THE LADY, OR THE TIGER



NAME:_________________________________________________DATE:___________PERIOD:________

THE LADY, OR THE TIGER?

MEET THE AUTHOR

Who is the author?

a. Mark Twain

b. Frank R. Stockton

c. Robert Browning

What type of written works did the author publish?

a. The author published a variety of short stories and nonfiction works.

b. The author published a variety of children’s articles and short stories.

c. The author published a variety of stories, novels, and nonfiction.

Why did the story “The Lady, or the Tiger” create such a stir in the literary community?

a. The justice system portrayed in the story was very controversial in 1882.

b. The way that Stockton chose to end the short story created a flurry of letters to be written to him.

c. The publisher did not want to publish this short story but one of his novels.

BUILDING BACKGROUND

How was guilt or innocence decided in the Middle Ages in England?

a. The accused had his or her day in court before a judge and a jury.

b. The accused was physically tested and the outcome determined his or her guilt or innocence.

c. The accused was provided legal council for free and then given a fair trial.

Why did the accusers believe this system was fair and just?

a. The accusers believed that the “supernatural forces” would control what would happen.

b. The accusers believed that they were too incompetent to make a decision about someone’s life.

c. The accusers believed that the accused determined their own fate of life or death.

Why do you think this type of justice is no longer in practice?

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READ THE SHORT STORY AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AS YOU READ. REMEMBER TO CONSTRUCT QUALITY SENTENCES IN YOUR RESPONSE.

1. When did this story take place?

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2. How does Stockton describe the king’s ideas?

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3. How did the king justify his practice of barbarism in the public area?

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4. The king used the vast amphitheater as a court to judge what two things?

A. Guilt or Innocence

B. Talent and Skill

5. Describe what the accused would see when he or she entered the arena?

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6. Describe what could be waiting behind one of the doors?

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7. Describe what was behind the other door?

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8. What would take place immediately if the accused person opened the door with the lady behind it?

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9. The decisions of this tribunal were positively ______________ the accused person was instantly ________ if he found himself guilty; and if _______________, he was rewarded on the spot…

10. What two things could the people possibly see on a trial day?

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11. How did the people justify this barbaric system?

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12. How does the author describe the king’s daughter? (name three things)

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13. Describe the young man that the king’s daughter had fallen in love with?

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14. Why was the king so upset about this young gentleman?

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15. What did the king immediately do when he found out about the romance?

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16. Everyone in the kingdom was very interested in the development of this trial because never before had

a __________________ dared to love the _______________ of a king.

17. Name three adjectives the author used to describe the tiger?

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18. Name three adjectives the author used to describe the maiden?

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19. Describe how this tribunal would be a “win-win” for the king?

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20. Describe the arena on that fateful day?

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21. How did the crowd react to the young man when he walked out into the arena?

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22. What did the princess do before the tribunal started?

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23. How had the doors been constructed to prevent any noise coming through the doors?

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24. How did the princess get the information about what was going to be behind each door?

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25. What did the princess think about the young damsel behind the door?

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26. The author uses the term “throwing glances of admiration” upon the young man. What do we call this today? ______________________________________________________________________________

27. What kind of signal did the princess give to the young man standing in the arena?

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28. Which door did the young man open?

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29. Which do you think came out the door: The lady? or The tiger? Why?

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