THE BLIND OGRE
by Clifton Johnson · from Bluebeard
Adapted Version
Janella had seven sons and one daughter, Channa.
Janella had seven sons. They went far from home. They found a big Ogre. The Ogre was blind. He said, "Work for me. I will give you food." Sons said yes.
Time passed. Channa missed her brothers. She went to find them. She walked a long way. She found them at the Ogre's house.
Her brothers were happy. They gave Channa two rules. "Hide from the Ogre," they said. "Always share food with The Cat." It lived there. Channa must be careful.
One day, Channa ate a nut. She forgot The Cat. She did not share it. The Cat was angry. The Cat put out the fire. No more warm fire.
Channa needed fire. She went upstairs. The Ogre was there. She asked him for hot coals. The Ogre heard her voice.
The Ogre knew a woman was near. He made a loud, scary sound. It came from his mouth. Channa felt very scared. She knew she made a mistake.
Channa ran fast. She went to her room. She shut the door. She put chairs on it. She put tables on it.
The Ogre banged on the door. He was very angry. The brothers came home. The Ogre shouted angry words.
Grazio was the oldest brother. He was very smart. He told Ogre, "Come." He led Ogre outside. There was a deep hole.
The Ogre walked too close. He fell into the deep hole. The brothers covered the hole. They put dirt on it.
Brothers warned Channa: Do not pick Ogre's plant.
Much time passed. A man was hurt. Channa felt sad for him. She saw a plant. It grew on the Ogre's grave. She picked the plant to help him.
Poof! The brothers turned into doves. They were seven white doves. They flew away fast. Channa was very sad.
Channa learned a sad lesson that day. Always listen to warnings, even when helping. Sometimes, not listening can make bad things happen.
Original Story
VIII—THE BLIND OGRE
In Italy dwelt a woman named Janella who had eight children. Seven of them were sons, but the youngest was a daughter.
After the sons grew up they went off to see the world. They went on and on until they came to a wood in which dwelt an ogre. This ogre had been blinded by a woman while he lay asleep, and ever since then he had been such an enemy to womankind that he devoured all whom he could catch.
When the youths arrived at the ogre’s house, tired out with walking, and faint with hunger, they begged him, for pity’s sake, to give them something to eat.
The ogre replied that if they would serve him he would supply them with food. They would have nothing else to do but watch over his safety, each in turn, a day at a time.
This seemed a very satisfactory arrangement to them, and they consented to remain in the service of the ogre. So he let them have all the lower part of the house to live in.
After the brothers had been gone from home a long time, and no tidings of them were received, Channa, their sister, dressed for a journey and went to seek them. On and on she walked, asking at every place she came to whether any one had seen her seven brothers. Finally she got news at an inn of where they were, and away she went to the ogre’s house in the wood.
There she made herself known to her brothers and was received with great joy. After the greetings were over the youths told her to stay quietly in their part of the house so the ogre would not be aware of her presence. They also cautioned her to give a portion of whatever she had to eat to a cat which lived there. Otherwise the cat would do her harm.
Channa heeded their advice and got along very well. She shared her food with the cat, always doing it fairly to the last morsel, and saying, “This for me—this for thee.”
But one day when the ogre sent the brothers out to do some hunting they left Channa a little basket of peas to cook. While shelling the peas, she found a hazel nut among them, and as ill-luck would have it she ate the nut, forgetting to give half to the cat. The latter, out of spite, ran to the hearth and put out the fire.
Then Channa left the room and went upstairs to the blind ogre’s part of the house. She asked him for a few coals, and when he heard a woman’s voice he said: “Welcome, madam! Just you wait a while.” Afterward he began to sharpen his teeth with a whetstone.
She saw that she had made a mistake in not obeying her brother’s orders, and she ran back to the room below. There she bolted the door and placed against it stools, tables, chests, and in fact everything she could move.
As soon as the ogre had put an edge on his teeth he groped his way to the door and found it fastened. So he proceeded to kick it to break it open. The seven brothers came home while he was making all this disturbance, and the ogre accused them of treachery.
Things might have gone badly had it not been for the cleverness of Grazio, the eldest, who said to the ogre: “She has fortified herself so securely inside that you cannot get at her. Come, I will take you to a place where we can seize her without her being able to defend herself.”
Then they led the ogre by the hand to the edge of a deep pit, where they gave him a push that sent him headlong to the bottom. After that they got shovels and covered him with earth.
By and by they returned to the house and Channa unfastened the door. They told her to be more careful in future, and to beware of plucking any grass or other plant that might grow on the spot where the ogre was buried, or they would be changed into doves.
“Heaven keep me from bringing such a misfortune on you!” Channa exclaimed.
They took possession of all the ogre’s goods, made themselves masters of the whole house, and lived very comfortably and merrily there until spring. Then it happened one morning when the brothers had gone off on some errand, that a poor pilgrim came to the ogre’s wood. He was looking up at an ape perched in a pine tree when the creature threw a heavy cone at him. This struck him on the head so hard that the poor fellow set up a loud cry.
