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The Tyrant Frog

A fable by Ambrose Bierce

Lesson planWorksheet

Snake swallows a frog; dark animal humor.

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The Tyrant Frog

A Snake swallowing a frog head-first was approached by a Naturalist with a stick.

"Ah, my deliverer," said the Snake as well as he could, "you have arrived just in time; this reptile, you see, is pitching into me without provocation."

"Sir," replied the Naturalist, "I need a snakeskin for my collection, but if you had not explained I should not have interrupted you, for I thought you were at dinner."

What is he mocking?
Predators who call their victims the aggressors, and rescuers who act only for their own gain.

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Discussion questions

  1. What were the Snake's motivations for deceiving the Naturalist?
  2. How might the story change if told from the Frog's perspective?
  3. Can you think of a real-life situation where appearances were misleading?

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Good night.

Tomorrow night: The Salt Merchant and His Ass