NAME OF THE STORYTELLER:

JODIE FLETCHER

TITLE OF THE STORY:

THE KING'S BARGAIN

STORY SOURCE MATERIAL:

A story adaptation from various Folktale sources

TALETYPE:

Parable/Folktale

STORY RATING:

General Audience (Children especially)

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY OF THE STORY:

The King’s Bargain is a parable which demonstrates how “discontentment” can lead one to become unhappy and dissatisfied with one’s “lot” in life, and begin to seek happiness and fulfillment in what others possess. The king of this story decides he is tired of being king and despises his lot in life and seeks happiness in what others have, by offering to “trade” positions with them. The king finally finds what he thinks is a “suitable” trade and the “peasant” whom he trades with thinks he has made the deal of the century. In the end both discover they were much happier with what God have given them, and both return to their “lot-in-life” to happily rule over their respective kingdoms.