The Landlady: ISC Class 11 Modern English notes
Get summay, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF, competency-based questions of Roald Dahl’s story The Landlady: ISC Class 11 Modern English (Goyal Brothers Workbook), which is part of the present syllabus. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
Summary
A seventeen-year-old boy named Billy Weaver arrives in the city of Bath one evening. He is there to start a new job and needs a place to stay. A porter suggests an inn called The Bell and Dragon. As Billy walks toward the inn, he passes a boarding house with a sign that says “BED AND BREAKFAST.” The house looks warm and comfortable. Through the window, he sees a fireplace, a sleeping dog, and a parrot in a cage.
Billy feels a strange pull toward the house. The words on the sign seem to look at him like big black eyes, making him feel like he has to stay. This is a metaphor meaning the sign had a powerful, almost hypnotic effect on him. He decides to ring the bell. A woman opens the door so quickly that it surprises him. The story compares her to a “jack-in-the-box,” which is a toy that pops up suddenly. She is a kind-looking, middle-aged landlady who offers him a very cheap room.
Inside, Billy notices there are no other coats or hats, which is strange. The landlady tells him to sign the guestbook. He sees there are only two other names written in it: Christopher Mulholland and Gregory W. Temple. Billy feels like he has heard these names before, but he cannot remember where. He also sees that their visits were two and three years ago.
The landlady brings him a cup of tea. She tells Billy that the other two guests were handsome young men, just like him. Then she says something very strange: she says they never left and are still upstairs on the third floor. Billy starts to feel uneasy. He then realizes that the parrot and the dog by the fire have not moved at all. He touches the dog and discovers it is cold and hard. The landlady explains that she stuffed the animals herself after they died. It is her hobby.
Billy sips his tea and notices it has a strange taste, like bitter almonds, which can be a sign of poison. He asks the landlady if she has had any other guests besides those two men in the last few years. She gives him a little smile and says, “No, my dear. Only you.” The story ends there, suggesting that Billy will suffer the same terrible fate as the other young men.
Workbook solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the primary reason Billy Weaver chose to stay at the landlady’s boarding house?
(a) He is drawn to the warm and inviting setting inside.
(b) He is compelled by the mysterious sign in the window.
(c) He finds The Bell and Dragon too expensive.
(d) The landlady offers him a free dinner along with a room.
Answer: (a) He is drawn to the warm and inviting setting inside.
2. What does the landlady’s peculiar habit of forgetting Billy’s surname suggest about her?
(a) She is genuinely forgetful and old.
(b) She is distracted because she has other guests to attend to.
(c) She deliberately muddles names to avoid emotional attachment.
(d) She has sinister intentions and sees Billy as just another victim.
Answer: (d) She has sinister intentions and sees Billy as just another victim.
3. Which one of the following statements best expresses the central theme of The Landlady?
(a) Appearances can be deceiving.
(b) Hospitality is a sign of kindness.
(c) Strangers can often be trusted.
(d) Young travellers must always seek adventure.
Answer: (a) Appearances can be deceiving.
4. What does Billy’s repeated thought that “animals were a good sign” foreshadow?
(a) The landlady is an animal lover, making her seem trustworthy.
(b) Billy’s fate will mirror that of the stuffed dachshund and parrot.
(c) The presence of animals will comfort Billy during his stay.
(d) Billy will befriend the landlady’s pets and stay longer.
Answer: (b) Billy’s fate will mirror that of the stuffed dachshund and parrot.
5. Which of the following best explains why Billy does not immediately realise the danger he is in?
(a) The landlady’s warm demeanour makes him feel at home.
(b) He is too naïve and inexperienced to recognise danger.
(c) He is too preoccupied with work to notice warning signs.
(d) He believes that older women are always kind and harmless.
Answer: (b) He is too naïve and inexperienced to recognise danger.
6. Why does the landlady insist that Billy sign the guest book?
(a) She enjoys keeping a record of her visitors.
(b) She wants to remember his name later.
(c) She follows a legal requirement for guests.
(d) She intends to preserve him like her previous guests.
Answer: (d) She intends to preserve him like her previous guests.
7. What does the phrase “BED AND BREAKFAST, BED AND BREAKFAST” being described as “black eyes staring at him” symbolize?
(a) The house is welcoming Billy into its warmth.
(b) The words hold a supernatural or hypnotic power over him.
(c) Billy is exhausted and imagining things.
