The Lady, or the Tiger?
The Lady, or the Tiger? is a classic short story by Frank R. Stockton. It tells the story of a barbaric king who has devised a unique form of justice. When someone is accused of a crime, they are placed in an arena and presented with two doors. Behind one door is a beautiful woman, and behind the other is a ferocious tiger. The accused must choose one of the doors, and whatever is behind it will determine their fate. The story follows the story of a young man who is accused of a crime and must face the king's justice. He is presented with the two doors, and must choose one. The story follows his thoughts and emotions as he contemplates his fate, and the suspense builds as the reader is left to wonder which door he will choose. In the end, the reader is left to decide the fate of the young man, and the story ends with the question: "Which came out of the opened door—the lady, or the tiger?"
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1882 · Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery · 2,705 words
First lines
In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king, whose ideas, though somewhat polished and sharpened by the progressiveness of distant Latin neighbors, were still large, florid, and untrammeled, as became the half of him which was barbaric. 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 anything, the thing was done. When every member of his domestic and political systems moved smoothly in its appointed course, his nature was bland and genial; but, whenever there was a little hitch, and some of his orbs got out of their orbits, he was blander and more genial still, for nothing pleased him so much as to make the crooked straight and crush down uneven places.
What this Textopian page supports
The Lady, or the Tiger? is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1882 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1882 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Adventure
- Length: 2,705 words
- Structure: 1 section, 75 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lady, or the Tiger? by Frank R. Stockton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Lady, or the Tiger??
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Spectre Bridegroom by William Hunt
- The Pearl Of Love by H. G. Wells
- The Fates Laugh by Gilbert Parker
- The Bride by M. P. Shiel
- The Golden Rose by Fred M. White
Genres
- Fantasy — The Lady, or the Tiger? is a fantasy story that features a mysterious and magical door with two unknown outcomes.
- Romance — The Lady, or the Tiger? is a romantic story that follows the journey of a young man who must choose between two potential lovers.
- Mystery — The Lady, or the Tiger? is a mystery story that keeps readers guessing until the very end as to which fate awaits the protagonist.
- Adventure — The Lady, or the Tiger? is an adventure story that follows the protagonist's journey as he faces the unknown and makes a daring decision.
Tags
choice · love · jealousy · suspense · moral dilemma · fate · society · gender roles · storytelling · ambiguity · human nature · adventure