What literary terms apply to "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
A literary term/technique that dominates Frank Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?" is irony of situation and oxymoron. Clearly, there is a sharp contrast between the descriptions of characters and their actions and words, and the use of oxymoron in Stockton's phrasing. For instance, in the exposition of the story, the king is described as "semi-barbaric," a term which of itself is contradictory. Then, this king who has "perfect justice" is described as self-communing--"when he and himself agreed upon anything" it was done. Stockton continues his irony, narrating that when
every member of his domestic and political systems moved smoothly in its appointed course, his nature was bland and genial still, [but when]some of his orbs got out of their orbits, he was blander and genial still
as he punishes his subjects in his "barbaric idealism" [oxymoron] through the use of his vast ampitheatre that is
an agent of poetic justice...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
in which crime was punished...by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance
that is attended by the subjects who are "refined" and "cultured."
Some literary devices, which are defined by literary terms that permit discussion of small parts of a narrative, that occur in "The Lady, or the Tiger?" are setting, point of view, stock characters. The setting is according to fairy tale convention and is a kingdom with no time or location overtly specified. The point of view is that of a third person omniscient narrator: a narrator who is not a character in the story and who can see everything and know what every character is feeling and thinking and what every character's motives are, though perhaps not everything is told to the reader. Stock characters feature prominently in fairy tales.
"The Lady, or the Tiger?" includes the stock characters of the mean and hateful king; the beautiful princess who is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside; the lowly but handsome suitor whose goodness wins the princesses heart. One literary device is missing from "The Lady, or the Tiger?" This device is called a literary element because it is in theory common to all stories, as opposed to techniques like symbolism that authors pick and choose among. The literary element that is missing is the resolution. Since the reader is never informed by the narrator as to what lies behind the door, the story cannot reach its final end, called its resolution.
What literary elements are used in Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?"
Frank R. Stockton's "The Lady, or the Tiger?" is considered a tale rather than a story because it approaches allegory with characters who are more representative than real, and it is written in a mannered style, with the elemental human emotions of love and hate and self-preservation developed in the narrative.
This tale also contains irony and ambiguity, elements of satire. As the narrative begins whimsically as though it were a fairy tale, the king is described in what one critic calls "biblical language" that is also political satire.
He was a man of exuberant fancy, and, withal, of an authority so irresistible that, at his will, he turned his varied fancies into facts. He was greatly given to self-communing; and when he and himself agreed upon any thing, the thing was done.
Another example of satire is in this description of the subjects' minds being "refined and cultured" by semi-barbaric exhibitions:
Among the borrowed notion by which his barbarism had become semified was that of the public arena, in which, by exhibitions of manly and beastly valor, the minds of his subjects were refined and cultured.
The narrator uses verbal irony as he describes the king's nature as "bland and genial" and then "blander and more genial still" if there were a "little hitch, and some of his orbs got out of their orbits." Certainly, putting people to death is not done by someone whose nature is "bland and genial." The phrase "Little hitch" is hyperbolic (an obvious exaggeration) since the king's "orbs got out of their orbits," meaning things were not going as he wanted. Also, this brutal king would not consider something which does not work out as he desires as a "little hitch."
Francis R. Stockton uses point of view, verbal irony and ambiguity, among other devices, to tell a story worthy for all literary or writing classes to read and discuss throughout the ages. First, the story is written from a 3rd person, omniscient narrator who describes the thoughts and motivations of the characters. This perspective gives the audience understanding into the thoughts, feelings, and personality of any character. Next, one of the best lines that shows verbal irony is when the king's understanding of his system of justice is announced as "It's perfect fairness is obvious." Clearly, the system is obviously not fair because the punishments do not fit the crimes of those placed in the arena. This line helps to provide tension in the story. Finally, the reader is left with an ambiguous ending that leaves him/her hanging or wondering what the outcome really was. Using this device allows the author to leave a question in the reader's head that must be thought about in a deep way, thereby bringing power to the text and story.