The Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger

By L. Frank Baum
Directions: Read the short story and answer the questions. Refer to the text to check your answers when
appropriate.
In the splendid palace of the Emerald City, which is in the "Then I would roar so loudly it would shake the earth and
center of the fairy Land of Oz, is a great Throne Room. This stalk away to the jungle to hide myself, before anyone could
is where Princess Ozma, the Ruler, sits in a throne of attack me or kill me for what I had done."
glistening emeralds for an hour each day and listens to all the
troubles of her people, which they are sure to tell her about. "I see," nodded the Tiger. "You are really cowardly."
Around Ozma's throne, on such occasions, are grouped all "To be sure. That is why I am named the Cowardly Lion.
the important personages1 of Oz, such as the Scarecrow, That is why I have always been so tame and peaceable. But
Tiktok the Clockwork Man, the Tin Woodman, the Wizard I'm awfully tired of being tame," added the Lion, with a sigh,
of Oz, and other famous fairy people. Little Dorothy usually "and it would be fun to raise a row and show people what a
has a seat at Ozma's feet, and crouched on either side the terrible beast I really am."
throne are two enormous beasts known as the Hungry Tiger
and the Cowardly Lion. The Tiger remained silent for several minutes, thinking
deeply as he slowly washed his face with his left paw. Then
These two beasts are Ozma's chief guardians, but as he said:
everyone loves the beautiful girl Princess there has never
been any disturbance in the great Throne Room, or anything "I'm getting old, and it would please me to eat at least one fat
for the guardians to do but look fierce and solemn2 and keep baby before I die. Suppose we surprise these people of Oz
quiet until the Royal Audience is over and the people go and prove our power. What do you say? We will walk out of
away to their homes. here just as usual and the first baby we meet I'll eat in a jiffy4.
And the first man or woman you meet, you will tear to
Of course, no one would dare be naughty while the huge pieces. Then we will both run out of the city gates and gallop
Lion and Tiger crouched beside the throne; but the fact is, across the country and hide in the jungle before anyone can
the people of Oz are very seldom naughty. So Ozma's big stop us."
guards are more ornamental3 than useful. No one realizes
that better than the beasts themselves. "All right. I'm game," said the Lion, yawning again so that
he showed two rows of large sharp teeth.
One day, after everyone had left the Throne Room except the
Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger, the Lion yawned and The Tiger got up and stretched his great, sleek body.
said to his friend: "Seen any of them old Hydrophobies the last day or two?"
"I'm getting tired of this job. No one is afraid of us and no "Come on," he said. The Lion stood up and proved he was
one pays any attention to us." the larger of the two, for he was almost as big as a small
"That is true," replied the big Tiger, purring softly. "We horse.
might as well be in the thick jungles where we were born, as Out of the palace they walked, and met no one. They
trying to protect Ozma when she needs no protection. And passed through the beautiful grounds, past fountains and
I'm dreadfully hungry all the time." beds of lovely flowers, and met no one. Then they
"You have enough to eat, I'm sure," said the Lion, swaying unlatched a gate and entered a street of the city, and met no
his tail slowly back and forth. one.

"Enough, perhaps; but not the kind of food I long for," "I wonder how a fat baby will taste," said the Tiger, as they
answered the Tiger. "What I'm hungry for is fat babies. I stalked majestically5 along, side by side.
have a great desire to eat a few fat babies. Then, perhaps, the "I imagine it will taste like nutmegs," said the Lion.
people of Oz would fear me and I'd become more important."
"No," said the Tiger, "I've an idea it will taste like
"True," agreed the Lion. "It would stir up quite a scene if you gumdrops."
ate but one fat baby. As for myself, my claws are sharp as
needles and strong as crowbars. My teeth are powerful They turned a corner, but met no one, for the people of the
enough to tear a person to pieces in a few seconds. I could Emerald City usually take their naps at this hour of the
spring upon a man and make chop suey of him. There would afternoon.
be wild excitement in the Emerald City. People would fall
upon their knees and beg me for mercy. That, in my opinion, ----------------------------------------

