Once upon a time a frog
Croaked away in Bingle Bog
Every night from dusk to dawn
He croaked awn and awn and awn
Other creatures loathed his voice,
But, alas, they had no choice,
And the crass cacophony
Blared out from the sumac tree
At whose foot the frog each night
Minstrelled on till morning night
Neither stones nor prayers nor sticks.
Insults or complaints or bricks
Stilled the frogs determination
To display his heart’s elation.
But one night a nightingale
In the moonlight cold and pale
Perched upon the sumac tree
Casting forth her melody
Dumbstruck sat the gaping frog
And the whole admiring bog
Stared towards the sumac, rapt,
And, when she had ended, clapped,
Ducks had swum and herons waded
To her as she serenaded
And a solitary loon
Wept, beneath the summer moon.
Toads and teals and tiddlers, captured
By her voice, cheered on, enraptured:
“Bravo! ” “Too divine! ” “Encore! ”
So the nightingale once more,
Quite unused to such applause,
Sang till dawn without a pause.
Next night when the Nightingale
Shook her head and twitched her tail,
Closed an eye and fluffed a wing
And had cleared her throat to sing
She was startled by a croak.
“Sorry – was that you who spoke? ”
She enquired when the frog
Hopped towards her from the bog.
“Yes,” the frog replied. “You see,
I’m the frog who owns this tree
In this bog I’ve long been known
For my splendid baritone
And, of course, I wield my pen
For Bog Trumpet now and then”
“Did you… did you like my song? ”
“Not too bad – but far too long.
The technique was fine of course,
But it lacked a certain force”.
“Oh! ” the nightingale confessed.
Greatly flattered and impressed
That a critic of such note
Had discussed her art and throat:
“I don’t think the song’s divine.
But – oh, well – at least it’s mine”.
“That’s not much to boast about”.
Said the heartless frog. “Without
Proper training such as I
– And few others can supply.
You’ll remain a mere beginner.
But with me you’ll be a winner”
“Dearest frog”, the nightingale
Breathed: “This is a fairy tale –
And you are Mozart in disguise
Come to earth before my eyes”.
“Well I charge a modest fee.”
“Oh! ” “But it won’t hurt, you’ll see”
Now the nightingale inspired,
Flushed with confidence, and fired
With both art and adoration,
Sang – and was a huge sensation.
Animals for miles around
Flocked towards the magic sound,
And the frog with great precision
Counted heads and charged admission.
Though next morning it was raining,
He began her vocal training.
“But I can’t sing in this weather”
“Come my dear – we’ll sing together.
Just put on your scarf and sash,
Koo-oh-ah! ko-ash! ko-ash! ”
So the frog and nightingale
Journeyed up and down the scale
For six hours, till she was shivering
and her voice was hoarse and quivering.
Though subdued and sleep deprived,
In the night her throat revived,
And the sumac tree was bowed,
With a breathless, titled crowd:
Owl of Sandwich, Duck of Kent,
Mallard and Milady Trent,
Martin Cardinal Mephisto,
And the Coot of Monte Cristo,
Ladies with tiaras glittering
In the interval sat twittering –
And the frog observed them glitter
With a joy both sweet and bitter.
Every day the frog who’d sold her
Songs for silver tried to scold her:
“You must practice even longer
Till your voice, like mine grows stronger.
In the second song last night
You got nervous in mid-flight.
And, my dear, lay on more trills:
Audiences enjoy such frills.
You must make your public happier:
Give them something sharper snappier.
We must aim for better billings.
You still owe me sixty shillings.”
Day by day the nightingale
Grew more sorrowful and pale.
Night on night her tired song
Zipped and trilled and bounced along,
Till the birds and beasts grew tired
At a voice so uninspired
And the ticket office gross
Crashed, and she grew more morose –
For her ears were now addicted
To applause quite unrestricted,
And to sing into the night
All alone gave no delight.
Now the frog puffed up with rage.
“Brainless bird – you’re on the stage –
Use your wits and follow fashion.
Puff your lungs out with your passion.”
Trembling, terrified to fail,
Blind with tears, the nightingale
Heard him out in silence, tried,
Puffed up, burst a vein, and died.
Said the frog: “I tried to teach her,
But she was a stupid creature –
Far too nervous, far too tense.
Far too prone to influence.
Well, poor bird – she should have known
That your song must be your own.
That’s why I sing with panache:
“Koo-oh-ah! ko-ash! ko-ash! ”
And the foghorn of the frog
Blared unrivalled through the bog.