(d) The landlady is watching Billy from behind the curtain.
Answer: (b) The words hold a supernatural or hypnotic power over him.
8. What detail in the guest book alarms Billy?
(a) The names in the book are familiar to him.
(b) The last guest checked in a few days ago.
(c) The landlady has written her own name repeatedly.
(d) The book is blank, meaning no one else has ever stayed there.
Answer: (a) The names in the book are familiar to him.
9. What does the landlady’s statement, “I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away,” imply?
(a) She deeply cares for her pets and wants to preserve their memory.
(b) She has an unusual hobby that extends beyond animals.
(c) She only keeps stuffed animals as decorations.
(d) She is a professional taxidermist.
Answer: (b) She has an unusual hobby that extends beyond animals.
10. Read the two statements from The Landlady and choose the correct option from the ones that follow.
Statement 1: The landlady insists that Billy sign the guest book.
Statement 2: The landlady likes to keep records of all her guests.
(a) Statement (i) is independent of Statement (ii).
(b) Statement (i) is the reason for Statement (ii).
(c) Statement (i) and Statement (ii) are similar.
(d) Statement (i) is the result of Statement (ii).
Answer: (d) Statement (i) is the result of Statement (ii).
11. Read the two statements from The Landlady and choose the correct option from the ones that follow.
Statement 1: The landlady describes her previous guests as “extraordinarily handsome.”
Statement 2: Billy realizes that the names of the guests in the register seem familiar.
(a) Statement (i) is independent of Statement (ii).
(b) Statement (i) is the reason for Statement (ii).
(c) Statement (i) and Statement (ii) are similar.
(d) Statement (i) is the result of Statement (ii).
Answer: (a) Statement (i) is independent of Statement (ii).
12. Read the two statements from The Landlady and choose the correct option from the ones that follow.
Statement 1: Billy ignores the warning signs about the landlady’s strange behaviour.
Statement 2: Billy is too polite and trusting, which prevents him from realising the danger.
(a) Statement (i) is independent of Statement (ii).
(b) Statement (i) is the reason for Statement (ii).
(c) Statement (i) and Statement (ii) are similar.
(d) Statement (i) is the result of Statement (ii).
Answer: (d) Statement (i) is the result of Statement (ii).
Fill the blanks/Complete Sentences
1. Billy Weaver decided to stay at the landlady’s boarding house instead of The Bell and Dragon because ______
Answer: the boarding house looked warm, cozy, and inviting, with a fire, a sleeping dachshund, and pleasant furniture, making it seem more comfortable than the pub.
2. Billy did not initially suspect anything strange about the landlady because ______
Answer: she appeared to be a kind, gentle, and harmless motherly figure who was welcoming and seemed terribly nice.
3. The guest book in The Landlady is an important detail in the story because ______
Answer: it reveals that the only two previous guests signed in two and three years ago, yet the landlady claims they are still there, which foreshadows Billy’s fate.
4. The landlady’s comment that her previous guests “never left” is eerie because ______
Answer: it implies that the guests, who have been missing for years, are still in the house, suggesting she has done something sinister to them, like killing and preserving them.
5. Billy’s politeness contributes to his downfall because ______
Answer: his desire not to appear rude prevents him from questioning the landlady’s strange behavior or acting on his suspicions, making him an easy target.
6. The taste of bitter almonds in the tea is significant because ______
Answer: it is a common sign of cyanide poison, indicating that the landlady has poisoned him.
7. Billy was unable to leave the boarding house despite feeling uneasy because ______
Answer: he felt a strange, compelling force from the “BED AND BREAKFAST” sign that held him and forced him to enter the house against his initial plan to check out the pub first.
8. The landlady’s home seemed inviting to Billy because ______
Answer: through the window, he saw a bright fire in the hearth, a sleeping dachshund, a parrot, and pleasant furniture, making it look warm, cozy, and comfortable.
9. The presence of stuffed animals in the landlady’s house is a clue to her true nature because ______
Answer: it reveals her hobby of taxidermy, which foreshadows that she does the same to her human guests, preserving them after they “pass away.”
10. Billy recognizes the names in the guest book but cannot remember why because ______
Answer: he had seen their names in the newspapers when they were reported as missing, but the memory is faint and just outside his immediate recall.
