THE WEE BANNOCK
by Flora Annie Webster Steel · from English Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
An old woman lived in a small house. She made two bannocks. She put them by the fire. The Old Man came. He ate one. The other bannock was scared. It ran away. It rolled and rolled.
The Old Woman saw it. She ran after it. She had a spindle. She had a distaff. The Wee Bannock rolled fast. It rolled far away.
The Wee Bannock rolled to a house. Tailors were there. A woman was there. They saw the bannock. They wanted it. They ran after it. The Wee Bannock rolled fast. It rolled away.
The Wee Bannock rolled to a house. A weaver was there. His wife was there. They saw it. They tried to catch it. The Wee Bannock rolled fast. It rolled away.
The Wee Bannock rolled on. A woman made butter. She saw it. She tried to catch it. She missed it. The Wee Bannock rolled fast. It rolled away.
The Wee Bannock rolled to a mill. A miller was there. He was hungry. He wanted it. The Wee Bannock rolled away. It rolled to a smithy. A smith was there. He wanted it. The Wee Bannock rolled away fast.
The Wee Bannock rolled on. A man and woman worked. They saw it. They tried to catch it. The Wee Bannock rolled away. It rolled to a house. People stirred soup. They wanted it. It rolled away fast.
The Wee Bannock rolled to a house. A family ate. They saw it. They tried to catch it. The Wee Bannock rolled out. It rolled away fast.
It was dark now. The Wee Bannock rolled on. A man and woman were there. They saw it. They tried to catch it. The Wee Bannock rolled away. It rolled fast.
It was very dark. The Wee Bannock was tired. It saw a hole. It was a fox's home. The Wee Bannock rolled inside. It wanted to rest. Can you guess what happened next?
A fox was in the hole. The fox was hungry. "Hello!" said the fox. It ate the Wee Bannock. It ate it fast. The fox was very clever. That was the end.
Original Story
THE WEE BANNOCK
Once upon a time there was an old man and his old wife who lived in a wee cottage beside a wee burnie. They had two cows, five hens, and a cock, a cat and two kittens. Now the old man looked after the cows, the cock looked after the hens, the cat looked after a mouse in the cupboard, and the two kittens looked after the old wife's spindle as it twirled and tussled about on the hearthstone. But though the old wife should have looked after the kittens, the more she said, "Sho! Sho! Go away, kitty!" the more they looked after the spindle!
So, one day, when she was quite tired out with saying, "Sho! Sho!" the old wife felt hungry and thought she could take a wee bite of something. So she up and baked two wee oatmeal bannocks and set them to toast before the fire. Now just as they were toasting away, smelling so fresh and tasty, in came the old man, and seeing them look so crisp and nice, takes up one of them and snaps a piece out of it. On this the other bannock thought it high time to be off, so up it jumps and away it trundles as fast as ever it could. And away ran the old wife after it as fast as she could run, with her spindle in one hand and her distaff in the other. But the wee bannock trundled faster than she could run, so it was soon out of sight, and the old wife was obliged to go back and tussle with the kittens again.
The wee bannock meanwhile trundled gaily down the hill till it came to a big thatched house, and it ran boldly in at the door and sate itself down by the fireside quite comfortably. Now there were three tailors in the room working away on a big bench, and being tailors they were, of course, dreadfully afraid, and jumped up to hide behind the goodwife who was carding wool by the fire.
"Hout-tout!" she cried. "What are ye a-feared of? 'Tis naught but a wee bit bannock. Just grip hold o' it, and I'll give ye a sup o' milk to drink with it."
So up she gets with the carders in her hands, and the tailor had his iron goose, and the apprentices, one with the big scissors and the other with the ironing-board, and they all made for the wee bannock; but it was too clever for them, and dodged about the fireside until the apprentice, thinking to snap it with the big scissors, fell into the hot ashes and got badly burnt. Then the tailor cast the goose at it, and the other apprentice the ironing-board; but it wouldn't do. The wee bannock got out at the doorway, where the goodwife flung the carders at it; but it dodged them and trundled away gaily till it came to a small house by the road-side. So in it ran bold as bold and sate itself down by the hearth where the wife was winding a clue of yarn for her husband, the weaver, who was click-clacking away at his loom.
"Tibby!" quoth the weaver. "Whatever's that?"
"Naught but a wee bannock," quoth she.
"Well, come and welcome," says he, "for the porridge was thin the morn; so grip it, woman! grip it!"
