JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

A COMPILATION OF CRITIQUE USING DIFFERENT

LITERARY APPROACHES

PICTURE OF THE STORY

Submitted to:

DALLIEN KRISHNA A. GONZALOS

Subject Teacher

Submitted by:

DHON KENETH E. QUIJAS

Grade 10 Aquino
READER-RESPONSE APPROACH
 What I like about this story is because it tells us that what is the value of trust,
who should we trust and jack the main character is very kind that he trade the 5 beans
instead of the cow he was selling besides he was a genius when the problems or
riddles he try he always find an answer on it.

This classic tale raises questions about the value of trust, who we should trust,
and why. Jack’s mother tells him to sell their family cow. But instead of selling the cow,
he trades it to a stranger for five magic beans.The term theme can be defined as the
underlying meaning of a story. It is the message the writer is trying to convey through
the story.

In conclusion, the story tells us the value of trust, who we should trust, and how
Jack, the main character, traded the five beans for the cow he was selling. His mother
tells him to sell the cow, but instead he trades it to a stranger for five magic beans. The
theme of the story is conveyed through the story, emphasizing the importance of trust
and friendship.
FORMALISM APPROACH
CHARACTER

➢ Jack – He is a dynamic character due to his constant change on the island.

➢ Jack’s mother – dynamic

➢ Giant – static character

➢ Giant’s wife – static character

➢ Bean seller – static character

SETTINGS

➢ Farm, sky castle, market

PLOT

➢ Exposition – The story is about Jack’s mother, who tells him to sell his cow. The
Inciting Incident is when Jack trades his cow for beans and his mother throws
them out the window. In the end, Jack wakes up to find a beanstalk growing in
his backyard.

➢ Rising action – Jack is trying to outwit the giant by taking the giant’s gold, hen
that lays golden eggs, and magic harp.

➢ Climax – Jack sees a singing harp and hen laying golden eggs.

➢ Falling action – Jack goes down the beanstalk. Jack chops down the beanstalk,
resulting in the giant dies.
 ➢ Resolution – Jack and his mother never see the giant again, but Jack is able to
solve his conflict by chopping down the beanstalk. This victory allows them to
live happily ever after.

POV

➢ Third person – The narrator often talks about their experiences.

➢ THEME

➢ Survival, Adventure

SYMBOLISM

➢ Magic beans
MoraliSM APPROACH
1. Taking risks can lead to rewards: Climbing the beanstalk was a big risk for Jack,
but it ultimately led to his discovery of a magical world and his acquisition of
wealth.

2. Honesty is the best policy: Jack’s decision to trade his cow for magic beans
without telling his mother was not an honest one, and it led to some serious
consequences.

3. Greed can lead to trouble: Although Jack’s intentions were good, his desire to
have more than what he and his mother had led him to steal from the giant.
Marxist APPROACH
1. Jack belongs to the lower class because In the story “Jack and the Beanstalk,”
Jack is usually depicted as a poor farmer or boy who lives with his mother in a
small cottage.

2. If Jack were portrayed as belonging to a different class in “Jack and the

Beanstalk,” the story would likely be quite different. For example, if Jack were
wealthy or from a higher social class, his motivations for climbing the beanstalk
and stealing from the giant may have been different. His actions and decisions
in the story may have also been influenced by his class privilege or status.

3. The importance of social class in a story can vary depending on the specific
narrative and its themes. In many cases, social class can play a significant role
in shaping characters’ experiences, motivations, and relationships with other
characters.
Feminism APPROACH
1. One gender-biased issue that is present in “Jack and the Beanstalk” is the
portrayal of women as passive and powerless. In the story, the female characters
Jack’s mother and the giant’s wife are both secondary characters who are largely
defined by their relationships to the male characters.
2. No, because “Jack and the Beanstalk" is a traditional folk tale that has been
retold and adapted by many different authors over the years, it is difficult to attribute
a specific form or content to a single author.
3.
a. In “Jack and the Beanstalk,” the main character, Jack, is the only significant male
character in the story, as the other male characters are either minor or absent
altogether. As such, there is no direct comparison or contrast between Jack and
other male characters in the story.
b. Jack’s relationship with his mother is a central part of the story. At the beginning
of the tale, Jack’s mother is portrayed as a loving but somewhat passive figure who
is unable to prevent Jack from selling their only cow.
4. That intelligence, wit, and resourcefulness are just as important as physical
strength and that both men and women can possess these qualities.
Historical APPROACH
1. In the Common Era, the significant thing that happened at that time was that
England was undergoing significant changes in politics, society, and culture.
The early 18th century was a period of relative stability and prosperity under the
Hanoverian monarchs, following the turmoil of the 17 th century, which included
the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution.
2. 8th-century England may have influenced the way the story was told and
transmitted. For example, the theme of social and economic inequality is
highlighted by the contrast between Jack’s poverty and the giant’s wealth and
power. This can be seen as reflecting the tensions and conflicts that existed in
society during the 18th century, as economic changes brought about by the
Industrial Revolution led to growing disparities between rich and poor.
3. The common beliefs in the story revolve around the power of magic and the
supernatural. The magical beans that Jack receives from the old man in the
forest and the enchanted beanstalk that grows to reach the heavens are
examples of the magical elements that are common in many traditional folk
tales. This belief in the power of magic and the supernatural reflects a broader
cultural fascination with these themes during the era in which the story was first
published.
4. Jack and the Beanstalk story teaches the importance of resourcefulness,
independence, and self-reliance. However, there are significant differences
between the era in which it was first published and the one we live in today. The
Industrial Revolution led to significant economic and social changes that
differed from those faced by people today.
 REFLECTION

1. The approach I like the most is moralist because moralism is an ethical

approach that emphasizes the importance of moral principles and values in
guiding human behavior. Proponents of moralism believe that moral principles
should be the basis for making ethical decisions and that moral principles
should be universally applicable.
2. The approach I like the least is feminist feminism, because feminist feminism is
a perspective that centers on the idea of ethics and moral values. It is
concerned with issues such as gender inequality, violence against women, and
the objectification of women.
3. It is important to learn these approaches to literary criticism because they
provide different lenses through which we can analyze and understand
literature.
4. If I were to use one approach in my life, it would be the moralist approach,
because this approach encourages me to reflect on my personal beliefs and
values and to consider how I can align them with the principles of justice,
equality, and respect for human dignity.