JACK & the BEAN-STALK
by Unknown · from The National Nursery Book: With 120 illustrations
Adapted Version
Once, a boy named Jack lived. He lived with his mother. Jack was a kind boy. They were not rich.
Jack's Mother had a cow. She told Jack to sell it. Jack went to market. He met a Kind Person. The person had magic beans. Jack gave the cow for the beans.
Jack's Mother was sad. She wanted money. Jack planted the beans. The next day, a big beanstalk grew. It went up to the sky.
Jack climbed the beanstalk. He saw a new land. A big castle stood there. A Fairy met Jack. She said, "This castle is yours. Be brave!"
Jack went into the castle. The Giantess saw him. She hid Jack in a room. The Giant came home. He made a loud sound. "Fee, fi, fo, fum!" he said.
Jack saw a Golden Hen. It laid gold eggs. The Giant fell asleep. Jack took the Golden Hen. He went down the beanstalk. Jack gave it to his mother. They became rich.
Jack went up again. He went to the castle. The Giantess hid him. The Giant had gold bags. He counted his gold. The Giant fell asleep. Jack took the gold bags. He went home.
Jack went up one more time. He went to the castle. The Giantess hid him. The Giant had a Golden Harp. It played music. The Giant fell asleep. Jack took the Golden Harp. It cried, "Master!"
The Giant woke up. He ran after Jack. Jack ran very fast. The Giant followed him. They went down the beanstalk.
Jack reached the ground. He called for an axe. Jack's Mother gave it. Jack chopped the beanstalk. The Giant fell away. He went far, far down. The Giant was gone.
The Fairy came back. She made soft steps. The beanstalk became steps. She told Jack, "This is your home. Safe now."
Jack and his Mother went to the castle. It was their home. They lived there together. They were very happy. Jack was brave and smart. They lived happily in their big castle. Jack was very brave and smart. They had many good days.
Original Story
JACK & THE BEAN-STALK.
Once upon a time there was a poor widow who lived in a little cottage with her only son Jack.
JACK SELLS A COW FOR SOME BEANS.
Jack was a giddy, thoughtless boy, but very kind-hearted and affectionate. There had been a hard winter, and after it the poor woman had suffered from fever and ague. Jack did no work as yet, and by degrees they grew dreadfully poor. The widow saw that there was no means of keeping Jack and herself from starvation but by selling her cow; so one morning she said to her son, "I am too weak to go myself, Jack, so you must take the cow to market for me, and sell her." Jack liked going to market to sell the cow very much; but as he was on the way, he met a butcher who had some beautiful beans in his hand. Jack stopped to look at them, and the butcher told the boy that they were of great value, and persuaded him to sell the cow for them! And Jack was so silly as to consent to this foolish bargain.
THE BEAN-STALK GROWS OUT OF SIGHT IN A NIGHT.
When he brought them home to his mother instead of the money she expected for her nice cow, she was very vexed and shed many tears, scolding Jack for his folly. He was very sorry; but, he said, he might as well make the best of his bargain, so he put the seed-beans into the ground close by the side of the steep hill under shelter of which their cottage was built, and went to bed. The next morning when he got up, he found that the beans had grown, till the bean stalks reached right over the top of the hill, and were lost to his sight. Greatly surprised, he called his mother, and they both gazed in silent wonder at the bean-stalk, which was not only of great height, but was thick enough to bear Jack's weight.
“I wonder where it goes?” said Jack to his mother; "I think I will climb up and see."
His mother wished him not to venture up this strange ladder, but Jack coaxed her to give her consent to the attempt, for he was certain there must be something wonderful in the bean-stalk.
Jack instantly began to climb, and went up and up on the ladder-like bean till every thing he had left behind him, the cottage, the village, and even the tall church tower, looked quite little, and still he did not see the top of the bean stalk.
Jack felt a little tired, and thought for a moment that he would go back again; but he was a very persevering boy, and he knew that the way to succeed in anything is not to give up. So after resting for a moment he went on, and at last reached the top of the bean, and found himself in a beautiful country, finely wooded; and not far from the place where he had got off the bean-stalk stood a fine and strong castle.
Jack wondered very much that he had never heard of or seen this castle before; but when he reflected on the subject, he saw that it was as much separated from the village by the perpendicular rock on which it stood as if it were in another land.
While Jack was standing looking at the castle, a very strange-looking woman came out of the wood and advanced towards him.
