[JACK and the BEANSTALK](#contents)
by Unknown · from Favorite Fairy Tales
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Adapted Version
Once there was a boy named Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor. Jack liked to play. He did not like to work. They had no food. They had one cow. Jack's Mother said, "Sell the cow, Jack."
Jack took the cow to town. He met a man. The man had magic beans. Jack traded the cow for the beans. He went home. Jack's Mother was very sad. "These are just beans!" she said. She threw the beans out the window.
The next morning, Jack looked outside. A big plant grew there. It was a giant beanstalk. It went up, up, up. It touched the sky. Jack felt happy.
Jack climbed the beanstalk. He saw a big castle. He went inside. The Giant's Wife was there. She helped Jack hide. A big Giant came home. He smelled Jack. "Fee-fi-fo-fum!" he roared. The Giant ate food. He fell asleep. Jack took bags of gold.
Jack went down the beanstalk. He gave the gold to his mother. They were happy for a while. Then they needed more food. Jack was brave. He wanted to see more. He climbed the beanstalk again.
Jack went to the castle. The Giant's Wife helped him hide. The Giant came home. "Fee-fi-fo-fum!" he roared. He had a Golden Hen. The hen laid gold eggs. The eggs were shiny. The Giant slept. Jack took the hen.
Jack went down with the hen. Jack's Mother was very happy. They had many gold eggs. Jack was brave. He wanted more adventure. He wanted to see more things. Jack climbed the beanstalk again.
Jack went to the castle. The Giant's Wife let him in. She helped him hide. Jack hid in a big pot. The Giant came home. "Fee-fi-fo-fum!" he roared.
The Giant had a Magic Harp. The harp played music. It was very beautiful. The Giant slept. Jack took the harp. The harp sang loudly. "Master! Master!" it cried. The Giant woke up.
Jack ran very fast. The Giant ran after him. The Giant made big steps. He was very loud. Jack ran to the beanstalk. He went down, down, down.
Jack reached the ground. He called to his mother. "Axe! Axe!" he cried. Jack's Mother gave him an axe. Jack chopped the beanstalk. He chopped it very fast. The beanstalk fell down.
The Giant fell far, far away. He was gone. Jack and his mother were safe. They were very happy. Jack was not lazy anymore. He was brave and helpful. They lived happily ever after. Being brave and kind is good.
Original Story
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
JACK was an idle, lazy boy who would do no work to support his widowed mother; and at last they both came to such poverty that the poor woman had to sell her cow to buy food to keep them from starving. She sent Jack to market with the cow, telling him to be sure and sell it for a good price.
As Jack was going along the road to market he met a butcher. The butcher offered to buy the cow in exchange for a hatful of colored beans. Jack thought the beans looked very pretty, and he was glad to be saved the long hot walk to market; so he struck the bargain on the spot and went back to his mother with the beans, while the butcher went off with the cow.
But the poor widow was very disappointed. She scolded her son for an idle, lazy, good-for-nothing boy, and flung the beans out of the window in a passion.
Now the beans were magic beans, and the next morning, when Jack awoke, he found some of them had taken root in the night and had grown so tall, that they reached right up into the sky.
Jack was full of wonder and curiosity; and, being fond of adventure and excitement, he set out at once to climb the beanstalk, to see what was up at the top of it.
And he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed—until at last he climbed right up to the very tiptop of the beanstalk.
Then he found himself standing in a strange country. In the distance he could see a big castle; and, as he was hot and tired with his long climb, he thought he would go and ask for something to eat and drink.
He had not gone very far before he met a fairy, who told him that the castle belonged to a wicked ogre, who had killed and eaten a great number of people.
"It was he who killed your father," she said. "And it is your duty to do your utmost to destroy the wicked monster. Go now, and see what you can do. If you can carry off any of his treasures you are at liberty to do so—for none of them really belongs to him. He has taken them all by force from the people whom he has robbed and killed."
Jack was delighted at the idea of this adventure, and set off in high spirits towards the castle.
The castle was farther off than he had thought, and by the time he reached the gates, it was so late that he made up his mind to ask for a night's lodging. There was a woman standing in the doorway; but when Jack made his request, she was very frightened, and said—
"Indeed, I dare not take you in and give you food and lodging. My husband is an ogre who lives on human flesh. If he were to find you here, he would think nothing of eating you up in three mouthfuls. I advise you to go away at once, before he comes home."
But when she saw how tired and hungry Jack really was, she took him into the house and gave him plenty to eat and drink. While Jack was eating his food in the kitchen there came a loud knocking at the door. The ogre's wife, in a great flurry, hid Jack in the oven, and then hurried to let her husband in. Jack peeped through the oven door, and saw a terrible-looking ogre, who came stamping into the kitchen, and said in a voice like thunder—
"Wife, I smell fresh meat!"
