Der Froschkonig: Frog Prince

by Jacob Grimm, Binette Schroeder

When her golden ball falls into a deep well, a beautiful princess promises an ugly frog that he can live with her and become her playmate if he returns her ball.

Genres: Classics, Fantasy, Short Stories, Fairy Tales, Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1812

About the author

German philologist and folklorist Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm in 1822 formulated Grimm's Law, the basis for much of modern comparative linguistics. With his brother Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859), he collected Germanic folk tales and published them as Grimm's Fairy Tales (1812-1815).

Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.

This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .

Adapted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

All this time, I thought she had to kiss the damn frog!
Nope.
All this (somewhat petulant) princess had to do was let this frog eat off of her plate and sleep in her bed. <--platonically, get your mind out of the gutter, perv.



So, this nameless princess is bouncing her golden ball. As you do.
It bounces right into the water and this talking frog offers to get it for her if only she'll let him sleep in her bed and eat off of her plate. She agrees and he retrieves her ball.



Then this little asshole just leaves him there.
IT'S A TALKING FROG. ARE YOU NOT THE LEAST BIT CURIOUS, BITCH?



When the frog inevitably shows up at her castle right around dinnertime, her dad makes her keep her word to this poor amphibian. Because apparently, he's not a douchebag. He's just related to one.
3 days of eating off her plate.
3 nights sleeping with a frog on her pillow.
Day 4? BOOM!
There's no frog in the room. Just a hot prince who inexplicably wants to marry the cunt salad who left him in the water.
There's really no accounting for taste.



And they lived happily ever after.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoiler alert!💣😲

NO kissing is needed!? "The frog" needs to eat from the same plate and sleeps in the same bed with a princess for three nights to remove the spell. That's worse than a kiss? 😉

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein Mädchen spielt am Brunnen mit ihrer goldenen Kugel, bis diese ins Wasser fällt. Ein Frosch holt dem Mädchen die geliebte Kugel wieder aus dem Brunnen, möchte aber als Dankeschön mit aufs Schloss und wie ein Prinz leben...
😊 Ein Märchen, das mir in meiner Kindheit schon von meiner Oma vorgelesen wurde.
Ich liebe Märchen - auch heute noch. Manchmal habe ich einfach Lust, mal wieder eines zu lesen oder auch zu hören. Der Froschkönig gehört zu meinen Lieblingsmärchen.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schroeder's illustrations are very painterly -- her buildings and landscapes remind me a bit of Chirico.



The panels of the frog's transformation are pretty creepy. Although really it is a pretty icky story, especially if, as in this version, you stick with the original smashing-the-frog-against-the-wall part.

The "Iron Henry" subtitle strikes me as totally extraneous: after the frog is re-princed, we meet his servant who has put iron bands around his chest to keep his heart from breaking at the loss of his master (suuuure). No plot function.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! If you are looking for a new take on this tale then this book is for you! The 'transparent' pages add a depth and dimension that is unique! Always a pleasure to see an old story told in a new way. This book will appeal to a wide audience: those who know the story well and those who might be reading it for the first time.

[فؤاد · Rating 3 out of 5]

پس بوسه ی معروف پرنسس و قورباغه کجا رفت؟؟ ((:
ظاهراً از چاشنی های والت دیزنی بوده که به همه ی انیمیشن های اقتباسی ش اضافه می کنه. (:

[Tammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one gorgeous book. The Frog Prince is a classic tale, but is “made special” with the incredible work of Sybille Schenker. Filled with beautiful pictures, translucent and die-cut pictures, both children and adults will love this.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

این سری قرار بود آلمانی این ها رو بخونم ولی فعلا یکم شلوغم، ایشالا جلوتر برم سراغ زبون اصلی‌هاش هم.
یه بحثی تو کتاب ریخت‌شناسی آورده بود می‌گفت شاید خیلی نباید سمت بررسی ساختار رفت برای فیری‌تیل ها اما با توجه به چیزایی که بچه‌ها تو هم‌خوانی گفتند راجع به ساختارش، درآوردن موتیف هاش برام داره جالب میشه.
و اینکه درسته داستان‌ها نمی‌خواد لزوما چیزی پشتون باشه ولی منم کاملا موافق اینم که داستان‌های عامه بخصوص اون‌هایی که از طفولیت می‌گن با هدف آموزش یا تذکر چیزی نقل میشدن.
این‌هم آرمان نکته خوبی گفت و موافقم، داستان داره آماده شدن و وارد شدن خانم برای ازدواج رو بیان می‌کنه.

[Arman · Rating 5 out of 5]

قصه‌های برادران گریم
قصه اول
شاهزاده/شاه قورباغه

قصه "شاهزاده قورباغه، یا هنری آهنین" در دسته‌ی قصه‌های دیو و دلبر قرار می‌گیرد و همان موتیف‌ها را تکرار می‌کند؛ ظاهر شدن خواستگاری زشت، مجبور شدن به همنشینی با خواستگار، و شکستن طلسم او و تبدیل شدنش به شاهزاده.

تفسیرهای بسیاری می‌توان به قصه نسبت داد؛ از جنبه‌های اروتیک بعضی تصویرسازی‌ها که می‌توان با آنها، داستان را به ترس‌های دختران از ازدواج و همنشینی با شوهر جدید ربط داد.
همچنین کل داستان را می‌توان اشاره‌ای به پروسه بلوغ دختر دانست.


پ‌ن: این داستان را از روی ترجمه جک زایپس همخوانی کردیم.