JACK CLIMBS THE BEAN-STALK.
Jack took off his hat to the old lady, and she said, pointing to the castle, "Boy, that castle belongs to you. A wicked giant killed your father, and took it from your mother; try and win it back from the monster who now has it." As she ceased speaking she suddenly disappeared, and of course Jack knew she was a fairy.
JACK ASKS ABOUT THE CASTLE.
He was much surprised; however, he walked up to the castle door and knocked, and an old giantess came out. She did not wait till he spoke, but pulled him in at once, for she thought he would make a nice supper for her when her husband was asleep. Just at that moment, however, she heard the giant's step approaching, so she put Jack into a press, and told him to hide there, or the giant would eat him. As soon as the Ogre came in, he cried in a terrible voice
“Fee, fa, fie, fo, fum,
I smell the breath of an Englishman.”
“Oh!” said his wife, "there is nobody here. You only smell a crow that is flying over the chimney." Then the giant sat down to dinner, which was quite ready, and when he had eaten a whole sheep, he said, "Bring me my hen."
The giantess brought a hen, and put it on the table before him, and then she went away. “Lay,” said the giant to the hen, and she laid a golden egg. Jack could see quite plainly through a little hole which he had bored in the door. Three times the giant said “Lay,” and each time the hen laid a solid gold egg. Then the Ogre, being drowsy, shut his eyes, and soon snored very loudly. Directly Jack found that the giant was asleep, he stole out of the press, caught up the hen, ran out of the room, opened the door of the castle, which the giant had left ajar, and descended the bean-stalk as fast as he could go. His mother was glad to see him again, and much surprised at seeing the hen, which laid them three gold eggs every day. Jack's mother took them to the next town and sold them, and soon grew quite rich. Some time afterwards Jack made another journey up the bean-stalk to the giant's castle; but first he dyed his hair and disguised himself. The old woman did not know him again, and dragged him in as she had done before to eat him by-and-by; but once more she heard her husband coming and hid him in the press, not thinking that it was the same boy who had stolen the hen. She put him into the same press, and bade him stay quite still there, or the giant would eat him.
THE HEN THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS.
Then the giant came in, saying:
“Fee, fa, fie, fo, fum,
I smell the breath of an Englishman.”
“Oh!” said his wife, "it is only the cowherd, who has just been here. We cannot spare him for your dinner."
JACK TAKES THE GIANT'S MONEY-BAGS.
Then the giant sat down, and when he had eaten half an ox, he told his wife to bring his money-bags to him. She instantly went and fetched two large bags full of gold; and then left him to go about her usual house-work.
The Ogre counted out the gold twice over, and then put it into the bags and tied them up. In a few minutes Jack heard him snore. He directly crept out of the press, seized the bags, and hurrying out of the castle, carried them home quite safely. Jack's mother was glad to see him safe at home again, and for a long time she would not let him go up the bean-stalk; but Jack knew he had not yet obeyed the fairy's command to win back the castle, so after a time he set off once more on this adventure, and tapped again at the castle door.
The giantess, who was very stupid, did not know him again, but she stopped a minute before she took him in. She feared another robbery; but Jack's fresh cheeks looked so tempting that she could not resist him, and so she bade him come in.
But at that moment she heard her husband's step approaching.
Afraid of losing her supper, the Ogress at once shut Jack in the press; and she had hardly hidden him when the giant came in, saying as usual,
"Fee, fa, fie, fo, fum,
“I smell the blood of an Englishman.”
“Oh no!” said his wife, "it is only the shepherd, who has been up with a sheep for your dinner."
The giant sat down, and when he had eaten a whole sheep he said, "I should like some music; bring me my harp."
The Ogress went and brought a golden harp to him, set it on the table, and went away. Then the Ogre said, “Play,” to the harp, and it played so delightfully that Jack was charmed.
JACK TAKES THE TALKING HARP.
By-and-by, however, the giant snored so loud that he could not hear the music; and Jack quickly stole out, and seizing the harp, ran away with it. But the harp was a fairy belonging to the giant, and as Jack ran, it cried out, “Master! Master!” The giant woke up slowly and rushed after Jack, but the boy was very nimble and outran him. You may imagine how fast Jack went down the bean-stalk this time, hearing all the while the tramp of the giant's feet behind him.
THE GIANT BREAKS HIS NECK.
Just as he reached the bottom he saw the Ogre looking down on him.
