The story follows a young boy named Jack who lives with his widowed mother. They are very poor, and their only source of income is a cow that stops giving milk. Jack's mother sends him to sell the cow, but instead, Jack trades it for a handful of magic beans. His mother is furious and throws the beans out the window. Overnight, the beans grow into a massive beanstalk that reaches up into the clouds. Jack climbs the beanstalk and discovers a giant's castle in the sky. Inside the castle, he finds treasures, including a hen that lays golden eggs, a magical harp, and bags of gold coins. Jack steals these items, escaping each time from the giant who lives there. On his final trip, the giant chases Jack down the beanstalk. Jack quickly cuts down the beanstalk, causing the giant to fall to his death. Jack and his mother live happily ever after with their newfound wealth.
