Week 1 Storytelling: The Frogs and Their King

The Frogs and Their King

Once upon a time, a group of frogs happened across a small marsh. They decided that this was as good a place to live as any and settled down. For a while, the frogs lived their days in peace and contentment. They slowly built the community and lived life together. Neighbors helped neighbors and everyone enjoyed each other's company.

Gradually, however, the frogs started seeking a change in their routines. Up until this point, all they had had to do for entertainment was catch flies on their tongues and croak at the sky. Even playing leapfrog in the reeds was getting tiring. They had heard stories of the majesty of lions and this filled them with the desire to have a ruler like that. They dreamed of having elaborate parades for a king who could properly govern them and provide their lives with structure. So, they went to Jupiter to request a king.

Jupiter looked down at the colony of frogs with pity. He knew that they meant well, but that they had little foresight. He could tell that if the frogs truly had a ruler, their little community would be ruined. To still assuage them, Jupiter sent down a giant log from the sky and it landed right in the middle of the marsh. 

Upon hearing the enormous splash, the frogs emerged from their homes to see what had interrupted their peaceful day. They saw the log and were fearful: surely they should be wary of something that made so grand and so formidable an entrance. At the same time, though, they were thankful to Jupiter for bringing them a ruler who could bring order to their lives.

For days, the frogs hid inside their homes lest they anger their new king. Only occasionally did they peer outside to observe what Their Majesty was doing. After several weeks of doing this, the frogs realized that nobody had ever seen the log move. They gathered up their courage and went outside. Some of the younger frogs apprehensively approached their leader and one bravely poked the log with a stick. Still the log did not move.

It was at this point that the frogs recognized their king not as the terrifying, harsh patriarch that they once thought it was, but as a peaceful giant. In the following days, the frogs took advantage of the log's gentle nature: the younger frogs played games on it and the elders of the colony held conferences within its private chambers. 

An elder in the frog colony calling a meeting to order.

Eventually, the frogs were again discontent with their lax government. "This is just like having no king at all," some of them quipped. When Jupiter heard their cries again, he wished to teach them a lesson once and for all. 

To do this, he called a crane to take over for the log. When the crane arrived at the marsh, the frogs were taken aback--this was not the type of ruler they had asked for. They finally realized their blunder when the crane began to eat all the frogs in the colony.

"Never again will we ask for change if we don't know that things will get better," they cried.

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Author's Note: This is a retelling of the fable "The Frogs Who Wished for a King," found in the compilation book Aesop for Children, illustrated by Milo Winter (1919). The original story is a short account of a foolish group of frogs who originally live happily, but gradually become dismayed due to their dissatisfaction and need for more. My story follows the original very closely, with a few extra details and background.

Bibliography:
Aesop for Children by Aesop, illustrated by Milo Winter (1919). Web source: Project Gutenberg.