Reading Notes, Jewish Fairy Tales, Part B

Notes on The Fairy Frog

(Frog Illustration from Wikipedia Commons)

Plot: An old man tells his son on his death bed that he wants him to go to the market and buy the first thing someone offers him as it will bring him good fortune. The old man dies so the son does as he wishes. He purchases a silver box for a large sum. When he gets home he opens the box on the Passover feast to discover a frog. The son and his wife then feed the frog but it eats so much that they have none left for themselves. The frog gets so large it needs its own shed and the son and his wife are facing increasing hardships but they still follow the old man's dying wish. Finally, the frog says for your kindness I will grant you your wishes. The wife asks for food and a food basket appears immediately. The son asks for knowledge and the frog has him eat papers and after that, he knows all, even the language of animals. He becomes one of the most learned sages. Then the frog speaks again on another day and says it is time to repay them for their kindness. He calls birds and beasts and has them bring herbs and jewels from the earth. The frog gives them all of this for obeying the father's dying wish and not questioning the frog. Then he shrinks to the size of a normal frog and disappears into the forest. The son and his wife go home with their riches and become famous for their wealth and knowledge and live happily.

Characters: The first character is the dying father who makes the wish on his death bed. Then there is the son, Hanina, who follows his father's dying wish. Then there is his wife, who is unnamed, that agrees to follow the father's wishes. The frog is the final character and it is revealed at the end that he is a fairy son of Adam who can take any shape he wishes.

Setting: This story is set during biblical times in a Jewish town.

Lesson: The lesson in this story is that by respecting the wishes of the dead you will be rewarded greatly.

Ideas: I like the moral of this story in respecting the dead. I would like to tell a new story with this same message. Probably the same plot with someone on their death bed giving what seems to be a strange final wish and by following this wish the listener is rewarded in some way. I would like the main character to be a woman probably. I am unsure if I would keep the mythical portion with a magical creature.

Source: This story came from Jewish Fairy Tales and Legends by Gertrude Landa