11. The landlady’s habit of stuffing animals foreshadows Billy’s fate because ______
Answer: it implies that she does not limit her taxidermy to just her pets and that she will likely kill and stuff Billy just as she did with her previous guests.
12. The phrase “BED AND BREAKFAST” appearing as “black eyes staring at him” is symbolic because ______
Answer: it represents the hypnotic and compelling power the sign has over Billy, holding him and forcing him to enter the house as if under a spell, stripping him of his free will.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. What made Billy Weaver choose the landlady’s boarding house over ‘The Bell and Dragon’?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Describe Billy’s initial impression of the boarding house.
(b) Mention the details that influenced his decision.
Answer: Billy’s initial impression of the boarding house was that it looked pleasant, warm, and cosy. Through the window, he saw a bright fire in the hearth, a pretty little dachshund asleep on the carpet, a parrot in a cage, and pleasant furniture. It looked more comfortable and decent than The Bell and Dragon, the pub he was originally heading towards.
Several details influenced his decision to stay. He was strangely and powerfully drawn to the “BED AND BREAKFAST” sign in the window, which seemed to compel him to enter. When the landlady opened the door, she had a warm, welcoming smile and seemed terribly nice. He also felt a strong, extraordinary desire to follow her into the house. Finally, she offered him a room for a fantastically cheap price, which was less than half of what he had been willing to pay, making the offer irresistible.
2. How does the landlady’s behaviour create a sense of unease despite her warm welcome?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Explain the landlady’s mannerisms and speech.
(b) Discuss how Billy reacts to her behaviour.
Answer: The landlady’s mannerisms and speech create unease through several strange details. She opens the door almost instantly after he rings the bell, like a jack-in-the-box, which Billy finds unusual. She speaks as if she were expecting him, saying, “It’s all ready for you, my dear,” before he has even properly asked for a room. Throughout their conversation, she mistakenly calls him by other names, first Mr. Perkins and later Mr. Wilkins, suggesting she is confusing him with past visitors. She also mentions that she is very “choosy and particular” about her guests, looking for someone “just exactly right,” which has an unsettling undertone.
Despite these oddities, Billy does not perceive any real danger. He reacts to her behaviour by concluding that she is “slightly dotty” but ultimately harmless and a kind, generous soul. He rationalises her strange actions by guessing that she might be a lonely woman who lost a son in the war and has never gotten over it. His politeness and naivety prevent him from questioning her further, and he dismisses the warning signs, focusing instead on her apparent kindness.
3. What role does the guest book play in foreshadowing the story’s ending?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Describe Billy’s reaction to the names in the guest book.
(b) Explain how this detail hints at the sinister nature of the landlady.
Answer: Upon signing the guest book, Billy notices there are only two other entries, Christopher Mulholland and Gregory W. Temple. He immediately feels that the names are familiar and ring a bell, but he cannot quite remember where he has heard them before. He puzzles over this, thinking he might have seen them in the newspapers and that the two names seem connected. His memory is jogged further when he recalls that Christopher Mulholland was the name of a schoolboy who had been reported missing.
This detail hints at the landlady’s sinister nature in a powerful way. The dates in the book reveal that the last guest checked in over two years ago, and the one before that was over three years ago. This lack of visitors is suspicious for a boarding house. The true horror is suggested when the landlady casually states that these men “never left” and are still in the house on the third floor. This, combined with Billy’s memory of a missing person, strongly implies that the guests met a grim fate at the hands of the landlady.
4. What is the significance of the landlady’s statement that her guests “never left”?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Interpret the hidden meaning behind her words.
(b) Discuss how this adds to the suspense of the story.
Answer: The hidden meaning behind the landlady’s statement that her guests “never left” is that they are dead and their bodies remain in the house. When she says they are “still here” on the third floor, she is not speaking figuratively; she is revealing that she has killed and preserved them. This is confirmed shortly after when she admits to stuffing her own pets after they die. Her words are a confession that she has done the same to her human guests, keeping them as part of her collection.
This statement is a critical turning point that dramatically adds to the story’s suspense. Until this moment, the landlady’s behaviour could be explained away as mere eccentricity. However, her assertion that guests from years ago are still residing in the house shifts the atmosphere from odd to terrifying. It forces both Billy and the reader to confront the horrifying reality of the situation. The suspense escalates as it becomes clear that Billy is trapped with a murderer and is likely destined for the same fate, leaving his future uncertain.
5. How does Billy’s trusting nature contribute to his downfall?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Analyze Billy’s naivety and politeness.