The next moment his great feet were on the bean-stalk.
“Mother, mother! bring me the axe,” cried Jack.
His mother hastened with it, and just as the giant was half way down the bean-stalk, Jack succeeded in chopping it in halves; the lower half fell; the upper half swung away, and the giant, losing his hold, fell heavily to the ground on his head and broke his neck.
The same moment the fairy again stood beside Jack, and touching the broken bean-stalk was turned into a flight of broad, easy steps.
“Go up,” she said, "and take possession of your own home, so long kept from you. The Ogress is dead, and there is no more danger. You have been brave and good. May you be happy."
Jack thanked the fairy very warmly for her aid, and she again departed to Fairyland, after explaining to Jack that she had been the butcher who sold him the beans.
Story DNA
Moral
Resourcefulness and courage can help overcome great obstacles and reclaim what is rightfully yours.
Plot Summary
Impoverished Jack trades his family's last cow for magic beans, which grow into a colossal beanstalk reaching a land in the sky. Climbing it, Jack discovers a castle inhabited by a giant who murdered his father and stole their wealth. Over three daring trips, Jack steals a hen that lays golden eggs, bags of gold, and a magical talking harp from the sleeping giant. During his final escape, the giant pursues him down the beanstalk, but Jack chops it down, killing the giant. A fairy then reveals herself, confirming Jack's inheritance, and he and his mother reclaim their castle and live prosperously.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale evolved from earlier stories, with the 'Fee-fi-fo-fum' rhyme appearing in Shakespeare's King Lear, indicating its deep roots in English folklore.
Plot Beats (12)
- Jack, a thoughtless but kind boy, lives with his poor widowed mother.
- His mother sends him to sell their last cow, but Jack trades it for magical beans from a butcher (who is secretly a fairy).
- His mother is furious, but Jack plants the beans, and overnight a giant beanstalk grows into the sky.
- Jack climbs the beanstalk and finds a castle in a new land, where he meets a fairy who tells him the castle is his and a giant killed his father.
- Jack enters the castle, is hidden by the giantess, and overhears the giant's 'Fee, fa, fie, fo, fum' rhyme.
- Jack witnesses the giant's hen lay golden eggs, waits for the giant to sleep, and steals the hen, returning home to make his mother rich.
- Jack makes a second trip, disguised, is again hidden by the giantess, and steals two bags of gold from the sleeping giant.
- Jack makes a third trip, is hidden again, and steals a magical talking harp, which cries out and wakes the giant.
- The giant pursues Jack down the beanstalk.
- Jack reaches the ground, calls for an axe, and chops down the beanstalk, causing the giant to fall to his death.
- The fairy reappears, transforms the beanstalk into steps, and tells Jack he has reclaimed his home and the giantess is dead.
- Jack and his mother move into their rightful castle and live happily ever after.
Characters
Jack
A nimble and quick-footed boy of average height for his age, with a lean build from a life of poverty. His movements are often impulsive but can be surprisingly swift when motivated.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing typical of a poor English boy in an unspecified historical period, likely consisting of a coarse linen tunic, breeches, and perhaps a waistcoat, all in muted, earthy tones. His clothes would be practical for climbing and running.
Wants: To help his impoverished mother, to satisfy his curiosity, and eventually, to reclaim his family's inheritance as instructed by the fairy.
Flaw: Impulsiveness and naivety, as shown by his initial trade of the cow for beans and his repeated returns to the giant's castle despite danger.
Transforms from a 'giddy, thoughtless boy' into a brave and resourceful hero who reclaims his family's fortune and home, learning responsibility and courage along the way.
Giddy, thoughtless, kind-hearted, affectionate, persevering, brave, clever, impulsive.
The Widow (Jack's Mother)
A frail woman, weakened by 'fever and ague' and the hardships of poverty. She is likely thin and perhaps a bit stooped from her struggles.
Attire: Humble, practical peasant clothing, likely made of coarse wool or linen in muted colors, well-worn and mended. A simple dress or skirt and bodice, with an apron, would be appropriate for her station.
Wants: To ensure her son's safety and their survival, to escape poverty.
Flaw: Her physical frailty and her initial despair, which makes her dependent on Jack.
Starts in despair and poverty, but through Jack's actions, she becomes rich and happy, regaining security and peace.
Suffering, worried, scolding (out of concern), relieved, eventually happy and rich.