would render me very important." Vocabulary

"After you had torn the person to pieces, what would you do 1. personages: people who are notable or great
next?" asked the Tiger sleepily. 2. solemn: deeply serious
3. ornamental: acting as an ornament; decorative
"I wonder how many pieces I ought to tear a person into," 4. jiffy: a short, unspecified period of time
said the Lion, in a thoughtful voice. 5. majestically: showing the qualities of royalty and great dignity
 "No, nor into six pieces," answered the Lion indignantly8.
"Sixty would be about right," suggested the Tiger. "I'm not such a brute as to destroy a poor woman who has
"Would that hurt any more than to tear one into about a dozen hurt herself trying to save her lost baby. If you are so cruel
pieces?" asked the Lion, with a little shudder. and bloodthirsty, you may leave me and go away, for I do
not care to associate with you."
"Who cares whether it hurts or not?" growled the Tiger.
"That's all right," answered the Tiger. "I'm not cruel--not in
The Lion did not reply. They entered a side street, but met the least--I'm only hungry. But I thought you were cruel."
no one.
"Thank heaven I'm respectable," said the Lion, with dignity.
Suddenly they heard a child crying. He then raised the woman and with much gentleness carried
"Aha!" exclaimed the Tiger. "There is my meat." her into her house, where he laid her upon a sofa.
The Tiger followed with the baby, which he safely deposited
He rushed around a corner, the Lion following, and came beside its mother. The little one liked the Hungry Tiger and,
upon a nice fat baby sitting in the middle of the street and grasping the enormous beast by both ears, the baby kissed
crying as if in great distress6. the beast's nose to show he was grateful and happy.
"What's the matter?" asked the Tiger, crouching before the "Thank you very much," said the woman. "I've often heard
baby. what good beasts you are, in spite of your power to do
mischief to mankind. Now I know that the stories are true. I
"I--I--I-lost my m-m-mamma!" wailed the baby. do not think either of you have ever had an evil thought."
"Why, you poor little thing," said the great beast, softly The Hungry Tiger and the Cowardly Lion hung their heads
stroking the child's head with its paw. "Don't cry, my dear, and did not look into each other's eyes, for both were shamed
for mamma can't be far away. I'll help you find her." and humbled. They crept away and stalked back through the
"Go on," said the Lion, who stood by. streets until they again entered the palace grounds, where
they retreated to the pretty, comfortable rooms they occupied
"Go on where?" asked the Tiger, looking up. at the back of the palace. There they silently crouched in their
"Go on and eat your fat baby." usual corners to think over their adventure.

"Why, you dreadful creature!" said the Tiger After a while the Tiger said sleepily:
reproachfully7. "Would you want me to eat a poor little lost "I don't believe fat babies taste like gumdrops. I'm quite sure
baby?" And the beast gathered the little one into its strong, they have the flavor of raspberry tarts. My, how hungry I am
hairy arms and tried to comfort it by rocking it gently back for fat babies!"
and forth.
The Lion grunted. "You're a humbug," said he.
The Lion growled low in his throat and seemed very much
disappointed. But at that moment a scream reached their ears "Am I?" retorted the Tiger, with a sneer. "Tell me, then, into
and a woman came bounding out of a house and into the how many pieces you usually tear your victims, my bold
street. Seeing her baby in the embrace of the monster Tiger Lion?"
the woman screamed again and rushed forward to rescue it. The Lion impatiently thumped the floor with his tail.
In her haste she caught her foot in her skirt and tumbled head
over heels and heels over head. She stopped with such a "To tear anyone into pieces would soil my claws and blunt
bump that she saw many stars in the heavens, although it was my teeth," he said. "I'm glad I didn't muss myself up this
broad daylight. And there she lay, in a helpless manner, all afternoon by hurting that poor mother."
tangled up and unable to stir.
The Tiger looked at him steadily and then yawned a wide,
With one bound and a roar like thunder the huge Lion was wide yawn.
beside her. With his strong jaws he grasped her dress and
raised her into an upright position. "You're a coward," he remarked.

