Introduction to the landlady,,

Introduction to the Introduction to the Landlady: the plotLandlady: the plot

Billy Weaver, the protagonist, is a young boy, of Billy Weaver, the protagonist, is a young boy, of seventeen who is commissioned to go from London to seventeen who is commissioned to go from London to

Bath for business. He arrives there in a deadly cold Bath for business. He arrives there in a deadly cold evening and after looking for a lodging he finds a evening and after looking for a lodging he finds a

“decent” boarding – house near the station. “decent” boarding – house near the station. Something so strange happens to him: he is attracted Something so strange happens to him: he is attracted by the notice “Bed and breakfast” and he is forced to by the notice “Bed and breakfast” and he is forced to climb the steps and to press the bell. At once a Lady climb the steps and to press the bell. At once a Lady opens the door, she is not too surprised to meet him. opens the door, she is not too surprised to meet him.

After showing his room she invites him to go After showing his room she invites him to go downstairs to sign the guest – book. He notices that downstairs to sign the guest – book. He notices that

there have been only two people lodging there some there have been only two people lodging there some years before: their names result so familiar toBilly.years before: their names result so familiar toBilly.

The Lady comes into the room with a tea – tray, while The Lady comes into the room with a tea – tray, while the are taking tea, they speak about them. Billy gets the are taking tea, they speak about them. Billy gets to the conclusion that the guests have left the house to the conclusion that the guests have left the house

recently but she replies they are still on the third floor recently but she replies they are still on the third floor together. After a while he turns his attention to the together. After a while he turns his attention to the

parrot and realizes that it isn’t alive but stuffed as the parrot and realizes that it isn’t alive but stuffed as the dachsund in front of the fire. The Landladyn says that dachsund in front of the fire. The Landladyn says that

she is able to fill them when they die. When the she is able to fill them when they die. When the conversation ends, Billy is aware that he is the only conversation ends, Billy is aware that he is the only

guest after the two latest ones.guest after the two latest ones.

A short biography of the authorA short biography of the author

Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales, of Roald Dahl was born in Llandaff, Wales, of Norwegian parents. His father, Harald Dahl, was Norwegian parents. His father, Harald Dahl, was the joint owner of a ship – broking business. He the joint owner of a ship – broking business. He died when Roald was four years old. The family died when Roald was four years old. The family

had to sell their jewellery to pay for Dahl’s upkeep had to sell their jewellery to pay for Dahl’s upkeep at a private school. His years at public schools in at a private school. His years at public schools in

Wales and England described later without Wales and England described later without nostalgia and these experiences inspired him to nostalgia and these experiences inspired him to

write children stories. During World War II served write children stories. During World War II served in the Royal Air Forces in Libya. During a crash in the Royal Air Forces in Libya. During a crash

Dahl had fractured his skull and while he was Dahl had fractured his skull and while he was recovering he had strange dreams which inspired recovering he had strange dreams which inspired

he first short stories. Dahl published JAMES AND he first short stories. Dahl published JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH in 1961 that was followed by THE GIANT PEACH in 1961 that was followed by

the highlu popular tale CHARLIE AND THE the highlu popular tale CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORy in 1964 that inspired two CHOCOLATE FACTORy in 1964 that inspired two

film adaptations. MY UNCLE OSWALD in 1979 was film adaptations. MY UNCLE OSWALD in 1979 was Dahl ‘s first full – length novel. He died of an Dahl ‘s first full – length novel. He died of an infection on November 23,1990, in Oxford.infection on November 23,1990, in Oxford.

Definition of ForeshadowingDefinition of ForeshadowingIt is used in written art and film to give hints about things to It is used in written art and film to give hints about things to

come in later plot developments. Foreshadowing is an old come in later plot developments. Foreshadowing is an old literary device: Shakesperare uses it frequently. For example literary device: Shakesperare uses it frequently. For example Romeo and Juliet talk about dying and the ghost in Hamlet in Romeo and Juliet talk about dying and the ghost in Hamlet in often thought to foreshadowing the death of the royalty of often thought to foreshadowing the death of the royalty of Denmark.Denmark.

