The Lady, or the Tiger? Study Guide
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Themes
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Characters
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Analysis
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Critical Essays
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Quotes
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Questions & Answers
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Introduction
The Lady, or the Tiger?: Biography of Francis Richard Stockton
Introduction to The Lady, or the Tiger?
“The Lady, or the Tiger?” is a short story by Frank R. Stockton that was first published in the Century in 1882. It is Stockton’s most famous work, and it has been a popular choice for inclusion in short story anthologies since its publication. The story first introduces a “semi-barbaric” king who has implemented a unique form of justice within his kingdom: if the king believes that someone has committed a crime, they are placed in an arena and forced to choose blindly between two identical doors. Behind one door is a beautiful lady who will promptly become the accused’s wife; behind the other door is a tiger. “The Lady, or the Tiger?” is notable for its departure from the traditional structure of narrative fiction. Though the events of the story are presented in an almost fairy-tale-like manner, the ending proposes a thought experiment, asking readers to decide the outcome of the story based on the information provided.
A Brief Biography of Francis Richard Stockton
Francis Richard Stockton (1834–1902) was an American writer who enjoyed considerable popularity during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Stockton was born the son of a conservative minister, who heavily discouraged his son’s literary aspirations. It was only after his father died that Stockton truly began writing in earnest. His stories were often humorous, whimsical affairs, combining folkloric traditions with philosophical or societal conundrums. His best known work, the short story “The Lady, or The Tiger?”, is a prime example of Stockton’s blend of seriousness and irreverence. Stockton’s narrative style and unique approach to communicating with his readers has occasionally drawn comparisons to fellow contemporary author and humorist Mark Twain.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Lady, or the Tiger?
The Lady, or the Tiger?
In what ways is the princess similar to her father?
The princess in the story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" is described as having a "soul as fervent and imperious" as her "semi-barbaric" father, who is depicted as a rather cruel and unusual ruler. He...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
What is the tone of "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
Frank Stockton adopts a tongue-in-cheek tone in "The Lady, or the Tiger?" Tongue-in-cheek writing pretends to be straight-faced and sincere, but it is really joking and ironic. Stockton's narrator,...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Why is the princess's internal conflict so central to the story?
The princess's internal conflict is instrumental in developing various themes in "The Lady, or the Tiger?" The anguish the princess experiences leading up to the decision demonstrates the...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Which sentence from "The Lady, or the Tiger?" is an example of building suspense?
A sentence that builds suspense is one that grabs readers' attention and provides an indication of the action that is to follow without divulging all of the details. An example of such a sentence...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Which character in "The Lady, Or the Tiger?" faces a moral dilemma?
It is the princess, the king's daughter, who faces a moral dilemma in this story. Her lover, a handsome young courtier of low social status, is being tested in her father's arena. The young man has...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
How is justice dealt under the king's rule?
Under the king's rule, justice is dealt in a rather macabre fashion that leaves the allegedly guilty party's fate up to chance. Anyone believed by the "semi-barbaric" king to be guilty of a crime...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Why does the princess hate the lady behind the door?
The princess's hatred toward the lady behind the door stems from jealousy and envy. In Stockton's short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" a semi-barbaric king discovers that his daughter, the...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
How did the princess learn the secret of the doors?
After the king discovers that his daughter is having an affair with a handsome courtier, he sentences the the young man to stand trial in the arena, where he will have the opportunity to determine...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
What does the phrase "grievous reveries" mean?
The narrator says that the princess indulges in "grievous reveries" concerning the possibilities for her lover. She knows that behind one door of her father's barbaric arena, a tiger waits to maul...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Why doesn't the king approve of the youth's love for his daughter?
The king's only child, his daughter, is the "apple of his eye ... loved by him above all humanity," as her personality is quite similar to the king's and she is also very beautiful. The young man...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
How is the king "semi-barbaric"?
Stockton's narrator is being humorous when he says that the completely barbarous king is "semi-barbarous." Stockton uses the term "semi-barbarous" to refer to the ruthless way the king runs his...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
What is the irony in "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
The irony in "The Lady, or the Tiger?" is that whatever the princess decides, she loses. Specifically, regardless of which door she signals to her lover to open, she still will lose her beloved...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
What is the moral of "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
The moral of "The Lady, or the Tiger?" is communicated in a subtle way. The author ends the story before revealing which door the princess chooses, thus leaving it up to the reader to decide...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Which piece of textual evidence best reveals the lose-lose reality of the king's arena?
It seems pretty clear that the accused person choosing the wrong door, the one behind which waits a bloodthirsty tiger that is eager to gobble him up, is a losing choice. However, behind the other...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
What two emotions is the princess torn between?
The princess is torn between fear and jealousy. Thanks to her father's barbaric principles of justice, her beloved must enter an arena with two doors leading from it. The courtier will be required...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Why might Stockton have left the ending of his story ambiguous?
There are several reasons why Stockton might have left the end of "The Lady, or the Tiger?" ambiguous. Perhaps one of the clearest reasons is to stimulate discussion and controversy among readers....
The Lady, or the Tiger?
What does Stockton mean by "poetic justice"?
Poetic justice, generally speaking, refers to the reception of an appropriate or deserved retribution for one's actions. There's a sense, with poetic justice, that a person gets what they deserved,...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Who is the main character in "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
The "semi-barbaric king" is arguably the main character in the story, as he's the one responsible for establishing the grim punishment referred to in the title. It was his idea to build a large...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
What does the tiger symbolize in "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
The tiger symbolizes vengeance, or the savagery at the heart of human nature. In the story, the prisoner must choose a door. Behind one door lies a tiger and certain death; behind the other lies a...
The Lady, or the Tiger?
How does "The Lady, Or the Tiger?" end?
Stockton's short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" has an open ending, and the reader is left to decide whether or not the "semi-barbaric" princess directs her lover toward the door with the lady or...