"Aye," says she, and reaches out her hand to it. But the wee bannock just dodged.
"Man!" says she, "yon's a clever wee bannockie! Catch it, man! Catch it if you can."
But the wee bannock just dodged. "Cast the clue at it, woman!" shouted the weaver.
But the wee bannock was out at the door, trundling away over the hill like a new tarred sheep or a mad cow!
And it trundled away till it came to a cowherd's house where the goodwife was churning her butter.
"Come in by," cried the goodwife when she saw the wee bannock all crisp and fresh and tasty; "I've plenty cream to eat with you."
But at this the wee bannock began dodging about, and it dodged so craftily that the goodwife overset the churn in trying to grip it, and before she set it straight again the wee bannock was off, trundling away down the hill till it came to a mill-house where the miller was sifting meal. So in it ran and sate down by the trough.
"Ho, ho!" says the miller. "It's a sign o' plenty when the likes of you run about the country-side with none to look after you. But come in by. I like bannock and cheese for supper, so I'll give ye a night's quarters." And with that he tapped his fat stomach.
At this the wee bannock turned and ran; it wasn't going to trust itself with the miller and his cheese; and the miller, having nothing but the meal to fling after it, just stood and stared; so the wee bannock trundled quietly along the level till it came to the smithy where the smith was welding horse-nails.
"Hullo!" says he, "you're a well-toasted bannock. You'll do fine with a glass of ale! So come in by and I'll give you a lodging inside." And with that he laughed, and tapped his fat stomach.
But the wee bannock thought the ale was as bad as the cheese, so it up and away, with the smith after it. And when he couldn't come up with it, he just cast his hammer at it. But the hammer missed and the wee bannock was out of sight in a crack, and trundled and trundled till it came to a farm-house where the goodman and his wife were beating out flax and combing it. So it ran in to the fireside and began to toast itself again.
"Janet," says the goodman, "yon is a well-toasted wee bannock. I'll have the half of it."
"And I'll take t'other half," says the goodwife, and reached out a hand to grip it. But the wee bannock played dodgings again.
"My certy," says the wife, "but you're spirity!" And with that she cast the flax comb at it. But it was too clever for her, so out it trundled through the door and away was it down the road, till it came to another house where the goodwife was stirring the scalding soup and the goodman was plaiting a thorn collar for the calf. So it trundled in, and sate down by the fire.
"Ho, Jock!" quoth the goodwife, "you're always crying on a well-toasted bannock. Here's one! Come and eat it!"
Then the wee bannock tried dodgings again, and the goodwife cried on the goodman to help her grip it.
"Aye, mother!" says he, "but where's it gone?"
"Over there!" cries she. "Quick! run to t'other side o' yon chair." And the chair upset, and down came the goodman among the thorns. And the goodwife she flung the soup spoon at it, and the scalding soup fell on the goodman and scalded him, so the wee bannock ran out in a crack and was away to the next house, where the folk were just sitting down to their supper and the goodwife was scraping the pot.
"Look!" cries she, "here's a wee well-toasted bannock for him as catches it!"
"Let's shut the door first," says the cautious goodman, "afore we try to get a grip on it."
Now when the wee bannock heard this it judged it was time to be off; so away it trundled and they after it helter-skelter. But though they threw their spoons at it, and the goodman cast his best hat, the wee bannock was too clever for them, and was out of sight in a crack.
Then away it trundled till it came to a house where the folk were just away to their beds. The goodwife she was raking out the fire, and the goodman had taken off his breeches.
"What's yon?" says he, for it was nigh dark.
"It will just be a wee bannock," says she.
"I could eat the half of it," says he.
"And I could eat t'other," quoth she.
Then they tried to grip it; but the wee bannock tried dodging. And the goodman and the goodwife tumbled against each other in the dark and grew angry.
"Cast your breeches at it, man!" cries the goodwife at last. "What's the use of standing staring like a stuck pig?"
So the goodman cast his breeches at it and thought he had smothered it sure enough; but somehow it wriggled out, and away it was, the goodman after it without his breeches. You never saw such a race—a real clean chase over the park, and through the whins, and round by the bramble patch. But there the goodman lost sight of it and had to go back all scratched and tired and shivering.
The wee bannock, however, trundled on till it was too dark even for a wee bannock to see.
Then it came to a fox's hole in the side of a big whinbush and trundled in to spend the night there; but the fox had had no meat for three whole days, so he just said, "You're welcome, friend! I wish there were two of you!"
