what is the story behind jack and the beanstalk

“Jack and the Beanstalk

” is considered one of many “Jack” tales: stories told about the same trickster-like archetype. According to The Center For Children’s Books, the character “is lucky, both a trickster and an unlikely hero, sometimes clever, often naïve, but always successful.”

Full Answer

What is the moral lesson of Jack and the Beanstalk?

The moral of “Jack and the Beanstalk” has to do with taking advantage of the opportunities that life provides. At the beginning, Jack is mired in poverty, selling his family’s cow, which was a true act of desperation given that it was one of the family’s last sources of sustenance. By the end, he has untold wealth, with the golden hen, and he is the village hero.

Is Jack and the Beanstalk a fairy tale or folktale?

Jack and the Beanstalk. "Jack and the Beanstalk" is an English fairy tale. It appeared as "The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean" in 1734 and as Benjamin Tabart's moralized "The History of Jack and the Bean-Stalk" in 1807. Likewise, is Jack and the Beanstalk based on a true story?

Is Jack and the Beanstalk a folk tale?

Jack and the beanstalk English Folktale . There was once upon a time a poor widow who had an only son named Jack, and a cow named Milky-white. And all they had to live on was the milk the cow gave every morning which they carried to the market and sold. But one morning Milky-white gave no milk and they didn't know what to do.

Is there a goose in Jack and the Beanstalk?

The Harp recognizes him as the boy who would sing with her in the rain. Suddenly the Giant approaches. Harp begs Jack to rescue her Goose and he does so, taking her back down the beanstalk. The Goose lays enough golden eggs to make Jack and his mother rich.

What's the meaning behind Jack and the Beanstalk?

“That's because the beanstalk is driving the action. “If the beanstalk is maturing male sexuality then Jack And The Beanstalk is a story about male individuation and growing up.” To refresh your memory the story is about a young boy living at home with his mum. “Jack and his mother are living alone in the cottage.

Why is the giant evil in Jack and the Beanstalk?

Type of Villain Although he is usually portrayed as the hero, the truth is that he is actually the villain of the story (though he isn't on purpose, as he is just trying to make his mother proud, due to how hard she works). He uses his own miserable state to justify his villainous actions.

What is the main problem in Jack and the Beanstalk?

The problem with the "Jack and the Beanstalk" story, of course, is that the first thing the protagonist does is trade valuable livestock for a handful of beans that a stranger convinces him are magic.

What lesson does Jack learn in Jack and the Beanstalk?

Moral lesson of Jack and the Beanstalk However, some versions of the story say that the giant had killed Jack's father. They also say that the giant's harp and golden goose were stolen. In that case, the moral lesson of Jack and the Beanstalk is that Jack does something bad to punish the giant.

Who is the hero in Jack and the Beanstalk?

JackJack is the main protagonist of the traditional fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk, a book written by English author Benjamin Tabart. He is a young poor boy who lives with his mother in a small house.

Why did Jack steal from the giant?

This image symbolizes the bravery that Jack had in order to steal the belongings that the giant had. Since the farmer took Jack's cow which he was trying to sell, he stole a hen from the giant so that he and his mother can have food.

What is the ending of Jack and the Beanstalk?

For example, in Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack's mum cuts the beanstalk, the giant falls off and they live happily ever after. Give examples of what could have happened instead: maybe the giant and Jack became friends, or Jack was cheeky and hid and climbed the beanstalk and lived in the giant's castle.

Is the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk evil?

The story is interpreted as a tale of good versus evil; Jack is the hero trying to provide for his mother, the giant's wife a helper for his cause, and the evil giant who eventually is killed.

Is Jack the Giant Killer the same as Jack and the Beanstalk?

Jack and his mother live happily ever after with their new riches. According to Wikipedia, the giant is unnamed in the classic version of Jack and the Beanstalk, but then takes on the name Blunderbore—the same name as the giant in Jack the Giant Killer.

Who is the antagonist of the story Jack and the Beanstalk?

Antagonist- The antagonist is the giant, he is a giant who lives in the clouds. He is motivated by is hunger and anger towards Jack who is robbing him.

When was Jack the Giant Killer written?

1711Jack's story did not appear in print until 1711. One scholar speculates the public had grown weary of King Arthur and Jack was created to fill the role....Jack the Giant KillerChapbook title pageFolk taleNameJack the Giant KillerData3 more rows

What does Jack ask the stranger about the beans?

