A Grain as Big as a Hen's Egg
The story revolves around a peasant who finds a grain of wheat that has grown into a large plant with a single ear of wheat the size of a hen's egg. The peasant decides to take it home and use it for planting, but his wife wants to eat it instead. They eventually decide to sell it at market, where they are offered a high price by a merchant who intends to use it as a curiosity in his collection.
By Leo Tolstoy · First published 1856 · Genre: Fable, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary · 1,193 words
First lines
One day some children found, in a ravine, a thing shaped like a grain of corn, with a groove down the middle, but as large as a hen's egg. A traveller passing by saw the thing, bought it from the children for a penny, and taking it to town sold it to the King as a curiosity.
The King called together his wise men, and told them to find out what the thing was. The wise men pondered and pondered and could not make head or tail of it, till one day, when the thing was lying on a windowsill, a hen flew in and pecked at it till she made a hole in it, and then everyone saw that it was a grain of corn. The wise men went to the King, and said:
What this Textopian page supports
A Grain as Big as a Hen's Egg is listed on Textopian as a short story by Leo Tolstoy, dated 1856 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Leo Tolstoy
- Date: 1856 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical Fiction, Children's Literature
- Length: 1,193 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Wood Felling by Leo Tolstoy
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Genres
- Fable — The narrative conveys moral lessons through allegorical characters and situations.
- Philosophical Fiction — The story explores deep themes about labor, ownership, and societal values.
- Social Commentary — It critiques contemporary social structures and the loss of communal values.
- Historical Fiction — The setting reflects historical agricultural practices and societal norms.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Russian Literature · 19th Century · Realism · Social Commentary · Philosophical · Psychological Insight · Character Study · Morality Tale · Coming of Age · Family Dynamics