The Frog by Hilaire Belloc (1907)
This narrative revolves around a frog who lives near a pond and has a unique perspective on life. The story explores the frog's observations of nature and its inhabitants, often with a sense of detachment and irony. Through the frog's voice, the narrative critiques societal norms and conventions, presenting a satirical commentary on human behavior.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1907 · Genre: Children's Poetry, Humor, Animal Fiction · 127 words
First lines
Be kind and tender to the Frog, And do not call him names, As 'Slimy skin,' or 'Polly-wog,' Or likewise 'Ugly James,' Or 'Gap-a-grin,' or 'Toad-gone-wrong,' Or 'Bill Bandy-knees': The Frog is justly sensitive To epithets like these.
No animal will more repay A treatment kind and fair; At least so lonely people say Who keep a frog (and, by the way, They are extremely rare).
Oh! My!
What this Textopian page supports
The Frog is listed on Textopian as a poem by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1907 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Poetry, Humor, Animal Fiction, Didactic
- Length: 127 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Frog by Hilaire Belloc
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Frog?
- How does this poem by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Big Baboon by Hilaire Belloc
- The Rhinoceros by Hilaire Belloc
- The Learned Fish by Hilaire Belloc
- The Lion by Hilaire Belloc
- The Camel by Hilaire Belloc
- The Broom The Shovel The Poker And The Tongs by Edward Lear
Genres
- Children's Poetry — The work is a short, whimsical poem with simple language and a playful tone, typical of children's poetry.
- Humor — The poem uses humorous language and playful insults, creating a lighthearted and amusing tone.
- Animal Fiction — The poem centers around a frog, attributing human-like sensitivity to the animal, a common trait in animal fiction.
- Didactic — The poem conveys a moral lesson about kindness and sensitivity towards others, characteristic of didactic literature.
Tags
Fable · Children's Literature · Poetry · Satire · Humor · Animal Story · Rhyming Verse · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Morality Tale · Cautionary Story · Illustrated Book