The Frog King or Iron Henry

Author: A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories

  • Age3–7
  • Reading time8 min
  • LevelBeginner

Introduction

Almost everyone believes the frog turns back into a prince when the princess kisses him — but in the Brothers Grimm original there is no kiss at all. The spell breaks when the princess, angry and afraid, hurls the frog against the wall. The romantic 'kiss the frog' was added by later retellers. This tale opens the whole Grimm collection (numbered KHM 1), and its full title is actually 'The Frog King, or Iron Henry'. Most modern versions cut the second half, yet faithful Henry is the hero named in the title: so grieved was he when his master became a frog that he bound three iron bands around his heart to keep it from breaking, and when the prince is freed, the bands burst apart one by one, joy shattering sorrow. We have retold this story as a Chinese-style fable, because a fable is short, plain, and pointed: it names the lesson at the end and lets the characters speak for themselves. The tale chimes with two old Chinese sayings — 'never judge a person by his face' and 'a promise weighs a thousand pieces of gold'. Before you read, ask your child one question: did the princess keep what she promised?

Font Size
1 / 25
Stopped
The Frog King or Iron Henry - The princess plays with her golden ball by an old well; when it falls into the water, a frog offers to fetch it back in return for her friendship. - Scene Illustration 1
The princess plays with her golden ball by an old well; when it falls into the water, a frog offers to fetch it back in return for her friendship.
Long ago, a king had a little daughter. She was pretty but a little proud, and she loved her golden ball best of all. Near the castle stood a deep forest, and in the forest there was an old well with cold, dark water.
One hot day, the princess went to the well to play. She tossed her golden ball high, but her hand slipped. The ball fell over the edge and dropped into the water with a splash. The well was so deep that no one could see the bottom.
The princess began to cry. Her tears woke the frog in the well. The frog put his head out of the water and said: "Do not cry, princess. I can bring your ball back. But first you must promise me one thing."
"Tell me what it is," said the princess. The frog answered: "Be my friend. Let me sit beside you at the table, drink from your cup, and sleep in your bed. Promise this, and I will dive down and fetch your ball."
The princess wanted her ball at once, so she said yes without thinking. But in her heart she laughed: an ugly frog from a muddy well, my friend? Once I have my ball, I will forget him.
The frog believed her words. He dived down and soon came up with the ball in his mouth. The princess grabbed the ball and ran off, and she did not look back once, no matter how loudly the frog called her name.
The Frog King or Iron Henry - The next day the frog comes to the castle door to claim the promise; the king hears the story and orders his daughter to keep her word. - Scene Illustration 2
The next day the frog comes to the castle door to claim the promise; the king hears the story and orders his daughter to keep her word.
The next day, the king held a big dinner. The princess sat beside her father and ate from her golden plate. Suddenly a knock came at the door, and a voice sang: "Youngest daughter of the king, open the door. Remember the promise you made by the well."
The princess turned pale. She ran to the door and peeped through the crack. There sat the frog on the step, so she slammed the door shut and hurried back to her seat, breathing hard.
The king asked: "My child, who is at the door? Why do you look so afraid?" The princess hung her head and told him the whole story. She had thought the frog could never leave his well, but here he was, at the castle door.
The king grew stern. "A promise is a debt," he said. "You gave your word, so you must keep it. Go and open the door. Let the frog come in."
The princess dared not disobey her father, so she opened the door. The frog hopped into the hall and followed her closely, all the way to her chair.
The Frog King or Iron Henry - The frog joins the princess at the table and shares her golden plate, then goes further and asks to sleep in her bed. - Scene Illustration 3
The frog joins the princess at the table and shares her golden plate, then goes further and asks to sleep in her bed.
The frog sat at the princess's feet and spoke again. "Lift me onto the chair," he said. "I want to sit beside you." The princess did not move, until her father gave her a look. Then she picked up the frog with two fingers and set him on the chair.
The chair was not enough. The frog jumped onto the table. "Push your golden plate a little closer," he said. "We will eat together." The princess did as he asked, but everyone at the table could see how much she hated it.
The frog ate with a good appetite, but the princess could not swallow a single bite. At last the frog finished his meal. "I am full now, and I am tired," he said. "Take me to your room. Let me sleep on your soft bed."
Tears filled the princess's eyes. This cold, wet frog wanted to sleep in her clean, pretty bed! She did not want to obey, but she dared not break her father's word, so she nodded sadly.
The Frog King or Iron Henry - The princess throws the frog against the wall in anger; a flash of gold reveals a prince, and the two are betrothed. - Scene Illustration 4
The princess throws the frog against the wall in anger; a flash of gold reveals a prince, and the two are betrothed.
In her room, the princess put the frog in a corner and lay down on her bed. But the frog crept after her. "I am as tired as you," he said. "Lift me onto the bed, or I will tell your father."
The princess could not bear it any longer. She jumped up, grabbed the frog, and threw him at the wall with all her strength. "Go away, you hateful frog!" she cried.
Strange to say, the frog did not fall flat. A golden light flashed, and when the light faded, a handsome prince stood there, with bright eyes and a gentle smile.
The prince bowed to her and told his story. He was a prince from a nearby kingdom. A wicked witch had put a spell on him and trapped him in a frog's skin. Only a girl who kept her word and did not judge by looks could break the spell.
The king was overjoyed. He gave the couple his blessing, and soon the two were betrothed. Some days later, the prince got a carriage ready to take the princess back to his own kingdom.
The Frog King or Iron Henry - The prince and princess ride home in a carriage, while faithful Henry's iron bands burst one by one from joy. - Scene Illustration 5
The prince and princess ride home in a carriage, while faithful Henry's iron bands burst one by one from joy.
On the day they left, eight white horses stood at the castle gate, pulling a fine carriage. Behind the carriage stood an old servant. His name was Henry, and he was the prince's most faithful friend.
In the years when the prince lived as a frog, Henry grieved so much that he feared his heart would break. To keep it safe, he quietly bound his chest with three iron bands.
Now his master was free at last. Henry was so full of joy that he followed the carriage all the way, to guard the prince on the road home.
They had not gone far when the prince heard a sharp crack behind him. He turned around and asked: "Henry, has a wheel broken?"
Henry laughed. "No wheel has broken," he said. "Those are the iron bands around my heart. My master is free, and my heart is so happy that the bands are bursting one by one." Just then, two more cracks rang out, and all three bands fell away. This story tells us: keep the promises you make, and never judge a person by his looks, for a kind heart always finds its reward.

