Tales of Giants from Brazil

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21678

Title

Tales of Giants from Brazil

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Elsie Spicer Eells weaves enchanting Brazilian folktales where magic and giants shape destiny. From a princess who must choose between her mother and her husband to a clever prince who outwits a land of giants, these stories blend whimsical creatures like singing birds and winged butterflies with themes of family loyalty, cleverness, and the triumph of love over tyranny. Rich with vivid imagery and moral lessons, this collection offers a captivating glimpse into the folklore of a land where the...

Summary up to 500 words

In 'Tales of Giants from Brazil,' Elsie Spicer Eells presents a vibrant collection of folklore where the boundaries between the human and the magical blur. The narrative opens with the tale of the Princess of the Springs, daughter of the Moon Giant and the Giantess of the Great River. Bound by a pact to visit her mother for three months each year, she faces heartbreak when her husband, the Sun Giant, forbids her from taking their infant son. Left alone, she discovers her mother has been imprisoned by a land giant. With the aid of the Giant of the Great Wind, she rescues her mother, only to return home too late. Her absence causes her husband to marry another and mistreat their child, who eventually becomes the Giant of the Rain, while the princess flees to the sea in sorrow. The second story, 'The Fountain of Giant Land,' features a blind king seeking a cure. A wise old woman directs him to a fountain atop a mountain guarded by a dragon, accessible only to a brave prince. This quest leads to the tale of Angelita, a beautiful girl poisoned by her stepmother and left in a silver casket. She is revived by a prince who invites her three giant brothers to her wedding, showcasing the theme of familial reunion and the triumph of love over wickedness. 'The Forest Lad and the Wicked Giant' follows a boy raised in the wild who returns to his city home with his mother. There, they encounter a giant who demands impossible tasks, sending the boy to fetch oils from dangerous beasts. Each time, a mysterious old woman (Nossa Senhora) provides hen's oil as a substitute, saving the boy's life. The giant, impressed by the boy's apparent bravery, eventually captures him, but the story hints at the boy's hidden strength and the protective magic of his mother. 'The Quest of Cleverness' tells of a prince deemed stupid who travels the world to learn wisdom. He acquires a singing bird, a wall-gnawing beetle, and a strong-winged butterfly. Using these magical companions, he infiltrates the land of giants, puts the guard to sleep, escapes the dungeon, and rescues a captive princess, proving that experience and wit surpass bookish learning. In 'The Giant's Pupil,' Manoel, a poor boy raised by a friendly giant, faces a riddle contest to win the king's daughter. After his dog dies from poisoned bread and he is attacked by robbers, he uses their dead buzzards and stolen gold to dress as a captain. He arrives at the palace and solves the princess's riddle, which recounts his journey: his pocket went from full to empty and back full; his companion (the dog) killed three buzzards, which killed seven robbers, from whom he chose the best horse and clothes. He wins the princess's hand. Finally, 'Domingo's Cat' features a poor man who refuses to sell his cat. The cat digs up treasures, making Domingo rich. The cat arranges a royal wedding, providing clothes and a...

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fairy Tales
• Brazil