Myrddin
Well-Known Member
I didn't say the story didn't exist before him -- a lot of fairy tales go as far back as Aesop. What I was saying, or meant to say, is that "Jack and the Beanstalk" is most notable as coming from him. But, both what Jacobs added to the pre-existing story and the title he chose are his, and his alone. In essence, of course, Jacbs pushed the story, along with many others I'm sure, through an evolutionary stage.Jack and the Bean Stalk was rewritten/collected by Joseph Jacobs in his 1890s books, like the Grimms wrote/collected their stories. The story existed before him. In older versions, the giant had killed Jack's father (unknown to Jack or his mother), thus excusing the theft and murder as just deserts.
Sorry for any confusion.
E. M.