*Jack Zipes

[Manny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even nasty frogs, when little girls look in their minces
Tend to go all soppy and turn into handsome princes

[Amir · Rating 3 out of 5]

نمونه‌ای کلاسیک از girlfriend effect

[Skye Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. Much. Symbolism! While I think there are many ways to interpret this story, I think that pointing out some of the key symbols can be helpful to understand and otherwise strange and rather short story. We have the Frog Prince (or King) who throughout history has represented fertility and life. Placing the Frog in the highest and most respectable position of power cannot be overlooked.

Then we have the Princess who typically represents us, or the soul. She is beautiful (virtuous, chaste, righteous), and starts the story playing with her golden ball (gold often represents divinity or divine, precious qualities). She misplaces her golden ball in the water of a deep well. (Water often represents both life and death). It is returned to her by the Frog Prince, who turns down the Princess’s offer of jewels or her crown in return, and instead requests a direct relationship with her instead (marriage).

The Princess does not want to stick by her word and engage in this relationship with the Frog Prince. She tries to hide away from him and ignore her vow. But when the King, her Father, hears of this, he holds her accountable.

Ultimately, after throwing the poor Frog Prince against a wall when it came time for bed, the creature was transformed into the true Prince, and the eyes of the Princess are opened as he promised to take her away to his Father’s kingdom in the morning, with his servant “Faithful Henry” (faithfulness/fidelity) by their side.

This is a deeply religious story when you take the time to dissect and ponder on the symbols and meanings. I really enjoyed it and love the study of the allegory and the meanings behind the Grimm’s choice of words and symbols.

Really beautiful!

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just read this "classic" version of this story, after reading the adapted version The Frog Prince by Edith Tarcov and finding it sadly lacking. My only prior exposure to the story was a modern version, where the frog is turned into a prince by a kiss from the princess, and having the princess throw the frog against the wall to change him seemed appalling to me.

I was then told by a friend that this was originally a Brothers Grimm tale (I have to admit I didn't know this!), so having a The Complete Fairy Tales of Brothers Grimm, Volume 1 on my bookshelf, I found this original version, translated by Jack Zipes, to compare.The original title of this story in my book is "The Frog King, or Iron Heinrich".

I have to admit I like the original version much better! My Tarcov version had the princess being a very spoiled brat. This classic version, while the princess is still spoiled, she is not nearly as bratty, and seems actually more afraid of the frog that just spiteful and mean.

The language of this version is also much more beautiful, and the ending is explained better with the princess being the only one who could break the spell placed on the frog. None of this was explained in the first book I read.

Thank you Gundula, for making me aware that there was an alternate version of this story! Now I may have to delve further into the Complete Works of the Brothers Grimm.

[Layan · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's some how like the princess and the frog but with a twist

[Ram Alsrougi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frog kissing ❌
Frog throwing against the wall ✔

I'd like to mention how I loved the opening of the story that says:
"In olden times, when wishing still helped".

[مازن]

"Desire for mortal gains and fear of loss hold you back from giving yourself to life."

Audio Book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P34g0...

[Yalın · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hoş bir hikaye, ama en güzel yanı harika çizimleri olması. Çocuklara hitap eden, yumuşak ve keyifli hatlar... 1001 Çiçek Yayınları’nın Dünyaca Ünlü Eserler serisinde bu çizerlerin (Mike Gordon, Carl Gordon) diğer kitaplarını da almaya çalışacağım.

[Chrys Fey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I for sure thought there would've been frog kissing not frog throwing. Haha.

[Esraa Hussien · Rating 3 out of 5]

the lesson is " as you have given your word you must keep it " ..

[Lör K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I stand on this one.

It's so different from the original tale I grew up from (the prince needing a kiss). Also, the Princess is such a spoilt little brat she annoys me. If I were the Prince, I would want nothing to do with her. She treats him with utter disgust when he's a frog, but then he's a handsome Prince and she wants to marry him? Throw her out, mate, you can do better.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! A classic tale, but I hadn't read this version before. Spoilt, judgy princess learns her lesson!

[Scarlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

So apparently there are versions of this story where instead of kissing the frog to turn him back into a prince, she chucks him at a wall because he won’t shut up. Iconic.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been lied to my whole life! There is no kiss in this story.

[Iris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um...Ew.

I can't like this story. Sorry, not sorry. The Princess seems no more than 12. I mean, she goes out to the garden to play with her ball, whines and cries when she loses it, makes an impossible promise to a weird-ass stranger because she wants this toy back so badly, then promptly high tails it out of there when she gets the ball back. I cannot fault her for that. Self preservation, girl!

But then she is made to keep this promise by her...father? Or some warped sense of duty/honor? Is coerced into kissing a frog, who then declares that they shall marry because...why not?

This poor girl. I can't help but feel that the ball was not worth it.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

In part, what a wonderful journey back into childhood reading some of these fairy tales. Also, through the eyes of an adult, it is rather shocking how Hollywood has changed and adapted so many of these wonderful stories into something different from the original.

This is a great, simple, easy little book to read, especially, don't just someone or something by there first impressions. Impressions are everything, but doesn't mean that it is correct.

[Jorge Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read this fable before, but the title was long forgotten inside my head. Here is a story of a somewhat condescending princess who saves an odious frog by breaking its body on a wall which transforms him back into a handsome prince. They then live happily ever after. The end.

[❆ Crystal ❆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This is another popular fairy tale that was written by Grimm.. I had no idea he was the original author. These brothers had wonderful imaginations!

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending is just one giant eye roll. If they're rich, who cares what they looked like.

[Vaishali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of Grimm, as the heroine is rather unkind and ungracious.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very entertaining and interesting Grimm Brothers fairy tale.