The Crocodile by Oliver Herford
A crocodile attempts to host a dinner party but faces repeated rejections from various animals. Initially, she invites a fox, who declines due to prior commitments with a bird. Next, she reaches out to a goat, but he responds too late, having accidentally eaten her invitation. Frustrated, the crocodile invites two rabbits, only to find they are also unavailable due to another engagement. In a last-ditch effort, she invites some eels, but they respond coldly and do not attend. The crocodile grows increasingly disheartened, feeling misunderstood and unappreciated, ultimately resigning herself to the possibility of starving alone. The narrative explores themes of social rejection, miscommunication, and the crocodile's growing despair as she grapples with her failed attempts to connect with others.
By Oliver Herford · First published 1910 · Genre: Children's Literature, Humor, Poetry · 242 words
First lines
A crocodile once dropped a line To a Fox to invite him to dine; But the Fox wrote to say _He was dining, that day,_ _With a Bird friend_, and begged to decline.
She sent off at once to a Goat.
"Pray don't disappoint me," she wrote; But he answered too late, _He'd forgotten the date,_ _Having thoughtlessly eaten her note_.
The Crocodile thought him ill-bred, And invited two Rabbits instead; But the Rabbits replied, _They were hopelessly tied_ _By a previous engagement_, and fled.
What this Textopian page supports
The Crocodile is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Herford, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oliver Herford
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Humor, Poetry, Fable, Fantasy
- Length: 242 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Crocodile by Oliver Herford
- 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 Crocodile?
- How does this short story by Oliver Herford fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Prince Pompom by Oliver Herford
- The Bold Bad Butterfly by Oliver Herford
- The Elf The Dormouse by Oliver Herford
- The Naughty Fay by Oliver Herford
- The Prodigal Centipede by Oliver Herford
- The Gifted Ant by Oliver Herford
Genres
- Children's Literature — The poem features anthropomorphic animals and simple themes suitable for a young audience.
- Humor — The poem employs wit and irony in the interactions between the Crocodile and other animals.
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing rhyme and meter characteristic of poetry.
- Fable — The narrative conveys moral lessons through the behavior of animals, typical of fables.
Tags
Fiction · Children's Literature · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Animal Story · Crocodile · Wildlife · Nature · Imagination · Fantasy · Realism