Setting:

A semi-barbaric medieval
kingdom in Europe, most
of the tale takes place in
the king’s arena
Atmosphere (Mood):
romantic, suspenseful

Point of View:
Third person omniscient
Antagonist:

The King
 Conflict: External
person vs. person Internal
conflict:
self (what to do???)
 Theme:
1. Important decisions
should not be left to
chance.
2. Be cautious of placing
complete trust in another
when they have
power over one’s destiny.
Exposition (Introductory
elements such as the
characters and setting)
1.The semi-barbaric king
and his system of justice
are introduced

2.The king finds out that

his daughter is in love
with a commoner who is
not of royal blood,
beneath her class and
status.
 Rising Action:
(Most of the action occurs
in the rising action section
—lots of details.)
 1.The most savage tiger
and the most beautiful
maiden are found for the
young man’s “trial.”
2.The princess discovers
the identity of the maiden
—someone she hates due
to her suspicions that the
young maiden has flirted
with her lover.
3.The princess discovers
the secret behind the
 doors through her
influence and by bribing
with gold.
4.The princess loses sleep
debating on which door
she should direct her
lover to choose.

5.The young man is

brought into the arena.
 6.The princess subtly
points to the door on the
right.

Climax: (Usually occurs

near the very end of a short
story—it is the moment of
most heightened interest or
suspense.)
 The princess’s lover
reaches for the handle of
the door on the right.
Resolution/Denouement
(The very last part of the
short story—how it wraps
up.)
 The story ends at the
climax unexpectedly. The
readers do not know what
is behind the door the
commoner chose is it the
tiger or a lady.