Channa heard the noise and ran to where he was sitting on the ground hanging on to his bruised head. She took pity on him and plucked a tuft of rosemary which was growing on the ogre’s grave near by. Then she hurried to the house and made a plaster of it with bread and salt. In a few minutes she rejoined the pilgrim and bound the plaster on his head. After that she had him go with her to the house where she gave him some breakfast. When he finished eating she sent him on his way.
Story DNA
Moral
Disobeying warnings, even with good intentions, can lead to dire consequences.
Plot Summary
Seven brothers leave home and become servants to a blind, man-eating ogre. Their sister, Channa, finds them and is warned to stay hidden and share food with a cat. Channa disobeys the cat, leading to her discovery by the ogre, but her brothers cleverly trick and bury the monster. They warn her not to disturb his grave, but Channa, out of pity for an injured pilgrim, plucks a plant from the grave, implying the imminent transformation of her brothers into doves.
Themes
Emotional Arc
comfort to peril to temporary relief to renewed peril
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale, collected by Clifton Johnson, is a variant of a common European folktale motif involving a monstrous figure and a forbidden act leading to transformation.
Plot Beats (13)
- Janella's seven sons leave home and find a blind ogre who agrees to feed them if they serve him as watchmen.
- After a long time, their sister Channa sets out to find them and eventually locates them at the ogre's house.
- The brothers welcome Channa but warn her to stay hidden from the ogre and to always share her food with a resident cat.
- Channa forgets to share a hazelnut with the cat, who, in revenge, extinguishes the fire.
- Channa goes to the blind ogre's room to ask for coals, revealing her presence to him.
- The ogre, realizing a woman is near, begins to sharpen his teeth, terrifying Channa.
- Channa flees back to the brothers' room and barricades the door with furniture.
- The ogre tries to break down the door, and the brothers return home, where the ogre accuses them of treachery.
- Grazio, the eldest brother, devises a plan to trick the ogre, leading him to a deep pit.
- The brothers push the ogre into the pit and bury him with earth.
- The brothers warn Channa never to pluck any plant from the ogre's grave, or they will be transformed into doves.
- Months later, Channa, out of pity for an injured pilgrim, plucks rosemary from the ogre's grave to make a plaster.
- The story ends abruptly with Channa making the plaster, implying the brothers' transformation is imminent or has just occurred.
Characters
Janella ○ minor
An Italian woman of average height and build, likely with the weathered hands of a mother who has raised many children. Her features would be typical of a southern European woman, possibly with olive skin and dark hair.
Attire: Simple, practical Italian peasant clothing of the era: a long, plain linen or wool skirt, a loose-fitting blouse, and a simple apron. Colors would be muted, like browns, creams, or dull blues.
Wants: To raise her children well.
Flaw: Her children leaving home, causing her worry.
Remains static, her role is to introduce the family.
Caring, maternal, resilient.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult Italian woman, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has olive skin, a kind, slightly weary face with dark eyes, and dark hair pulled back in a simple bun. She wears a long, plain cream linen skirt, a loose-fitting white blouse, and a faded blue apron. Her hands are slightly calloused. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Blind Ogre ⚔ antagonist
A massive, grotesque humanoid creature of immense strength, with a hulking, broad-shouldered build. His skin is likely rough, greenish-grey, and scarred. His most defining feature is his blindness, with eyes that are either milky white, scarred shut, or simply empty sockets.
Attire: Minimal and crude, perhaps a tattered, dark loincloth or rough animal hides crudely stitched together, showing his disregard for appearance and focus on primal needs.
Wants: To devour women as revenge for his blindness; to be served and fed.
Flaw: His blindness, which makes him vulnerable to trickery.
Remains static in his evil nature, ultimately defeated and buried.
Vengeful, cruel, easily deceived, gluttonous, solitary.
Image Prompt & Upload
A hulking, muscular ogre, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has rough, greenish-grey skin, a brutish face with a wide mouth full of sharp teeth, and milky white, sightless eyes. His dark, matted hair is short and coarse. He wears a tattered, dark brown animal hide loincloth. He stands with a menacing, slightly hunched posture, holding a grey whetstone in one large hand. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Channa ★ protagonist
A young Italian woman, likely of average height and slender build, suitable for travel. Her features would be soft but determined, typical of a southern European woman.
Attire: Practical and durable Italian peasant clothing for a journey: a long, sturdy linen dress in a muted color like forest green or deep blue, a simple apron, and comfortable walking shoes or sandals. Perhaps a shawl for warmth.
Wants: To find and rescue her brothers.
Flaw: Her occasional forgetfulness (eating the hazelnut, plucking rosemary).
Starts as a seeker, becomes a rescuer, and learns the consequences of her actions, ultimately becoming more careful.
