Final answer:
In "The Landlady," Roald Dahl uses literary techniques like foreshadowing and detailed descriptions to build suspense and create a mysterious atmosphere, hinting at the odd nature of the landlady and her intentions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The short story "The Landlady" by Roald Dahl employs various literary techniques that are effectively used to build suspense and create a peculiar atmosphere. One technique used is foreshadowing, which helps to hint at future events in the narrative, creating anticipation and tension as the story progresses. For example, the landlady's odd behaviors and overly welcoming gestures suggest that something is amiss, thereby tipping off the reader that not everything is as it seems.
Another technique is the use of detailed descriptions, which Dahl uses to create a vivid and slightly eerie setting. Describing the small details of the Bed and Breakfast and the overly sweet smell of the landlady's tea, Dahl effectively paints a scene that is uncomfortably strange, which adds to the mystery and suspense of the text.