Lady or The Tiger Dilemma

Do you remember a time when you had to make a choice and each option was equally unpleasant? In literature, dilemmas form the central conflict many protagonists encounter. Sometimes these dilemmas have even caused changes in society and history! Common dilemmas include: classic, ethical, and moral.

"The Lady or the Tiger" by Frank Stockton is a unique story to read with students. With an ambiguous ending, students get a chance to use their detective skills to decide the man's fate. Did the princess send her lover to his death, or did she swallow her jealousy and send him to another woman? Students also get to practice their creative writing skills by finishing the resolution; this often produces considerable insight to the type of students I have in my class. Will they kill the handsome young man? Spare him? Create a paradoxical surprise ending? The choice is up to the reader!