"It is only the people you are fattening in the dungeon," said the wife.
So the ogre sat down and ate his supper. After supper, he commanded his wife to bring him his money-bags. He then began to count his money—thousands and thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
Jack wished he could take some of this money home to his mother; and, presently, when the ogre fell asleep, he crept out of his hiding-place, and hoisting the bags upon his shoulder, slipped quietly away with them. The ogre was snoring so loudly that it sounded like the wind in the chimney on a stormy night. So he never heard the little noise Jack made, and Jack got safely away and escaped down the beanstalk.
His mother was overjoyed to see him, for she had been very anxious about him when he did not come home the night before; and she was delighted with the bags of money, which were enough to keep them in comfort and luxury for some time.
For many months Jack and his mother lived happily together; but after a while the money came to an end, and Jack made up his mind to climb the beanstalk again, and carry off some more of the ogre's treasures. So one morning he got up early, put on a different suit of clothes, so that the ogre's wife should not recognize him, and set out to climb the beanstalk.
Jack and the BeanstalkDown Came the Beanstalk, Down Came the Ogre
And he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed—until at last he climbed to the very top and found himself in the ogre's country again.
When he reached the castle the ogre's wife was again standing in the doorway. But when Jack asked for a night's lodging, she said she dared not give him one, for only a few months before she had taken in a poor boy who seemed half dead with fatigue and hunger, and in return for her kindness, he had stolen some of her husband's money and run away in the night.
But Jack begged so hard that at last she relented. She gave him a good supper and hid him in a closet before her husband came home.
Presently there was a great noise outside and heavy footsteps that shook the castle to its foundations. It was the ogre come home. As soon as he entered the kitchen, he sniffed suspiciously, and said:
"I smell fresh meat!"
"It is only the crows on the housetops," said his wife. "They have brought home a piece of carrion for their young."
After supper, the ogre told his wife to fetch his hen. This hen was a very wonderful bird. Whenever the ogre said "Lay" she laid an egg of solid gold. Jack thought that if he could only get this wonderful hen to take home to his mother, they would never want any more. So when the ogre fell asleep—as he did after a little while—he came out of the closet, and, seizing the hen in his arms, made off with her. The hen squawked, but the ogre's snoring was like the roaring of the sea when the tide is coming in, and Jack got safely down the beanstalk.
The hen laid so many golden eggs that Jack and his mother became quite rich and prosperous; and there was really no need for Jack to go again to the ogre's country. But he liked the danger and excitement, and he remembered that the fairy had told him to take as many of the ogre's treasures as he could; and at last, without saying a word to anybody, he started off once more to climb the magic beanstalk.
And he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed—until at last he reached the very tiptop, and stood in the ogre's country.
This time when he reached the castle he began to be afraid that the ogre's wife really would not let him in.
"Indeed and indeed, I dare not," she said. "Twice lately have I given shelter to a wayfaring youth, and each time he stole some of my husband's treasures, and made off with them. Now my husband has forbidden me, on pain of instant death, to give food or lodging to any traveler."
But Jack pleaded and pleaded, and at last the good-natured woman, moved to pity by his travel-stained appearance, gave way and let him into the castle.
When the ogre came home, the wife hid Jack in the copper. As usual, the ogre's first words were:
"Wife, wife, I smell fresh meat!" And, in spite of all his wife could say, he insisted upon searching all round the room. Jack was in a terrible fright whilst he was hunting: but fortunately, he forgot to look in the copper, and after a time he sat down to his supper.
When supper was over, the ogre told his wife to fetch his harp. Jack peeped out of the copper and saw the harp brought in and set down before the ogre. It was marvelously made; and when the ogre said "Play!" it played the finest music without being touched. Jack was enchanted, for he had never before heard such wonderful music, and he felt that he must have the harp for his own.
The ogre was soon lulled to sleep by the sweet sound of the harp; and when he was snoring heavily, Jack crept out of the copper, and taking up the harp was about to make off with it. But the harp was a fairy harp, and it called out loudly: "Master, master, master;" and, although the ogre was snoring so noisily that it was like the sound of a hundred dragons roaring at once, yet to Jack's dismay and horror he heard the voice of his harp, and, starting to his feet with a bellow of anger, rushed after the daring thief.
