The Lady, or the Tiger? By Frank R. Stockton

Choices  List 3 choices you’ve had to make in life (serious ones). What was the effect of each?  Which choice was the most difficult to make? Why?  Which one affected your life the most? Explain.  How did you decide in the above situation? Give details.

Turn to page 247 in Expert 21 Volume 2  Work with a partner (after we have read the excerpt together):  to characterize the princess (what is she like? what evidence do we have?),  identify the theme (based on the story so far, what lesson about life will the story try to teach us?),  identify consequences of her actions

Define (from 7 th grade)  Character:  the person(s), animal(s), object(s) the story is about; major and minor  Characterization:  the personality traits the character has; how they behave in the story; what motivates them to do the things they do  Setting:  the time and location  Plot:  a summary; the series of events in the story  Theme:  the lesson about life learned by the reader or the character  Conflict:  a problem in the story

The Barbarian King  Based on the first two paragraphs, how would you characterize the king? What kind of a person is he? (Give at least 3 adjectives)  Provide evidence from the story for each trait you assign him.  Example : The word “excitable” makes it seem that the king is easily angered and makes decisions hastily.

Is the judgment fair?  Discuss (with partner): How does the king decide whether the prisoner is “innocent” or “guilty”?  Define “fair”?  Do you think criminal trials should be public?  Is this fair? Why or why not? Give specific details.  Would you rather be punished under this system or the US judicial system? Explain your answer with details.  BE READY TO SHARE ANSWERS.

Conflict  What conflict does each of the three main characters (king, princess and her boyfriend) find themselves in? (Each can have multiple struggles)  The boy admits he loves the princess - he is clearly guilty. Why does the king still insist on the trial by fate? What does the king get out of it?

Agree or Disagree?  The Death Penalty is a fair way to convict criminals.  It is better to follow the ways of the past than to evolve with new ideas.  Jealousy is the most dangerous kind of motivation.  If we are in positions of power, we should use that power to get what we want, no matter what.  Love is the strongest emotion.  People prefer order to chaos.

Characterize the Princess  Based on information on page 250, make a list of the princess’s actions and then write several words about the type of person who behaves that way.  Why might the princess be tempted to send the man towards the tiger? How about towards the lady?

The Man  Do you think he is afraid to die?  He clearly waits for the princess to give him a signal? What does this reveal about the man? What about what he knows about the princess?  How does the man view his relationship with the princess? Is the princess as confident in their love?  Imagine the man’s thoughts as he approaches the door. Which door do you think he hopes to open?

“She had lost him, but who should have him?” The Lady? Reasons: If she chose the lady, what does it tell you about the princess? The Tiger? Reasons: If she chose the tiger, what kind of a person does she prove herself to be?

Main Ideas - what does the story teach us about…  Justice vs. Chance  Jealousy vs. Selflessness/Love  Barbarism/Cruelty vs. Civilization/Kindness (what in the story symbolizes each?) Do people prefer order/laws or chaos and selfishness?

Human Nature  Do you think the story shows authentic human emotion and human nature?  Do you know people like the princess or the king? Details.  Are humans essentially good or selfish? Explain.