The Lady, or the Tiger?

***Khamûl*** · 09-25-2003, 12:01 PM

Take a few minutes to read this story. It won't take long, maybe just 10 or 15 minutes, and then answer the question:

The Lady, or the Tiger?

Spock · 09-26-2003, 08:24 AM

The Lady because I'd not want to be responsible for the pain and suffering of the other. Also the lady might die

while the tiger will just get hungry again.

Shadowfax · 09-26-2003, 07:10 PM

Oh, I had to read this story in grade 10 english class and write an ending to it. It was interesting.

***Earniel*** · 09-27-2003, 10:33 AM

Mmmm... interesting dilemma. We'll probably never know just what came through the door. But after some considering, I'd say the tiger came.

katya · 09-27-2003, 11:30 AM

I read this last year in English (9th grade). I don't think we will ever know, really, but I would guess that it was the tiger. Although I would hope it was the lady. I would've had the lady come out myself. Neat story. I like short stories with cool plots like that. By the way, this is my 500th post.

Sheeana · 09-27-2003, 05:43 PM

Given her upbringing, I'm inclined to believe the tiger came out.

***IronParrot*** · 09-28-2003, 01:59 AM

Ah, I remember this short story. The textbook example of the ambiguous ending, if I recall.

My personal slant on it is something that I call the "Schrodinger's Cat" approach. I think it could be both the Lady AND the Tiger until the result is determined by the effects of observing the outcome.

***Khamûl*** · 09-30-2003, 01:12 PM

Actually, I'm leaning toward the lady. She's the king's daughter, so she has power. If the lady comes out and the two get married, she can just have her discreetly killed off and take her man back.

elixir · 10-28-2003, 12:39 PM

When we discussed it in school, I was sure that it would be the tiger. I'm not that sure anymore. As she probably decided it at the last moment it could have been either one. Like when you have to make a really hard decision and you think and think and think and at the last moment you just pick one arbitrarily, without thinking. That might be the case because, well, she couldn't decide.

And about killing the lady afterwards, well, she was afraid that he begins to love the lady, and then killing her wouldn't save the situation.

Schrodinger's Cat, eh? When I first told my friend about it, she thought I made it up myself. Though I can't blame her, if I had heard about it from someone else than my father who knows that sort of things, I probably wouldn't have believed it myself.

09-25-2003, 12:01 PM	#1
*Khamûl* Slacker Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,759	The Lady, or the Tiger? Take a few minutes to read this story. It won't take long, maybe just 10 or 15 minutes, and then answer the question: The Lady, or the Tiger? __________________ "If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31

09-26-2003, 08:24 AM	#2
Spock An enigma in a conundrum Join Date: Oct 1999 Posts: 6,476	The Lady because I'd not want to be responsible for the pain and suffering of the other. Also the lady might die while the tiger will just get hungry again. __________________ Vizzini: "HE DIDN'T FALL?! INCONCEIVABLE!!" Inigo: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

09-26-2003, 07:10 PM	#3
Shadowfax The Fleet-Footed Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: British Columbia Posts: 913	Oh, I had to read this story in grade 10 english class and write an ending to it. It was interesting. __________________ Jesus saved me "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child" (Cicero, 106-43 B.C.) "Art is a lie which makes us realize the truth" (Picasso)

09-27-2003, 10:33 AM	#4
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Mmmm... interesting dilemma. We'll probably never know just what came through the door. But after some considering, I'd say the tiger came. __________________ We are not things.

09-28-2003, 01:59 AM	#7
*IronParrot* Fowl Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Calgary or Edmonton, Canada Posts: 53,420	Ah, I remember this short story. The textbook example of the ambiguous ending, if I recall. My personal slant on it is something that I call the "Schrodinger's Cat" approach. I think it could be both the Lady AND the Tiger until the result is determined by the effects of observing the outcome. __________________ All of IronParrot's posts are guaranteed to be 100% intelligent and/or sarcastic, comprising no genetically modified content and tested on no cute furry little animals unless the SPCA is looking elsewhere. If you observe a failure to uphold this warranty, please contact a forum administrator immediately to receive a full refund on your Entmoot registration. Blog: Nick's Café Canadien

09-27-2003, 11:30 AM	#5
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	I read this last year in English (9th grade). I don't think we will ever know, really, but I would guess that it was the tiger. Although I would hope it was the lady. I would've had the lady come out myself. Neat story. I like short stories with cool plots like that. By the way, this is my 500th post.

09-27-2003, 05:43 PM	#6
Sheeana Lord of the Pants Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,382	Given her upbringing, I'm inclined to believe the tiger came out.

09-30-2003, 01:12 PM	#8
*Khamûl* Slacker Warrior Admin Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,759	Actually, I'm leaning toward the lady. She's the king's daughter, so she has power. If the lady comes out and the two get married, she can just have her discreetly killed off and take her man back. __________________ "If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31

10-28-2003, 12:39 PM	#9
elixir Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: wherever my dreams take me Posts: 356	When we discussed it in school, I was sure that it would be the tiger. I'm not that sure anymore. As she probably decided it at the last moment it could have been either one. Like when you have to make a really hard decision and you think and think and think and at the last moment you just pick one arbitrarily, without thinking. That might be the case because, well, she couldn't decide. And about killing the lady afterwards, well, she was afraid that he begins to love the lady, and then killing her wouldn't save the situation. Schrodinger's Cat, eh? When I first told my friend about it, she thought I made it up myself. Though I can't blame her, if I had heard about it from someone else than my father who knows that sort of things, I probably wouldn't have believed it myself. __________________ ~ Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you ~ "We've got a wizard and we're not afraid to use him!" HOBBITS NEEDED! Some dwarves as well !!!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Awesome Animal News!	Lotesse	General Messages	152	06-24-2009 08:25 PM
War of the Ring	Acalewia	RPG Forum	248	01-21-2008 07:53 PM
Tea Cup Cafe part Thirteen or XIII	Spock	General Messages	1011	09-13-2006 05:12 PM
House of Hilarity: It's Part Time	klatukatt	RPG Forum	132	01-17-2006 10:22 PM
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon	IronParrot	Entertainment Forum	22	01-08-2002 08:04 PM