The Ambitious Hippopotamus
by Henry Wallace Phillips · from Fables for the Times
Adapted Version
Once there was a happy hippo. Her name was Hilda. She lived by a cool, green stream. Hilda liked her home. She was happy by the water. She ate green reeds every day. Hilda swam in the cool stream. Her life was good and calm. She felt very content there.
One day, Hilda looked up. She saw a big Eagle fly. The Eagle flew high in the sky. It looked free and strong. Hilda wanted to fly too. She wished for big wings. She wanted to be up there.
Hilda closed her eyes. She asked the Sky Spirit for help. 'Please give me wings,' she said. The Sky Spirit heard her wish. He thought it was a funny wish. But he gave Hilda big wings. They were strong wings on her back.
Hilda felt a little scared. Her new wings were so big. She took a deep breath. Hilda was brave. She flapped her wings. Up she went into the air. Hilda flew!
Hilda flew over the jungle. Her Jungle Friends lived there. She wanted them to see her. She showed off her new wings. Hilda felt very proud.
Hilda's friends saw her. A big hippo flew over them. They were very scared. 'Oh no!' they cried. They ran to hide. They hid in the bushes. Her friends trembled with fear.
Hilda felt sad. Her friends were scared of her. She did not mean to scare them. Hilda lost control. She bumped into trees. Branches broke with a loud sound. It was a big mess.
Hilda saw the mess. She heard her friends cry. She felt very bad now. Flying was not fun anymore. Hilda turned around fast. She flew quickly back home. She wanted her stream.
Hilda came to her stream. She dropped down from the sky. Splash! She landed in the water. Her Baby Hippos played there. The big splash made them tumble. They moved a little in the water. They were surprised.
Hilda looked at her wings. 'Oh, Sky Spirit, take them away!' she said. 'I am a hippo. Hippos do not fly. Hippos live in the water.' The Sky Spirit took her wings. Hilda was happy to be a hippo again.
Hilda learned it is good to be yourself. It is good to be a happy hippo!
Original Story
The Ambitious Hippopotamus.
A hippopotamus who had dwelt contentedly for years on the banks of a reedy stream, looked up one day and saw an eagle.
She became immediately fired with a desire to fly. Having lived a staid and respectable life that could not but find favor in the eyes of the gods, she raised her voice in prayer.
Jove smiled a little, but granted her request.
On the instant a pair of broad, powerful wings were affixed to her shoulders.
She was naturally a trifle nervous about trying them at first, but finally mustered up her courage.
Away she swooped, and with a pardonable vanity took her course over a piece of jungle where some old friends lived.
Precisely thirty-eight seconds later a convention of animals, all swearing and trembling with fright, were trying to conceal themselves in the same three-by-four hole in the ground.
The effect on the other animals disconcerted the good-natured hippopotamus to such an extent that she lost control of herself and sailed through the forest like an avalanche on a bender. Down went the trees and crack went the branches, while horror-stricken beasts with bristling hair split the welkin with their shrieks.
The hippopotamus made for home at her best speed. Arriving over the familiar spot, she let go all holds and came down ker-splash in the mud, knocking the astonished little hippopotamuses out into mid-stream.
"Oh, Jupiter! take 'em off!" she gasped. "I now see that the hippopotamus was not intended to fly."
IMMORAL:
It takes more than nine bloomers to make a man.
The Ambitious Hippopotamus
Story DNA
Moral
It takes more than nine bloomers to make a man.
Plot Summary
A content hippopotamus sees an eagle and, filled with ambition, prays to Jove for wings. Jove grants her wish, and she takes flight, intending to impress her friends. However, her massive, clumsy flight causes terror and destruction among the other jungle animals. Horrified by the chaos, she rushes home, crashes into the mud, and begs Jove to remove the wings, realizing that a hippopotamus is not meant to fly.
Themes
Emotional Arc
contentment to ambition to chaos to humility
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Henry Wallace Phillips was an American author known for humorous short stories and fables in the early 20th century.
Plot Beats (10)
- A hippopotamus lives contentedly by a reedy stream.
- She sees an eagle flying and becomes ambitious, desiring to fly herself.
- She prays to Jove, who, amused, grants her wish and gives her wings.
- Initially nervous, she gathers courage and takes flight.
- She flies over her old friends in the jungle, intending to show off.
- Her appearance causes extreme terror and chaos among the other animals, who try to hide.
- Disconcerted by the panic, she loses control and crashes through the forest, destroying trees.
- Horrified by the destruction and fear she has caused, she flies back home at top speed.
- She lets go and splashes down into the mud, knocking her young out.
- She immediately begs Jove to remove the wings, realizing a hippopotamus is not meant to fly.
Characters
The Ambitious Hippopotamus ★ protagonist
Massive, barrel-shaped body, approximately 12-14 feet long and 5 feet tall, with thick, grey-brown, leathery skin that glistens with moisture. Her legs are short and stout, supporting her immense weight. Initially, she has no wings, but later possesses a pair of broad, powerful, eagle-like wings affixed to her shoulders, which seem disproportionately small for her bulk.
Attire: None, as she is an animal. Her natural skin is her covering.
Wants: To experience the freedom and perspective of flight, inspired by seeing an eagle.
