#855. The Lady or the Tiger?

Literature, level: all
Posted Sun Feb 14 18:41:54 PST 1999 by Gina Burch (ggb@greenville.infi.net).
Hillcrest High School, Simpsonville, SC USA
Materials Required: the short story, pre-recorded audio with sound effects, strips of paper with fabricated "crimes"
Activity Time: 30 min
Concepts Taught: dilemmas, justice

After reading the short story "The Lady or the Tiger?" draw two doors on the board labeled "1" and "2."
Make a list of fabricated "crimes" such as "didn't finish your homework," or "missed your curfew." Tape
one crime under each student's desk and begin the lesson with a discussion about how fair the justice
system is in the story. Tell students they have been convicted of some crimes and tell them to look under
their desks. Bring the students up one at a time and tell the class what his or her crime is. Ask them to
choose a door and afterwards, play the audio tape. On the tape the teacher will have recorded a tiger's
roar and the bridal march in random order--enough times to go through the class. The students will see
how unfair a justice system would be like the one represented in the story and afterwards the class can
discuss the advantages to our justice system in the US.