The Lady or the Tiger

Frank Stockton, author of The Lady or the Tiger?
* 1834- 1902.
* American author, born in Philedelphia.
* Writer in the 1860's. First published book in 1867.
* Wrote for children as well as for adults.
* The Lady or the Tiger? was written in 1882.


Vocabulary
1. barbaric: without civilizing influences; uncivilized; primitive
2. florid: reddish; ruddy; rosy
3. untrammeled: not limited or restricted; unrestrained
4. exuberant: effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic; lavishly abundant
5. withal: in spite of all; nevertheless
6. genial: warmly and pleasantly cheerful; cordial
7. orbs: a sphere or globe
8. asserted: resting on a statement or claim unsupported by evidence or proof; alleged
9. rhapsodies: Music. an instrumental composition irregular in form and suggestive of improvisation
10. barleycorn: barley

Vocabulary:
1. will: wish or desire
2. valour: boldness or determination in facing great danger
3. poetic justice: an ideal distribution of rewards and punishments
4. wails: a wailing cry, as of grief, pain or despair
5. mourners: a person who grieves a death
6. dire: terrible or calamitous circumstances
7. fate: that which is inevitably predetermined, destiny
8. fair: free from blemish, imperfection, or anything that impairs the appearance, quality, or character
9. choristers: members of a singing choir
10. maidens: an unmarried girl or woman
11. the apple of his eye: something, or someone, cherished above others
12. unsurpassed: something that is the best, and cannot be improved
13. startling: surprising, alarming and unexpected
14. damsels: a young woman or girl; a maiden, originally one of gentle or noble birth
15. glances: a quick or brief look
16. mazes: something that is made up of confusing and compex elements
17. fangs: any of the canine teeth of a carnivorous animal with which it seizes and tears it's prey
18. gnashed: grinding teeth with anticipation and nervousness
19. shriek: a loud, sharp, shrill cry
20. anguished: feeling great mental pain/disconfort while facing a conundrum



Question:
What advice would you give the lover boy and why?

I would tell the lover boy to chose the door that the princess did not point to. He should aknowledge the princess' barbarism and her strong feelings of hate and jealousy. The princess seemed to be more torn up about the idea of seeing him happy with the maiden (whom she does not like) rather than seeing him dead. Jealousy is a feeling that can often push ones proper sense of judgement to the side and I believe that the princess' judgement would have been influenced by her jealousy.