THE FROG PRINCE
by Unknown · from Fairy Tales, Volume 1 (of 2)
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there was a princess. Her name was Princess Lily. She had a golden ball. She loved to play with it. She played near a cool fountain. The fountain was in a big forest.
One day, Princess Lily played with her ball. She threw it high in the air. The ball went too high. It fell into the water. The water was very deep. Princess Lily was sad. She began to cry.
A green frog came from the water. He saw Princess Lily. "Why are you sad?" the frog asked. "My ball is in the water," she said. "I can get it," the frog said. "But you must be my friend. You must let me eat from your plate. You must let me sleep in your room."
Princess Lily promised, but did not expect him. The frog went into the water. He came back with the ball. He put it on the grass.
Princess Lily took her ball. She ran home very fast. She forgot the green frog. The frog stayed by the fountain.
The next day, Princess Lily ate dinner. She heard a knock at the door. *Splish, splash, splish, splash*. The frog was there! "Open the door," the frog said. "You made a promise!"
Princess Lily was scared. She closed the door quickly. The King saw her. "What is wrong, my child?" he asked. "It is the frog," she said. "You must keep your promise," the King said. "Open the door for him."
Princess Lily opened the door. The frog hopped in. He hopped to her chair. "Lift me up," the frog said. He wanted to eat. Lily disliked it. The frog ate from her plate. He ate many bites.
The frog wanted her room. Lily frowned. The King told her again. She kept her promise and carried the frog. She took him to her room.
The frog wanted her pillow. Lily refused. The frog said, "I will tell your father." So Princess Lily put him there. She was very upset.
Princess Lily was very upset. She did not like the frog. She set the frog down quickly. She put him on the floor. She did not want him on her bed.
Then a magic thing happened. The green frog changed. He became a handsome prince! His name was Prince Leo. He had kind eyes. A bad fairy made him a frog. Princess Lily broke the spell.
Princess Lily and Prince Leo were happy. They became good friends. They went to his home. A big carriage took them. They lived in his castle. The princess always remembered her promise.
Original Story
THE FROG PRINCE
In olden times there lived a King whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so lovely that the sun himself wondered at her beauty every time he looked into her face.
Near to the King’s castle lay a dark, gloomy forest; and in the forest, under an old linden tree, was a fountain. When the day was very hot the King’s daughter used to go into the wood and sit down by the side of the cool fountain. Her favorite amusement, as she sat there, was to toss a golden ball up into the air and catch it again. Once she threw it so high that, instead of falling into the hand that she stretched out for it, it dropped upon the ground and rolled straight into the water.
The King’s daughter followed it with her eyes as long as she could, but it disappeared, for the well was so deep that she could not see the bottom. Then she began to cry bitterly for her ball.
As she sat weeping she heard a voice calling: “What is the matter, King’s daughter? Your tears would touch the heart of a stone.”
She looked round towards the spot whence the voice came and saw a frog stretching his thick, ugly head out of the water.
“Oh, it is you, is it, old water-paddler!” she said. “Well, then, I am crying for the loss of my golden ball which has fallen into the fountain.”
“Then do not cry any more,” answered the frog; “I can get it for you. But what will you give me if I bring back your plaything to you?”
“Oh, anything you like, dear frog!” she said. “My dresses, my pearls and jewels, even the golden crown I wear.”
“No,” answered the frog, “your clothes, your pearls and jewels, or even your golden crown are nothing to me; but if you will love me and let me be your companion and playfellow, sit by you at table, eat from your little golden plate, drink out of your cup, and sleep in your little bed,—if you will promise me all this, then I will bring you back your golden ball from the bottom of the fountain.”
“Oh, yes,” she replied, “I promise you anything if you will only bring me back my ball!”
She was thinking to herself all this while: “What nonsense the silly frog does talk! He lives in the water with other frogs, and croaks, and cannot be anybody’s playfellow.”
But the frog, as soon as he had received the promise, ducked his head under the water and sank down to the bottom. In a little while he came up again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The King’s daughter was full of joy when she saw her pretty plaything again, and, catching it up, ran off with it.
“Wait! wait!” cried the frog. “Take me with you; I cannot run as fast as you.”
But the young Princess would not listen to the frog’s croaking, but ran home and soon forgot the poor frog, who had to go back to his fountain again.
The next day, when the Princess was sitting at table with the King and his courtiers and eating out of her little golden plate, there came a sound of something creeping up the marble staircase, splish, splash, splish, splash, and presently there came a knock at the door, and a voice crying, “Youngest King’s daughter, open to me.”
