Question

The Maharaja, on the third birthday of the crown prince, gave him a special gift. What was special about the gift ? (The Tiger King)

Hint:

• The "specialty" of the gift lies in its irony; the King killed 99 real tigers only to be killed by a cheap wooden one.
• Ensure you mention the "unskilled carpenter" to explain why the toy was dangerous.

Answer 1

Concept:
• This story centers on the irony of fate and the futility of trying to escape a prophecy.
• A seemingly harmless, "special" object can become the instrument of destiny.

Step 1: Identify the gift
For his son's third birthday, the Maharaja bought a wooden toy tiger from a shop in the town's shopping center.

Step 2: Describe the physical "specialty" and flaws of the gift
The wooden tiger was special because it was meant to be a royal gift, but it was actually very poorly crafted by an unskilled carpenter. Its surface was rough, with tiny slivers of wood standing up like quills all over it.

Step 3: Explain the ironic significance of the gift
One of those tiny wooden slivers pierced the Maharaja's right hand while he was playing with his son. This caused an infection that spread throughout his arm, ultimately leading to his death. Thus, the wooden toy became the "hundredth tiger" that fulfilled the prophecy.