Explain the main similarities and differences between the two murder mystery stories ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ and ‘The Speckled Band’

Explain the main similarities and differences between the two murder mystery stories ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ and ‘The Speckled Band’


Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote ‘The Speckled Band’ in 1892 and this is reflected in the way the characters in his story behave. Doyle’s views about the different classes in Victorian society are recorded through the seemingly black and white view of good and evil. His detective is Upper Class and behaves with decorum at all times meaning that he is always polite, well mannered and gallant towards women etc. whereas Roald Dahl wrote his story ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ in 1954 where hanging and corporal punishment still took place and realism was depicted in stories. ‘The Speckled Band’ tells the story of the detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Watson who try to solve the case of the murder Miss Helen Stoner’s sister. This is a more traditional story as it is written from the point of view of the detectives and has a typical wi...