Gurgi facts for kids
Gurgi is a fun and loyal character from The Chronicles of Prydain, a series of fantasy books written by Lloyd Alexander. He is the faithful friend of the hero, Taran, and appears in all five books of the series. Gurgi is known for his unique way of speaking and his big heart.
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Who is Gurgi?
Gurgi is a very special creature, described as being a mix between a person and an animal. He has long, furry arms and is often covered in leaves. Gurgi is almost always hungry, looking for "crunchings and munchings"!
He is incredibly loyal and caring, always looking out for his friends. Gurgi has a very distinct way of talking. He uses rhyming words like "smackings and whackings" and often repeats phrases, such as "see with lookings!" He also refers to himself in the third person, saying things like "Gurgi wants" instead of "I want." At first, he sees Taran as a "noble lord" and is very humble towards him.
Gurgi's Adventures
Gurgi is one of the few characters who appears in every single book of The Chronicles of Prydain. The others are Taran, Fflewddur, Dallben, and Coll.
In The Book of Three
Taran first meets Gurgi while searching for Hen-Wen, an amazing pig. At first, Taran thinks Gurgi is just a bother. But by the end of this book, Taran learns how important true friendship is, thanks to Gurgi.
In The Black Cauldron
Gurgi, along with Princess Eilonwy, secretly follows Taran and his friends to the Black Gate of Annuvin. Gurgi joins them on their journey to the Marshes of Morva. He even plays a key role in finding the powerful Black Cauldron!
In The Castle of Llyr
Gurgi goes with Taran to take Princess Eilonwy to the Isle of Mona. When Eilonwy is kidnapped by an old enemy, Gurgi bravely faces many dangers to help rescue her.
In Taran Wanderer
Gurgi stays loyal to Taran on a very important journey. Taran is trying to find out who his parents are and where he comes from. Gurgi proves to be a truly supportive friend during this quest.
In The High King
Gurgi shows incredible bravery from the beginning to the end of this final book. When the big adventure is over, he has to make one of the hardest choices of his life.
How Gurgi Was Created
According to Lloyd Alexander, the author, Gurgi appeared to him very early one morning. Alexander said Gurgi just "suddenly there he was, with his groanings and moanings, looking like a disordered owl's nest."
Many of the names in Prydain come from old Welsh myths and history. There are even a few characters named Gurgi in Welsh legends!
Gurgi in Disney's The Black Cauldron
In Disney's animated movie of The Black Cauldron, Gurgi looks like a small, dog-like creature. The actor John Byner provided his voice.
There used to be a restaurant at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom called Gurgi's Munchies and Crunchies, but it closed in 1993. Gurgi also appeared as a guest in the TV show House of Mouse. You could even meet Gurgi as a character at some Walt Disney Parks and Resorts!
Fun Facts About Gurgi
- On some book covers for The Black Cauldron, Gurgi is shown looking like a raggedy person with bushy hair. On others, he looks more like a Chimpanzee.
- Gurgi has a magical wallet! It was a gift from Prince Gwydion. This wallet always has a supply of nourishing, though sometimes plain, food.
- Gurgi often rides a shaggy pony, even though his pony doesn't have a name.
