Jack the Giant Killer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack the Giant Killer |
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A Chapbook title page for the story.
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| Folk tale | |
| Name | Jack the Giant Killer |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Published in | English Fairy Tales |
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"Jack the Giant Killer" is a famous fairy tale and legend from Cornwall, England. It tells the story of a brave young man named Jack who uses his cleverness to defeat several troublesome giants. The story is set in the time of the legendary King Arthur.
This tale is a classic adventure story. Giants are common figures in Cornish folklore and stories from Wales and Brittany. "Jack the Giant Killer" shares some ideas with other old stories, including Norse mythology and other fairy tales like "The Valiant Little Tailor". Jack's magical items, like his sword, shoes, cap, and cloak, are also similar to those found in other myths and legends.
The story of Jack first appeared in a printed book around 1711. Over the years, it became very popular. Famous writers like Henry Fielding and Samuel Johnson knew the tale well. In 1962, a popular movie based on the story was made, which used special effects called stop motion.
Contents
The Story of Jack's Adventures
The tale takes place during the reign of King Arthur. Jack is a young farmer's son from Cornwall. He is not only strong but also very smart and witty.
Defeating Cormoran
Jack's first adventure begins when a giant named Cormoran starts stealing livestock from the local people. To stop him, Jack digs a deep pit near the giant's home and covers it with sticks and dirt. He then blows his horn to get the giant's attention. When Cormoran rushes out, he falls into the hidden trap. For this brave act, Jack is given the name 'Jack the Giant-Killer', along with the giant's treasure, a special sword, and a belt.
Outsmarting Blunderbore
A second giant, Blunderbore, hears about Cormoran and vows revenge. He captures Jack and takes him to his enchanted castle. But Jack is too clever for him. He manages to defeat both Blunderbore and his brother, freeing three ladies they held captive.
Jack's Magical Gifts
On a trip to Wales, Jack tricks a two-headed Welsh giant, leading to the giant's defeat. Soon after, Jack becomes a servant to King Arthur's son. They stay the night at the castle of a three-headed giant. The next morning, as a thank you for not damaging his castle, the giant gives Jack amazing magical gifts: a sword that can't be broken, a cap of knowledge, a cloak of invisibility, and shoes of great speed.
More Heroic Deeds
Jack and the Prince meet a lady who is under a spell from an evil sorcerer. Using his new magical items, Jack breaks the spell and defeats the sorcerer. The Prince and the lady get married, and Jack is invited to join King Arthur's famous Round Table.
Jack continues his adventures alone, using his magic items to help people. He saves a knight and his lady from one giant, and then uses his cloak of invisibility to defeat the giant's friend. At a celebration banquet, a two-headed giant named Thunderdell appears, chanting "Fee, fau, fum". Jack cleverly uses the castle's moat and drawbridge to defeat him.
The Final Battle
For his final adventure, Jack learns of an enchanted castle owned by the giant Galligantus. This giant and a sorcerer have captured many knights and ladies. They even turned a duke's daughter into a white deer. Jack bravely faces Galligantus and defeats him. The sorcerer flees, the spell on the duke's daughter is broken, and all the prisoners are freed.
Jack returns to King Arthur's court as a great hero. He marries the duke's daughter, and they are given an estate where they live happily ever after.
The Story's Origins
Stories about heroes fighting monsters are found all over the world, so it is hard to know exactly where "Jack the Giant Killer" began. However, because the story is set in Cornwall, many believe it comes from old Brythonic (Celtic) legends.
Folklorists, people who study traditional stories, have noticed that Jack's adventures are similar to tales from Norse mythology. For example, a trick Jack plays on a Welsh giant is a bit like a story about the Norse god Thor. The tale also has things in common with the famous story "The Valiant Little Tailor" by the Brothers Grimm.
Jack's magical items—the cap of knowledge, cloak of invisibility, magic sword, and speedy shoes—are also found in other old myths. They are similar to items in Welsh legends from the Mabinogion and even in Greek myths, where the hero Perseus used special items to defeat the monster Medusa.
Giants in British Folklore
Giants have been a big part of British stories for a very long time. They often represent the wild forces of nature or the original inhabitants of the land. Stories about King Arthur often included him fighting giants.
One of the oldest tales was written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in 1136. He wrote about how the first settlers of Britain had to fight giants who lived in Cornwall. The giant leader, Gogmagog, was defeated in a wrestling match by a hero named Corineus. This legend shows that stories about heroes and giants have been popular in Britain for centuries.
Meet the Giants Jack Fought
The giants in this story are some of the most famous in folklore. Each one presents a different challenge for Jack.
- Cormoran was the first giant Jack defeated. According to legend, he and his wife, Cormelian, lived on St Michael's Mount in Cornwall. They were said to have built the Mount by carrying giant rocks to the sea.
- Blunderbore was a giant who wanted revenge for Cormoran's defeat. He captured Jack, but Jack outsmarted him. In some versions of the story, Blunderbore kidnaps people and holds them in his castle until Jack comes to the rescue.
- Thunderdell was a fearsome two-headed giant. He interrupted a royal banquet by chanting the famous lines, "Fee, fau, fum." Jack used his quick thinking to defeat him using the castle's own defenses.
- Galligantus was the last giant Jack fought. He lived in an enchanted castle and used a sorcerer's magic to capture people, including a duke's daughter. Jack's victory over Galligantus freed all the prisoners and ended the giants' reign of terror.
Jack in Movies and Games
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The story of Jack has been adapted many times for the screen and for games.
Films
1962 film
In 1962, a fantasy film called Jack the Giant Killer was released. It starred Kerwin Mathews as Jack and featured exciting stop-motion animation for the giants and monsters.
Jack the Giant Slayer
The 2013 film Jack the Giant Slayer, directed by Bryan Singer, is a modern adventure movie. It combines the story of "Jack the Giant Killer" with another famous tale, "Jack and the Beanstalk".
2013 film
Another film from 2013, also called Jack the Giant Killer, was a direct-to-video movie from The Asylum. It is a modern version of the classic fairy tale.
Video game
Jack the Giantkiller is an arcade game from 1982. It is based on the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk", which is often connected with the story of Jack the Giant Killer.
See also
