THE SPARROW and THE BUSH
by Unknown · from Cossack Fairy Tales and Folk Tales
Adapted Version
A little Sparrow wanted a swing. It saw a big green Bush. Sparrow flew to the Bush. "Bush, give me a swing!" Sparrow said. Bush said, "No, I will not!" Sparrow was cross.
Sparrow went to the Goat. "Goat, eat the Bush leaves!" Sparrow said. Goat said, "No, I will not give swing."
Sparrow went to the Wolf. "Wolf, chase the Goat!" Sparrow said. Wolf said, "No, I will not eat leaves."
Sparrow went to the Villagers. "Villagers, scare the Wolf!" Sparrow said. Villagers said, "No, we will not chase Goat."
Sparrow went to the Soldiers. "Soldiers, scare the Villagers!" Sparrow said. Soldiers said, "No, we will not scare Wolf."
Sparrow went to the Fire. "Fire, make the Soldiers run!" Sparrow said. "Soldiers won't scare the Villagers." Fire said, "No, I will not!"
Sparrow went to the Water. "Water, make the Fire small!" Sparrow said. "Fire won't make Soldiers run." Water said, "No, I will not!"
Sparrow went to the Ox. "Ox, drink the Water!" Sparrow said. "Water won't make Fire small." Ox said, "No, I will not!"
Sparrow went to the Axe. "Axe, poke the Ox!" Sparrow said. "Ox won't drink the Water." Axe said, "No, I will not!"
Sparrow went to the Worms. "Worms, make the Axe shaky!" Sparrow said. "Axe won't poke the Ox." Worms said, "No, we will not!"
Sparrow went to the Hen. "Hen, wiggle the Worms!" Sparrow said. "Worms won't make Axe shaky." Hen said, "No, I will not!" "Ask the Hawk," Hen said.
Sparrow went to the Hawk. "Hawk, chase the Hen!" Sparrow said. Hawk started to chase the Hen.
Hawk chased the Hen. Hen wiggled the Worms. Worms made the Axe shaky. Axe poked the Ox. Ox drank the Water. Water made the Fire small. Fire made the Soldiers run. Soldiers scared the Villagers. Villagers scared the Wolf. Wolf chased the Goat. Goat ate the Bush leaves.
Bush cried, "Stop! I will give a swing!" And the little Sparrow got its swing. It was very happy!
Original Story
THE SPARROW AND THE BUSH
THE SPARROW AND THE BUSH
A sparrow once flew down upon a bush and said, “Little bush, give good little sparrow a swing.”––“I won’t!” said the little bush. Then the sparrow was angry, and went to the goat and said, “Goat, goat, nibble bush, bush won’t give good little sparrow a swing.”––“I won’t!” said the goat.––Then the sparrow went to the wolf and said, “Wolf, wolf, eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give good little sparrow a swing.”––“I won’t!” said the wolf.––Then the sparrow went to the people and said, “Good people, kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give good little sparrow a swing.”––“We won’t!” said the people.––Then the sparrow went to the Tartars and said, “Tartars, Tartars, slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give good little sparrow a swing.”––But the Tartars said, “We won’t slay the people!” and the people said, “We won’t kill the wolf!” and the wolf said, “I won’t eat the goat!” and the goat said, “I won’t nibble the bush!” and the bush said, “I won’t give the good little sparrow a swing.”––“Go!” said the bush, “to the fire, for the Tartars won’t slay the people, and the people won’t kill the wolf, and the wolf won’t eat the goat, and the goat won’t nibble the bush, and the bush won’t give the dear little sparrow a swing.”––But the fire also said, “I won’t!” (they were all alike)––“go to the water,” said he.––So the sparrow went to the water and said, “Come water, quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars won’t slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give good little sparrow a swing.”––But the water also said, “I won’t!” So the sparrow went to the ox and said, “Ox, ox, drink water, water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars won’t slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give little sparrow a swing.”––“I won’t!” said the ox.––Then the sparrow went to the pole-axe and said, “Pole-axe, pole-axe, strike ox, ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars won’t slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give little sparrow a swing.”––“I won’t!” said the pole-axe.––So the sparrow went to the worms and said, “Worms, worms, gnaw pole-axe, pole-axe won’t strike ox, ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars won’t slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give little sparrow a swing.”––“We won’t!” said the worms.––Then the sparrow went to the hen and said, “Hen, hen, peck worms, worms won’t gnaw pole-axe, pole-axe won’t strike ox, ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars won’t slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give little sparrow a swing.”––“I won’t!” said the hen, “but go to the sparrow-hawk, he ought to give the first push, or why is he called the Pusher!”[14]––So the sparrow went to the sparrow-hawk and said, “Come, pusher, seize hen, hen won’t peck worms, worms won’t gnaw pole-axe, pole-axe won’t strike ox, ox won’t drink water, water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars won’t slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give little sparrow a swing.”