(b) Explain how these traits prevent him from realizing the danger.
Answer: Billy’s naivety stems from his youth and inexperience; at only seventeen and new to the city, he is too trusting. He believes the landlady must be harmless and lonely because she is kind-looking. His politeness is also a defining characteristic. He is respectful and does not want to seem rude, which leads him to accept everything the landlady says without question. This politeness stops him from asking important questions about his lodging, even when things appear strange.
These traits prevent Billy from realizing the danger because he dismisses everything suspicious and focuses only on what seems harmless. He ignores warning signs, such as the landlady repeatedly getting his name wrong, and rationalizes her odd behavior by assuming she is a lonely woman grieving a lost son. His trusting nature and desire to be polite make him feel obligated to go downstairs to sign the guestbook and drink the tea she offers, which is indicated to be poisoned. His inability to see past her friendly and warm look ultimately leads to his downfall.
6. Why is the taste of bitter almonds in the tea an important clue in the story?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Explain the significance of the taste in relation to the landlady’s true intentions.
(b) Discuss why Billy does not react to it immediately.
Answer: The taste of bitter almonds in the tea is a very important clue because it is a common sign of poison, specifically cyanide. This taste indicates that Billy has likely been poisoned, revealing the landlady’s true, sinister intentions. It foreshadows the dark mystery she hides and suggests that Billy’s fate will be the same as that of her previous guests, whom she has likely killed.
Billy does not react to the taste immediately because he is too slow to realize the danger he is in. His naivety and trusting nature prevent him from connecting the faint taste to a serious threat. The text notes that he simply “didn’t much care for it” and does not react quickly. His politeness and the sense of obligation he feels towards the kind-looking landlady contribute to his lack of an alarmed response, even when presented with this significant clue.
7. How does the landlady’s taxidermy hobby foreshadow Billy’s fate?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Discuss how the presence of stuffed animals hints at the landlady’s true nature.
(b) Explain the symbolic connection between the animals and her guests.
Answer: The presence of stuffed animals hints at the landlady’s true nature by revealing her disturbing obsession with preserving dead things. She admits that she performs taxidermy herself, stuffing her pets to make them look as if they are still alive. This unusual hobby makes the atmosphere of the story much scarier and reveals a dark side to her personality that contrasts with her cheerful exterior, suggesting she is capable of sinister acts.
The symbolic connection between the animals and her guests is that the landlady appears to stuff her human victims just as she stuffs her pets. When Billy learns that the previous guests, Christopher Mulholland and Gregory Temple, “never left” and are still on the third floor, it strongly implies that she has poisoned and preserved them too. The stuffed parrot and dachshund are therefore a direct foreshadowing of Billy’s own fate, suggesting he will become the next addition to her collection.
8. How does the landlady manipulate Billy into staying at her boarding house?
In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
(a) Explain the techniques she uses to lure Billy inside.
(b) Discuss Billy’s reaction and how she influences his decision.
Answer: The landlady uses several manipulative techniques to lure Billy. The “BED AND BREAKFAST” sign itself seems to have a strange, compelling power over him. She then answers the door almost instantly, giving him no time to reconsider, and greets him with a warm smile. She deceives him with her appearance as a small, polite, and motherly figure, and by making her house seem safe and cozy. Finally, she offers him a fantastically cheap room, which solidifies his interest.
Billy is initially planning to look at another inn, but he feels strangely drawn to the boarding house. His reaction to the landlady is one of immediate trust; he thinks she is terribly nice and warm. The very low price and her kind demeanor are the main factors that influence his decision to stay. He dismisses her oddities, thinking she is just slightly dotty but harmless. His own politeness and desire not to be rude make him accept her offer without question, allowing her to easily control his decision.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Each word was like a large black eye staring at him through the glass, holding him, compelling him, forcing him to stay where he was.” How does this quote reflect the theme of manipulation and psychological control in ‘The Landlady’? Write your answer in about 250 words.
Answer: This quote illustrates the theme of manipulation and psychological control from the very moment Billy Weaver sees the boarding house. The description of the words on the sign as large black eyes that are holding, compelling, and forcing him demonstrates that an external, almost hypnotic power is at play. This is the first instance of Billy losing his free will. The story explains that the words on the sign seem to take control of Billy, and the repetition of the phrase “Bed and Breakfast” shows how he was strangely drawn to the house. This is not a conscious, rational decision but a compulsion he cannot resist.
This initial act of psychological control sets the stage for the landlady’s subsequent manipulations. The story falls into the thriller genre with psychological elements because it explores the theme of manipulation. The landlady tricks Billy by deceiving him without using any force. She controls both Billy and the situation, ensuring that he stays. The house itself, starting with the sign, acts as her trap. She continues this control through her deceptively warm and motherly demeanor, the fantastically cheap price, and her insistence that signing the guestbook is required by law, which obligates Billy to stay downstairs and drink the poisoned tea. The quote, therefore, is the starting point of the sinister control that defines the plot, showing that Billy is a victim of a carefully orchestrated psychological trap long before he even meets the landlady herself.
2. Roald Dahl’s skill as a storyteller lies in his ability to create an atmosphere of suspense and unease through subtle details. Bring out the various ways in which he does this in The Landlady in about 250 words.
Answer: Roald Dahl masterfully creates an atmosphere of suspense and unease in ‘The Landlady’ by layering subtle, unsettling details rather than using overt horror. The author builds suspense by adding clues and warning signs about what may happen to Billy. The suspense begins when Billy feels strangely drawn to the house by a sign that seems to have a hypnotic power over him. This is immediately followed by the landlady opening the door with unnatural speed, like a jack-in-the-box, suggesting she was eagerly anticipating his arrival.
Inside the house, the absence of any other coats or hats in the hall contradicts the idea of a functioning boarding house and hints that Billy is alone with her. The landlady’s own behavior is a source of growing unease. She appears kind but slightly odd, and her habit of calling Billy by the wrong names, such as Mr. Perkins and Mr. Wilkins, suggests she is confusing him with past victims. The guestbook is another critical detail; it contains only two other entries, dated years ago. Billy’s realization that the names seem familiar adds to the mystery. The suspense escalates when Billy discovers the parrot and dachshund are not alive but have been perfectly preserved through taxidermy by the landlady herself. The final details—her chilling comment that her previous guests never left and the faint taste of bitter almonds in Billy’s tea—transform the unease into horror, leaving the reader to imagine Billy’s terrible fate.
3. ‘The Landlady’ is a masterclass in foreshadowing and slow-building horror. Examine how Dahl carefully places clues to suggest the threatening nature of the landlady before revealing the truth. Write your answer in about 250 words.
Answer: ‘The Landlady’ is an excellent example of foreshadowing, where Roald Dahl carefully places a series of clues that slowly build a sense of horror and reveal the landlady’s threatening nature. The story uses hints and clues to suggest a dark ending. The foreshadowing begins before Billy even enters the house, as the “BED AND BREAKFAST” sign seems to hypnotize and compel him, hinting at a sinister force at work. The landlady’s immediate appearance at the door is another early clue, suggesting an unnatural eagerness.
Once inside, the landlady’s comments about the physical appearances of her past guests, noting how handsome they were just like Billy, foreshadows that he has been selected for a specific, awful purpose. A significant clue is the guestbook, which contains only two names from years ago. Billy’s faint memory of these names being connected to disappearances reported in the newspapers is a strong hint of danger. The landlady’s hobby of taxidermy is a pivotal piece of foreshadowing; her admission that she stuffs her own pets when they pass away hints at what she does to her human guests. This is confirmed when she states that her previous guests, Mr. Mulholland and Mr. Temple, “never left” and are still on the third floor. The final, damning clue is the taste of bitter almonds in the tea, a well-known indicator of cyanide poison. Each clue is a carefully placed step, leading both Billy and the reader from a sense of comfort to the horrifying truth about the landlady.
4. Billy Weaver is a depiction of youthful innocence in a world that is not as harmless as it seems. Discuss how his characterization adds depth to ‘The Landlady’. Write your answer in about 250 words.
Answer: Billy Weaver’s characterization as a figure of youthful innocence adds significant depth to “The Landlady” by creating a stark contrast with the sinister reality he encounters. At seventeen years old, Billy is new to the city of Bath and is excited about being independent and proving himself as a responsible adult. He believes successful businessmen act “briskly,” and he tries to emulate this behavior, thinking it will help him succeed. This desire to appear mature ironically makes him more vulnerable.
