The Giant

King Arthur and his men arriving in Brittany after declaring war on Rome. When they landed they heard stories of a great giant in Constantine that was eating the children of the country. Evidently the giant also took the Duchess of Brittany hostage to which five hundred men tried to rescue her, but all failed. King Arthur decides to save the Duchess, and asks a country man where he may find the giant. The man points to where two giant fires are burning and says that is where you may find the giant the place is called Saint Michaels mount.

Having made up his mind on saving the Duchess, King Arthur asks Sir Kay and Sir Bediverre to get supplies ready so that they could ride to Saint Michael’s mount. Reaching the mount King Arthur tells Sir Kay and Sir Bediverre to stay behind and Arthur will fight the giant alone. Heading up the hill Arthur comes across an old widow crying by the grave of the Duchess. She tells Arthur that just over the hill lays a great evil that will consume him.

            The old widow warns King Arthur not to attack the giant that night because he had already killed fifteen kings. King Arthur dismisses her warnings and goes over the hill to find the giant half naked gnawing on the limbs of the men he just killed. He sees three women cooking twelve young children over a fire. Upon seeing this the mighty King Arthur’s heart bled for the innocent children.

            Confronting the giant King Arthur asks why would you murder innocent children,  and kill the Duchess. The giant did not give Arthur an answer, but picked up his club and hit King Arthur square on the head. To this King Arthur took his sword and cut open the belly of the giant and sliced off his testicles. Covered in blood the giant tried to kill Arthur by hugging him so tight his insides would collapse. King Arthur’s body went limp, and the three women dropped to their knees and prayed to Christ to save him.

            Trying to kill Arthur the giant fell down the hill and they came to rest where Arthur told Sir Kay and Sir Bediverre to wait. Sir Kay took his sword and cut off the head of the giant as it was still holding onto King Arthur. The knights took the head of the giant and placed it on a spear to give to the people, and on the top of the hill King Arthur commissioned for a great church to be built on the hill for the worship of Saint Michael.

Stephen Gillies Class of 2007