Engrossed in research, both obscure and obvious, and with one eye on the latest deadline, it's a surprise to come up to the surface and find that you are actually leaning toward the zeitgeist.
Why is it trends seems to arbitrarily spring up in films, books and TV? Who would have thought that after Anne Rice there would be anything left in the sexy vampire/ werewolf genre? And just why is it there is a sudden fascination with remaking traditional tales such as Snow White, Hansel and Gretel, and most recently Jack the Giant Slayer, for a grown-up audience?
Having digested the curious facts of alleged giant skeleton artefacts and nephelim-believers online, I decided to read all the folk tales of giants that I could get my hands on. My favourite has to be the collection by Ruth Manning Sanders (my regard for that woman deserves its very own blog post) which includes both Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack the Giant Slayer - two very different tales, aspects of which appear to have been amalgamated in the latest big screen adaptation.
You know the first story: sold the cow for beans/angry mother/climb up beanstalk/steal things/giant dies as result of fall. But Jack the Giant Slayer, you are probably less familiar with.
Are you sitting comfortably?
Then, I shall begin.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, lived Jack the son of a Cornish farmer. And at that time there also lived in Cornwall a giant named Cormoran. He was a hungry giant, and he ate animals and people with equal gusto.
People became afraid that soon enough he would eat every last one of them, so the mayor and the council locked themselves in a room to decide what to do about the giant. While they were deep in discussion there was a crash of broken glass and there was Jack springing through the window and demanding to know what reward they would offer for the life of Cormoran.
They shook their heads doubtfully, but told him that the giant had treasure in his cave beyond all imagining, and that he was welcome to it all should he conquer Cormoran.
Jack set off with a pickaxe, a horn, a shovel and some long thin planks and rowed across to the giant's island. As the giant slept Jack dug a huge pit before the entrance to his cave and covered it over with the planks which then concealed with wreathes of seaweed. Then he put his horn to his lips and blew as loud as he could.
The giant rose with a roar of anger and ran out of the cave in pursuit of one so impudent as to wake him, but though he could see Jack too well, he did not see the trap laid for him. Heedless, he trod upon the planks which splintered beneath him and he tumbled into the pit. Before he could attempt to scramble out Jack planted the pickaxe into his head, and Cormoran was dead.
Jack found many chests of gold and rubies and pearls - he was now rich indeed! The townsfolk were overjoyed, not just at the giant's death but at Jack's generosity, for he gave away his wealth to anyone who was wanting. Jack was awarded with a fine sword and belt that bore the legend: 'Here's the valiant Cornishman, Who slew the giant Cormoran'.
Now Jack decided this was good career to pursue and set off to Wales, for it was said many a bad giant dwelled there. Indeed, Cormoran's cousin, Tantarem lived on the Welsh border, and when he heard that Cormoran's murderer was on his way, he rubbed his hands. Revenge would be his.
One afternoon on Jack's journey, he grew tired and thirsty and stopped by a stream in a wooded dell to drink and take a nap. As Jack slept Tantarem came to the very same stream to fill his pitchers with water. When he saw the young man he looked him over carefully read the words on Jack's belt and was delighted with his good luck to stumble upon his cousin's killer so soon.
Tantarem gently draped Jack across his shoulders and carried him back to his castle to cook him up for supper. Jack woke up to see the path to the giant's home strewn with bones and thought how he must think of a good plan quickly if he were to escape the same fate.
The giant tossed Jack into a cold stone room high up in the castle and returned to the dell to retrieve his water pitchers. There were no windows, only a small barred grating. When Jack peered out he saw he was too high to jump, but then he discovered a coil of rope in a dark corner of the room. He was just about to use the rope to make his escape when he heard the approach of the giant. What to do?
Quick as flash Jackhad an idea, he made a running noose in the rope and tied the other end fast to a beam in the roof. As the giant was fumbling with his key to unlock the door, Jack threw the noose from the opening and around the giant's neck. Jack pulled the other end with all his strength until the giant's protests grew silent. Then Jack crawled through the grating, down the rope and cut of the giant's head. That was the end of Tantarem.
On Jack went into Wales and he chanced upon the house of a much feared two-headed giant. He knocked upon the door and asked for shelter. Now Jack's reputation preceded him, and the giant knew he must use his cunning to defeat 'the giant-slayer'. So, he pretended all was well and invited Jack to stay the night.
Suspicious, Jack bid the giant good night and slipped out from under the rough blanket, placed a block of old wood in his stead, and lay down to sleep in the shadows on the floor. Sure enough, in the dead of night the giant stole into the room, brandishing his big studded club and beat the bed with all his might, shattering the wood to pieces.
In the morning when Jack went down to breakfast the giant stared with four incredulous eyes, and asked Jack, "Dis you sleep well?"Jack replied that he had apart from a great rat running over his bed and batting him with its tail.
"What a hard head you have," muttered the giant, then served up a great breakfast of porridge in two seven gallon bowls. Both began to shovel the porridge into their mouths, again the giant was amazed to see that Jack's meal was disappearing as swiftly as his own.
Unbeknownst to him Jack had a great leather bag under his shirt, and for every spoonful of porridge that went in his mouth he scooped several handfuls into the bag.
When the giant remarked on Jack's hearty appetite, Jack rubbed his belly and said, "I would eat that all over again. Let me show you my trick." He then took a knife and slit the bag so that all the porridge slopped out onto the floor. "Giant you may be," he goaded, "but you cannot do such a trick!" Whereupon the stupid giant snatched the knife from Jack and slit open his own belly. Another giant was dead.
To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment