The Landlady

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. What does Billy ask the porter for?

2. What does Billy believe is “the one common characteristic of all successful businessmen”? (Paragraph 5)

3. What does Billy assume about the landlady’s offspring?

4. What does Billy learn about the parrot and the dachshund?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Compare and contrast the description of the interior of the Bed and Breakfast with the exterior weather conditions on the street.

2. What are Billy’s impressions of the landlady? Describe his feelings about her.

3. What does Billy realize about the names in the guestbook? What conclusion does he come to?

4. What final question does Billy ask? How does the landlady respond?

Paired Resource

The Landlady (2022)

• This 14-minute film, directed by Cameron Thom, is based on Dahl’s short story.
• This film adaptation is based on the same themes of the story: The Anonymity of Modern Life, The Fetishizing of Youth, and The Power of Convention and Social Customs.
• Compare and contrast the film with Dahl’s story. What liberties does Thom’s adaptation take with the original text and dialogue? Is this effective? Why or why not?