In "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl how does the author use irony to develop Mary Maloney's character and her interactions with the delectives after Patick's murder? A. The author uses verbal irony by showing Mary openly admitting her crime to the detectives.who dismiss her confession as a joke. B. The author uses situational irony by having Mary serve the detectives the murder weapon as dinner, highlighting her calculated and clever behavior. C. The author uses dramatic irony by revealing Mary's guilt to the detectives before the story's conclusion, showcasing her overconfidence D. The author uses cosmic irony by emphasizing how fate prevents Mary from successfully covering up her crime despite her efforts.

## Step 1<br />The question asks us to identify the type of irony used by Roald Dahl in "Lamb to the Slaughter" to develop Mary Maloney's character and her interactions with the detectives after Patrick's murder. Irony is a literary device where the intended meaning of words is different from their actual meaning.<br /><br />## Step 2<br />Let's analyze each option:<br /><br />### A. Verbal Irony<br />This involves a person saying one thing but meaning another. In the story, Mary does not openly admit her crime to the detectives, so this option is incorrect.<br /><br />### B. Situational Irony<br />This occurs when the actual outcome is different from what was expected. In the story, Mary serves the detectives the murder weapon as dinner, which is a clever and unexpected move. This option seems to fit the description.<br /><br />### C. Dramatic Irony<br />This happens when the audience knows something that the characters do not. In the story, the detectives are unaware of Mary's guilt, so this option is incorrect.<br /><br />### D. Cosmic Irony<br />This involves fate or divine intervention. In the story, there is no clear indication of fate or divine intervention preventing Mary from covering up her crime, so this option is incorrect.<br /><br />## Step 3<br />Based on the analysis, the correct answer is option B, where Mary serves the detectives the murder weapon as dinner, showcasing her calculated and clever behavior.