Tales of monsters and heroes are abundant around the world, making the source of "Jack the Giant Killer" difficult to pin down, however the ascription of Jack relation to Cornwall suggests a Brythonic (Celtic) origin. At the court of King Arthur, Jack marries the Duke's daughter and the two are given an estate where they live happily ever after. Jack beheads the giant, the sorcerer flees, the Duke's daughter is restored to her true shape, and the captives are freed. The giant holds captive many knights and ladies and a Duke's daughter who has been transformed into a white doe through the power of a sorcerer. Growing weary of the festivities, Jack sallies forth for more adventures and meets an elderly man who directs him to an enchanted castle belonging to the giant Galigantus (Galligantua, in the Joseph Jacobs version).
Jack defeats and beheads the giant with a trick involving the house's moat and drawbridge. A banquet is prepared, but interrupted by the two-headed giant Thunderdel chanting "Fee, fau, fum". He frees the giant's captives and returns to the house of the knight and lady he earlier had rescued. Invisible in his cloak, Jack cuts off the giant's nose then slays him by plunging his sword into the monster's back. He discovers the giant's companion in a cave. He cuts off the giant's legs then puts hto death. He encounters a giant terrorising a knight and his lady. Jack ventures forth alone with his magic shoes, sword, cloak, and cap to rid the realm of troublesome giants. Jack is rewarded with membership in the Round Table. Jack breaks the spell with his magic accessories, beheads Lucifer, and the Lady marries the Prince. On the road, Jack and the Prince meet an enchanted Lady serving Lucifer. In gratitude for having spared his castle, the giant gives Jack a magic sword, a cap of knowledge, a cloak of invisibility, and shoes of swiftness. They spend the night with a three-headed giant and rob him in the morning. King Arthur's son now enters the story and Jack becomes his servant. On a trip into Wales, Jack tricks a two-headed Welsh giant into slashing his own belly open. He frees three ladies held captive in the giant's castle. Jack manages to slay Blunderbore and his brother Rebecks by hanging and stabbing them.
Another giant, Blunderbore, vows vengeance for Cormoran's death and carries Jack off to an enchanted castle. Jack is dubbed 'Jack the Giant-Killer' for this feat and receives not only the giant's wealth but a sword and belt to commemorate the event. Jack encounters a cattle-devouring giant called Cormoran (Cornish: 'The Giant of the Sea' SWF:Kowr-Mor-An) and lures him to his death in a pit trap. The tale is set during the reign of King Arthur and tells of a young Cornish farmer's son named Jack who is not only strong but so clever he easily confounds the learned with his penetrating wit. One scholar speculates the public had grown weary of King Arthur – the greatest of all giant killers – and Jack was created to fill his shoes. It is probable an enterprising publisher assembled a number of anecdotes about giants to form the 1711 tale. Neither Jack nor his tale are referenced in English literature prior to the eighteenth century, and his story did not appear in print until 1711. Jack's belt is similar to the belt in "The Valiant Little Tailor", and his magical sword, shoes, cap, and cloak are similar to those owned by Tom Thumb or those found in Welsh and Norse mythology. Some parallels to elements and incidents in Norse mythology have been detected in the tale, and the trappings of Jack's last adventure with the giant Galigantus suggest parallels with French and Breton fairy tales such as Bluebeard. Giants are prominent in Cornish folklore, Breton mythology and Welsh Bardic lore. The tale is characterised by violence, gore and blood-letting. " Jack the Giant Killer" is a Cornish/British fairy tale and legend about a plucky lad who slays a number of giants durin King Arthur's reign.
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