The Lady or the Tiger? Group at eNotes

You guys really think the ending’s ambiguous? I thought Stockton made...

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:12:42 PST

You guys really think the ending’s ambiguous? I thought Stockton made it very clear:D LOL My favorite theory goes like this. The lady knew who the girl was. She knew what door the girl was behind. She hated the girl because she’d seen her lover and the girl flirting. So when she indicated what door her lover should choose it was the one behind which the tiger was located. After all she did have a barbaric nature. However, her lover knew...

In reply to #6: I think you and # 3 have some solid evidence. but i...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:39:38 PST

In reply to #6: I think you and # 3 have some solid evidence. but i think you missed the part where it said that he went to the door on the right so he could not have outwitted her.

I don't suppose we can know exactly why the author ended the story by...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:35:12 PST

I don't suppose we can know exactly why the author ended the story by not resolving the dramatic tension and providing a conclusion. One thing we do know, however, is that it is the ambiguous ending that has made this story very memorable and much discussed. It is the ending that has made this story so well known. Readers supply their own endings, based upon their interpretation of the context clues and their personal beliefs about human nature.

SSHS English 9 Discussion questions

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:35:04 PST

Why might Stockton have left the ending of this story ambiguous--was he trying to make a particular point or create a particular effect? Explain whether you think the ambiguous ending makes the story memorable.

First of all Frank Stockton was known as a humorist and satirist as was...

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 20:54:34 PST

First of all Frank Stockton was known as a humorist and satirist as was Mark Twain. However, his style and voice requires some understanding of the history of political satire to be able to understand. His narrative style is such that he "talks" to the reader. In the story when the King's ruling style is presented it is done so in a tongue in cheek sort of way. In other words, the author was commenting on society in this fairy tale sounding...

With all due respect, I think #3 needs to look at the quoted section of...

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 20:03:52 PST

With all due respect, I think #3 needs to look at the quoted section of text more closely. " How in her grievous reveries had she gnashed her teeth, and torn her hair, when she saw his start of rapturous delight as he opened the door of the lady!" The princess did not want him to find happiness with anyone else. She had a barbaric nature, and she knew that the beautiful young woman had cast glances upon her lover, and she had perceived those...

we discussed in class. my teacher said no the tiger came out because the...

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:10:52 PST

we discussed in class. my teacher said no the tiger came out because the princess was soo jealous. thers proof in the story aparently. can u help answer my q?

How does conflict create suspense and maintain the reader's interest in...

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:08:52 PST

How does conflict create suspense and maintain the reader's interest in "The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank Stockton?

With an ironic tone, Frank R. Stockton narrates his "The Lady or the...

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:53:01 PST

With an ironic tone, Frank R. Stockton narrates his "The Lady or the Tiger?" This tone is used by Stockton to describe his unpleasant "semibarbaric king," thus forcing readers to realize how bad the king really is. For instance, Stockton writes, Among his borrowed notion was that of the public arena, in which, by exhibitions of manly and beastly valor, the minds of his subjects were refined and cultured. But, the reader learns the the...

List one or 2 adjectives to describe the tone of "The Lady or the Tiger"...

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:14:12 PST

List one or 2 adjectives to describe the tone of "The Lady or the Tiger" and explain your choice.

If the tiger comes out of the same door in the ampitheatre each time,...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:44:38 PST

If the tiger comes out of the same door in the ampitheatre each time, the element of chance is removed--the "justice" of the semibarbaric king--and the person on trial will know which one to pick in order to keep from dying. And, it is this element of chance that entertains the people who attend, as well. Indeed,without this element of uncertainly, the main point of the story is lost. For, the author, Frank R. Stockton, creates suspense...

Does the tiger come out of the same door in each trial?

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:05:23 PST

Does the tiger come out of the same door in each trial?

The lady came out.

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:04:16 PST

The lady came out.

The author himself didn't actually think it was fair, he was being ironic

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 20:17:26 PST

The author himself didn't actually think it was fair, he was being ironic

This love affair moved on happily for many months, until one day the...

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:05:52 PST

This love affair moved on happily for many months, until one day the king happened to discover its existence. He did not hesitate nor waver in regard to his duty. The youth was immediately cast into prison, and a day was appointed for his trail in the king's arena. The young man--a mere "subject" of the kingdom--has dared to love the daughter of the semi-barbaric king of "The Lady, or the Tiger?" In addition to his audacity, the young...

For what crime is the young man accused and how does the princess...

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:57:08 PST

For what crime is the young man accused and how does the princess signal her love when he is in the arena?

the king is gently and genial

Mon, 6 Apr 2009 05:21:37 PST

the king is gently and genial

I agree with the first post...it really all depends on how you see life....

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:10:44 PST

I agree with the first post...it really all depends on how you see life. For me, I think it depends on what day it is. I want to hope that it is the Lady, but I often find myself looking for that tiger. I think the story, written in 1882 is certainly a precursor to the Modernist movement, as this type of literature expressed the unknowable nature of the future. For modernist writers, life could not be tied up in a neat bow. Frank Stocton,...

This is a very interesting question. The concept of who or what comes...

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:25:14 PST

This is a very interesting question. The concept of who or what comes through the door the Courtier chooses is a statement of the reader's attitude on life. An optimist might say the lady comes through the door, and his life will be saved. The pessimist might say the tiger comes through the door and rips the young man to pieces. The belief in fate is important in this question because if the tiger comes through the door one might believe...

This question is best answered by examining the details of the story as...

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:25:14 PST

This question is best answered by examining the details of the story as presented by the author. The young man chooses to go to the door that the princess pointed him towards. This begs the question: is the Princess the type of woman who loves enough to let her lover marry another? or is she jealous enough to prefer that her lover die than be with another? The father of this princess is described by the narrator as "semi-barbaric" -...