Hop-Frog is the protagonist of the story and, by its conclusion, is presented as an anti-hero. He’s taken from his home country and given to the king as a present. The king names him “Hop-Frog” because he’s a little person (or “dwarf”) with unusual bodily proportions and has an additional disability that affects his gait. However, his considerable muscle mass allows him to “perform many feats of wonderful dexterity” (Paragraph 7), such as climbing and rope work, and he has incredible wit. Back home, this may have been a strength or just an average trait, but in the story’s kingdom, his cleverness isn’t valued as an attribute, and the king doesn’t view him as an equal or even as a man. The king merely values Hop-Frog’s wit as a jester; his size and disability make him the butt of jokes, further dehumanizing him.

Poe’s depiction of Hop-Frog builds empathy for him because it demonstrates the abuse that he and Trippetta endure under the king. Even so, Hop-Frog is an anti-hero. Although the king’s treatment of him is reprehensible and his escape seems entirely justifiable, he escapes via morally questionable means: deception and murder. Poe uses intense

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now