She ran to see who was outside; but when she opened the door and saw the frog she shut it again in great haste and sat down at the table looking very much frightened. The King, seeing that his daughter was alarmed, said to her: “My child, what is the matter? Is there a giant outside at the door, wanting to carry you off?”
“Oh, no!” she replied; “it is no giant,—only a great ugly frog.”
“A frog! What can he want with you, my daughter?”
“Yesterday when I was playing with my golden ball by the fountain in the forest it fell into the water, and because I cried the frog brought it out for me, and he made me promise that he should come here and be my companion; but I never thought he could get out of the water to come. And now he is outside there, and wants to come in to me.”
Just then he knocked at the door a second time, and called:
“Youngest King’s daughter,
Open to me.
Do you not know
What you promised me,
Yesterday
Under the linden tree?
Youngest King’s daughter,
Open to me.”
Then the King said: “My daughter, what you have promised, you must do. Go and open the door for him.”
She went and opened the door, and the frog hopped after her, close to her feet, and quite up to her chair. There he sat and cried, “Lift me up beside you.”
She hesitated, till the King commanded her to do it.
When the frog was on the table he said, “Now push your little plate nearer to me, and we will eat together.”
She did it, but it was easy to see that she did not do it willingly. The frog seemed to enjoy his dinner very much, but every mouthful she ate choked her. At last he said, “I have eaten enough, and am tired; now carry me to your little room, and make your silken bed ready, that we may sleep together.”
The King’s daughter began to cry, for she was afraid of the cold frog. She did not like to touch him, and now he wanted to sleep in her beautiful, neat little bed.
But the King was displeased at her tears, and said, “He who helped you when you were in trouble must not be despised now.”
So she took up the frog with two fingers, carried him upstairs, and put him in a corner of her room.
When she got into bed he crept up to her and said: “I am tired, and I want to go to sleep too. Lift me up, or I will tell your father.”
Then she was very angry, and picked him up and threw him with all her strength against the wall, saying, “Now will you be quiet, you ugly frog?”
But as he fell, how surprised she was to see the frog change into a handsome young Prince with beautiful, friendly eyes! He told her how he had been bewitched by a wicked fairy, and how no one could have released him from the spell but herself. He now became, by her father’s will, her dear companion and her husband.
The young Prince wanted to take her to his own kingdom. So on the wedding day a splendid carriage drawn by eight white horses with white plumes on their heads and golden harness drove up to the door. Behind it stood the servant of the young Prince, the faithful Henry. This faithful Henry had been so unhappy when his master was changed into a frog that he had bound three iron bands round his heart to keep it from breaking with grief and sorrow.
The carriage with the Prince and his bride soon drove away, with Henry behind. They had only gone a little way when the Prince heard a loud crack behind him, as if something had broken. He turned round, and cried, “Henry, the carriage is breaking!”
“No, sir,” he replied, “it is not the carriage, but only the iron bands which I bound round my heart for fear it should break with sorrow while you were a frog confined in the fountain. They are breaking now because of my happiness.”
The Prince and Princess never forgot faithful Henry, who had loved his master so well while he was in trouble.
Story DNA
Moral
One must honor their promises, and true beauty and worth are not always apparent on the surface.
Plot Summary
A beautiful but spoiled princess loses her golden ball in a well. A talking frog retrieves it for her in exchange for a promise of companionship, which she reluctantly makes but immediately breaks. The next day, the frog appears at the castle, and the King forces his daughter to honor her word, making her share her meals and bed with the repulsive creature. In a fit of anger, she throws the frog against a wall, which breaks his enchantment, revealing him to be a handsome prince. They marry and journey to his kingdom, accompanied by his loyal servant, Henry, whose heart is finally freed from sorrow.
Themes
Emotional Arc
disgust to acceptance to joy
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This version is most famously collected by the Brothers Grimm, reflecting 19th-century German folklore and moral values.
Plot Beats (14)
- A beautiful princess plays with her golden ball by a fountain in a dark forest.
- She throws the ball too high, and it falls into the deep well, making her cry.
- An ugly frog emerges from the water and offers to retrieve the ball if she promises to be his companion, eating and sleeping with him.
- The princess promises, thinking the frog's words are nonsense, and he retrieves her ball.
- She immediately runs home, forgetting the frog, who is left behind.
- The next day, the frog arrives at the castle door and demands entry, reminding the princess of her promise.
- The King, hearing the commotion, insists his daughter honor her word, forcing her to let the frog in.
- The frog eats from her golden plate and demands to sleep in her bed, causing her great distress.
- The King again commands her to fulfill her promise, and she reluctantly carries the frog to her room.
