The Lady, or the Tiger?

By Frank R. Stockton

Warm Up – 9/2/2015Choices

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.

Define (from 7th 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 three paragraphs,

how would you characterize the king? What kind of a person is he? (Give at least 3 adjectives/descriptions)

Provide evidence from the story for each trait you assign him. What in the story makes you think he is ____?

Example: The word “excitable” makes it seem that the king is easily angered and makes decisions hastily.

Is the judgment fair?

1. How does the king decide whether the prisoner is “innocent” or “guilty”?

2. Define “fair”?3. Do you think criminal trials should

be public?4. Is this fair? Why or why not? Give

specific details. 5. Would you rather be punished under

this system or the US judicial system? Explain your answer with details.

BE READY TO SHARE ANSWERS.

Turn to page 250 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?) (2-3 descriptions with evidence for each)

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

What evidence is there for the princess to be

considered… Jealous Brutal/Cruel Passionate/Emotional Loyal Loving

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.