Jack ran faster than he had ever run in his life before—still carrying the precious harp—while the ogre ran after him, shouting and roaring and making such a noise that it sounded like a thousand thunder storms all going at once. If he had not drunk so much wine for supper, the ogre must very soon have caught Jack; but as it was, the wine had got into his head, and so he could not run nearly so fast as usual, and Jack reached the beanstalk just in front of him.
It was a very close shave. Jack slid down the beanstalk at his top speed, calling at the top of his voice for his mother to fetch him an axe. The ogre came tumbling down the beanstalk after him; but Jack seized the axe and chopped the beanstalk off close to the root. Down came the beanstalk, down came the ogre, and falling headlong into the garden he was killed on the spot.
After this, Jack quite gave up his lazy, idle ways, and he and his mother, with the magic hen and the wonderful harp, lived in happiness and prosperity the rest of their lives.
Story DNA
Moral
Idleness can lead to hardship, but courage and resourcefulness can lead to prosperity and overcome evil.
Plot Summary
Jack, an idle boy, trades his family's last cow for magic beans. These beans grow into a colossal beanstalk, which Jack climbs to a land above the clouds. There, he discovers a castle inhabited by a wicked, man-eating giant who, a fairy reveals, killed Jack's father. Over three daring trips, Jack outwits the giant's wife and steals the giant's treasures: bags of gold, a magic hen that lays golden eggs, and a self-playing magic harp. On his final escape, the harp cries out, alerting the giant, who pursues Jack down the beanstalk. Jack quickly chops down the beanstalk, killing the giant and securing lasting prosperity for himself and his mother, transforming from an idle boy into a courageous hero.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story's origins are complex, with elements appearing in various European folk tales, but the most well-known version is English. It reflects a common theme of a 'trickster' hero overcoming a powerful, evil antagonist.
Plot Beats (13)
- Jack, an idle boy, and his widowed mother are impoverished and must sell their cow.
- Jack trades the cow for magic beans from a butcher, angering his mother who throws the beans out the window.
- A giant beanstalk grows overnight, reaching into the sky.
- Jack climbs the beanstalk and meets a fairy who reveals the giant killed his father and encourages him to take the giant's treasures.
- Jack enters the giant's castle, is hidden by the giant's wife, and steals bags of gold while the giant sleeps.
- Jack and his mother live comfortably until the money runs out, prompting Jack to climb the beanstalk again.
- Jack returns to the castle, is again hidden by the giant's wife, and steals the magic hen that lays golden eggs.
- Jack and his mother become rich, but Jack, seeking adventure and more treasure, climbs the beanstalk a third time.
- Jack is reluctantly let in by the giant's wife and hides in a copper pot.
- Jack steals the magic harp, which cries out, alerting the giant.
- The giant pursues Jack down the beanstalk.
- Jack reaches the ground, calls for an axe, and chops down the beanstalk.
- The giant falls to his death, and Jack and his mother live happily ever after, with Jack no longer idle.
Characters
Jack
A slender, agile young man of average height, with a youthful build that belies his adventurous spirit. His movements are quick and often impulsive, especially when escaping danger.
Attire: Initially, simple, worn peasant clothes: a patched linen tunic in muted earth tones, rough woolen breeches, and sturdy leather boots. Later, he wears a 'different suit of clothes' for disguise, suggesting a similar but perhaps slightly cleaner or differently colored peasant outfit, still practical for climbing.
Wants: Initially driven by a desire to avoid work and later by curiosity and the thrill of adventure. Ultimately, he is motivated by a desire to provide for his mother and rectify past wrongs (avenging his father).
Flaw: Laziness, impulsiveness, a tendency to take unnecessary risks for excitement.
Transforms from a lazy, good-for-nothing boy into a brave, resourceful, and responsible young man who provides for his mother and avenges his father.
Idle, curious, adventurous, resourceful, brave, impulsive.
Jack's Mother
A woman of average height with a lean build, showing the signs of hard work and worry. Her hands are likely calloused from labor.
Attire: Simple, practical peasant clothing typical of the era: a long, plain dark linen dress or skirt and bodice, covered by a practical apron made of coarse fabric. Her clothes are clean but well-worn and mended.
Wants: To provide for herself and her son, to keep them from starving, and to see her son become responsible.
Flaw: Her anxiety and her initial inability to instill discipline in Jack.
Remains largely consistent in her character but experiences a significant change in circumstances, moving from poverty and worry to comfort and happiness.
Worried, practical, easily disappointed, loving, forgiving, overjoyed by good fortune.
The Butcher
A stout, perhaps slightly portly man, with strong arms from his trade. He has a jovial or cunning demeanor.
Attire: Practical working clothes: a blood-stained linen smock or apron over a simple tunic and breeches, sturdy leather boots. He might wear a cap.
