Persuasion Exercise: The Queen
Once there was a cruel and jealous King who lived in a remote castle with his Queen. One day,
the King left on a month-long journey to another region of the kingdom on official business.
Before he left, he sternly warned the Queen: “Under no circumstances shall you leave the castle
while I am away. If you do, I will have you executed.”
As the long days passed, the Queen grew lonely. One night, she decided to go visit her lover,
who lived in the woods on the other side of the river. There were only two ways to cross the
river. One was a narrow bridge, which was free, and the other was a ferry, which cost one gold
coin. Because the King had refused to give her any spending money, she took the bridge.
After a joyful evening with her lover, she set out in the dark to return to the castle before the
servants noticed her absence. On reaching the bridge, she saw a madman holding a large knife
blocking her path. Afraid, she ran to the ferry pier and begged the boatman to let her board the
ferry. He refused, saying: “I am a businessman. I charge all my customers the same fee. If you
cannot pay, then you cannot board the ferry.”
Panicked, she ran back to her lover’s house and begged him for one gold coin to take the ferry.
He refused, saying: “Our relationship is purely a romantic one. I cannot be held responsible for
your welfare.”
Terrified that the King would have her executed, the Queen decided to try to cross the bridge. As
she attempted to pass, the madman killed her with his knife.
Instructions: In your group, discuss who is most responsible for the Queen’s death: the Queen,
the King, the lover, the boatman, or the madman. Order your choices from most responsible to
least responsible. EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP MUST AGREE. When you have come to a
unanimous decision, record your group’s choices in the spaces below. Your group will then try
to persuade the class that you are right.
1. (most responsible): ____________________________
2. ____________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________
5. (least responsible): ____________________________