He will give Jack magic beans in exchange for the Old Bess the cow. Jack isn't sure whether to believe the man. He asks the stranger if the beans are really magical. The man assures Jack that they are.

What happens when Jack gets to the bottom of the beanstalk?

He's going to chop down the beanstalk before the giant can get to the bottom. The beanstalk comes crashing down, and the giant falls to the earth, cracking his head. The Reward.

What does Jack do with the giant?

With the giant right behind him, Jack climbs back down the beanstalk and then chops down the stalk, sending the giant crashing to the ground. Jack, his mother, the harp and the hen (goose) live together happily ever after. The harp plays beautiful music and the bird lays a golden egg each day to help the family.

What happens when Jack awakens to discover a giant beanstalk?

The next morning, Jack awakens to discover a giant beanstalk has sprung up outside his window. The magic beans really worked! He rushes outside and climbs up, up, up the beanstalk until he reaches a new land with a castle off in the distance. Exploring the new land, Jack encounters giants: a lady giant and her husband.

What is the magic land in Jack and the Beanstalk?

He decides to climb it high into the sky, where he encounters a magical land with a castle, giants, a hen (or goose) that lays golden eggs, and a magic harp.

Why does Jack sing the harp?

To thank Jack for rescuing them from the giant, the harp promises to sing beautiful music at the home of Jack and his mother every day. The golden hen (or goose) continues to lay one golden egg every day. Jack is able to cash in the egg to buy back the family's cow, purchase seeds, and fix up his mother's house.

What does Jack tell his mother about the magic beans?

Jack tells his mother he's received magic beans. She is sorely disappointed in the boy's lack of judgment (his decisions) and bursts into tears. Jack feels sad to have made his mother cry. Feeling foolish, he tosses the beans out his bedroom window.

What is the story behind the Beanstalk?

The Beanstalk. The story begins with a poor widow with a son named Jack and a cow named Milky-white. When Milky-white stops giving milk, the woman decides to send Jack to market to sell the cow. Along the way, he meets a stranger who tells him a riddle and then offers 5 magic beans that 'by morning they grow right up to the sky' in exchange for ...

When was Jack and the Beanstalk first told?

Tales about climbing into the sky have been told for thousands of years in multiple countries. The Boy Who Stole Ogre's Treasure may be the first version of ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' and goes all the way back to 5,000 years ago. The first known written account of the story appeared in England in the 1730s in the form of a skit entitled, ''Enchantment demonstrated in the Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean.''

What does the hen do to Jack?

The hen provides for Jack and his mother, but his discontent forces him to return to the beanstalk to see what he can find. This time, Jack sneaks into the house and sees a golden harp. The harp calls out to wake the sleeping giant. The giant chases Jack to the beanstalk and begins to climb down after him.

What is the name of the fairy tale where you smell the blood of an Englishman?

The Fairy Tale. 'Fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman' are familiar words for young children who thrill at the introduction to the monstrous giant in the well-known fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk. While many of us are familiar with the story, you may not know the origins.

What does Jack steal from his mother?

While he sleeps, Jack steals a bag of gold as he leaves. The gold sustains Jack and his mother for quite some time, but eventually, it runs out and Jack must return to the beanstalk. Once again the woman gives Jack some breakfast and once again, Jack is forced to hide in the oven when her husband comes in.

What happens to Jack when he sleeps?

After the giant eats breakfast, he counts his gold and then falls asleep. While he sleeps, Jack steals a bag of gold as he leaves.

Where did Jack find the house?

Jack climbed the beanstalk to the sky where he found a house. Jack knocked on the door and asked the woman who answered for some breakfast. The woman warned, 'It's breakfast you'll be if you don't move off from here.'. But the woman takes pity on him and brings him in to feed him.

When is Jack and the Beanstalk coming out?

April 7, 2020. April 4, 2020. “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the—”. Oh wait—wrong Jack. Or is it? “Jack and the Beanstalk” is considered one of many “Jack” tales: stories told about the same trickster-like archetype. According to The Center For Children’s Books, the character “is lucky, both a trickster and an unlikely hero, ...

What is the name of the giant in Jack the Giant?

