ENG125: In-depth Analysis of The Little Corroboree Frog Text

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of 'The Little Corroboree Frog' by Tracey Holton Ramirez, focusing on its literary genre as narrative realistic fiction and its alignment with the Australian Curriculum. It examines the literary elements, including visual features, plot construction based on Freytag’s Pyramid, and character development, emphasizing how the story conveys ideas, perspectives, and ethical values related to environmental responsibility. The analysis explores the use of figurative language, irony, and foreshadowing to shape meaning and influence reader responses, particularly in young learners. Furthermore, the essay discusses the potential use of the text in a curriculum unit to enhance students' writing skills and promote social action, supported by the inclusion of intertexts like 'Tiddalick the Frog,' 'The Two-Hearted Numbat,' and 'Lester and Clyde' to foster critical thinking and cultural awareness. The essay concludes by highlighting the importance of these stories in providing diverse perspectives and promoting indigenous cultures.

Running head: IMPORTANCE OF THE LITTLE CORROBOREE FROG
IMPORTANCE OF THE LITTLE CORROBOREE FROG
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1IMPORTANCE OF THE LITTLE CORROBOREE FROG
Answer to Question 1
Genre
The Little Corroboree Frog belongs to the genre of narrative realistic fiction (Holton-
Ramirez and Ramirez, 2013). Employed with the qualities of a fable, where animals can talk
in human tongue and interact with humans, the story exquisitely presents a realistic picture of
how human beings are ignorantly destroying the ecosystem every day (McDonald, 2018).
Although short and crisp, the story has all the literary devices that are typical of an engaging
piece of literature.
Text Chosen
Presented in a lucid language, with sporadic use of comparatively difficult terms to
strike a child’s inquisitive chord, and detailed illustrations, the book gives a strong social
message in the simplest of methods, which is appropriate for primary school children. The
story helps in cognitive development of the students, at the same time raising a social and
environmental awareness among them. The fine use of literary elements and techniques
appeals to the impressionable minds of the children, developing their critical thinking
capability at the same time. Thus it adheres to the pre-requisites listed by the Australian
Curriculum for its inclusion into children’s syllabus.
Answer to Question 2
Within the corpus of its short length, it may be said that The Little Corroboree Frog
adheres to Freytag’s Pyramid of plot construction, where the climactic point is reached when
the fate of the tadpoles stand on uncertain grounds (Li, et al. 2017). The theme of perverse
human activities taking a heavy toll on the endangered species on the micro level and the
whole environment on the macro, is beautifully established through the narrative. The visual

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impact created by the illustration further adds on to the intellectual vision. The balance in the
symmetrical positioning of the formal text and cartoonized illustrations help in this process.
Balance has been maintained in the use of close, mid-range and long shot picture which
successfully establishes a social relationship between the characters and the viewer (Callow,
2013). The use of rich colour and organic shapes in the illustration finely describes the
marshy setting and the characters’ interaction with it, allowing a child’s imagination to have a
full play. It helps a child to empathize with the characters’ problems which is furthered by the
third person narration. The character of a Grandmother Frog adds on to the story-telling
element. In the garb of a child-like story, the story presents a serious conflict between
characters and circumstances.
Answer to Question 3
The idea of compassionate interaction among the human and animal world
concentrates on the ethical values and responsibilities of human beings towards the
environment, thereby shaping the perspectives of children to behave responsibly in their
interactions with the ecosystem. For this purpose, the author has craftily made use of
figurative language, using harsh consonants to portray the harsh realities. The immediate
issue of rubbish dumping gets magnified in the Grandmother Frog’s claim of the summers
getting hotter, thereby addressing the universal conflict global warming against the well-
being of living creatures. Hyperbolic statements like the child’s description of the frog’s
beautiful colours – “most beautiful colours and patterns on Jet’s back” – furthers the
compassionate element of children so that they can interact with the environment in a more
friendly manner (Holton-Ramirez and Ramirez, 2013). The story also gives ideas about the
living condition of frogs, and shows how small acts of negligence by humans have a severe
impact on other species. A combination of didactic and engaging element is further