The Fairy (as Butcher/Old Lady)
Appears first as a butcher, then as a 'very strange-looking woman' or 'old lady'. Her true form is that of a fairy, suggesting an ethereal quality beneath her disguises. Her disguised forms would be unremarkable enough to blend in.
Attire: As the butcher, practical, perhaps blood-stained, working clothes. As the old lady, simple, perhaps slightly old-fashioned, but clean and respectable attire. Her true fairy form would be flowing, luminous garments.
Wants: To help Jack reclaim his rightful inheritance and avenge his father, fulfilling a long-standing magical duty.
Flaw: None explicitly stated, but fairies often have limitations on direct interference.
Acts as a catalyst and guide for Jack, revealing his destiny and ensuring the giant's defeat. Her role is to initiate and conclude the adventure.
Mysterious, wise, guiding, benevolent, manipulative (for a good cause).
The Giant
An enormous, terrifying figure, implied to be of immense height and bulk, with a powerful, stomping gait. His size alone is a weapon.
Attire: Simple, oversized, and perhaps crude clothing, like a rough tunic or animal hides, befitting a monstrous, solitary figure. Colors would be dark and earthy.
Wants: To hoard wealth, to satisfy his immense appetites (food, gold, music), and to maintain his stolen domain.
Flaw: His gluttony, his drowsiness after eating, his slow wit, and his reliance on his wife for information and service.
Remains unchanged in his monstrous nature until his sudden and violent death, which serves as the climax of the story.
Cruel, greedy, gluttonous, drowsy, easily fooled, possessive.
The Giantess
An 'old giantess' of considerable size, though smaller than her husband. She is strong enough to pull Jack in and move large bags of gold, but also described as 'very stupid'.
Attire: Practical, oversized, and perhaps drab clothing, suitable for a giant's wife performing household chores. Likely made of coarse fabric in dark, muted colors.
Wants: To feed her husband, to satisfy her own appetite (seeing Jack as 'supper'), and to avoid her husband's wrath.
Flaw: Her extreme stupidity and gullibility, which allows Jack to repeatedly trick her.
Remains largely unchanged in her stupidity and monstrous nature throughout the story, eventually dying off-screen after the giant's demise.
Stupid, greedy (for food), easily deceived, somewhat fearful of her husband, possessive of her 'supper'.
The Golden Hen
A hen, but entirely made of solid gold, implying a smooth, metallic surface and a substantial weight. It would shimmer and reflect light.
Attire: None, as it is a creature of gold.
Wants: To lay golden eggs when commanded.
Flaw: Its inability to resist commands, making it easily stolen.
Stolen by Jack, it provides immense wealth for him and his mother, changing their fortunes.
Obedient (to the giant's command), magical.
The Golden Harp
A harp made of gold, described as 'golden' and capable of playing 'delightfully'. It is also a 'fairy belonging to the giant', suggesting it might have subtle, ethereal qualities or intricate, magical carvings.
Attire: None.
Wants: To play music when commanded, to alert its master if stolen.
Flaw: Its inability to physically resist being stolen.
Stolen by Jack, it nearly causes his capture but ultimately contributes to the giant's downfall by alerting him and spurring the chase.
Magical, sentient (can cry out), musical.
Locations
Jack's Cottage and Garden
A small, humble cottage built under the shelter of a steep hill, with a patch of ground nearby where the bean-stalk grows. The surrounding area is rural, with a view of a village and a tall church tower in the distance.
Mood: Initially poor and desperate, then filled with wonder and later, urgency and triumph.
Jack plants the magic beans; the bean-stalk grows; Jack chops down the bean-stalk, killing the giant.
The Land Above the Clouds
A beautiful, finely wooded country found at the very top of the bean-stalk, seemingly separated from the world below by the perpendicular rock on which the castle stands.
Mood: Mysterious, wondrous, and initially peaceful, before the threat of the giant is revealed.
Jack first arrives in the giant's realm and meets the fairy.
The Giant's Castle Interior
A fine and strong castle, likely of imposing, rough-hewn stone construction. The interior features a large dining hall with a massive table, and a 'press' (a large cupboard or closet) used for hiding. The atmosphere is one of immense scale and danger.
Mood: Terrifying, oppressive, suspenseful, and filled with the threat of the giant.
Jack repeatedly infiltrates the castle, steals the hen, money bags, and harp, and narrowly escapes the giant.