Examples of foreshadowing in the LandladyExamples of foreshadowing in the Landlady ““At once his eye was caught and held in the most peculiar At once his eye was caught and held in the most peculiar

manner by the small notice that was there BED AND manner by the small notice that was there BED AND BREKFAST”BREKFAST”

““The compulsion or, more accuratelu, the desire to follow The compulsion or, more accuratelu, the desire to follow after her into that house was extraordinarily strong.”after her into that house was extraordinarily strong.”

““It’s all ready for you, my dear”It’s all ready for you, my dear” ““there were no other hats or coats in the hall”there were no other hats or coats in the hall” ““He guessed that she had probably lost a son in the war, or He guessed that she had probably lost a son in the war, or

something like that, anda had never got over it”something like that, anda had never got over it”

Examples of foreshadowing Examples of foreshadowing in the Landladyin the Landlady

““Now where on earth had he heard that rather unusual name Now where on earth had he heard that rather unusual name before”before”

““they are on the third floor, both of them together”they are on the third floor, both of them together” ““I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away”I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away”

Definition of dramatic IronyDefinition of dramatic IronyIt involves the reader knowing something about what’s happening It involves the reader knowing something about what’s happening in the plot, about which the character have no knowledge. in the plot, about which the character have no knowledge. Shakespeare’s Othello offers another example of dramatic irony, Shakespeare’s Othello offers another example of dramatic irony, as he blames Desdemona for cuckolding him even as the audience as he blames Desdemona for cuckolding him even as the audience knows that he is being deceived by Iagoknows that he is being deceived by Iago

Examples of dramatic irony in the LandladyExamples of dramatic irony in the Landlady “ “ animals were usually a good sign in a place like this”animals were usually a good sign in a place like this” A pretty decent house to stay inA pretty decent house to stay in

Examples of dramatic Examples of dramatic irony in the Landladyirony in the Landlady

““Her blue eyes travelled slowly all the way down the lenght Her blue eyes travelled slowly all the way down the lenght of Billy’s body”of Billy’s body”

““They were both famous for the same sort of thing like They were both famous for the same sort of thing like Dumpsey and Tunney for example a Churchill and Dumpsey and Tunney for example a Churchill and Roosevelt.”Roosevelt.”

““Haven’t there been any guests here except them in the Haven’t there been any guests here except them in the

last two or three years?” “No my dear” she said “only you”last two or three years?” “No my dear” she said “only you”

How could the story end?How could the story end?Letter writingLetter writing

When I was in my room, I felt the need to write a letter to my friend, It was a way to let my bad thoughts go away.

Dear lucyI am here in my room, in a boarding – house in which

everything is so strange to me I’m so scared by the Landlady’s behavior: she used to fill her pets when they died. But if I think when I have arrived here: there were a lot of clues that make me to reflect on this strangeness. For example the chrysanthemums at the window, the script “ Bed and Breakfast” that hypnotized me and the affermation that the Landlady made: “ It’s all ready for you”Probably the most relevant moment was when I read on the guest – book the names of the latest entries that sound somehow familiar to me. There are all souspicius things, I’d like to go upstairs and to make me sure that they are still alive and not stuffed. But my only desire is to go away from here as soon as I can because I am so frightened about what the Landlady could do. I hope I’ll write you soon to let you know what is going to happen then.

With love Billy.Maffeo & Tecce

Mirabella E.

How could the story end?How could the story end?Letter writingLetter writing

Dear Mum, Dear Mum, I am left on my own in this room and so scared because I I am left on my own in this room and so scared because I

realize that in this place nothing is as it appeares. I noticed realize that in this place nothing is as it appeares. I noticed a lot of odd things since I have come here. When I have just a lot of odd things since I have come here. When I have just

arrived in Bath I was attracted by the script “Bed and arrived in Bath I was attracted by the script “Bed and Breakfast” as if I was enchanted and I couldn’t free myself Breakfast” as if I was enchanted and I couldn’t free myself

from it. So I came in and the Landlady told she was waiting from it. So I came in and the Landlady told she was waiting for me. How could she know I was going there? Infact she is for me. How could she know I was going there? Infact she is strange and terrifies me a bit as I discovered that she used strange and terrifies me a bit as I discovered that she used

to fill her pets. I’m frightened about the fact that I read only to fill her pets. I’m frightened about the fact that I read only two names on the guest-book that go up to two or three two names on the guest-book that go up to two or three

years ago. They sound so familiar: probably I found them years ago. They sound so familiar: probably I found them on a newspaper because of their desappearing But I feel on a newspaper because of their desappearing But I feel

they are still on the third flor. The only thing I want is to go they are still on the third flor. The only thing I want is to go away from here avoiding to have the same destiny.away from here avoiding to have the same destiny.