And if you’re wondering, the giant’s name is “Gogmagog” (a figure who is, by the way, not relegated solely to Jack’s story; rather, he’s a legendary giant in Welsh folklore). Occasionally, another legendary giant, “Blunderbore,” (who makes an appearance in “Jack the Giant Killer”) stands in as an antagonist in other versions of the tale.

Who stole the Ogre's Treasure?

According to a recent article from the BBC, researchers at Durham University have classified “Jack and the Beanstalk” as a “Boy Who Stole Ogre’s Treasure” tale, a classification which has origins that could be “traced back to when Eastern and Western Indo-European languages split more than 5,000 years ago.”.

Do humans always relished stories about unlikely heroes?

Evidently, we humans have always relished stories about unlikely heroes!

What is the story of Jack and the Beanstalk?

The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack is a poor young boy living with his mother. Their only source of income was their dairy cow. When the cow stopped giving milk, Jack’s mother tells him to take it to the market to sell. On the way, Jack meets an old man who offers magic beans in exchange for the cow, and Jack accepts the trade.

What is Jack and the Beanstalk based on?

According to historians, it is based on the folktale The Boy Who Stole Ogre’s Treasure.

Why is Jack's mother angry when he returns home?

When Jack returns home, his mother is very angry because they have lost their only cow for a few beans. She throws the beans out the window. The beans began to grow straight up into the sky, so Jack climbs the beanstalk hoping to find good luck at the top. Jack finds an enormous castle at the top owned by a giant.

What does Jack steal from the Beanstalk?

When they have spent the gold coins, Jack climbs the beanstalk twice more, he second time he steals a goose that lays golden eggs. The third time, Jack steals a harp that plays by itself.

What happens to Jack and his mother in The Beanstalk?

Then Jack and his mother live happily ever after. Take advantage of the opportunities that life provides.

What is the moral of the story of the cow for the beans?

The moral of this story would be taking advantage of the opportunities that life provides you. Jack is taking a huge risk when he exchanges the cow for the beans. The cow was their only income, and the money he would get from selling the cow would have fed them for days to come; yet he takes a chance, believing the power of the magic beans.

When did Jack and the Beanstalk first appear?

Jack and the Beanstalk. Jack and the Beanstalk first appeared as The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean in 1734. Featured iIllustrations are by Arthur Rackham, 1918 edition of English Fairy Tales retold by Flora Annie Steel. Once upon a time there lived a poor widow and her son Jack.

What did Jack see when he climbed up the beanstalk?

The next day, when Jack woke up in the morning and looked out of the window, he saw that a huge beanstalk had grown from his magic beans! He climbed up the beanstalk and reached a kingdom in the sky.

What did Jack do when the giant fell asleep?

When the giant fell asleep, Jack took the hen and climbed down the beanstalk. Jack’s mother was very happy with him. After some days, Jack once again climbed the beanstalk and went to the giant’s castle. For the third time, Jack met the giant’s wife and asked for some food.

What did the magic harp say to the giant?

While the giant slept, Jack took the harp and was about to leave. Suddenly, the magic harp cried, “Help master! A boy is stealing me!”. The giant woke up and saw Jack with the harp. Furious, he ran after Jack. But Jack was too fast for him. He ran down the beanstalk and reached home.

What did Jack do at home?

In the night, Jack crept out of his hiding place, took one sack of gold coins and climbed down the beanstalk. At home, he gave the coins to his mother. His mother was very happy and they lived well for sometime.

Where did Jack find the giant's wife?

He climbed up the beanstalk and reached a kingdom in the sky. There lived a giant and his wife. Jack went inside the house and found the giant’s wife in the kitchen.

What is the story of Jack's mother selling his cow?

One day, Jack’s mother told him to sell their only cow. Jack went to the market and on the way he met a man who wanted to buy his cow.

What is the movie "The Beanstalk" based on?

It is based on the classic English fairy tale " Jack and the Beanstalk ". The story was considerably reworked to reflect what Henson believed to be a more ethical, humanist view.

Where does Jack plant the giant bean?

Jack plants the bean in the forest near the location where the giant was discovered, and the bean grows into a huge beanstalk leading Jack into the world of the giants, a magical world where a single day passes for every year that passes on the ground below.

What is Bran's role in Thunderdell?

When the treasures are returned, Bran takes his father's position as their guardian, wearing the Harp's golden box around his neck and close to his heart, just as Thunderdell once did.