3IMPORTANCE OF THE LITTLE CORROBOREE FROG
heightened by the use of large fonts and vivid colourful images. The use of language is apt,
where short, epigrammatic sentences add on to the environmental awareness, about pollution,
climate change and animal rights for even the smallest of species (Derewianka and Jones,
2016).
Answer to Question 4
The plot, circling around the life of the Southern Corroboree Frog in a marshy setting,
and the need for natural resources like water for the progress of their species acquires a
universal dimension, whereby the habitat of all living creatures are in conflict with ignorant
human activities. Irony lies in the fact that human the human acts are intended towards
making the earth a better place to live, to which they succeed immediately, but ends up
overlooking the bigger picture of long term well-being of the human race, as it can only be
possible if they can successfully cohabit with their environment, which they fail to do (Dynel
2014). The anxiety of Jet, presented from a third person point of view foreshadows the
dangers looming large over the human race. The conflict sandwiched between a happy
beginning and end provokes subtly influences the reader to identify their own activities which
contributes to environmental degradation, and seek alternative paths.
Answer to Question 5
The Little Corroboree Frog is a viable option for inclusion in school curriculum as it
adheres to the propositions of the Australian Curriculum for young learners and develops not
only their cognitive but also their writing skills. The text can trigger social action amongst the
children as proposed in the Australian Curriculum (ACELA 1447), or propagate exploration
of the texts in the context of the community as well as the individual (ACELA 1656)

4IMPORTANCE OF THE LITTLE CORROBOREE FROG
(Australiancurriculum.edu.au, 2018). It would also facilitate a comparative analysis of the
literary devices like plot, character and setting (ACELA 1584). These understandings and
consequent actions can be channelized through encouragement for writing. A basic idea of
sentence construction, grammar, vocabulary and cohesive similarities and difference between
written and spoken language would be formed, which would influence the children to write
responsibly and innovatively on similar issues (Docs.acara.edu.au, 2018). Their writing skills
would be developed, which would be further enhanced if their curriculum encourages
reactionary write-ups or new stories from their understanding of the mentor text, thereby
making responsible citizens who uses the pen to create and protect the environment.
Answer to Question 6
The three chosen intertexts are Tiddalick the Frog who caused a Flood by Robert
Roenfeidt, The Two-Hearted Numbat by Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina, and Lester and
Clyde by James Reece. They serve a similar social purpose as the mentor text. A study of
their similarities and differences along with that of the mentor text fulfils the intended
purpose of The Little Corroboree Frog. All the chosen intertexts stories relate to animals,
which would be entertaining for the children, at the same time provoking critical thinking
among them regarding important social and environmental issues concerning perverse human
activities. Besides providing food for thought, excellent illustrations have every potential to
create such a vivid impact that it may move the learners into action. They present a different
perspective and enlighten the learners about the ugliness which they endorse from the eyes of
species which they consider to be ugly, and shows how the lives are those creatures are
equally beautiful and important. There lies the paradox. Another unique feature that is subtly
conveyed through the texts and illustrations is the art and power possessed by indigenous
cultures and stories. The fact that most of the writers and illustrators have an Australian

5IMPORTANCE OF THE LITTLE CORROBOREE FROG
aboriginal lineage further highlights the fact, and the inclusion of these stories in the
curriculum would provide aboriginal culture the credit it deserves.

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Reference List
Australiancurriculum.edu.au. 2018. English. [online] Available at:
https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/english/ [Accessed 13 Sep. 2018].
Callow, J. 2013. The shape of text to come. 1st ed. Primary English Teaching Association
Australia (PETAA).
Derewianka, B. and Jones, P. 2016. Teaching Language in Context. 2nd ed. Oxford
University Press.
Docs.acara.edu.au. 2018. [online] Available at: http://docs.acara.edu.au/resources/English_-
_Sequence_of_content.pdf [Accessed 14 Sep. 2018].
Dynel, M., 2014. Linguistic approaches to (non) humorous irony. Humor, 27(4), pp.537-550.
Holton-Ramirez, T. and Ramirez, A. 2013. The little corroboree frog. Broome, W.A.:
Magabala Books.
Li, B., Cardier, B., Wang, T. and Metze, F., 2017. Annotating High-Level Structures of Short
Stories and Personal Anecdotes. arXiv preprint arXiv:1710.06917.
McDonald, L. 2018. A literature companion for teachers. 2nd ed. PRIMARY ENGLISH
TEACHING ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA (PETAA).