Graziosi, Grella e Aldorasi, Graziosi, Grella e Aldorasi, Gesualdo Gesualdo

An essay: testing foreshadowing and An essay: testing foreshadowing and dramatic irony in our studying course dramatic irony in our studying course

actvitiesactvities The technique of foreshadowing in a film The technique of foreshadowing in a film Dramatic irony in an Italian writer’s workDramatic irony in an Italian writer’s work The basic plots in LiteratureThe basic plots in Literature

The technique of The technique of foreshadowing a filmforeshadowing a film

After reading the “Landlady” we have understood what this technique consists of. A comparison with the foreshadowing

in this short story can the found in a film we saw in March at school, “Baarìa” by tornatore, a very famous Italian film

director. This movie was part of a film show activity concerning stories connected with our studying course.

Infact in the film is represented the history of Italy from the II World War to our days throught the eyes of the

protagonist Peppino, whose story can be probably identified with the director’s life.

Baarìa is a district of Palermo in which Peppino’s life – events took place. As in the “Landlady” we find from the

begiming a series of clues that let us foreshadow about the protagonist’s destiny. All Peppino’s life is permeate by “hints” for example when he saw some crushed eggs

before his wife gave birth to a dead creature. Even when he was called because his father was dying he had the vision

of black snakes, the same one he’ll have before his death.

Dramatic irony in an Dramatic irony in an Italian writer’s workItalian writer’s work

As far as the dramatic irony is concerned we found short stories of

an Italian writer, Luigi Pirandello (1967 – 1936), collected in “Novelle per un anno” published in 1922. Many of them

are set in the author’s native, Sicily; he skillfully describes the landscape and

inhabitants of this region in a patenalistic style commenting on the

paradoxical and contradictory aspects of life. “La patente” ( the license), one of the most famous, is based on dramatic irony. Its

main themes are : the sorrow, the difficulties to communicate, the ignorance

and pregiudices of human beings. Chiarchiano, the protagonist is socially

excluded because he is charged to put jinx on people. For this reason he has lost his job and everybody keeps away from him. So he decides to exploit this situation asking a judge to give him a “license” in order to have a legal acknowledgment as a “professional jinx”. The conclusion is: “because of pregiudices and ignorance sometimes people consider us not as we really are”.

The basic plots in The basic plots in LiteratureLiterature

Starting from the concept that there are only a certain number Starting from the concept that there are only a certain number of basic plots in literary works, have chosen to apply the of basic plots in literary works, have chosen to apply the

“madness” and “ crime of love plots to the Landlady” story “madness” and “ crime of love plots to the Landlady” story (from the thirty – six dramatic situation by Polti). Madness (from the thirty – six dramatic situation by Polti). Madness

characterizes the Landlady, infact only a person affected by characterizes the Landlady, infact only a person affected by this problem could think to stuff pets and people, to have this problem could think to stuff pets and people, to have

the illusion they can be alive forever. “Crime of love” the illusion they can be alive forever. “Crime of love” because she kills her victims for love: she can’t get over her because she kills her victims for love: she can’t get over her

son’s death so she doesn’t resist to the impulse to murder son’s death so she doesn’t resist to the impulse to murder young people who resembles him, trying to preserve them young people who resembles him, trying to preserve them

with taxidermy technique.with taxidermy technique.

Creato daCreato da::

Tecce Sara

Maffeo Federica

Aldorasi Alessia

Graziosi Federica

Grella Victoria

Si ringrazia per la collaborazione:Si ringrazia per la collaborazione:

Prof.ssa Caso Giuseppina

Prof. Petrillo Antonio