In "Lamb to the Slaughter," by Roald Dahl, suspense plays a very significant role in tying the story together, as well as making it flow smoothly. Suspense is a pleasurable excitement which is usually evoked by a mysterious situation or regards an outcome. Throughout the story, suspense builds by the use of foreshadowing, uncertainty as to what will happen, and also the use of dramatic irony. Suspense is created in the story through the use of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is when the reader is given a hint towards what is to happen. In "Lamb to the Slaughter," it is hinted that the relationship between Mary and Patrick is tense. When Patrick said, "[t]his is going to be a bit of a shock to you, I'm afraid," (Dahl 12), the reader infers that their marriage may come to an end. After Mary kills Patrick, the reader is led to believe that Mary will act innocent, as if she were not the one to have murdered her spouse. That is hinted when Mary is about to go to the grocery, ".she certainly wasn't prepared.she rehearsed it several times more," (14). This builds up the anticipation of the reader, therefore making the story more effective. The final use of foreshadowing in the story is towards the end, when the author drops clues that perhaps Mary will get away with the murder. That thought is secured, when Jack Noonan comforts her, "[s]ometimes Jack Noonan spoke to her gently as he passed by," (16) all of the built up anticipation and uncertainty results in the suspensefulness of the story, and the creation of flow. .
Uncertainty is another way to create suspense, it also ties into foreshadowing which was previously talked about. Uncertainty creates suspense, because the reader has to infer, and anticipate what is to happen. Dahl used uncertainty in his story "Lamb to the Slaughter", to create an uneasy feeling for the reader. When Mary is having a breakdown about what is to happen to her unborn child, ".