THE LADY OR THE TIGER
IMPORTANT ANSWERS FOR BOARD EXAMS
ADDITIONAL ENGLISH FOR CLASS-X
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1. What is the setting of the
story?
The story is set in a
semi-barbaric kingdom ruled by a king. The king has created an arena where
justice is determined by chance — the accused must choose between two doors,
one hiding a tiger and the other hiding a lady.
2. What is the king’s method
of justice?
The king’s method involves an
arena with two doors. The accused must choose one door. Behind one door is a
fierce tiger that will kill them if released, symbolizing guilt. Behind the
other door is a beautiful lady chosen as a reward for innocence. The accused person's
fate is decided entirely by chance.
3. Who is the princess, and
what is her role in the story?
The princess is the king’s
daughter. She is deeply in love with a young man, but he is of lower social
status, which angers her father. When the young man is put on trial in the
arena, the princess secretly discovers what lies behind each door.
4. Why is the young man put on
trial?
The young man is put on trial
because he dares to love the princess, which the king views as an offense due
to his lower social rank.
5. How does the princess feel
about the trial?
The princess is conflicted. She
loves the young man deeply and does not want him to die. However, she is
jealous of the lady chosen as his potential bride, fearing that he might marry
and love her instead.
6. What choice does the young
man have to make in the arena?
The young man must choose between
two doors without knowing what lies behind them. One door conceals the tiger,
and the other conceals the lady.
7. How does the princess
influence the young man’s decision?
The princess discreetly signals
to the young man which door to choose. The story leaves it unclear whether she
directs him to the tiger or the lady.
8. What is the dilemma the
princess faces?
The princess must decide whether
to let the young man live and marry another woman (which she cannot bear) or
let him die at the hands of the tiger (which is equally unbearable for her).
9. What is the ending of the
story?
The story ends ambiguously. The
author does not reveal what lies behind the door the young man chooses, leaving
the readers to decide whether it was the lady or the tiger.
10. What themes does the story
explore?
The story explores themes such
as:
- Barbarism vs. Civilization: The king’s
justice system is a blend of cruelty and fairness, reflecting both
barbaric and civilized traits.
- Love and Jealousy: The princess's love for
the young man is complicated by her jealousy of the lady.
- Fate and Free Will: The young man’s choice
seems like free will, but it is ultimately influenced by the princess and
fate.
- Ambiguity of Human Nature: The story
highlights the complexities of human emotions and decisions.
11. Why does the author leave
the story unresolved?
The unresolved ending forces
readers to think about human nature and emotions. It challenges them to
question whether jealousy or love is stronger, and what they themselves would
choose in such a situation.
12. What do the two doors
symbolize?
The doors symbolize choices in
life that come with uncertainty. They also represent the duality of human
emotions — love and hate, hope and despair.
13. What is meant by "poetic justice"? How is the king an agent of poetic justice?
Poetic Justice means a
situation where virtue is rewarded, and vice or wrongdoing is punished in a way
that seems particularly fitting or deserved. It ensures that the outcome aligns
with the characters' actions or moral choices.
In "The Lady or the
Tiger?", the king is seen as an agent of poetic justice because his
system of justice involves the accused choosing their own fate. Through the
arena, the king ensures that punishment or reward is left to chance, which he
believes balances fairness and entertainment. However, this system reflects the
king's belief in poetic justice, as the choice of door symbolizes the
consequences of one's actions and character, even if the results are
unpredictable.
14. What do you think came out
of the door which the princess had indicated to her lover? Give reasons.
The conclusion of The Lady, or
the Tiger? by Frank Stockton remains deliberately ambiguous, leaving
readers to decide whether the princess chose the door with the lady or the
tiger. To analyze this neutrally, we must consider the princess's character and
the emotions influencing her decision.
The princess is described as
passionate, proud, and deeply in love with the young man on trial. She is also
possessive and jealous. These traits create a powerful conflict within her:
- If she chose the lady: This would save the
young man's life but at the cost of her own heartbreak, as he would marry
another woman—a rival she despises. This option demonstrates selflessness,
putting his survival above her feelings.
- If she chose the tiger: This ensures he
cannot belong to anyone else, even if it means his death. Such a choice
would be driven by jealousy and the idea that if she cannot have him, no
one else should either.
Both outcomes align with
different aspects of her personality, making the decision unclear. Stockton's
intent was to provoke thought rather than provide an answer, highlighting the
complexity of human emotions. Whether the princess chose the lady or the tiger
depends on how readers interpret her love, jealousy, and sense of justice. The
story's brilliance lies in this unresolved tension.
15. Describe the character of
the King in the story "The Lady or the Tiger".
The King in "The Lady or
the Tiger?" by Frank R. Stockton is portrayed as a semi-barbaric ruler
who is both powerful and eccentric. He has a strong sense of authority and
enjoys having complete control over his kingdom. His ideas of justice are
unusual and cruel, as he uses an arena for trials where the accused must choose
between two doors: one hiding a fierce tiger and the other a lady who becomes
their bride. This system reflects his love for spectacle and his belief in
chance as a fair form of justice.
The King is also proud and
self-assured, convinced that his methods are the best. Despite his barbaric
tendencies, he shows intelligence and creativity in designing the arena and its
dramatic trials. Overall, he is a character who combines strength, arrogance,
and a peculiar sense of fairness, embodying the story's theme of human
unpredictability.
16. Describe the character of
the Princess in the story "The Lady or the Tiger".
The princess in Frank Stockton's
story "The Lady, or the Tiger?" is a complex and passionate
character. She is the daughter of a semi-barbaric king and has inherited her
father's fiery temperament. Deeply in love with a young man of lower status,
she is intelligent, determined, and fiercely emotional. However, her feelings
are not purely noble. When her lover is forced to choose between two doors—one
hiding a tiger that will kill him, and the other concealing a beautiful lady he
would be obliged to marry—the princess faces an intense internal conflict.
She knows what lies behind each
door because of her cunning and resourcefulness. However, her emotions are torn
between her love for the young man and her jealousy of the lady behind the
other door, whom she despises. The princess's struggle highlights her dual
nature—capable of love but also driven by possessiveness and pride. Her final
decision, whether to save her lover or doom him, is left ambiguous, making her
one of the story's most intriguing and morally ambiguous characters.
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