Brave, resourceful, compassionate, observant, occasionally forgetful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young Italian woman, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has fair olive skin, a kind and determined face with large dark brown eyes, and long, dark brown hair braided down her back. She wears a sturdy, long-sleeved forest green linen dress, a simple cream apron, and practical brown leather walking shoes. She holds a small woven basket of peas in her hands. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Grazio ◆ supporting
The eldest of the seven brothers, likely tall and lean, with the build of someone who has traveled and hunted. His features would be sharp and intelligent, typical of a southern European man.
Attire: Practical Italian hunting attire: sturdy leather breeches, a simple linen tunic in earthy tones, a leather jerkin, and worn leather boots. Perhaps a hunting knife at his belt.
Wants: To survive, to protect his siblings, to outwit the ogre.
Flaw: Initially, his reliance on the ogre for food and shelter.
Learns to use his intelligence to overcome a powerful physical threat, becoming the true protector of his family.
Clever, resourceful, protective, a natural leader.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult Italian man, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has olive skin, a thoughtful face with sharp dark eyes, and short, dark brown hair. He wears sturdy dark brown leather breeches, a simple grey linen tunic, a dark leather jerkin, and worn brown leather boots. A hunting knife is sheathed at his belt. He stands with a confident, steady posture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Cat ◆ supporting
A domestic cat, likely lean and agile, with a sleek coat. Its eyes would be intelligent and watchful.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To receive its fair share of food.
Flaw: Its spitefulness when denied food.
Remains static, acting as a catalyst for Channa's actions.
Demanding, vengeful, observant, intelligent.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sleek, adult tabby cat, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It has short, striped brown and black fur, bright green eyes, and a slightly demanding expression. It stands alert, tail slightly raised. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Pilgrim ○ minor
A weary traveler, likely of average height and build, showing signs of a long journey. His face would be tired and perhaps a bit gaunt.
Attire: Simple, worn pilgrim's attire: a coarse wool tunic, a cloak, sturdy leather sandals, and a wide-brimmed hat to protect from the sun. He would carry a staff.
Wants: To complete his pilgrimage, to find sustenance and healing.
Flaw: Vulnerable to accidents and injuries.
Receives aid and continues his journey, a brief encounter.
Humble, grateful, enduring.
Image Prompt & Upload
A weary adult male pilgrim, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a sun-weathered face with a short, dusty brown beard, tired brown eyes, and unkempt dark brown hair. He wears a coarse grey wool tunic, a dark brown cloak, sturdy leather sandals, and a wide-brimmed, worn brown felt hat. He leans on a tall wooden staff. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Ogre's House - Lower Part
The living quarters for the seven brothers, likely a rustic, sturdy Italian farmhouse or a fortified dwelling, with a hearth for cooking and a door that can be bolted and barricaded with furniture.
Mood: Initially safe and comfortable, later tense and fearful during the ogre's attack.
The brothers reside here; Channa joins them and shares food with the cat; Channa barricades herself from the ogre.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rustic, dimly lit room within a sturdy Italian stone farmhouse, with a large, open hearth where embers glow softly. Rough-hewn timber beams support the ceiling, and the walls are thick, uneven stone. A heavy wooden door, reinforced with a thick bolt, is visible. Scattered around are simple, solid wooden stools, a table, and a chest, suggesting a lived-in but spartan space. Soft, filtered light enters through a small, high window. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Ogre's House - Upper Part
The blind ogre's personal quarters, likely sparse and functional, where he sharpens his teeth. It is accessible from the lower part of the house via stairs.
Mood: Foreboding, dangerous, especially when the ogre is present.
Channa goes here to ask for coals, revealing her presence to the ogre.
Image Prompt & Upload
A stark, unadorned room in the upper level of a fortified Italian stone dwelling, with a low, heavy timber ceiling and thick, rough-hewn stone walls. A narrow, steep wooden staircase descends from this space. On a simple, sturdy wooden table, a whetstone lies, reflecting a dull, cold light from a small, high window. The air feels heavy and still. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Wood with Deep Pit
A dense, ancient Italian wood, likely with mature trees and undergrowth, containing a significant, deep pit. The ground is uneven and potentially covered with fallen leaves or moss.
Mood: Initially tense and dangerous, then becomes a place of decisive action and resolution.
The brothers lead the ogre here and push him into the pit, then bury him.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dense, ancient Italian forest clearing, with tall, gnarled pine trees casting long shadows across the uneven, leaf-strewn ground. In the center, a dark, ominous deep pit yawns, its edges overgrown with tangled roots and dark undergrowth. The sunlight filters through the thick canopy, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air is still and heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Ogre's Grave Site
The specific spot in the wood where the ogre was buried, marked by a tuft of rosemary growing on it. It's near a pine tree where an ape perches.
Mood: Initially peaceful, but carries a subtle, lingering magical danger.
Channa plucks rosemary from the grave, inadvertently triggering a magical consequence.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-dappled clearing in an Italian pine forest during spring morning. The ground is soft with pine needles and new green growth. A distinct tuft of vibrant green rosemary grows prominently from a small mound of earth, indicating a grave. Nearby, a tall, mature pine tree stands, its branches reaching towards the clear blue sky. Soft, golden light filters through the pine needles, illuminating the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
