The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean

Name: The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

A poor widow's three sons are given a straw, a coal, and a bean by a mysterious old woman. The sons take the gifts to market, where they are sold for varying prices. The story explores themes of poverty, family dynamics, and the consequences of one's actions.

By Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm · First published 1819 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fable, Children's Literature · 603 words

First lines

In a village dwelt a poor old woman, who had gathered together a dish of beans and wanted to cook them. So she made a fire on her hearth, and that it might burn the quicker, she lighted it with a handful of straw. When she was emptying the beans into the pan, one dropped without her observing it, and lay on the ground beside a straw, and soon afterwards a burning coal from the fire leapt down to the two. Then the straw began and said, "Dear friends, from whence do you come here? " The coal replied, "I fortunately sprang out of the fire, and if I had not escaped by main force, my death would have been certain,-I should have been burnt to ashes. " The bean said, "I too have escaped with a whole skin, but if the old woman had got me into the pan, I should have been made into broth without any mercy, like my comrades. " "And would a better fate have fallen to my lot? " said the straw. "The old woman has destroyed all my brethren in fire and smoke; she seized sixty of them at once, and took their lives. I luckily slipped through her fingers."

Open reader

What this Textopian page supports

The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean is listed on Textopian as a fable by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, dated 1819 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Fable
Author: Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Date: 1819 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fable, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Humor
Length: 603 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
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

Similar titles

Genres

Fairy Tale — The story features anthropomorphized objects, a moral lesson, and a whimsical narrative typical of fairy tales.
Fable — The narrative uses talking objects to convey a moral lesson, a characteristic of fables.
Children's Literature — The simple language, moral lesson, and fantastical elements make it suitable for children.
Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements such as talking objects and improbable events.