And there were two! For he snapped the wee bannock into halves with one bite. So that was an end of it!
Story DNA
Moral
Even the cleverest can be outsmarted by a more cunning adversary, and freedom can be fleeting.
Plot Summary
A freshly baked oatmeal bannock, fearing it will be eaten, springs to life and rolls away from the old couple who made it. It embarks on a lively journey, cleverly evading numerous villagers—including tailors, a weaver, a miller, and a smith—who all try to catch and eat it, often resulting in comical mishaps for its pursuers. After a long day of trundling and dodging, the bannock seeks shelter in a fox's hole in the dark, only to be immediately devoured by the hungry fox, bringing its adventurous escape to an abrupt end.
Themes
Emotional Arc
playful escape to sudden demise
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects a rural, pre-industrial Scottish setting where food was precious, and daily life involved manual labor and simple homes. The 'wee bannock' is a common motif in European folk tales, often called 'The Gingerbread Man' in other cultures.
Plot Beats (11)
- An old wife bakes two oatmeal bannocks; her husband eats one, prompting the other to flee.
- The wee bannock escapes the old wife, who gives chase with her spindle and distaff.
- It enters a tailor's house, where it dodges the tailors, their goodwife, and their tools, causing an apprentice to fall into ashes.
- It then runs into a weaver's house, where it cleverly evades the weaver and his wife, who try to catch it for supper.
- The bannock next encounters a churning goodwife, causing her to overturn her churn in pursuit.
- It outwits a miller, who wants to eat it with cheese, and a smith, who wants it with ale, both of whom tap their stomachs.
- It escapes a couple beating flax, dodging their comb, and then a couple stirring soup, causing the goodman to fall into thorns and get scalded.
- It evades a family sitting down to supper, who try to shut the door and throw spoons and a hat at it.
- In the dark, it escapes a couple going to bed, who throw breeches at it, leading to a comical chase.
- Finally, in complete darkness, the wee bannock trundles into a fox's hole for shelter.
- The hungry fox, delighted, immediately eats the bannock in one bite.
Characters
The Wee Bannock ★ protagonist
A small, round, flat cake made of oatmeal, well-toasted to a crisp, golden-brown color. It is firm enough to roll and dodge, suggesting a sturdy, dense texture.
Attire: N/A (food item)
Wants: To escape being eaten and to maintain its freedom, exploring the world as it rolls along.
Flaw: Its ultimate vulnerability is its edibility and small size, making it an easy target for a predator.
It begins as a simple food item, gains sentience and a desire for freedom, experiences a series of escapes, and ultimately meets its demise, fulfilling its purpose as food.
Clever, spirited, evasive, independent, and somewhat mischievous. It enjoys its freedom and outsmarting those who try to catch it.
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, perfectly round, golden-brown oatmeal bannock, crisp and well-toasted, depicted in mid-roll, with a sense of swift motion. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Wife ◆ supporting
A small, likely stooped elderly woman, with the weariness of a life of domestic chores. Her movements are described as 'as fast as she could run,' suggesting a surprising burst of energy despite her age.
Attire: Simple, practical Scottish peasant clothing of the era: a long, dark, homespun wool or linen dress, possibly with an apron, and sturdy, comfortable shoes. Her clothing would be functional for household tasks.
Wants: To have a 'wee bite of something' to eat, and later, to retrieve her runaway bannock.
Flaw: Her age and weariness limit her ability to pursue the bannock effectively; she gives up relatively quickly.
She initiates the bannock's journey by baking it and then attempting to catch it. She quickly returns to her routine after failing.
Exasperated, practical, easily tired, but also determined when something she made tries to escape. She has a touch of a scolding nature (towards the kittens).
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly Scottish woman, slightly stooped, with a wrinkled face and grey hair pulled back in a simple bun. She wears a dark, homespun linen dress with a plain apron and sturdy leather shoes. She holds a wooden spindle in one hand and a distaff in the other. Her expression is one of mild exasperation. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Man ○ minor
An elderly man, likely with a sturdy build from looking after cows. His actions suggest a simple, perhaps slightly impulsive nature (snapping a piece of bannock).
Attire: Practical, homespun Scottish peasant clothing: a rough wool jacket or waistcoat, a simple linen shirt, sturdy trousers, and work boots. His attire would be suited for farm work.
Wants: To satisfy his hunger.
