“The Lady, or the Tiger?” is a short story by Frank Stockton first published in the magazine The Century in 1882. The humorous tale is short and depicts an ancient kingdom with a bizarre form of justice. Stockton’s story was immediately popular and has since been translated into many languages. It is a story that presents an unsolvable ending, which broke from traditional storytelling at the time of its publication. A classic of American literature, this humorous story provides a metaphoric lens into our own lives, our jealousies, and our sense of justice.

Summary

Read our full plot summary of “The Lady, or the Tiger?”

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in “The Lady, or the Tiger?” and in-depth analyses of the king, and the princess.

Literary Devices

Here's where you will find analysis of the key literary devices in “The Lady, or the Tiger?”

Quotes

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Deeper Study

Enhance your understanding of “The Lady, or the Tiger?” by learning more about Frank R. Stockton and historical and literary context for the story.