The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean
Introduction
This is one of the shortest and oldest stories in the whole Grimm collection (number 18), and it belongs to a special genre—the 'pourquoi tale,' or origin story. Rather than telling of some thrilling adventure, it uses playful imagination to explain why a certain thing in the world looks the way it does. The question it answers is: where did the little black line on a bean come from? What is charming is that this is not pure invention—many beans really do have a small dark 'scar' on their skin, the very spot where the bean was once joined to its pod (botanists call it the hilum). People noticed this detail long ago and spun the sweet explanation of a tailor stitching up the bean that had laughed itself open with black thread. Such 'why' stories exist all over the world (the English writer Kipling's 'Just So Stories' are cut from the same cloth). Short as it is, the tale hides a quiet contrast: the hasty, reckless coal drowns, while the careful bean survives—though it nearly bursts with laughter. When you read it aloud, let your child find a real bean and look: is that black line really there?
Vocabulary from "The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean"
12 key words from this story with definitions and original context sentences for language learners.
Giving out a soft, steady light and heat, without flames.
发出红光的；灼热发亮的（无火焰）。
Soon afterward a glowing coal jumped out of the fireplace and landed next to them.
紧接着，一块烧红的煤炭也从壁炉里跳了出来，落在它们旁边。
Chance or luck, especially good luck.
运气；命运（尤指好运）。
I jumped from the fireplace, to my good fortune.
我幸运地从壁炉里跳了出来。
Kindness shown to someone you have the power to hurt; pity.
仁慈；怜悯；宽恕。
If the old woman had gotten me into the pot I would have been cooked to mush without mercy, just like my comrades.
要是老妇人把我放进锅里，我肯定会像我的同伴们一样，被无情地煮成糊状。
Friends or companions, especially ones who share the same work or struggle.
同伴；伙伴；战友。
I think that we should join together as comrades.
我认为我们要像好伙伴一样团结在一起。
(Of something bad) happening to someone.
（不幸之事）降临；发生在（某人）身上。
To prevent some new misfortune from befalling us here, let us together make our way to another land.
为了防止再有不幸降临，让我们一起去别的地方吧。
A small stream.
小溪；小河。
They soon came to a small brook.
没过多久，它们来到一条小溪边。
Easily made angry or excited; acting without thinking.
性急的；急躁冲动的；不加思索的。
The coal, who was a hot-headed fellow, stepped brashly onto the newly constructed bridge.
煤炭性子急，冒冒失失地走上了这座新搭的桥。
Suddenly became frightened.
受惊；突然害怕起来。
When he got to the middle and heard the water rushing beneath him, he took fright, stopped, and did not dare to go any further.
可是当它走到中间，听见脚下水流湍急的声音时，它害怕了，停下脚步，不敢再往前走。
Made a sound like a long 's', as hot metal does when it touches water.
发出嘶嘶声。
The coal slid after him, hissed as he fell into the water, and gave up the ghost.
煤炭也跟着滑了下去，落进水里时发出'嘶'的一声，就此一命呜呼了。
In a careful way, so as to avoid danger or mistakes.
小心翼翼地；谨慎地。
The bean who had cautiously stayed behind on the bank had to laugh at the event.
一直小心翼翼留在岸上的豆子看到这一幕，忍不住大笑起来。
Feeling or showing sympathy and care for others.
有同情心的；富有怜悯之心的。
Having a compassionate heart, he got out a needle and thread and sewed the bean back together.
裁缝心肠很好，拿出一根针和线，把豆子缝了起来。
A line where two pieces of cloth are sewn together.
（衣物的）接缝；缝合线。
Since that time all beans have had a black seam.
从那以后，所有的豆子身上都长着一条黑色的缝。
Reading Together & Learning More
The Moral
Those who stay calm and careful often come safely through danger, while rashness invites trouble; and behind the shape of every small thing lies human curiosity and imagination.
Educational Value
Introduces children to the delightful genre of the 'pourquoi' (origin) tale and sparks curiosity about details in nature; the contrast between coal and bean helps them feel the difference between steadiness and rashness.
Tips for Parents
Afterward, find a real bean with your child and look for the dark seam, then invite them to make up their own origin tale for something else—say, 'why zebras have stripes.'
Talk About It
- The straw, the coal, and the bean had nothing to do with one another, yet they became companions. What do you think brought them together?
- The coal is hasty and reckless, the bean careful and cautious. What different endings do these two natures lead to?
- The story says the bean's black line was sewn on by a tailor with black thread. What other explanations for 'why something looks the way it does' have you heard?
- If you were the bean and saw your companions fall into the water, would you laugh, or would you feel sad?
- Find a real bean and look at its little dark spot—why do you think people long ago made up a story to explain it?
