A Dreadful Boar
by Unknown · from Tales of Laughter: A third fairy book
Adapted Version
Once there was an Old Woman. She lived in a small house. She had a granddaughter. She went to the wood for sticks. She found a green sugar-cane. She put it in her bag. It was for her granddaughter.
A big, wild Big Boar came. "Give me that cane!" said the Big Boar. The Old Woman said, "No. This cane is for my granddaughter." The Big Boar was angry.
The Big Boar said, "I will come!" The Old Woman felt very scared. She went home. She was very sad.
The Old Woman sat down. She cried. A Man with Needles came. "Why do you cry?" he asked. She told him. He gave her needles. She put needles on her door.
The Old Woman still cried. A Man with Crabs came. "What is wrong?" he asked. She told him. He gave her crabs. She put crabs in her water jar.
The Old Woman still cried. A Farmer came. "What is wrong?" he asked. She told him. He left his ox. She tied the ox to her bed.
The Old Woman still cried. A Rider came. "What is wrong?" he asked. She told him. He left his horse. She tied the horse to her bed.
The Old Woman still cried. A Boy came. "What happened?" he asked. She told him. He gave her a turtle. She tied the turtle near her bed.
The Old Woman still cried. Some men came. They carried big stones. She told them her problem. They gave her a big stone. She put the stone in her yard.
The Old Woman still cried. A man came. He dug wells. "Why do you cry?" he asked. She told him. He dug a deep hole. He dug it in her yard.
The Old Woman still cried. A paper seller came. "What is wrong?" he asked. She told him. He gave her big paper. She put the paper over the deep hole.
Night came. The Old Woman waited. The Big Boar came to the door. The needles pricked the Big Boar. It felt a sting. The Big Boar went to the water jar. The crabs surprised it.
The Big Boar went to the bed. The turtle nipped its tail. The Big Boar ran. The horse pushed it. The ox pushed it back. The Big Boar was very confused.
The Big Boar ran outside. It went to the yard. It saw the big paper. It stepped on the paper. The Big Boar fell down. It fell into the deep hole.
The Old Woman heard the fall. She ran outside. She pushed the big stone. The stone went into the hole. The Big Boar could not get out. It was gone for good.
The Old Woman and her granddaughter were safe. The Big Boar was gone. The Old Woman was happy. Her friends helped her. Even small things can be strong!
Original Story
A Dreadful Boar
A poor old woman who lived with her one little granddaughter in a wood was out gathering sticks for fuel, and found a green stalk of sugar-cane, which she added to her bundle. She presently met an elf in the form of a wild Boar, that asked her for the cane, but she declined giving it to him, saying that, at her age, to stoop and to rise again was to earn what she picked up, and that she was going to take the cane home, and let her little granddaughter suck its sap. The Boar, angry at her refusal, said that he would, during the coming night, eat her granddaughter instead of the cane, and went off into the wood.
When the old woman reached her cabin she sat down by the door and wailed, for she knew she had no means of defending herself against the Boar. While she sat crying, a vender of needles came along and asked her what was the matter. She told him, and he said that all he could do for her was to give her a box of needles. This he did, and went on his way. The old woman stuck the needles thickly over the lower half of her door, on its outer side, and then she went on crying. Just then a man came along with a basket of crabs, heard her lamentations, and stopped to inquire what ailed her. She told him, and he said he knew no help for her, but he would do the best he could for her by giving her half his crabs. The old woman put the crabs in her water-jar, behind her door, and again sat down and cried. A farmer soon came along from the fields, leading his ox, and he also asked the cause of her distress and heard her sad story. He said he was sorry he could not think of any way of preventing the evil she expected, but that he would leave his ox to stay all night with her, as it might be a sort of company for her 413in her loneliness. She led the ox into her cabin, tied it to the head of her bedstead, gave it some straw, and then cried again.
A courier, returning on horseback from a neighboring town, next passed her door, and dismounted to inquire what troubled her. Having heard her tale, he said he would leave his horse to stay with her, and make the ox more contented. So she tied the horse to the foot of her bed, and, thinking how surely evil was coming upon her with the night, she burst out crying anew. A boy just then came along with a snapping-turtle that he had caught, and stopped to ask what had happened to her. On learning the cause of her weeping, he said it was of no use to contend against sprites, but that he would give her his snapping-turtle as a proof of his sympathy. She took the turtle, tied it in front of her bedstead, and continued to cry.
