Jack the Giant Killer is a gruesome Cornish fairy tale and legend. 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.
Jack first encounters a livestock-eating giant called Cormoran (The Giant of the Sea). In the middle of the night Jack digs a giant pit close to where Cormoran is sleeping and covers it with sticks and straw. With a loud blast of his horn Jack wakes up the giant, who angrily pursues him but falls into the pit trap. Jack uses a pick-axe to finish him off. Jack is dubbed 'Jack the Giant Killer' for his feat and receives not only the giant's wealth but a sword and belt to commemorate the event.
Next, a man-eating giant named Blunderbore, vows vengeance for Cormoran's death and carries Jack off to an enchanted castle. Jack manages to slay Blunderbore and his brother Rebecks and frees three ladies held captive in the giant's castle.
On a trip to Wales, Jack tricks a two-headed Welsh giant, by making him think he is invincible. Jack places a piece of wood in his bed and sleeps elsewhere. The giant thinks he's clubbed him to death in the night but Jack comes down to breakfast unscathed. Jack then tricks the giant in a pudding-eating competition by hiding the food in a bag under his shirt. In his final ruse, Jack pretends to knife himself but instead stabs the bag and all the pudding tumbles out onto the floor. The giant thinks it's Jack's guts and can't fathom how he is not hurt. Not to be outdone by Jack, the giant snatches the knife, stabs himself and dies.
King Arthur's son now enters the story and Jack becomes his servant. They spend the night with a three-headed giant and rob him in the morning. In gratitude for having spared his castle, the three-headed giant gives Jack a magic sword, a cap of knowledge, a cloak of invisibility, and shoes of swiftness.
On the road, Jack and the Prince meet an enchanted Lady serving Lucifer. Jack breaks the spell with his magic accessories, kills Lucifer and the Lady marries the Prince. Jack is rewarded with membership in the Round Table.
A banquet is prepared, but it is interrupted by the two-headed giant Thunderdel chanting 'Fee, fau, fum'. Jack defeats the giant by using his shoes of swiftness. He tricks the giant into chasing after him and leads him over the house's moat where he falls through the drawbridge.
Jack ventures forth alone with his magic shoes, sword, cloak and cap to rid the realm of troublesome giants. He meets an elderly man who directs him to an enchanted castle belonging to the giant Galligantus. 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 sorceror. Jack beheads the giant, the sorceror flees, the Duke's daughter is restored to her true shape and the captives are freed.
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.
N51 26. (F - C) x (E - B)
W02 37. (E - D) x (C - A)