Would u help me with the meaning of the phrases "Hallmark hanky moment" and Ronal Dahl macabre" ?

Question

the context is as follows from a new york times article:

Everywhere in nature, biologists say, are examples of animals behaving as though they were at least vaguely aware of death’s brutal supremacy and yet unpersuaded that it had anything to do with them. Michael Wilson, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Minnesota who has studied chimpanzees at Jane Goodall’s research site in Gombe, said chimps were “very different from us in terms of what they understand about death and the difference between the living and the dead.” The Hallmark hanky moment alternates with the Roald Dahl macabre. A mother will try to nurse her dead baby back to life, Dr. Wilson said, “but when the infant becomes quite decayed, she’ll carry it by just one leg or sling it over her back in a casual way.”

Answer 1

"Hallmark Moment" can suggest either a serendipitous event or encounter, or a sappy emotional appeal.

The "hanky" is short for "handkerchief" which you would use if you get teary from whichever hallmark moment you are experiencing.

"Macabre" is a quality of artistic or literary works characterized by a grim or ghastly atmosphere.  Ronald Dahl wrote a few fiction works of the macabre genre.

Answer 2

"Hallmark hanky moment" : a moment as sugary sweet as a greeting card from Hallmark Cards, and you feel like whipping out a handkerchief to cry in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallmark_Ca...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanky

"Roald Dahl macabre" : as frightening, grim or ghastly as some books by Roald Dahl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macabre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl

Answer 3

Hallmark hanky [handkerchief] moment = greeting-card cliche-type sentimentality (with hanky needed for facile tears of compassion)

Roald Dahl macabre = comparable to children's books of author Roald Dahl, which usually contain a lot of black humor and grotesque scenarios, including gruesome violence

Answer 4

They are just saying that the sweet and gentle moments alternate between the bizarre and somewhat gross. The mother chimp is a good mother, but when the baby dies...it's kind of weird