Wants: To acquire the cow for a minimal price (a hatful of beans).
Flaw: Greed, perhaps underestimating the true value of the magic beans.
A static character, serving as a catalyst for Jack's adventure.
Cunning, opportunistic, persuasive.
The Fairy
Ethereal and graceful, with delicate features and a luminous quality. She appears small and delicate, yet possesses an air of ancient wisdom.
Attire: A flowing gown made of iridescent, translucent fabric, perhaps in shades of pale green or blue, adorned with natural elements like leaves or dew-kissed petals. It appears to shimmer and move as if alive.
Wants: To guide Jack towards fulfilling his destiny and avenging his father, and to reclaim the ogre's ill-gotten treasures.
Flaw: None explicitly stated; her power seems limited to guidance, not direct intervention.
A static character who provides crucial exposition and motivation.
Wise, benevolent, guiding, purposeful.
The Ogre
Massive and grotesque, of immense height and bulk, with a powerful, brutish physique. His skin might be a sickly green or grey, rough and scarred. He moves with heavy, earth-shaking steps.
Attire: Crude, oversized clothing made of rough, dark animal hides or coarse, stained fabric, perhaps a tattered tunic and breeches, cinched with a thick leather belt. His attire is practical for his size but shows no refinement.
Wants: To consume human flesh, hoard treasure, and maintain his tyrannical rule.
Flaw: His gluttony (leading to sleep), dull-wittedness, and reliance on his wife for hiding places.
A static character, remaining evil until his death.
Cruel, gluttonous, murderous, possessive, easily angered, dull-witted.
The Ogre's Wife
A large, imposing woman, perhaps not as monstrous as her husband but still formidable in size, with a weary but kind demeanor. Her build is sturdy, accustomed to the demands of her household.
Attire: Heavy, practical, and somewhat drab clothing, perhaps a coarse woolen gown in dark, muted colors, possibly with a thick apron. Her clothes are sturdy but lack any adornment, reflecting her grim existence.
Wants: To survive her husband's wrath, to protect herself, and occasionally, to show kindness to others despite the danger.
Flaw: Her fear of her husband, which often overrides her better judgment, and her susceptibility to pity.
A static character who consistently shows kindness to Jack despite the risks, highlighting her inherent goodness in a terrible situation.
Frightened, kind-hearted, compassionate, obedient (to her husband), easily swayed by pity.
The Golden Hen
A plump, healthy hen, but entirely covered in shimmering, polished gold feathers. Its eyes are like tiny, bright jewels.
Attire: Its 'wardrobe' is its own body: entirely made of gleaming gold.
Wants: To lay golden eggs when commanded.
Flaw: Its inability to resist commands or escape capture on its own.
A static magical item that changes ownership.
Obedient (to its master's command), magical, valuable.
The Magic Harp
A beautifully crafted harp, possibly made of polished, dark wood with intricate carvings, and strings that shimmer with a faint, magical light. It is of a size that can be carried by a young man.
Attire: N/A (object)
Wants: To play music when commanded and to alert its master when stolen.
Flaw: Its inability to move or defend itself, relying on its voice.
A static magical item that changes ownership.
Loyal (to its original master), magical, sentient.
Locations
Jack's Cottage and Garden
A humble, likely half-timbered cottage with a thatched roof, typical of a poor English countryside dwelling. The garden is simple, perhaps a bit unkempt, with burdock leaves and other common weeds. A deep river is nearby. The beanstalk grows directly from this garden, reaching into the sky.
Mood: Initially impoverished and desperate, later filled with wonder and then prosperity.
The magic beans are flung from the window here, and the beanstalk grows, providing the gateway to adventure. The ogre is ultimately killed here.
The Beanstalk
An enormous, impossibly tall beanstalk, thick and sturdy, with large, vibrant green leaves providing handholds and footholds. It stretches from the ground near Jack's cottage all the way up into the clouds, leading to a 'strange country' above.
Mood: Adventurous, wondrous, perilous, a pathway to the unknown.
Jack's primary mode of travel between his world and the ogre's world. The final confrontation with the ogre happens on and around it.
Ogre's Castle Kitchen
A massive, imposing kitchen within a dark, foreboding castle. It features a large, roaring fireplace, a huge oven, and heavy, sturdy furniture. The atmosphere is oppressive and smells of 'fresh meat'. The architecture suggests a medieval European style, but on a gigantic scale, with rough-hewn stone walls and heavy timber beams.
Mood: Terrifying, dangerous, tense, but also a source of warmth and food.
Jack hides here multiple times, witnesses the ogre's treasures, and steals them. The ogre's wife provides Jack with food and shelter here.