The Tiger King

The story uses humour

The story uses humour, exaggeration, and irony to expose the foolishness of rulers who think only of personal glory. The Maharaja’s grand title, his t

At birth

At birth, astrologers predict that the prince will die because of a tiger. This prediction controls much of his life and pushes him into a reckless hu

The reader knows early that

The reader knows early that the Maharaja is already dead, and later knows that the hundredth tiger was not really killed by him. The character remains

The Maharaja appears mighty

The Maharaja appears mighty, but his actions show insecurity. He fears the prophecy, fears losing his kingdom, and depends on ministers and others to

The dewan

The dewan, hunters, and officials obey the Maharaja mainly out of fear for their jobs and safety. Their behaviour shows that authority can force peopl