"Poor thing! Are you hurt?" he gently asked. "Well," said the Lion, "it's better to be a coward than to do
wrong."
Gasping for breath the woman struggled to free herself and
tried to walk, but she limped badly and tumbled down again. "To be sure," answered the other. "And that reminds me that
I nearly lost my own reputation. For, had I eaten that fat baby
"My baby!" she said pleadingly. I would not now be the Hungry Tiger. It's better to go hungry,
"The baby is all right; don't worry," replied the Lion; and seems to me, than to be cruel to a little child."
then he added: "Keep quiet, now, and I'll carry you back to
And then they dropped their heads on their paws and went to
your house, and the Hungry Tiger will carry your baby."
sleep.
The Tiger, who had approached the place with the child in ----------------------------------------

its arms, asked in astonishment: Vocabulary

6. distress: danger or discomfort
"Aren't you going to tear her into sixty pieces?" 7. reproach: to criticize or bring shame
8. indignant: showing anger at something unjust
 Name: ____________________________________

1. Why are the Lion and the Tiger bored at the beginning of the story?
a. The people of Oz rarely misbehave. b. Nobody acts bad around the Lion and the Tiger.
c. Nobody wants to hurt Ozma. d. They are bored for ALL of these reasons.
2. Which one of these is NOT a reason why the Lion and the Tiger make their plan?
a. They want attention. b. They want to feel more important.
c. They are bored. d. They need to be fed more food.
3. Which is NOT part of the Lion and Tiger's plan?
a. The Lion will tear up the first person he sees.
b. The Tiger will eat a baby.
c. The Lion will become the king of Oz.
d. They will hide in the jungle after it is done.
4. According to the text, which of the following is true?
a. The Lion is bigger than the Tiger. b. The Lion is hungrier than the Tiger.
c. The Tiger is braver than the Lion. d. The Lion is smaller than the Tiger.
5. Which figurative language technique is used in the following sentence?
"I would roar so loudly it would shake the earth."
a. Simile b. Hyperbole
c. Metaphor d. Personification
6. Which event happens last?
a. The Lion and the Tiger feel guilty. b. A woman falls and injures herself.
c. The Lion and the Tiger wander the streets. d. The Tiger rescues a baby.
7. Which best expresses a lesson that the Lion learned?
a. It's never too late to follow your dreams.
b. Always back up your words with actions.
c. Never give up on your life goals, no matter what.
d. It's better to be teased than to do something you'll regret.
8. How motivated the Lion and the Tiger were to follow through on their plan?
a. The Lion and the Tiger were very serious about wanting to hurt people.
b. The Lion was just trying to sound brave but the Tiger almost ate someone.
c. The Lion and the Tiger never had any real intentions of hurting anyone.
d. The Lion might have eaten that woman had the Tiger not talked him out of it.
9. Which best describes the narrator's tone in this sentence from the last paragraph?
"Tell me, then, into how many pieces you usually tear your victims, my bold Lion?"
a. Sincere b. Sarcastic
c. Spiteful d. Sweet
10. Which prediction is best supported by evidence from the text?
a. It is only a matter of time before the Tiger convinces the Lion to kill.
b. The Lion will probably return to the jungle, learn to rule, and come back to conquer Oz.
c. The Tiger will one day live out his desire to find out how a fat baby tastes.
d. The Lion and the Tiger will keep living boring lives in the comforts of the palace.
Writing Section: Write a sentence of each vocabulary below. You can write in simple present, past,
future, continuous, active or passive sentence.
1. Distress
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2. Reproach
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