- The frog insists on being lifted into her bed, threatening to tell her father.
- Enraged, the princess throws the frog against the wall.
- The frog transforms into a handsome prince, revealing he was under a wicked fairy's spell.
- The prince and princess fall in love, marry, and depart for his kingdom in a splendid carriage.
- During their journey, the prince's loyal servant, Henry, experiences the breaking of three iron bands around his heart, which he had bound due to sorrow over his master's enchantment, now breaking from joy.
Characters
The Youngest Princess
Slender and graceful, of average height for a young woman, with an ethereal beauty that even the sun marvels at. Her movements are initially light and carefree, later becoming hesitant and then angry.
Attire: Wears elaborate, fine dresses made of luxurious fabrics like silk, adorned with pearls and jewels, and a small golden crown. Her bed is described as 'silken', implying a preference for opulent materials.
Wants: To regain her golden ball and maintain her comfortable, luxurious life without unpleasant interruptions. Later, to escape the frog's presence.
Flaw: Her vanity and initial disdain for those she considers beneath her, leading her to make promises she doesn't intend to keep and to act cruelly.
Transforms from a spoiled, disobedient princess who breaks her promises into a more responsible and compassionate individual who, by fulfilling her word (albeit reluctantly), breaks a powerful enchantment and finds true love.
Vain, initially spoiled, somewhat selfish, impulsive, and disobedient, but ultimately capable of fulfilling her promises and showing compassion (even if forced).
The Frog / The Prince
As a frog: A large, thick, ugly green frog with bulging eyes and a croaking voice. As a prince: A handsome young man with beautiful, friendly eyes, implying a noble bearing and well-proportioned physique.
Attire: As a frog: None. As a prince: Implied to be wearing noble attire, though not explicitly described, likely fine fabrics suitable for a royal wedding and travel.
Wants: To break the wicked fairy's spell and return to his human form and kingdom. To find true love and companionship.
Flaw: His cursed form, which makes him appear repulsive and vulnerable to the princess's anger.
Transforms from a cursed, repulsive frog into a handsome, beloved prince, regaining his true form and finding his bride.
Persistent, honorable (insists on promises being kept), patient (endures the princess's disdain), kind (as a prince), and understanding.
The King
A regal and authoritative figure, likely of a sturdy build, reflecting his position of power. His presence commands respect.
Attire: Wears royal robes, likely made of rich fabrics like velvet or brocade, adorned with a crown and other symbols of his office. His attire would be formal and imposing.
Wants: To ensure his daughter upholds her word and to teach her the importance of honor and responsibility.
Flaw: His strict adherence to principles, which initially causes distress for his daughter.
Remains consistent in his role as a wise and just ruler, guiding his daughter.
Wise, just, firm, and a strong believer in the sanctity of promises and honor.
Faithful Henry
A loyal and devoted servant, likely of a sturdy build, capable of driving a carriage. His appearance would reflect his role as a trusted retainer.
Attire: Wears livery appropriate for a royal servant or coachman, likely in the colors of the Prince's household, with practical but well-maintained garments.
Wants: To serve his master, the Prince, and to alleviate his own sorrow over the Prince's enchantment.
Flaw: His intense emotional attachment to his master, which causes him physical pain (the iron bands).
Experiences a profound emotional release and joy as his master is freed from the spell, symbolized by the breaking of his iron bands.
Extremely loyal, devoted, compassionate, and deeply empathetic to his master's plight.
Locations
The King's Castle Grounds (Forest Fountain)
A dark, gloomy forest adjacent to the King's castle, featuring an old linden tree and a cool, deep fountain. The ground around the fountain is likely covered in grass where the golden ball lands.
Mood: Initially peaceful and playful, then becomes sorrowful and desperate, finally relieved.
The Princess loses her golden ball, encounters the frog, and makes her fateful promise.
The King's Castle (Dining Hall)
A grand dining hall within a German castle, likely featuring a long table where the King, his daughters, and courtiers eat. The hall has a marble staircase leading up to it, and a door that the frog knocks upon.
Mood: Initially formal and serene, then tense and uncomfortable due to the frog's arrival, and finally one of royal command and reluctant obedience.
The frog arrives at the castle, demands entry, and eats with the Princess at the King's command.
The Princess's Bedroom
The Princess's private chamber in the German castle, described as a 'little room' with a 'silken bed'. It is a personal, intimate space.
Mood: Initially one of dread and disgust for the Princess, transforming into anger, and finally surprise and wonder.
The frog demands to sleep in her bed, is thrown against the wall, and transforms into the Prince.