The Brothers Grimm collected a variety of stories. Each one was a differing version of an ancient tale told throughout generations. One of those retellings is that of The Frog King or Iron Henry. This narrative branched from an old Greek story: Cupid and Psyche. Both contain similarities and differences.
The heroine of both stories was born into a privileged family. The two meet and end up living with a creature. They have their doubts about this monster and attempt to get rid of it. At that point, the being makes itself known as a handsome prince. However, there are differences in the details of both stories.
Cupid and Psyche revolves around Greek gods. As such, it mostly features godly powers, teaching readers from a religious perspective. The Frog King, on the other hand, focuses on fantastical magic. The kind used by witches. After all, it was a witch who transformed the prince into an amphibian. Another difference can be seen in the heroine's view of the creature over time. The princess in the Grimm version was always disgusted with the frog. Psyche, however, gained her disgust after hearing rumors of the creature being a monster. Upon hearing these things, she is told to take a knife and stab the man while he is sleeping. Psyche agrees to. Going to stab him, she realizes he's not a hideous monster, but a beautiful, other-worldly being. The princess in The Frog King makes her discovery when she throws the frog at the wall, and it becomes a prince.
Regardless of differences, both texts teach a valuable lesson: not to judge someone based on what's outside.
