For the Literary Types Among Us:

Anne Sexton's Transformations

Sandra M. Gilbert's "A Year Later"

For Those Less Discerning Types:

(i.e. the bad poetry found on the web)

"The Frog Prince" (from the frog's point of view)

"Frog Princes" (Ouch)

For Those of More Musical Persuasions:

Peter Gabriel "Kiss That Frog"

The Muppets "Frog Prince"

A Summary of What Is Out There:

Yes folks, much of this really is a bit out there, but there are some real poems

dealing with some of the real motifs of the original tale. Unfortunately these

are hard to find. It seems that poetry is not the chosen genre through which to

retell the "Frog Prince" fairy tale. Poetry tends to borrow the motifs to make

their own points rather than to make a new version of the tale.

Anne Sexton is the one poet who retells the actual story. It is a dark and

twisted version, as we should expect. The entire context of incest is a new

interpretation she puts on the tale.The sliminess and evilness of the frog

is represented in this poem more strongly than in the others.

"A Year Later" only borrows the motifs of the "Frog Prince". The poem deals

with less-than-fairy-tale-perfect-love. The speaker analyzes past relationships and

sees that they have been mostly escapist illusions of real love. Alas, her lover was more

frog than prince, and she chose to overlook this small detail.

As for the bad poetry section, it is amazing what gets put out on the web.

But, snide comments aside, the first poem is a funny look from one conceited

frog's perspective. There were also a lot of gratuitious quotes and bad Anne

Sexton imitations. The second poem is a bitter look at men, "look at the men these

days, and you'll see why princesses kiss toads." It kept the motifs of the "Frog Prince"

but did not retell the story.

As for the muppets, well, just imagine Kermit sitting down on his log,

glorifying being a frog. And as for Peter Gabriel, he uses the fairy tale as an

allegory for a relationship. He tries to show that sometimes frogs are princes and

hopefully, thereby convinces some woman that she wants to go out with him.

In Conclusion I will just say that the motifs of the familiar fairy tale, the

"Frog Prince" are useful cultural contexts in which to discuss many issues of