Jack and the Bean-Stalk
Jack and the Beanstalk, written by Dinah Mulock, is a classic tale of adventure and bravery. The story follows Jack, a poor young boy who trades his only cow for a handful of magic beans. When Jack's mother throws the beans out the window, they grow into a massive beanstalk that reaches the clouds. Jack climbs the beanstalk and finds himself in a land filled with giants, including a kind-hearted giantess who takes Jack in and treats him kindly. However, Jack's adventure is short-lived as he must face the evil giant who lives in the castle at the top of the beanstalk. With the help of his new friends, Jack must outsmart the giant and escape back home. Throughout the story, Mulock explores themes of courage, resourcefulness, and the importance of kindness and compassion towards others.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1880 · Genre: Fairy Tales, Children's Literature, Adventure · 4,288 words
First lines
In the days of King Alfred, there lived a poor woman, whose cottage was in a remote country village, many miles from London. She had been a widow some years, and had an only child named Jack, whom she indulged so much that he never paid the least attention to anything she said, but was indolent, careless, and extravagant. His follies were not owing to a bad disposition, but to his mother's foolish partiality. By degrees, he spent all that she had -- scarcely anything remained but a cow. One day, for the first time in her life, she reproached him: "Cruel, cruel boy! you have at last brought me to beggary. I have not money enough to purchase even a bit of bread; nothing now remains to sell but my poor cow! I am sorry to part with her; it grieves me sadly, but we cannot starve. " For a few minutes Jack felt remorse, but it was soon over; and he began asking his mother to let him sell the cow at the next village; teasing her so much, that she at last consented.
What this Textopian page supports
Jack and the Bean-Stalk is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1880 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fairy Tales, Children's Literature, Adventure, Fantasy
- Length: 4,288 words
- Structure: 1 section, 52 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Jack and the Bean-Stalk by Dinah Mulock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Jack and the Bean-Stalk?
- How does this short story by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fairy Tales first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Little Thumb by Charles Perrault
- Prince Cherry by Dinah Mulock
- Jack The Giant Killer by Dinah Mulock
- Little One Eye Little Two Eyes And Little Three Eyes by Dinah Mulock
- Beauty And The Beast by Marie Leprince De Beaumont
- Little Snowdrop by Dinah Mulock
Genres
- Fairy Tales — The story is a well-known fairy tale about a boy who trades his cow for magic beans and the adventures that follow.
- Children's Literature — This book is primarily targeted towards children with simple narrative style, colorful characters and morals.
- Adventure — The protagonist, Jack, embarks on a journey up the beanstalk and encounters various challenges, including a giant.
- Fantasy — The story incorporates fantastical elements such as magic beans, a beanstalk leading to a different world, and giants.
Tags
fairy tale · adventure · giant · magic · beans · imagination · courage · growth · morality · family · wealth · risk