Then the sparrow-hawk began to seize the hen, the hen began to peck the worms, the worms began to gnaw the pole-axe, the pole-axe began to hit the ox, the ox began to drink the water, the water began to quench the fire, the fire began to burn the Tartars, the Tartars began to slay the people, the people began to kill the wolf, the wolf began to eat the goat, the goat began to nibble the bush, and the bush cried out:
Story DNA
Moral
Even the smallest action can set off a chain of events, and persistence can eventually achieve a desired outcome.
Plot Summary
A small sparrow wants a swing from a bush, but the bush refuses. Angered, the sparrow embarks on a quest to find an entity powerful enough to compel the bush. It sequentially asks a goat, wolf, people, Tartars, fire, water, ox, pole-axe, and worms to act upon the previous entity, but all refuse. Finally, the sparrow asks a hen, who also refuses but directs the sparrow to a sparrow-hawk. The sparrow-hawk agrees to act, initiating a reverse chain reaction where each entity acts upon the one before it, ultimately leading to the goat nibbling the bush, and the bush crying out, implying the sparrow finally gets its swing.
Themes
Emotional Arc
frustration to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Cumulative tales are found across many cultures and often serve as memory aids or entertainment for children, relying on repetition and a build-up of events.
Plot Beats (14)
- A sparrow asks a bush for a swing, but the bush refuses.
- The sparrow asks a goat to nibble the bush, but the goat refuses.
- The sparrow asks a wolf to eat the goat, but the wolf refuses.
- The sparrow asks people to kill the wolf, but they refuse.
- The sparrow asks Tartars to slay the people, but they refuse.
- The sparrow asks fire to burn the Tartars, but the fire refuses.
- The sparrow asks water to quench the fire, but the water refuses.
- The sparrow asks an ox to drink the water, but the ox refuses.
- The sparrow asks a pole-axe to strike the ox, but the pole-axe refuses.
- The sparrow asks worms to gnaw the pole-axe, but the worms refuse.
- The sparrow asks a hen to peck the worms, but the hen refuses and suggests the sparrow-hawk.
- The sparrow asks the sparrow-hawk to seize the hen.
- The sparrow-hawk begins to seize the hen, which causes the hen to peck the worms, the worms to gnaw the pole-axe, the pole-axe to strike the ox, the ox to drink the water, the water to quench the fire, the fire to burn the Tartars, the Tartars to slay the people, the people to kill the wolf, the wolf to eat the goat, and the goat to nibble the bush.
- The bush cries out, implying it finally gives the sparrow a swing.
Characters
The Sparrow
A small, agile bird, about 5-6 inches long, with a compact body and short, conical beak. Its plumage is predominantly brown and grey, with streaked patterns on its back and wings, and a lighter, dull greyish-white belly. It has a distinctive dark brown cap and a black bib under its chin.
Attire: Natural plumage of brown, grey, and black streaked feathers.
Wants: To get a swing from the bush, and to achieve its goal by any means necessary.
Flaw: Stubbornness and a tendency to escalate minor issues into major conflicts.
Starts as a frustrated individual, becomes a relentless orchestrator of a complex chain of events, ultimately achieving its initial simple desire through extreme measures.
Persistent, determined, easily angered, somewhat demanding, resourceful.
The Bush
A dense, leafy shrub, perhaps a hawthorn or blackthorn, with many intertwined branches and sharp thorns. Its leaves are a vibrant green, and it might bear small, inconspicuous flowers or berries depending on the season. It is sturdy and firmly rooted in the ground.
Attire: Its natural form of leaves, branches, and thorns.
Wants: To remain undisturbed, to not provide a swing.
Flaw: Vulnerability to being nibbled by a goat.
Starts as an uncooperative entity, becomes the final link in a chain of escalating threats, and eventually cries out in fear, implying it will now provide the swing.
Stubborn, uncooperative, initially defiant, ultimately yielding under pressure.
The Goat
A medium-sized domestic goat with shaggy, off-white or light brown fur. It has a lean, muscular build, with short, curved horns that point backward. Its legs are slender but strong, and it has a small, pointed beard.
Attire: Its natural shaggy fur.
Wants: To avoid nibbling the bush, then to avoid being eaten by the wolf.
Flaw: Fear of the wolf.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Stubborn, initially uncooperative, easily swayed by a greater threat.
The Wolf
A large, powerful grey wolf with thick, coarse fur that is a mix of grey, brown, and black, with lighter fur on its belly and muzzle. It has a strong, muscular body, a bushy tail, and sharp claws. Its eyes are piercing and intelligent.
Attire: Its natural thick fur.
Wants: To avoid eating the goat, then to avoid being killed by the people.
Flaw: Fear of humans.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially indifferent, predatory, easily intimidated by a greater threat.
The People
A small group of sturdy, common folk, perhaps peasants or villagers, dressed in practical, durable clothing suitable for manual labor. They are of average height and build, with weathered hands and faces from working outdoors.
Attire: Simple, functional attire typical of Eastern European or Central Asian peasants of an indeterminate historical period. This might include rough linen tunics, wool trousers or skirts, and sturdy leather boots. Colors are muted earth tones like browns, greys, and undyed linen.
