Chapter 7

THE LADY OR THE TIGER?


ACTIVITY 1: COMPREHENSION:

A. Choose the correct alternative from the options given below:

1. The king was full of

(a) wisdom

(b) emotions

(c) fancies

(d) good manners

Answer: (a) wisdom


3.The king was happy when

(a) things went right

(b) things went wrong

(c) people came with suggestions

(d) people gave him gifts

Answer: (b) things went wrong


3.The princess loved the youngman who was

(a) equal to her in status

(b) above her in status

(c) below her in status

(d) a semibarbaric fellow

Answer: (c) below her in status


4.The princess loved the youngman who was

(a) equal to her in status

(b) above her in status

(c) below her in status

(d) a semibarbaric fellow

Answer: c) below her in statu



. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each:

1. How was the king different from his neighbours?

Answer: The king was different from his neighbours because he was semi-barbaric. He had a strong will, loved justice in his own way, and followed his whims and fancies rather than established laws. He created a unique system of justice that reflected his personality.


2. Why was the king happy when things went wrong?

Answer: The king was happy when things went wrong because he enjoyed the excitement and uncertainty of his system of justice. His arena provided dramatic entertainment, and he felt satisfied when justice was carried out—whether the accused was eaten or rewarded.


3.How did the king use the arena?

Answer: The king used the arena as a public courtroom for justice. The accused would have to choose between two doors: behind one was a fierce tiger (representing guilt), and behind the other was a lady (representing innocence). The outcome was left to chance, and this system was considered fair in his eyes.


4. If the accused chose the door with the tiger what happened? How did the people react?

Answer: If the accused chose the door with the tiger, he would be immediately devoured, symbolizing guilt. The people would react with horror and excitement, treating it as thrilling entertainment rather than a tragic event.


5. If the accused chose the door with the lady, what happened? How did the people react?

Answer: If the accused chose the door with the lady, he was declared innocent and was instantly married to her, regardless of his personal wishes. The people would react with cheers and celebration, treating it as a joyful and just outcome.


D. Answer the following questions in about 60 words each:

1. Describe the character of the princess.

Answer: The princess was passionate, strong-willed, and semi-barbaric like her father. She deeply loved the young man but also felt intense jealousy and pride. Her inner conflict between love and hatred showed her complex nature. Though intelligent and brave, she struggled with emotions like jealousy, making her capable of both great love and possible cruelty.


2. Why was the audience surprised when the young man entered the arena?

Answer: The audience was surprised because the young man walked into the arena calmly and confidently, showing no fear. They expected hesitation or dread, but he showed trust in the princess’s signal. His composed behavior created suspense and made the crowd even more eager to see the outcome of his choice between the two mysterious doors.


3. What had the princess discovered about the doors?

Answer: The princess, driven by love and jealousy, had secretly discovered which door held the tiger and which held the lady. She used her influence and cleverness to uncover the secret so she could guide her lover's fate. Her discovery gave her power over life and death, placing her in a deeply emotional and moral dilemma.


4. What did the princess feel when she imagined her lover opening the door that hid the tiger?

Answer: She was filled with fear, grief, and horror. The thought of the man she loved being torn apart by a wild beast was unbearable. It brought intense emotional pain, and her heart ached at the possibility of such a brutal end. It showed the depth of her love, but also the cruelty of the situation.


5. What did she feel when she imagined her lover opening the door that hid the lady?

Answer: She felt intense jealousy and rage at the thought of her lover marrying another woman. The lady was someone the princess hated, and imagining the young man happily living with her forever was more painful than death. Her feelings showed how her love was mixed with possessiveness and pride, making her decision even more complex.


6. "The princess had enough barbarism in her that their love affair was dramatic?

Answer: The princess inherited her father’s semi-barbaric nature, which made her passionate and intense in love. She did not love mildly—her emotions were fierce. This barbaric streak added drama to the affair, especially when she had to choose between love and jealousy. Her emotional conflict made the story thrilling and tragic, filled with suspense and passion.


7. How could the princess find the secret of the doors?

Answer:  The princess was powerful, determined, and clever. She also had plenty of influence and gold at her disposal. Using these resources—and likely a bit of bribery or persuasion—she did what no one had ever done before: she found out the secret of the doors.

Her strong will and passionate nature drove her to uncover which door hid the tiger and which held the lady. Though the exact method is not explained, it is clear that her power, influence, force of character, and wealth enabled her to gain this forbidden knowledge.


8. Comment on the king's method of dealing out justice.

Answer:  The king’s method of dealing out justice was semibarbaric and based entirely on chance. Instead of investigating the truth or considering the circumstances of the crime, he left a person’s fate to luck—they had to choose between two identical doors: behind one was a hungry tiger (death), and behind the other was a beautiful lady (marriage).

While the king believed this system was fair and poetic, in reality, it was cruel and unpredictable. It ignored justice and replaced it with spectacle and entertainment. The accused could be innocent and still be killed, or guilty and rewarded. The system showed more about the king’s love for drama, control, and personal amusement than a genuine desire for justice.



9. What do you think came out of the opened door the lady or the tiger? Give reasons.

Answer: This question is intentionally left open-ended by the author, but if I had to decide based on the princess’s personality and emotions, I believe the tiger came out of the door.

Here’s why:

  1. She was semibarbaric – Like her father, the princess had a fierce and passionate nature. Her heart was not ruled only by love, but also by jealousy and pride.

  2. She hated the lady – The maiden behind the other door was beautiful and admired. The princess had seen her talking and laughing with her lover before. The idea of her lover marrying this woman filled her with rage and heartbreak.

  3. She had already lost him either way – Whether he died or married someone else, he would no longer be hers. In that moment, her jealousy may have overpowered her love.

  4. Her internal struggle was intense – The story describes how she had imagined both outcomes in painful detail, but her strongest reactions seemed to be toward the image of him happily marrying another woman.