Quick Think 1. Would you trust your life to a friend? 2. Which is a stronger emotion- love or jealousy? 3. How completely can one person ever know and understand another?

The Lady, or the Tiger? By Frank Stockton

Who is the author? Meet Frank R. Stockton (1834-1902) At the height of his success, Frank R. Stockton was considered a major literary figure in the United States, second in importance only to Mark Twain. Stockton’s body of work fills twenty-three volumes and includes stories, novels, and nonfiction. Yet today, this writer is known primarily for his story, “The Lady, or the Tiger?” The story created a stir at the time it was published because of the way he wrote the ending.

Important Vocabulary to know… Barbaric- uncivilized or marked with a lack of restraint, wild Impartial- not favoring one side more than another; fair Emanate- to come forth Dire- dreadful; terrible Fervent- having or showing great intensity of feeling; passionate Novel- new and unusual

Semi-barbaric kingdom King, princess, young man What is the Setting? Semi-barbaric kingdom King, princess, young man Olden Times The king has put his daughter’s unsuitable lover on trial. The princess’s struggle between love and jealousy governs the outcome.

What was the justice system during the Middle Ages? During the Middle Ages in England, guilt or innocence was decided through a practice known as an ordeal. An accused person was physically tested. The outcome determined guilt or innocence. The accusers believed that supernatural forces controlled what happened. For instance, in the ordeal by water, the accused person was tied up and thrown into deep water. A person who floated was thought to be guilty; a person who sank was considered innocent. Unfortunately, those who sank often drowned before they could be hauled back up.

What kind of “ordeal” was used in “The “Lady. or the Tiger What kind of “ordeal” was used in “The “Lady? or the Tiger?” short story? A public arena was used (a vast amphitheater). The accused would open one of two doors. In the minds of the Romans, the amphitheater was a place of significant symbolic meaning: It was a place of civilized order over lawlessness, chaos, barbarism, and savagery was regularly enacted. It was also a place of justice: certain criminals were executed there by being given to the wild beasts or were forced to fight to the death as gladiators. It also represented the domination of Rome over its enemies: prisoners of war were either executed or forced to fight each other as gladiators. For the professional gladiator it was a place of redemption, in which one could overcome death by victory or by stoically accepting it.

Dramatic Plot Structure A literary plot has five elements: Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

The Lady, or The Tiger?—Frank Stockton BIG IDEA Matters of Life and Death My purpose in reading is to recognize the elements of story.