Flaw: His hunger and lack of foresight inadvertently trigger the bannock's escape.
His action of eating a bannock sets the entire plot in motion, but he does not pursue the runaway bannock.
Simple, direct, hungry, and somewhat thoughtless (taking a bite without considering the other bannock's fate).
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly Scottish man with a weathered face and a short grey beard. He wears a dark, homespun wool waistcoat over a cream linen shirt, sturdy brown trousers, and worn leather boots. He stands by a hearth, reaching out a hand towards a toasting bannock with a hungry expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Fox ⚔ antagonist
A lean, cunning fox, likely with a reddish-brown coat, bushy tail, and sharp features, indicative of a creature that has been hungry for days.
Attire: N/A (animal)
Wants: To find food and satisfy his hunger, having gone without meat for three days.
Flaw: His hunger makes him vulnerable to any opportunity, but also makes him a formidable predator.
He appears at the very end of the story to fulfill his natural role as a predator, bringing the bannock's journey to an abrupt end.
Cunning, patient, opportunistic, and driven by hunger. He is polite in his greeting but ruthless in his actions.
Image Prompt & Upload
A lean, adult fox with a reddish-brown coat, a bushy tail, and a pointed snout. Its eyes are bright and intelligent, with a hungry glint. It is poised low to the ground, looking alert and cunning. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Old Couple's Wee Cottage
A small, humble cottage, likely with stone walls and a thatched roof, featuring a hearthstone where a spindle twirls and two wee oatmeal bannocks toast before a fire, filling the air with a fresh, tasty smell.
Mood: Cozy, domestic, initially peaceful but quickly becomes chaotic and lively.
The wee bannock is baked, takes its first bite, and makes its escape, initiating the entire chase.
Image Prompt & Upload
A warm, rustic Scottish cottage interior. A rough-hewn stone hearth dominates the foreground, with a small, crackling fire casting flickering light on the surrounding timber walls. Two round, golden-brown oatmeal bannocks sit on a griddle, gently toasting before the flames, emitting faint wisps of steam. A wooden spindle lies on the flagstone floor nearby. Soft morning light filters through a small, leaded-pane window, illuminating dust motes in the air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Tailors' Thatched House
A big thatched house, likely a traditional Scottish croft or cottage, where three tailors work on a large bench and a goodwife cards wool by the fireside. The interior is bustling with activity and tools of the trade.
Mood: Busy, industrious, initially startled and then comically frantic.
The wee bannock's first major encounter, where it cleverly evades capture by a group of people and their tools.
Image Prompt & Upload
The interior of a large, traditional Scottish thatched house. A long, sturdy wooden workbench occupies the center, cluttered with fabric scraps, needles, and thimbles. Three tailors, dressed in simple woolen clothes, are in various states of surprise, one clutching a heavy iron goose. By a stone hearth, a goodwife with a kerchief on her head holds wool carders. The floor is packed earth, and the walls are rough plaster over stone. Warm, diffused daylight streams in through a small window, highlighting the texture of the thatched ceiling above. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Weaver's Small Roadside House
A small house situated by the roadside, where a weaver operates a click-clacking loom and his wife winds yarn by the hearth. The air is filled with the rhythmic sounds of weaving.
Mood: Industrious, humble, and quickly becomes animated with the chase.
The wee bannock continues its escape, outsmarting the weaver and his wife, who are eager for a meal.
Image Prompt & Upload
A humble, small Scottish croft interior by a roadside. A large, intricate wooden loom dominates one side of the room, with threads stretched taut, and a weaver's shuttle poised. The weaver, a man with calloused hands, sits intently. By the stone hearth, his wife winds a clue of yarn, her hands moving deftly. The room is sparsely furnished, with rough-hewn timber beams supporting the ceiling and a simple wooden table. Soft, natural light enters through a small, deep-set window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Fox's Hole in the Whinbush
A dark fox's hole burrowed into the side of a large, thorny whinbush, providing a hidden, natural shelter.
Mood: Eerie, desolate, and ultimately fatal.
The final destination of the wee bannock, where its journey abruptly ends.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dark, moonless night scene in a Scottish moorland. A massive, spiky whinbush (gorse bush) with dense, thorny branches dominates the foreground, its silhouette jagged against the faint starlight. At its base, a small, dark opening indicates a fox's den, barely visible in the gloom. The ground is rough, covered in sparse, tough grasses and scattered stones. The air is still and cold, conveying a sense of quiet desolation. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