Vocabulary from "The Frog King or Iron Henry"

12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.

splashB1
/splæʃ/n.

The sound that water makes when something falls into it.

扑通声；水花溅起的声音。

The ball fell over the edge and dropped into the water with a splash.

金球滚过井沿，「扑通」一声沉进水里。

slipped(slip)B1
/slɪpt/v.

Moved accidentally out of your hand.

（东西从手中）滑落；失手。

She tossed her golden ball high, but her hand slipped.

谁知一时失手，金球滚过井沿，「扑通」一声沉进水里。

fetchB1
/fetʃ/v.

To go somewhere and bring something back.

去取来；拿来。

Promise this, and I will dive down and fetch your ball.

你若应了，我这就下水捞球。

slammed(slam)B1
/slæmd/v.

Shut something with great force and noise.

砰地关上（门等）。

There sat the frog on the step, so she slammed the door shut and hurried back to her seat, breathing hard.

果然是那只青蛙蹲在台阶上，吓得她「砰」地关上门，跑回桌边直喘气。

sternB2
/stɜːn/adj.

Serious and strict, showing no weakness.

严肃的；严厉的。

The king grew stern.

国王沉下脸来。

disobeyB2
/ˌdɪsəˈbeɪ/v.

To refuse to do what someone in charge tells you to do.

违抗；不服从（命令）。

The princess dared not disobey her father, so she opened the door.

公主不敢违拗父王，只好开了门。

appetiteB2
/ˈæpɪtaɪt/n.

The feeling of wanting to eat.

食欲；胃口。

The frog ate with a good appetite, but the princess could not swallow a single bite.

青蛙吃得有滋有味，公主却一口也咽不下去。

swallowB1
/ˈswɒləʊ/v.

To make food go down your throat.

吞咽；咽下。

The frog ate with a good appetite, but the princess could not swallow a single bite.

青蛙吃得有滋有味，公主却一口也咽不下去。

wickedB1
/ˈwɪkɪd/adj.

Very bad and cruel.

恶毒的；邪恶的。

A wicked witch had put a spell on him and trapped him in a frog's skin.

他本是邻国的王子，被恶毒的女巫施了咒，困在青蛙的皮囊里。

spellB1
/spel/n.

Magic words or magic power that changes someone.

魔咒；法术。

A wicked witch had put a spell on him and trapped him in a frog's skin.

他本是邻国的王子，被恶毒的女巫施了咒，困在青蛙的皮囊里。

grieved(grieve)B2
/ɡriːvd/v.

Felt very great sadness.

悲痛；伤心难过。

In the years when the prince lived as a frog, Henry grieved so much that he feared his heart would break.

王子被咒成青蛙的那些年，亨利日日忧心，只怕自己心碎而死。

faithfulB1
/ˈfeɪθfəl/adj.

Always loyal and supporting someone.

忠诚的；忠实的。

His name was Henry, and he was the prince's most faithful friend.

车后站着一位老仆人，名叫亨利，是王子最忠心的随从。

Reading Together & Learning More

The Moral

A promise, once made, must be kept, and never judge a person by his looks, for a kind heart matters more than a handsome face.

Educational Value

Teaches children the value of keeping promises and of treating others kindly, and helps them see that a good heart matters more than a pretty face.

Tips for Parents

After reading, ask your child where the princess went wrong and how they would treat the frog. You can also make a small promise together and enjoy the joy of keeping your word.

Talk About It

  1. The princess said yes to the frog without meaning it. What is the difference between a careless promise and a true one?
  2. The king insisted that the princess keep her word. Without her father's insistence, what do you think she would have done?
  3. In the original, the spell breaks not from a kiss but from the princess throwing the frog. Why do you think that act broke the curse?
  4. Henry was so sad for his master that he bound iron bands around his heart. Have you ever worried that much about someone?
  5. If you were the princess, would you have said yes to the frog at the beginning? Why or why not?

You May Also Like

Bearskin - A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories - Fairy Tale Illustration

Bearskin

Long ago, a poor soldier with nowhere to go made a seven-year pact with the Devil: no washing, no combing, no cutting, no prayer, in exchange for endless gold. Wrapped in a bearskin, he wandered the world — feared by all, yet kind at heart, giving to the poor wherever he went. On the seventh year he found his faithful bride with a broken ring, while her two vain sisters were undone by their own envy.

A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories
A Riddling Tale - A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories - Fairy Tale Illustration

A Riddling Tale

Three women are turned into flowers that look exactly alike. How does a husband pick out his own wife? The answer hides in a single drop of dew.

A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories
The Rabbit and the Maiden - A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories - Fairy Tale Illustration

The Rabbit and the Maiden

For three days a hare steals the cabbages, then tricks the maiden onto its tail and carries her home to be its bride. The maiden turns the trick around, leaves a straw double in her place, and slips home unnoticed.

A Brothers Grimm Tale · Retold as a Fable by DozyStories