Some men who were carrying mill-stones then came along, inquired into her trouble, and expressed their compassion by giving her a mill-stone, which they rolled into her back yard. A little later a man arrived carrying hoes and pickax, and asked her why she was crying so hard. She told him her grief, and he said he would gladly help her if he could, but he was only a well-digger, and could do nothing for her other than to dig her a well. She pointed out a place in the middle of her back yard, and he went to work and quickly dug a well.
On his departure the old woman cried again, until a paper-seller came and inquired what was the matter. When she had told him, he gave her a large sheet of white paper, as a token of pity, and she laid it smoothly over the mouth of the well.
Nightfall came; the old woman shut and barred her door, put her granddaughter snugly on the wall-side of the bed, and then lay down beside her, to await the foe.
At midnight the Boar came, and threw himself against the door to break it in. The needles wounded him sorely, so that when he had gained an entrance he was heated and thirsty, and went to the water-jar to drink. When he thrust in his snout the crabs attacked him, clung to his bristles and pinched 414his ears, till he rolled over and over to disencumber himself. Then in a rage he approached the front of the bed, but the snapping-turtle nipped his tail, and made him retreat under the feet of the horse, who kicked him over to the ox, who tossed him back to the horse; and thus beset, he was glad to escape to the back yard to take a rest, and to consider the situation. Seeing a clean paper spread on the ground, he went to lie upon it, and fell into the well. The old woman heard the fall, rushed out, rolled the mill-stone down on him, and crushed him.
Story DNA
Moral
Even the weakest can overcome great threats through cleverness and the help of others.
Plot Summary
An old woman refuses to give a magical Boar a stalk of sugar-cane, leading the Boar to threaten her granddaughter. Despairing, the old woman receives a series of seemingly useless gifts from passers-by: needles, crabs, an ox, a horse, a snapping-turtle, a mill-stone, a well, and paper. She strategically places each item as a defense. When the Boar attacks at night, it is successively injured and repelled by the needles, crabs, turtle, ox, and horse, eventually falling into the well covered by paper. The old woman then crushes the Boar with the mill-stone, saving her granddaughter.
Themes
Emotional Arc
fear to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects a common folk tale trope where a seemingly weak protagonist outsmarts a powerful foe, often with the help of accumulated, seemingly minor, resources.
Plot Beats (15)
- An old woman finds a sugar-cane stalk while gathering sticks.
- She encounters a Boar (an elf) who demands the cane; she refuses, intending it for her granddaughter.
- The Boar threatens to eat her granddaughter that night.
- The old woman cries, and a needle vender gives her needles, which she sticks on her door.
- A crab vender gives her crabs, which she puts in her water-jar.
- A farmer leaves his ox, which she ties to her bedstead.
- A courier leaves his horse, which she ties to her bed.
- A boy gives her a snapping-turtle, which she ties in front of her bed.
- Men carrying mill-stones give her one, which she places in her backyard.
- A well-digger digs a well in her backyard.
- A paper-seller gives her paper, which she lays over the well.
- At midnight, the Boar attacks, is wounded by needles, then by crabs in the water-jar.
- The Boar is attacked by the snapping-turtle, then kicked between the horse and ox.
- The Boar retreats to the backyard, steps on the paper, and falls into the well.
- The old woman rolls the mill-stone into the well, crushing the Boar.
Characters
The Old Woman
Frail and stooped from a lifetime of labor, with a slight build. Her skin is likely weathered and wrinkled from exposure to the elements.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing suitable for gathering sticks in a wood. Likely a coarse linen or wool dress in muted earth tones, perhaps with a patched apron and sturdy, practical shoes.
Wants: To protect her granddaughter from harm and ensure their survival.
Flaw: Her physical frailty and initial helplessness against a supernatural threat.
Transforms from a wailing, helpless figure into a clever strategist who, with the help of others, successfully defends her home and family.
Resourceful (accepting help), loving (protecting granddaughter), persistent (crying for help), fearful (wailing), grateful (accepting gifts).
The Granddaughter
A small, young child, likely with a delicate build, as she is described as 'little'.
Attire: Simple, practical child's clothing, probably made of linen or homespun fabric in plain colors, similar to her grandmother's but perhaps less worn.
Wants: To enjoy simple pleasures like sugar-cane, and to be safe with her grandmother.
Flaw: Her vulnerability due to her young age and lack of self-defense.
Remains a static character, serving as the primary motivation for the grandmother's actions.
Implied to be innocent and beloved, as her grandmother is fiercely protective of her.
The Boar
A large, powerful wild boar, but with an unnatural, 'elf-like' quality suggesting magical origin. Its tusks would be prominent and sharp, its hide thick and bristly.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To assert dominance and exact revenge for being denied the sugar-cane.
Flaw: Its arrogance and lack of foresight, leading it to fall into the well. Also, its physical vulnerability to the various traps.
Begins as a powerful threat and ends defeated and crushed, failing to achieve its vengeful goal.
Angry (at refusal), vengeful (threatens granddaughter), persistent (attacks door), easily frustrated (by defenses), arrogant (expects easy victory).
The Needle Vender
An ordinary man, likely lean from carrying his wares, with a practical appearance.
Attire: Simple, functional clothing of a traveling merchant, likely sturdy linen or wool in muted colors, perhaps with a satchel or basket for his goods.
Wants: To offer what little help he can to someone in distress.
Flaw: Limited ability to offer substantial help.
A static character who provides a crucial item and then departs.
Sympathetic (asks what is wrong), practical (offers what he has), helpful (gives needles).
The Crab Vender
Likely a robust man, accustomed to carrying heavy baskets of crabs, perhaps with a weathered appearance from working outdoors.
Attire: Sturdy, practical clothing suitable for carrying seafood, perhaps a coarse tunic and trousers, possibly with a protective apron, in muted, earthy tones.
Wants: To offer practical assistance to someone in need.
Flaw: Limited ability to offer substantial help beyond his wares.
A static character who provides a crucial item and then departs.
Sympathetic (inquires about distress), generous (gives half his crabs), practical (offers what he has).
The Farmer
A strong, sturdy man, with a build indicative of manual labor. His skin would be tanned and weathered from working in the fields.
Attire: Practical, durable peasant clothing: a coarse linen shirt, sturdy trousers, and possibly a straw hat, in earthy, muted colors.
Wants: To provide comfort and companionship to a lonely, distressed woman.
Flaw: Limited ability to offer direct protection against a magical threat.
A static character who provides a crucial item (his ox) and then departs.
Sympathetic (asks about distress), kind (offers company), helpful (leaves his ox).
The Courier
A fit and agile man, accustomed to riding horseback for long distances. Likely of average height and lean build.
Attire: Practical riding attire: sturdy tunic, breeches, and boots, possibly with a cloak, in colors suitable for travel. Perhaps a leather satchel for dispatches.
Wants: To offer what comfort and aid he can to someone in distress.
Flaw: Limited ability to offer direct protection against a magical threat.
A static character who provides a crucial item (his horse) and then departs.
Sympathetic (inquires about trouble), helpful (leaves his horse), considerate (thinks of the ox's contentment).
The Boy with the Snapping-Turtle
A young boy, likely small and agile, as he has been out catching a turtle.
Attire: Simple, worn child's clothing, suitable for playing outdoors and catching animals, likely a plain tunic and trousers in muted colors.
Wants: To offer a token of sympathy and what he has caught.
Flaw: His youth and limited understanding of the full threat.
A static character who provides a crucial item and then departs.
Sympathetic (asks what happened), pragmatic (acknowledges sprite power), generous (gives his turtle).
Locations
The Wood
A dense, natural forest area where the old woman gathers fuel. It is the domain of the elf in the form of a wild Boar.
Mood: Initially mundane, then becomes ominous after the encounter with the Boar.
The old woman encounters the Boar and refuses to give him the sugar-cane, leading to the Boar's threat.
Old Woman's Cabin
A humble, small dwelling in the wood, likely constructed of simple materials like wood or wattle and daub, with a single door and a small yard. It contains a bedstead, a water-jar, and is the scene of the old woman's preparations for the Boar.
Mood: Initially despairing and vulnerable, transforming into a place of ingenious defense and eventual triumph.
The old woman prepares her defenses with the help of various passersby, and the Boar's attack and subsequent defeat takes place here.
Cabin's Backyard
The area directly behind the old woman's cabin, initially just ground, but later features a newly dug well and a mill-stone.
Mood: Becomes a trap, a place of final confrontation and demise for the Boar.
The Boar falls into the well and is crushed by the mill-stone, marking its final defeat.