About the Poet
Vikram Seth (born 1952) is an Indian poet, novelist, and translator known for his versatility and craftsmanship in both prose and poetry. He gained international recognition with his novel A Suitable Boy (1993). His poetry collections, including Beastly Tales from Here and There (1991), showcase his ability to blend wit, moral lessons, and engaging storytelling. “The Frog and the Nightingale” is one of the fables from Beastly Tales, offering a satirical take on power, manipulation, and artistic integrity.
Background of the Poem
“The Frog and the Nightingale” is a modern fable that was first published in Beastly Tales from Here and There. The poem is written in rhyming couplets and follows the tradition of Aesop’s fables, where animals symbolize human traits and behaviors. The story explores themes of exploitation, self-doubt, and the dangers of blind obedience. Through the characters of the cunning frog and the naïve nightingale, Vikram Seth provides a critique of society’s treatment of talent and creativity.
Summary of the Poem
The poem narrates the story of a frog who lives in a bog and croaks loudly, much to the annoyance of other creatures. One night, a melodious nightingale arrives and enchants the inhabitants with her beautiful singing. The jealous frog manipulates the nightingale by pretending to be an expert in music. He offers to train her, imposing strict and exhausting regimens that ultimately drain her physically and emotionally. The nightingale, eager to please and lacking confidence, follows his harsh instructions. Over time, her voice deteriorates, and she dies from exhaustion and heartbreak. The frog, unfazed, resumes his croaking, symbolizing the triumph of mediocrity over genuine talent.
Main Themes
- Exploitation and Manipulation – The frog preys on the nightingale’s innocence and self-doubt, using her talent for his own benefit.
- Artistic Integrity vs. Commercialism – The nightingale represents genuine artistic talent, while the frog symbolizes exploitative critics who stifle originality.
- Self-Doubt and Low Self-Esteem – The nightingale’s downfall is caused by her inability to trust her own abilities and judgment.
- Jealousy and Competition – The frog, unable to match the nightingale’s talent, resorts to deception to maintain his dominance.
- Mediocrity vs. Excellence – The frog’s monotonous croaking outlasts the nightingale’s extraordinary voice, highlighting how mediocrity often suppresses true brilliance.
Poetic Devices Used in the Poem
- Allegory – The poem serves as an allegory for human society, reflecting issues of power, control, and artistic suppression.
- Personification – The frog and the nightingale are given human-like qualities to convey deeper messages.
- Rhyme Scheme – The poem is written in rhyming couplets, enhancing its musical and fable-like quality.
- Irony – The nightingale, despite being talented, falls victim to manipulation, whereas the untalented frog remains unaffected.
- Symbolism – The nightingale symbolizes natural talent, while the frog represents exploitative critics or gatekeepers.
- Satire – The poem critiques society’s tendency to stifle creativity through rigid norms and self-serving mentors.
Essay Questions for Further Exploration
- How does Vikram Seth use the fable form to convey moral lessons in “The Frog and the Nightingale”?
- Discuss the theme of manipulation in the poem. How does the frog exploit the nightingale’s innocence?
- How does the poem reflect the struggles faced by artists in a commercial and critical world?
- Compare and contrast the characters of the frog and the nightingale. What do they symbolize?
- What role does self-confidence play in the nightingale’s fate? How could she have avoided her downfall?
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- What is the primary setting of the poem? a) A dense forest
b) A noisy city
c) A quiet bog
d) A meadow
Answer: c) A quiet bog - How does the frog react to the nightingale’s singing initially? a) He appreciates it
b) He becomes jealous
c) He ignores it
d) He sings along with her
Answer: b) He becomes jealous - What does the frog pretend to be? a) A music critic
b) A wise old sage
c) A famous singer
d) A mentor and trainer
Answer: d) A mentor and trainer - What ultimately happens to the nightingale? a) She escapes from the bog
b) She defeats the frog in a singing competition
c) She dies from exhaustion and heartbreak
d) She becomes the most famous singer in the land
Answer: c) She dies from exhaustion and heartbreak - What does the frog do after the nightingale’s death? a) He mourns her loss
b) He leaves the bog
c) He resumes his croaking
d) He trains another bird
Answer: c) He resumes his croaking - What moral lesson does the poem convey? a) Talent always leads to success
b) One should always trust external criticism
c) Self-confidence is crucial for survival
d) Hard work is more important than talent
Answer: c) Self-confidence is crucial for survival - In which collection was “The Frog and the Nightingale” published? a) The Golden Gate
b) Beastly Tales from Here and There
c) Mappings
d) A Suitable Boy
Answer: b) Beastly Tales from Here and There - What does the frog’s constant croaking symbolize? a) The power of persistence
b) The dominance of mediocrity over true talent
c) The beauty of nature’s sounds
d) A celebration of life
Answer: b) The dominance of mediocrity over true talent