Short Fiction · Chapter
The Raja and the Tiger explained
Bently, the new British Resident at Shaitanabad, initially finds the Raja cooperative and agreeable.
What happens
Bently, the new British Resident at Shaitanabad, initially finds the Raja cooperative and agreeable. After settling a land dispute, the Raja invites Bently on a tiger hunt at an ancient Jain cave temple. During the hunt, the Raja and a Rajput attempt to push Bently into a pit, but the tiger returns and kills them instead. Bently survives and later investigates the temple, uncovering evidence of the Raja's previous murders.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
This excerpt marks the story's dramatic climax because it depicts the protagonist's psychological nadir—a phan…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Colonialism and Imperialism
The power dynamics between the British Resident and the native Raja, and the underlying tensions of colonial rule.
- Betrayal and Revenge
The Raja's treacherous plan to murder Bently, which backfires and leads to his own death.
- Supernatural and the Unknown
The haunted cave temple and the mysterious, ghostly legends surrounding it.
Characters to notice
- Bently
The British Resident at Shaitanabad, who survives the Raja's treachery during a tiger hunt.
- Raja
Chumbu Singh, the Raja of Shaitanabad, who plots to kill Bently but is killed by the tiger.
- Chumbu Singh
A Rajput follower of the Raja, who accompanies the hunt and is killed by the tiger.
- Lal Das
Bently's servant, who accompanies the hunting party.
Key passages
““I have arranged for a tiger hunt tonight,” he said. “Would you like to go?” Bently eagerly responded in the affirmative.”
The Raja proposed a tiger hunt for that night, and Bently enthusiastically agreed.
Sets up the central conflict of the chapter.
“The Raja seemed annoyed at the prospect of a long wait, and abused the Rajputs for not arranging matters so that they might have arrived at the cave earlier and so intercepted the tiger.”
The Raja was irritated that they had missed the tiger and scolded the Rajputs for poor planning.
Reveals the Raja's impatience and possible ulterior motives.
“It took but a cursory examination to convince Bently that both the Raja and the Rajput were past rendering any account of their treachery on this earth”
A quick look confirmed that the Raja and the Rajput were dead, unable to explain their betrayal.
Climax of the chapter where the Raja's plot fails.