Wants: To avoid killing the wolf, then to avoid being slain by the Tartars.
Flaw: Vulnerability to the Tartars.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially indifferent, practical, easily intimidated by a greater threat.
The Tartars
A group of formidable warriors, likely of Central Asian or Eastern European nomadic origin. They are lean, muscular, and hardened by a life of horseback riding and warfare. Their skin is tanned and rugged.
Attire: Traditional Tartar or Mongol-inspired warrior attire: leather or lamellar armor over thick felt or wool tunics, sturdy leather boots, and possibly fur-lined caps or helmets. They carry bows, quivers of arrows, and curved sabers. Colors are earthy and practical, like browns, greys, and dark reds.
Wants: To avoid slaying the people, then to avoid being burned by the fire.
Flaw: Vulnerability to fire.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially indifferent, fierce, easily swayed by a greater threat (fire).
The Fire
A vibrant, dancing flame, perhaps a small bonfire or a controlled blaze. It is composed of flickering reds, oranges, and yellows, with wisps of smoke rising. It has an ephemeral, shifting form.
Attire: Its natural form of burning flames.
Wants: To avoid burning the Tartars, then to avoid being quenched by water.
Flaw: Vulnerability to water.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially uncooperative, destructive, easily quenched by water.
The Water
A body of clear, flowing water, perhaps a stream or a small pond. It is reflective and appears cool and fluid, with gentle ripples on its surface.
Attire: Its natural form of flowing water.
Wants: To avoid quenching the fire, then to avoid being drunk by the ox.
Flaw: Vulnerability to being drunk by the ox.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially uncooperative, fluid, easily drunk by an ox.
The Ox
A large, powerful draft ox, with a broad, muscular body covered in short, coarse brown or reddish-brown fur. It has a prominent hump on its shoulders and large, curved horns that sweep outwards. Its eyes are placid but strong.
Attire: Its natural short, coarse fur.
Wants: To avoid drinking the water, then to avoid being struck by the pole-axe.
Flaw: Vulnerability to the pole-axe.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially uncooperative, placid, easily struck by a pole-axe.
The Pole-axe
A heavy, two-handed weapon or tool, consisting of a long wooden shaft (about 5-6 feet) topped with a sharp, heavy axe blade on one side, a spike on the other, and a hammerhead or fluke on the back. The metal parts are dark, aged steel, and the shaft is sturdy, polished wood.
Attire: Its natural form of wood and steel.
Wants: To avoid striking the ox, then to avoid being gnawed by worms.
Flaw: Vulnerability to worms.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially uncooperative, inanimate, easily gnawed by worms.
The Worms
A writhing mass of small, segmented earthworms, pinkish-brown in color, with soft, cylindrical bodies. They are typically found in soil, appearing slimy and flexible.
Attire: Their natural segmented bodies.
Wants: To avoid gnawing the pole-axe, then to avoid being pecked by the hen.
Flaw: Vulnerability to the hen.
Starts as uncooperative, becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially uncooperative, collective, easily pecked by a hen.
The Hen
A plump, domestic hen with soft, ruffled brown and white feathers. She has a small red comb on her head and red wattles under her chin. Her legs are scaly and yellowish, and she has a short, pointed beak.
Attire: Her natural plumage of brown and white feathers.
Wants: To avoid pecking the worms, then to avoid being seized by the sparrow-hawk.
Flaw: Vulnerability to the sparrow-hawk.
Starts as uncooperative, but uniquely offers a solution (the sparrow-hawk), then becomes a participant in the chain reaction out of fear.
Initially uncooperative, practical, easily seized by a sparrow-hawk, also a clever problem-solver by suggesting the sparrow-hawk.
The Sparrow-hawk
A sleek, predatory bird of prey, smaller than a falcon but larger than a sparrow. It has sharp, hooked talons and a keen, hooked beak. Its plumage is slate-grey on the back and wings, with fine reddish-brown barring on its white breast and belly. Its eyes are bright yellow and piercing.
Attire: Its natural plumage of slate-grey and reddish-brown barred feathers.
Wants: To seize the hen, fulfilling its natural role.
Flaw: None shown, acts as the ultimate enforcer.
Introduced as the final catalyst, immediately initiating the chain reaction without hesitation.
Predatory, decisive, acts immediately upon being called.
Locations
The Bush in the Meadow
A solitary bush, likely a thorny or dense variety common in European meadows, standing in an open field. The ground is covered in short grass and possibly wildflowers. The air is clear and bright.
Mood: Initially peaceful and ordinary, becoming increasingly tense and frustrated for the sparrow.
The sparrow's initial request for a swing and the bush's refusal, setting off the chain of events.
Rural European Landscape
A composite of various natural and semi-natural settings where the sparrow encounters different characters: a pasture for the goat and ox, a forest for the wolf, a village or field for the people, and a water source like a stream or pond.
Mood: Expansive, slightly chaotic due to the sparrow's frantic journey, but ultimately interconnected.
The sparrow's journey across the landscape, sequentially approaching each character to enlist their help.