grade in a class mean you can behave badly and get away with it? Does being a polite, obedient teenager make it easier to fool your parents?

5. Things to know
“The Catbird Seat” means holding an advantage (catbird is a type of bird called a mimic thrush that can imitate a cat)
Red Barber was the announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers and used many colorful phrases (compare to “Get out the rye bread and mustard, Grandma, it’s grand salami time.” by Dave Niehaus)

6. ASSIGNMENT (same paper as “Lamb”
1. What is the source of humor in the story?
2. How does Erwin Martin appear to his fellow workers? How does he act with Ulgine Barrows on the night he visits her apartment? Is there a third side to Erwin Martin that only the reader is aware of?
3. What qualities of Ulgine Barrows’ character make her so offensive to Erwin Martin?
4. Why doesn’t Thurber depict any moral conflict in Mr. Martin over his plan to commit murder?

7. Character Comparison – with a partner
What qualities do Mary and Mr. Martin share? Would Mr. Martin’s plan have worked for Mary? Why or why not? Which method is most effective? Was Mr. Martin justified in what he did?