English: High School Literature: Roald Dahl’s “The Landlady”

The tutor discusses a short story from a grade nine literature textbook.

Searching for reading material for my students, I recently chose “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl, from the textbook In Context: Anthology Three.

For a tutor, choosing literature that’s not only challenging, but also interesting, is critical, but potentially difficult. Students can be discriminating about reading material. Moreover, unlike a teacher, a tutor likely doesn’t have the power to assign reading. The easiest situation is when the literature appeals to the student.

Roald Dahl’s “The Landlady”, while it doesn’t contain any direct supernatural content, constantly hints at mysterious plans and stage-managing. A teenage reader can get drawn into the story by curiosity. The ending doesn’t give any resolution; the reader is left wondering – imagining – what will happen.

The story worked out very well for my student:)

Source:

Sorestand, Glen, Christine McClymont and Clayton Graves. In Context: Anthology Three.    Scarborough: Nelson Canada, 1990.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.

Tagged with: ,

Leave a Reply