Flaw: Her immense size and lack of natural aerial agility make her a danger to others and herself when flying; she is easily overwhelmed by the consequences of her actions.
She transforms from a content, earthbound creature to an ambitious, winged one, then to a destructive force, and finally to a humbled, self-aware individual who understands her natural place.
Content, ambitious, prayerful, vain, good-natured, easily disconcerted, regretful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A massive, grey-brown female hippopotamus standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a barrel-shaped body, short stout legs, and thick, leathery skin. A pair of broad, powerful, dark brown eagle-like wings are affixed to her shoulders, spread slightly. Her face is broad with small, dark, expressive eyes and prominent nostrils. She has a wide mouth. Her expression is a mix of nervousness and determination. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Jove ◆ supporting
Not explicitly described, but as a powerful Roman deity, he would likely appear majestic and imposing, perhaps with a muscular build and a commanding presence.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but would likely wear flowing, classical Roman robes, perhaps in white or purple, adorned with gold or laurel wreaths.
Wants: To respond to prayers and perhaps to teach lessons through granting wishes.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, as he is a god.
Remains unchanged, acting as a catalyst for the hippopotamus's transformation and lesson.
Amused, benevolent, powerful, observant, granting.
Image Prompt & Upload
A majestic, elderly male deity with a powerful build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a long, flowing grey beard and long, wavy grey hair. His face is wise and benevolent, with a slight, knowing smile. He wears flowing white and gold classical Roman robes, draped elegantly. His posture is regal and calm. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Eagle ○ minor
A large, powerful bird of prey, with broad wings, sharp talons, and keen eyesight. Its feathers are likely dark brown, with a lighter head and tail.
Attire: None, as it is an animal. Its natural plumage is its covering.
Wants: To fly, hunt, and live its natural life.
Flaw: None shown.
Remains unchanged, serving as an initial spark for the protagonist's ambition.
Unaware of its impact, graceful, free.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, powerful eagle soaring gracefully, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It has dark brown body feathers, a lighter feathered head, and a hooked beak. Its wings are broad and fully extended, showcasing its majestic span. Its eyes are keen and yellow. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Jungle Animals ○ minor
A diverse group of jungle creatures, including those with bristling hair, all of varying sizes and shapes, trembling with fright. They are small enough to attempt to conceal themselves in a three-by-four-foot hole.
Attire: None, as they are animals.
Wants: Self-preservation, to escape the destructive hippopotamus.
Flaw: Vulnerability to larger, uncontrolled forces.
They are terrorized and dispersed, serving as a consequence of the hippopotamus's actions.
Fearful, easily terrified, communal (in their fright).
Image Prompt & Upload
A small group of diverse jungle animals, including a monkey, a wild boar, and a small deer, huddled together in a tiny, dark hole in the ground, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. Their fur is bristling, and their eyes are wide with terror. Their bodies are trembling. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Little Hippopotamuses ○ minor
Smaller versions of the adult hippopotamus, with grey-brown, smooth skin. They are young enough to be easily displaced by their mother's impact.
Attire: None, as they are animals.
Wants: To play and exist in their natural habitat.
Flaw: Vulnerability due to their small size and youth.
They are briefly disturbed by their mother's return, serving as a final consequence of her actions.
Astonished, innocent, playful (implied by being in the water).
Image Prompt & Upload
Three small, round, grey-brown baby hippopotamuses floating in calm water, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. Their faces are innocent and their small, dark eyes are wide with astonishment. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Reedy Stream Bank
The familiar, marshy bank of a slow-moving stream, dense with tall reeds and muddy ground, where the hippopotamus has lived contentedly for years.
Mood: peaceful, familiar, tranquil, then suddenly ambitious
The hippopotamus sees an eagle, conceives the desire to fly, and receives wings from Jove.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, slow-moving river with banks densely overgrown with tall, emerald-green reeds and water hyacinths. The water is calm and reflects the soft morning light. The riverbank is muddy and worn, showing signs of large animals. In the distance, the water disappears into a thick, humid jungle canopy. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Dense Jungle Canopy
A thick, verdant jungle, characterized by a dense canopy of broad-leafed trees and tangled undergrowth, through which the hippopotamus attempts to fly.
Mood: initially serene, then chaotic and terrifying
The hippopotamus flies over her friends, causing panic, and then crashes wildly through the forest.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dense, humid tropical jungle seen from above, with a thick, unbroken canopy of dark green broad-leafed trees. Sunlight filters through in dappled patterns, illuminating patches of vibrant green moss and epiphytes clinging to massive tree trunks. Below, the undergrowth is a tangled mass of ferns and vines, with glimpses of dark, rich earth. Broken branches and disturbed foliage indicate recent chaos. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Hippopotamus Wallowing Hole
The familiar, muddy wallowing hole in the stream, now disturbed by the hippopotamus's dramatic return, sending her young into the water.
Mood: relief, exhaustion, chaos, regret
The hippopotamus returns home, crashes into her wallowing hole, and begs Jove to remove her wings.
Image Prompt & Upload
A shallow, muddy wallowing hole on the bank of a reedy tropical stream. The water is churned and splashing, with ripples extending outwards. The mud around the edge is disturbed and dark. Small, startled hippopotamuses are visible in the mid-stream, disoriented. Tall, green reeds line the far bank, and the humid air hangs heavy over the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