Billy’s innocence is most evident in his trusting nature and lack of experience, which make him an easy and perfect target for the landlady’s tricks. He represents youth and goodness, but these very qualities lead him into trouble. He is polite and respectful, and his desire not to seem rude prevents him from questioning the many strange things he observes. When he sees the cozy boarding house, he is deceived by its warm and inviting appearance, just as he is by the landlady’s kind and motherly demeanor. He rationalizes her odd behavior by assuming she is a lonely woman who may have lost a son in the war. This naivety highlights the story’s central theme that appearances can be deceiving. The depth of the horror comes from the fact that such a polite and trusting young man falls into a trap set by a predator hiding behind a harmless facade. His inability to see the danger makes his fate more unsettling and serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of misplaced trust.
5. Billy Weaver ignores multiple warning signs about the landlady. Discuss the reasons behind Billy’s inability to recognize the danger he is in. Write your answer in about 250 words.
Answer: Billy Weaver’s inability to recognize the danger he is in stems from several interconnected aspects of his character, primarily his naivety, his overly trusting nature, and his politeness. As a seventeen-year-old new to the world of business and independent living, his youth and inexperience make him an easy target. His biggest mistake is being too trusting; he readily believes the landlady must be harmless and lonely simply because she has a kind-looking face and a warm manner.
Furthermore, Billy consistently dismisses suspicious signs because he focuses only on what seems harmless. He assumes that having animals in the house is a good sign and that the tea she offers is just a kind gesture. These small, misleading details prevent him from seeing the real danger. His politeness also plays a key role in his downfall. He does not want to seem rude, so he accepts everything the landlady says without questioning it. This politeness stops him from asking important questions about his lodging or challenging the strange things he notices, such as the landlady mixing up his name, the guestbook entries being over two years old, or the fact that the other guests, whose names he recognizes from newspaper reports about their disappearances, have supposedly never left. Instead of becoming alarmed, he is too slow to process the danger, ultimately allowing himself to be manipulated into drinking the poisoned tea and sharing their fate.
Extras
MCQs: Knowledge-based
1: What is the name of the inn recommended to Billy by the porter?
A. The Red Lion
B. The Bell and Dragon
C. The Swan and Cygnet
D. The King’s Head
Answer: B. The Bell and Dragon
28: The landlady mentions that Mr. Mulholland was a __________ undergraduate when he came to stay.
A. Oxford
B. Cambridge
C. Eton
D. Bristol
Answer: B. Cambridge
MCQs: Competency-based
29: (I) The landlady opens the door the instant Billy rings the bell. (II) Billy jumps because her sudden appearance is like a jack-in-the-box.
A. I is independent of II.
B. I is a contradiction of II.
C. I is the cause of II.
D. II is the cause of I.
Answer: C. I is the cause of II.
41: The final line of the story, “‘No, my dear,’ she said. ‘Only you.'” leaves the reader with a feeling of:
A. relief
B. confusion
C. satisfaction
D. horror
Answer: D. horror
Questions and Answers
1. What was Billy Weaver’s initial plan for lodging in Bath? Why did he change his mind? You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- The name of the inn he was recommended.
- The details he observed through the boarding house window.
Answer: Seventeen-year-old Billy Weaver’s initial plan upon arriving in Bath was to find lodging at an inn called ‘The Bell and Dragon’. This inn had been recommended to him by the porter at the station, and he was heading there to check it out before making a final decision.
However, Billy changed his mind when he noticed a boarding house with a “BED AND BREAKFAST” sign in its window. The house looked pleasant and cosy to him. Through the window, he saw a warm room with a fire, a small sleeping dog, and a parrot in a cage. He felt that this boarding house would be a more comfortable place to stay than ‘The Bell and Dragon’, and he was strangely drawn towards it.
40. Explain the significance of the landlady’s statement that she is “very selective” about her guests. You are required to answer by incorporating the following details:
- The criteria she uses for choosing her guests, such as being handsome young men.
- What this reveals about her sinister motivations.
Answer: The landlady’s statement that she is “very selective” is significant because it reveals her sinister method for choosing victims. Her criteria for selecting guests are not about finding respectable tenants but about finding young men who are “just exactly right” for her purposes. She tells Billy that her previous guests were handsome young men like him.
This selectivity reveals her motivations. She is not running a real business but is instead collecting victims. Her obsession is with preserving the youth and good looks of her guests, which is shown by her hobby of taxidermy. Her statement shows that she carefully chooses her victims to satisfy this disturbing obsession.
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