Cormoran facts for kids
Cormoran is a famous giant from the folklore of Cornwall, a region in the southwest of England. He is most famous for his connection to St. Michael's Mount, a beautiful island just off the coast.
According to the legends, Cormoran built the island himself and used it as a fortress. From there, he would sneak onto the mainland to steal cattle from local farms. He is best known as the first giant defeated by the hero of the English fairy tale "Jack the Giant Killer".
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The Legend of Cormoran
Cormoran is one of many giants in Cornish folklore. The stories about a giant living on St. Michael's Mount are very old. However, the name "Cormoran" was first used in small, inexpensive storybooks called chapbooks that were popular long ago.
Some people think the story of Cormoran might be based on an even older legend. In that story, a hero named Corineus (who Cornwall is said to be named after) fought a giant named Gogmagog near St. Michael's Mount.
Stories About Cormoran
Building an Island
Local legends say that Cormoran built St. Michael's Mount. He would walk to the mainland when the tide was low and carry huge pieces of white granite back to build his island home.
Some stories say his wife, a giantess named Cormelian, helped him. She carried stones in her giant apron. One day, Cormoran fell asleep, and Cormelian decided to use a different type of stone that was closer. When Cormoran woke up and saw this, he got angry and kicked her. The stones tumbled from her apron and created a separate pile of rocks known today as Chapel Rock.
From his new home, Cormoran would cause trouble for the people on the mainland by stealing their cattle. Legends say he was easy to identify because he had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot!
Jack the Giant Killer
The most famous story about Cormoran is in the tale of "Jack the Giant Killer". In this story, Cormoran is described as being 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and living in a cave on St. Michael's Mount. When the tide was out, he would walk across to the mainland and steal animals. He could carry six oxen on his back at once!
The people of the nearby town of Penzance were terrified. They offered a reward to anyone brave enough to stop the giant. A clever young farm boy named Jack decided to take on the challenge.
One evening, Jack snuck over to the island and dug a very deep pit, about 22 feet (6.75 meters) deep. He covered the top with sticks and leaves to hide it. The next morning, Jack blew a horn to wake the giant.
Cormoran came roaring out of his cave, angry at being woken up. He ran towards Jack, but he didn't see the hidden pit and fell right in! Jack then defeated the giant and saved the town.
For his bravery, Jack was given the giant's treasure and a new title. He was given a special belt with these words on it:
Here's the right valiant Cornishman,
Who slew the giant Cormoran.
From that day on, he was known as "Jack the Giant-Killer."
Tom and the Old Giant
There is another, less famous story about the giant of St. Michael's Mount. In this tale, which features a local hero named Tom the Tinkeard, the giant is not defeated but simply grows old and weak.
One day, the hungry old giant tried to steal one last bull from the mainland. However, he was not strong enough to fight off an enchanter who owned the bull. The giant was left stuck in the cold sea all night. Defeated, he returned to his home.
Later, Tom visited the giant and felt sorry for him. He arranged for his aunt to sell the giant eggs and butter. This helped feed the old giant and also made Tom's aunt and her family rich. This story shows a different, gentler side to the fearsome giant.
