STONE BROTH
by Aesop · from Æsop's Fables: A Version for Young Readers
Adapted Version
It rained and rained. A kind man walked and walked. He was wet. He was cold. He was very hungry.
He saw a big house. "They have food!" he said. He walked to the door.
He knocked on the door. A man opened it.
"Please, I am hungry," said the Kind Man.
"No. Go away," said the Man at the Door. He closed the door.
The Kind Man knocked again.
"Please. I am very wet. Can I come in? I just want to get warm."
The Man at the Door looked at him. "Okay. Come in," he said.
The Kind Man walked inside.
The Kind Man went to the kitchen. A cook was there.
"Hello!" said the Kind Man. He held up a small grey stone. "I can make soup. Stone soup! I just need a big pot."
"Stone soup?" said the Cook. "What is stone soup?"
The Cook laughed. "Soup from a stone? Just a stone?"
"Yes!" said the Kind Man. "It is very good soup."
The Cook gave him a big pot. The Kind Man put in water. Then he put in the stone.
The Cook watched. "I want to see this!"
The Kind Man tasted the soup. "Mmm! Good!" he said.
He looked at the Cook. "But it needs a little salt."
"I have salt!" said the Cook. She put salt in the pot.
The Kind Man smiled. "Thank you!"
The Kind Man tasted the soup again. "Mmm! Very good!" he said. "It needs some carrots."
"I have carrots!" said the Cook. She put carrots in the pot.
"And some peas?" asked the Kind Man.
"I have peas too!" She put peas in the pot.
The Kind Man tasted the soup again. "Oh! So good!" he said. "It just needs some chicken."
"I have nice chicken!" said the Cook. She put it in.
The soup smelled so good.
The soup was ready. The Cook got two bowls. She put soup in each bowl.
They sat down. They ate the soup.
"This is yummy!" said the Cook.
"The best soup!" said the Kind Man.
They were happy. They were full.
The Cook looked at the little stone. "How did it make this soup?"
The Kind Man smiled. "It did not. You added all the good things."
He put the stone on the table.
"When we share, we make something wonderful."
They both smiled.
Original Story
STONE BROTH
ONE very stormy day a Poor Man came to a rich man’s house to beg.
“Away with you!” said the servants; “do not come here troubling us.”
Then said the Man, “Only let me come in and dry my clothes at your fire.” This, the servants thought, would not cost them anything; so they let him come in.
The Poor Man then asked the cook to let him have a pan, so that he could make some stone broth.
“Stone broth!” said the cook. “I should like to see how you can make broth out of a stone”; so she gave him a pan. The Man filled it with water from the pump, and then put into it a stone from the road. “But you must have some salt,” said the cook.
“Do you think so?” courteously replied the stranger. She gave him the salt, and before long she added some peas, some mint, and thyme. At last she brought him all the scraps of meat she could find, so that the Poor Man’s broth made him a good dinner.
“You see,” said the Man, “that if you only try long enough, and are cheerful, making the best of what you have, you may at last get what you want.”
Story DNA
Moral
With ingenuity, perseverance, and a positive attitude, one can achieve their goals and even inspire generosity in others.
Plot Summary
A poor man, initially rejected by servants, gains entry to a rich house by asking only to dry his clothes. He then cleverly convinces the cook to help him make "stone broth." Through subtle suggestions, he prompts the cook to add various ingredients, transforming a simple stone and water into a hearty meal. After enjoying his dinner, the man reveals the moral: with ingenuity and a cheerful attitude, one can achieve their desires and inspire generosity.
Themes
Emotional Arc
rejection to satisfaction
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Aesop's fables are ancient, often featuring animals or simple human characters to convey moral lessons, reflecting universal human behaviors and societal structures.
Plot Beats (10)
- A poor man arrives at a rich man's house on a stormy day, seeking alms.
- The servants rudely turn him away.
- The man asks only to come in and dry his clothes, which the servants permit as it costs them nothing.
- Inside, the man asks the cook for a pan to make "stone broth."
- Intrigued and skeptical, the cook provides a pan, and the man fills it with water and a stone.
- The man subtly suggests the broth needs salt, which the cook provides.
- The cook, now invested, spontaneously adds peas, mint, and thyme to the pot.
- Finally, the cook brings all available meat scraps, making the broth a substantial meal.
- The poor man enjoys a good dinner, having successfully created a meal from nothing but a stone and his wits.
- The man explains that with effort, cheerfulness, and making the best of what one has, desires can be met.
Characters
★
The Poor Man
Lean and weathered from a life of hardship and travel, of average height with a sturdy but thin build. His hands are calloused, and his face shows lines of experience, but his eyes retain a spark of resilience.
Attire: Simple, practical, and well-worn peasant clothing suitable for travel in a temperate climate. He wears a coarse, undyed linen tunic, a pair of patched woolen breeches, and sturdy, mud-splattered leather boots. A thick, dark brown wool cloak, currently damp from the storm, is draped over his shoulders.
Wants: To secure warmth, food, and shelter, and to demonstrate the power of ingenuity and optimism.
Flaw: His initial poverty and lack of resources, which force him to rely on the generosity of others.
He successfully secures a meal and warmth, and in doing so, teaches a valuable lesson about resourcefulness and positive thinking to the household staff.
Resourceful, optimistic, patient, charming, and polite. He uses his wit and positive attitude to achieve his goals.
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The Cook
A robust and sturdy woman, with strong arms accustomed to kitchen work. She is of average height, with a practical, no-nonsense demeanor.
Attire: Practical, clean kitchen attire. She wears a plain, long-sleeved white linen shift dress, covered by a large, clean white apron tied securely at the waist. Her sleeves are often rolled up. She wears sturdy, low-heeled leather shoes.
Wants: To maintain order in the kitchen, to satisfy her curiosity, and ultimately, to contribute to a good meal.
Flaw: Her curiosity, which makes her susceptible to the Poor Man's trick.
She transforms from a skeptical observer to an active participant, contributing ingredients and ultimately enjoying the 'broth', learning a lesson about ingenuity.
Skeptical, curious, practical, eventually generous. She is initially wary but easily intrigued by novelty.
○
The Servants
Generic, well-fed but stern figures, likely dressed in livery appropriate for a wealthy household of the era, suggesting a comfortable but rigid existence.
Attire: Formal, dark-colored livery with some contrasting trim, possibly a waistcoat or jacket over a plain shirt, and trousers. Clean and well-maintained, reflecting the status of their employer.
Wants: To protect their master's household from perceived nuisances and maintain order.
Flaw: Their lack of empathy and strict adherence to rules, which makes them initially unhelpful.
They remain unchanged, serving as an initial obstacle for the Poor Man.
Dismissive, unwelcoming, rigid, concerned with appearances and rules.
Locations
Rich Man's House Exterior
The grand exterior of a wealthy man's house, likely a large, well-maintained manor or estate, under very stormy weather conditions.
Mood: Harsh, unwelcoming, exposed to the elements
The Poor Man is initially turned away by the servants at the entrance.
Rich Man's Kitchen
A bustling, well-equipped kitchen in a wealthy household, featuring a large hearth, various cooking implements, and a pump for water. It is warm and active.
Mood: Warm, busy, initially skeptical, later curious and generous
The Poor Man prepares his 'stone broth,' gradually convincing the cook to add ingredients.