Jack the Giant Killer
Section One
Long ago during the reign of the famous King Arthur lived a farmer and his son Jack. Jack was rumored to have a bad temper, and took delight in reading and hearing tales of giants, fairies and conquers, and the deeds of the Knights of the Round Table. He vowed to one day be as famous as them.
At the same time on St. Michael’s Mount, above the town of Cornwall, lived a huge eighteen-foot high giant. He dwelt in the gloomy cavern at the top of the mountain and would come down to the mainland in search of prey whenever he was hungry. He would gather up a half dozen oxen on his back, three times as many sheep and hogs around his waist and march back up to his own abode. His savage looks and fierce behavior would terrorize the town and all would go running when he bounded down the mountain. This went on for many years when Jack vowed to destroy him and become the hero of the town.
One winters evening, Jack gathered a horn, a shovel, a pickaxe, his armor and a lantern and headed up the mount. Once there he dug a pit twenty-two feet deep and twenty feet wide. He covered the top so it looked like solid ground and then blew his horn so loudly the giant awoke and came out of his den screaming out, “You villain! You shall pay for this. I will have you for breakfast!”
As he bounded out of his cave and took one more step, he tumbling head first into the pit and Jack struck him on the head. Jack then returned home to tell the town of his conquest, from then on being known as the Giant Killer.
Section Two
Upon hearing the news of the Giant of Cornwall, another giant named, Blunderbore, vowed to have revenge on Jack if he should ever run across him. This giant kept an enchanted castle in the midst of a lonely wood. Sometime after the death of the Giant of Cornwall, Jack was wandering alone through the wood and being weary, sat down and went to sleep.
The giant passing by and seeing Jack, carried him to his castle, where he locked him up in a large room, the floor of which was covered with bones from previous men and women who stumbled upon his castle. Soon after, the giant went to fetch his brother who was also a giant, and when Jack awoke he saw two giants approaching his prison.
Thinking fast, Jack noticed a strong cord sitting in the corner of the cell and quickly tied knots at each end, tying it to the bars of his cell. Throwing the other ends over the necks of the giants he was able to tangle them up and escape from the cell.
Upon leaving the cell he took a bunch of keys from Blunderbore and searched the castle where he found more of the giant’s prisoners. Rescuing the prisoners, Jack exclaimed that he had put an end to the giant and gave them the castle and all its treasures. Jack then continued along his journey to Wales.
As he began to tire he came along a nice house in the woods. Jack knocked at the door and there appeared a Welsh Giant. Jack explained he was a traveler who had lost his way and the giant welcomed him inside for the night. While Jack was tired he could not go to sleep. Laying in the dark he heard the giant saying to himself:
“Though you lodge here for the night, you will not see the morning light.”
In the middle of the night the giant snuck into Jack’s room and struck the bed where he thought Jack lay and quickly left the room.
Section Three
The next morning, Jack put on a brave face and walked into the giant’s room to thank him for his lodging. The giant was startled to see Jack and wondered how Jack was standing before him, but quickly brought out two bowls of porridge. Jack wanted to make the giant think he could eat as much as him so he slipped a leather bag into his coat and slipped the porridge into the bag while making it look like it was slipping into his mouth. After breakfast Jack managed to trick the giant and escape into the woods.
Proceeding on his journey, Jack traveled over hills and valleys soon arriving at the foot of a high mountain and knocking at the door of a lonely house, where an old man let him in. Having heard of “Jack the Giant Killer” the old man was happy to let him in for his son was being held on top of the mountain in an enchanted castle by a giant named Galligantus and a mean magician. The old man offered to help Jack, but Jack having been successful in all his journeys was arrogant and refused his help. Jack promised at the risk of his own life he would fetch him in the morning. Having been successful in all his endeavors Jack became careless, put on what he believed to be his invisible cloak and set off in the morning.
Climbing the high mountain in what he believed to be his invisibility cloak he came across two griffins. Thinking they couldn’t see him he began to pass. Much to Jack surprise, the griffins sprang to life and began chasing Jack back down the mountain to the old man’s house.
Section Four
Upon reaching the old man’s house Jack retold the story. The old man informed him that his invisibility cloak wasn’t working and he should approach the castle from the other side. The next morning, armed with help from the old man Jack set out again. This time he came across a trumpet under which the following was inscribed “Whoever can this trumpet blow, shall cause the giant’s overthrow”. As soon as Jack read this he grabbed the trumpet and blew a shrill blast. The gates to the castle threw open and the giant knew his wicked course was at an end. The giant was carried away by a whirlwind and the castle vanished away like smoke, freeing the old man’s son.
Jack’s fame had spread through the kingdom and the King welcomed him home. Jack lived the rest of his days in joy and contentment, never forgetting the help offered by the old man.
Source: Jack the Giant Killer
Retold by Exploros, CC BY-SA 4.0