The Landlady By Roald Dahl

The phrase "terribly nice" is an example of an oxymoron because "terribly" usually implies something negative or unpleasant, while "nice" implies something positive or pleasant. The use of these contrasting words together creates a contradictory and ironic effect, highlighting the character's complex and contradictory nature.

The author creates suspense in the short story by having Mulholland interrupt Billy twice, distracting him from his line of thought. This interruption suggests that there may be something important or significant about the topic Billy is trying to remember, adding suspense and making the reader curious about what it could be.

The theme of the story is "appearances are deceptive" because throughout the story, the characters or situations may seem one way, but they turn out to be completely different. This theme suggests that things are not always what they seem, and it emphasizes the importance of looking beyond surface-level appearances to truly understand and judge people or situations.

Verbal irony is when characters say one thing but mean something else. The landlady says that the "morning sun comes right through this window." She does not actually mean for Billy to see the morning sun the next day.

The word "conjured" in the given sentence suggests that the word "boarding-houses" brings up vivid and imaginary images in Billy's mind. These images include the smell of "cabbage" which implies poor quality food, "rapacious" landladies indicating their greediness, and a powerful smell in the "living-room" which adds to the unpleasantness of the boarding-house experience.

The landlady's statement suggests that she considers the boys staying at her lodgings as her pets and that she stuffs them too, implying that she has killed and preserved them like her other pets. This indicates a dark and disturbing behavior, making the statement true.

The correct answer is Billy Weaver. In the given question, the protagonist refers to the main character or the central figure in a story. Among the options provided, Billy Weaver is the only named individual, while the others are not specified further. Therefore, it can be inferred that Billy Weaver is the protagonist of the story.

The given statement is false. The boys who stayed at the Landlady's bed and breakfast were not Mr. Mulholland, Mr. Temple, and Drioli.

Billy resembled the landlady's previous guests because he was good looking and young, just like them.

Foreshadowing is a literary device where the author provides subtle hints or clues about future events in the story. These clues create a sense of anticipation and prepare the reader for what is to come. It is different from suspense, which refers to the feeling of excitement or uncertainty about what will happen next. In this case, the correct answer accurately describes foreshadowing as clues that hint at what will happen later in the story.

Billy realized that the animals in the room were stuffed while they were drinking tea. This suggests that while the animals were engaged in the act of drinking tea, Billy noticed something unusual about their behavior or appearance that made him realize they were not real animals but rather stuffed ones.

Based on the given options, the age range of the landlady is 45-50 years. This suggests that the landlady is likely to be within this age range.

The taste of cyanide symbolizes danger or poison in the story. It suggests that consuming almonds or anything associated with them can be harmful or deadly. This adds a sense of suspense and intrigue to the narrative, as the reader wonders why something as seemingly harmless as almonds could be so dangerous. The taste of cyanide serves as a metaphor for the hidden dangers that can lurk beneath seemingly innocent things.

This quote does not provide any hint or indication of future events or outcomes. It simply describes the absence of shops on a street, without suggesting any foreshadowing elements. Foreshadowing typically involves subtle clues or hints that suggest future events or developments in a story.

Billy's reaction to the landlady's interest in his appearance and complimenting his teeth was to refer to the fillings in his teeth. This suggests that Billy may have been self-conscious about his dental work and perhaps felt uncomfortable with the attention drawn to his teeth.

The phrase "The old girl is slightly dotty" is an example of hyperbole. Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect. In this case, the speaker is using hyperbole to emphasize that the old girl is not just slightly dotty, but extremely so. The use of the word "slightly" is ironic, as it actually intensifies the exaggeration.

The examples of foreshadowing in the given options are:
- The landlady smells of a hospital: This suggests that there may be something sinister or unusual about her, possibly related to medical practices.
- The landlady is a taxidermist: This hints at her interest in preserving dead animals, which could foreshadow her involvement in something dark or disturbing.
- Her red fingernails refer to the arsenic she has used and which left her fingers raw: This implies that the landlady has been using arsenic, which could foreshadow her involvement in poisoning or harm.
- The two boys whose names were in the guest book were missing/dead: This suggests that something has happened to the boys, indicating a potential danger or mystery surrounding their disappearance or death.

The landlady was sure that Billy would stay at her bed and breakfast because the rates of her lodgings were the lowest. This suggests that she believed Billy would choose her place to stay based on the affordability factor.

The landlady distracted Billy by pointing out her stuffed animals. This diversion tactic shifted Billy's attention away from his thoughts about her previous guests and onto the stuffed animals, effectively diverting his focus and preventing him from continuing to figure out the truth.

The landlady had made several preparations for Billy's stay at the bed and breakfast. Firstly, she welcomed him warmly, indicating her hospitality and friendliness. Secondly, a warm water bottle was placed between the sheets, ensuring his comfort during the night. Thirdly, the bedspread had been removed, suggesting that the bed had been freshly made for his arrival. Lastly, she accompanied him to his bedroom, showing her attentiveness and willingness to assist him.