The Lady or the Tiger? Lesson Plan

What made the king “semi-barbaric”? Based on the information provided in the story, come up with a definition of “semi-barbaric.”

Stockton’s note that the king is “semi-barbaric” is an important one. This barbarism that is fundamental to the king’s character shapes the story. In the opening paragraphs, the narrator says the king “turned his varied fancies into facts.” This implies that he does not think logically or cooperatively. The “semi” part of “semi-barbaric” reflects that the king seems to be knowledgeable and even educated.

When the narrator says that the king was “greatly given to self-communing,” what does that indicate about the kind of king he is? What do...