Transcript American History - Mrs. Anderson's Classroom

“The Lady, or the Tiger”
by Frank R. Stockton
Page 360
2007 COS – 2c
2010 COS –
AHSGE – R.IV.2
Alabama Reading Initiative – Vocabulary Development;
Reading Comprehension
Literary Skills – Understand ambiguity
Reading Skills – Make inferences about character motivation
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Literary Focus: Ambiguity
Ambiguity is the quality that allows something to
be interpreted in several ways. Ambiguity in a
story
• allows for conflicting interpretations
• adds complexity
• makes the story seem more like real life
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Reading Skills: Making Inferences About Motivation
When you read an ambiguous story, you may
need to make inferences, or educated guesses,
about the characters’ motivation. Think about
• what the narrator tells you about the
characters
• what the characters do or say
• what you know about the way people act and
think
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Reading Skills: Making Inferences About Motivation
As you read “The Lady, or the Tiger?” pay
close attention to the king’s daughter.
• Think about how her motives relate to other
characters.
• Make inferences about the reasons for her
behavior.
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
exuberant adj.: elaborate; extreme; also, highspirited.
genial adj.: cheerful and friendly.
impartial adj.: fair; unbiased.
allegiance n.: loyalty.
procured v.: gotten; obtained.
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Vocabulary
Previewing the Vocabulary
dire adj.: terrible.
retribution n.: punishment.
fervent adj.: passionate.
aspiring v. used as n.: seeking to gain; desiring.
deliberation n.: careful thought, especially in
making a decision.
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Vocabulary
Vocabulary Activity: Using Context Clues
Use context clues to complete each sentence.
procured
genial
aspiring
retribution
retribution they were
1. The cheaters had to face _________;
suspended for three weeks.
genial
2. Our instructors are _________
and pleasant.
Aspiring
3. _________
to finish college, she enrolled again and
studied several hours every day.
procured tickets. The
4. It is too late if you haven’t yet _________
performance is sold out.
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Quickwrite
Make the Connection
Did you ever have to make a choice between
something that was good for you and something
that was good for someone you cared about? Are
you glad that you chose as you did? Jot down your
thoughts about making this choice.
The Lady, or the Tiger?
Background
During the Middle Ages an accused person’s guilt
or innocence was often determined by a trial by
ordeal. If the person was not hurt during a
physical test, it was believed the accused was
saved from harm by God and
was therefore innocent.
Those who were injured or
killed were viewed as guilty.
In this story, justice is
determined in a similar way.
While Reading
1. Why is the young man put on trial in the king’s
arena?
2. Describe the princess. In what ways is she
similar to her father?
3. What motivates the princess to learn the secret
of the doors?
4. Why does the young man choose the door on
the right?
5. What is the outcome of the young man’s choice?
Activity
• What do you think is behind the door the young
man opens: the lady or the tiger? Consider these
factors and support your answer with evidence
from the story: the character of the princess, the
princess’s motivation, and clues in the narrator’s
description of the princess’s thoughts and
behavior.
• Write a sequel to this story. Your sequel should be
at least ½ page long.