Who played Ondine in Jack and the Beanstalk?

During construction, the workers discover the skeleton of a giant. A strange young woman called Ondine ( Mia Sara ) then appears and accuses Jack of being a murderer before vanishing. That night, a man sneaks into Jack's house and takes him to see an old woman whom Jack recognizes as his great-aunt Wilhelmina ( Vanessa Redgrave ), who he believed was dead. Wilhelmina tells him the traditional version of the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk" in which the giant is portrayed as a selfish, gluttonous brute who cared for nothing and no one, subsequently giving him the last magic bean (the original Jack was given five beans but only four grew into the beanstalk, the fifth one having landed on the windowsill instead of earth), suggesting that the tale that she has told him may not be the truth, and that the answers he seeks about recent events may be found at the other end of the beanstalk.

Who plays Jack Robinson in the movie?

Plot. Jack Robinson ( Matthew Modine) is the rich CEO of a large company. Throughout his family's past, no Robinson male has lived to be over 40, and Jack keeps having a dream about his father and an angry giant. He tries very hard to stay healthy with the help of his Albanian butler, Dussan ( Jonathan Hyde ).

Who is the wisest and most ancient of all giants?

In the end, Vidas tells the media that the Robinson fortune would be spent to help feed the starving nations of the world. Richard Attenborough as Magog, the wisest and most ancient of all giants.

Who plays Jack's mother in Thunderdell?

Vanessa Redgrave as Countess Wilhelmina, the original Jack's mother and Thunderdell's actual murderer. Unlike the rest of her family, Wilhelmina was cursed for her crimes by becoming immortal, never aging one day, only to see all her descendants die before their time, claimed by the Robinson Curse, and her family wither away.

Jack and the Beanstalk

"Jack and the beanstalk, 1890" by Toronto Public Library Special Collections is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

You can read Joseph Jacob's version of Jack and the Beanstalk on the SurLaLune website.

History of Jack and the Beanstalk

The SurLaLune website includes lots of information about Jack and the Beanstalk, including details of the history of the story.

Elements of the Story

As explained in the ' Conventions of fairy tales ' section, a fairy story always includes a number of important elements.

What does Jack's grandmother tell Jack about the enchanted bean?

As thanks for being a good bedfellow, the grandmother tells Jack that she has an enchanted bean that can make him rich, but refuses to give him the bean just yet, on the basis that once he’s rich, he will probably turn into a Rake and desert her.

Who instructed Jack in many things?

for though he was a smart large boy, his Grandmother and he laid together, and between whiles the good old Woman instructed Jack in many things, and among the rest, Jack (says she) as you are a comfortable Bed-fellow to me —

How many chapters are there in the book The Enchanted Bean?

The book contained six chapters on such things as Christmas Entertainments, Hobgoblins, Witches, Ghosts, Fairies, how people were a lot more hospitable and nicer in general before 1734, and oh yes, the tale of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean, and how he became Monarch of the Universe. It was ascribed to a certain Dick Merryman—a name that, ...

What does Jack do in the Dragon?

Jack is given the option of ruling the entire world and feeding the lady to a dragon. Jack, sensibly enough under the circumstances, just wants some food. Various magical people patiently explain that if you are the ruler of the entire world, you can just order some food. Also, if Jack puts on a ring, he can have five wishes.

What does Jack end up getting?

All Jack ends up getting is some beer. Which, despite being just brewed, must be amazing beer, since just as he drinks it, the roof flies off, the landlord is transformed into a beautiful lady, with a hurried, confusing and frankly not all that convincing explanation that she used to be his grandmother’s cat.

Who is the old farmer in Round about our coal fire?

Image from Round about our Coal Fire: Or, Christmas Entertainments (1734) The story is supposedly related by Gaffer Spiggins, an elderly farmer who also happens to be one of Jack’s relatives. I say, supposedly, in part because by the end of the story, Merryman tells us that he got most of the story from the Chit Chat of an old nurse and ...

When was the story of Round about our coal fire published?

The story first appeared in print in 1734, during the reign of George II of England, when readers could shill out a shilling to buy a book called Round about our Coal Fire: Or, Christmas Entertainments, one of several self-described “Entertaining Pamphlets” printed in London by a certain J. Roberts. The book contained six chapters on such things as ...