The Lady, or the Tiger? by Frank Stockton (Pre-Intermediate)

Pre-Intermediate

story

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived a semi-barbaric king. His ideas were somewhat influenced by his progressive neighbors, but he still held on to his wild and grand ways. The king was a man of great imagination and had the power to turn his dreams into reality. He loved making decisions and when he did, they were final.

One of the king's most peculiar ideas was the construction of a grand arena, where he administered justice in a very unique way. When someone was accused of a crime that caught the king's interest, the accused had to appear in this arena. Here, their fate was decided by pure chance, in a manner that the king believed to be perfectly fair.

In the arena, there were two identical doors. Behind one door was a fierce tiger, the most terrifying creature that could be found. If the accused opened this door, the tiger would immediately leap out and devour them as punishment for their crime. Behind the other door was a beautiful lady, chosen to be a perfect match for the accused. If this door was opened, the accused would be instantly married to the lady as a reward for their innocence. The king loved this method because it was a blend of justice and entertainment.

One day, a young man who was deeply in love with the king's daughter was thrown into prison. The king had discovered their secret love affair and was furious, for no commoner should dare to love the princess. The king decided that the young man's fate would be decided in the arena.

The princess loved the young man dearly. She was as beautiful as her father's wildest dreams and just as fierce. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him. She used all her power and influence to find out what lay behind each door. She discovered which door hid the tiger and which concealed the lady. But this knowledge put her in a terrible dilemma because the lady behind the door was one of the fairest maidens in the kingdom, and the princess hated her. This maiden had often smiled at her beloved, and the princess was consumed with jealousy and rage.

The day of the trial arrived, and the arena was filled with people eager to witness the outcome. The king sat on his throne, and next to him was the anxious princess. The young man stepped into the arena, looking brave and handsome. He bowed to the king, but his eyes were fixed on the princess, who he knew would decide his fate.

He looked at her, and she, knowing his fate was in her hands, made a quick motion with her right hand, indicating the door to the right. The young man trusted her completely and moved towards the door she had indicated. He grasped the handle and pulled the door open.

Now, dear reader, here lies the heart of the story: Did the tiger come out, or did the lady?

Imagine the princess's feelings. If her beloved chose the door with the tiger, he would be torn to pieces, and she would never see him again. But if he chose the door with the lady, he would be married to another woman, and she would lose him forever to her rival. Which fate did she choose for him?

As the door swung open, everyone held their breath. The young man’s fate, and the princess's choice, were about to be revealed.

What do you think happened next? Did the fierce tiger leap out, or did the beautiful lady step forward?

And so, I leave it to you to decide. Which came out of the opened door – the lady, or the tiger?

 

Words and Idioms

Study it with Flashcard

https://quizlet.com/kr/927502709/the-lady-or-the-tiger-by-frank-stockton-flash-cards/?i=3en6ue&x=1qqt

 

semi-barbaric (adjective) - partially uncivilized and wild

progressive (adjective) - favoring or promoting change or innovation

peculiar (adjective) - strange or unusual

arena (noun) - a central stage for public entertainment or events

accused (adjective) - charged with a crime or wrongdoing

pure chance (phrase) - completely by random luck

fierce (adjective) - very strong or violent

devour (verb) - to eat hungrily or quickly

concealed (verb) - hidden or kept secret

reward (noun) - something given in return for a good deed or behavior

blend (noun) - a mixture of different things or qualities

commoner (noun) - an ordinary person without rank or title

consumed (verb) - to be completely absorbed or engaged

indicating (verb) - pointing out or showing something

grasped (verb) - seized and held firmly

swung open (idiom) - to open quickly and widely

held their breath (idiom) - to wait in suspense

partially (adverb) - only in part; to a limited extent

innovation (noun) - the introduction of new ideas or methods

imposing (adjective) - impressive in appearance or manner

magnificent (adjective) - extremely beautiful and grand

mixture (noun) - a combination of different things

undesirable (adjective) - not wanted or desirable

absorbed (verb) - deeply interested or involved

seized (verb) - taken hold of suddenly and forcibly

wait in suspense (idiom) - to wait anxiously and with uncertainty

Questions

1. What was the purpose of the king's arena?

a) To entertain the people with gladiator fights

b) To administer justice through a system of chance

c) To train soldiers for the army

d) To hold royal celebrations

 

2. Who was in love with the princess?

a) A brave knight from a neighboring kingdom

b) The king's advisor

c) A young man of lower station in the kingdom

d) A wandering minstrel

 

3. Why did the king disapprove of the princess's love for the young man?

a) He wanted her to marry a prince

b) The young man was not of royal blood

c) The young man had committed a crime

d) The king had never met the young man

 

4. What did the princess do to find out what was behind each door?

a) She asked the king directly

b) She used her power and influence

c) She guessed based on the situation

d) She bribed the guards

 

5. What does the tiger symbolize in the story?

a) Love and happiness

b) Danger and punishment

c) Wisdom and guidance

d) Wealth and prosperity

 

6. What does the arena represent in the story?

a) The king's love for his people

b) The unpredictability of life

c) The princess's power

d) The beauty of the kingdom

 

Short Writing Topics

 

1. Imagine you are the princess. Write a diary entry about how you felt knowing your lover's fate depended on your choice.

2. Describe what you think happened after the young man opened the door. Did the lady or the tiger come out? Explain your reasoning.

3. Write a letter from the perspective of the young man to the princess, describing his thoughts and feelings as he stepped into the arena.

Answer Keys

b) To administer justice through a system of chance

c) A young man of lower station in the kingdom

b) The young man was not of royal blood

b) She used her power and influence

b) Danger and punishment

b) The unpredictability of life

Sample Writing

1. Today has been the hardest day of my life. My love was forced to face the cruel test of the arena, and his fate was in my hands. I used all my power to discover what lay behind each door. I knew which one concealed the tiger and which the lady. My heart ached with jealousy and fear. As I signaled to him, I hoped he would trust me. I had to choose between letting him marry another or face a horrible death. I made my choice quickly, but I am haunted by the uncertainty. Did I do the right thing? Only time will tell.

2. As the young man opened the door to the right, a hush fell over the crowd. Everyone held their breath, including the princess, who was on the edge of her seat. The door creaked open, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, to the relief of many and the horror of others, a beautiful lady stepped out, radiant and smiling. The crowd erupted in cheers, and the young man, though confused, quickly embraced his new bride. The princess's heart shattered, knowing she had saved his life but lost him forever. The king smiled, satisfied with the outcome, while the princess's secret pain remained unseen.

3. My Dearest Princess,

As I stood in the arena today, my heart was filled with both hope and fear. Seeing you there gave me strength, knowing you held the key to my fate. Your signal directed me, and I trusted you completely. As I opened the door, my mind raced with thoughts of our love and what the future might hold. When the lady emerged, I was relieved but also heartbroken, knowing I would never be yours. I will forever cherish our moments together and the love we shared. Your courage and sacrifice will always be in my heart.

With eternal love,

Your devoted admirer

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