After the death of his mother, twelve year old Rob and his father move to Lister, Florida, where Rob’s father works as a maintenance man at the motel where they live. Lonely, sad, and the target of two bullies, Rob packs his feelings away in a metaphorical suitcase and locks them up. Rob’s life begins to change when he finds a large tiger caged up in the woods behind the motel, and meets the new girl, Sistine Bailey. As Rob’s emotional shell begins to crack, he learns the value of friendship and dealing with his feelings, along with the challenge of making a difficult decision.
Have students create a visual summary of The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo!
Storyboard Text
The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo
EXPOSITION
You ain't a star nowhere!
RISING ACTION
When Rob, the new boy in town who has no friends, finds a caged tiger in the woods, his life changes in ways that he could not possibly imagine. Rob learns that his feelings, along with the tiger, cannot be caged up forever.
CLIMAX
Twelve year old Rob has just lost his mother. He and his father move to a new town where they don’t know anyone. Rob is bullied and meets another new student named Sistine.
FALLING ACTION
Rob is asked to stay home for a few days so his rash can have time to heal. While home, he finds a caged tiger in the woods; he belongs to Beauchamp, the motel owner.
RESOLUTION
There ain't a cloud in the sky.
Beauchamp gives Rob the keys to the cage and money to feed the tiger. Rob tells Sistine of this, and she insists they set the tiger free. Rob and Sistine open the cage to release the tiger. He doesn’t leave at first, but then he runs out into the woods.
Rob and Sistine hear a gunshot, and find Rob’s father and Willie May standing over the dead tiger. Rob is furious at first, and then he and his father cry together for a long time.
They bury and have a funeral for the tiger. Rob feels sad that the tiger died, but also hopeful for the first time in a long time. His relationship with his father has deepened, and he knows they can get through anything together.