The Cunning Lapp

by Herman Hofberg · from Swedish fairy tales

folk tale trickster tale humorous Ages 5-10 438 words 2 min read
Cover: The Cunning Lapp

Adapted Version

CEFR A1 Age 5 337 words 2 min Canon 100/100

A small Lapp lived. A big Giant lived near him. One day, Giant caught Lapp. Giant did not let Lapp go. Lapp was scared.

Lapp had an idea. He spoke to Giant. "Let us play a game," Lapp said. "A strength game."

"Push heads into a tree," Lapp said. "The one who pushes deepest is strong. He is the winner."

Giant went first. He ran fast. He pushed his head into a tree. Giant tried hard. The tree did not move. No mark was there.

That night, Lapp worked. He made holes in trees. He covered the holes with bark. Giant did not know. It was a secret.

Next day, Lapp pushed his head. He pushed into a tree. His head went deep inside. Giant saw this. Giant's eyes grew wide. Giant was surprised.

Giant was sad. He had another idea. "Let us throw an ax," Giant said. "Who throws it highest wins."

Giant threw his ax. It went very high. It flew far up. It almost touched the sky.

"That is not high," Lapp said. "My throw will reach a cloud. You will lose your ax then."

Giant loved his ax. He did not want to lose it. Giant thought about his ax. "You win this game," Giant said. He was scared.

Next day, Lapp made ropes. He used small branches. Lapp was busy. Giant watched Lapp. "I will take your house," Lapp said.

Giant was worried. "No, do not take my house!" he cried. "I will fill your hat with silver."

Giant went to get silver. Lapp dug a hole. It was a deep hole. He put his hat over the hole. The hat had a big hole.

Giant brought silver. He saw the hat. Giant looked at the hat. Lapp said, "Fill it up! Or I send you far away."

Giant put silver in the hat. He put much silver. Lapp became a rich man. He was very happy.

Lapp is small. Giant is big. But Lapp is smart. Smart is stronger than big!

Original Story 438 words · 2 min read

The Cunning Lapp.

A poor Lapp once ran into the hands of a Giant, by whom he knew he would be devoured if he could not conceive some means of outwitting him. To this end he therefore proposed that they have a contest of strength, the test to be that they should butt against a tree and see which could drive his head farthest into it. He who could make the deepest impression must, of course, be the stronger.

The Giant was first to make the trial. Taking his stand some distance from a tall pine, with a spring forward he drove his head with furious force against the trunk, but the most careful search did not discover a mark caused by the blow. The Lapp then said that he would show his strength the next day. During the night he made a large hollow in the trunks of several trees and re-covered the cavities nicely with the bark. Next morning, when the contest was renewed, the Lapp ran from tree to tree, into each of which he thrust his head to his ears. The Giant looked on, thoroughly crestfallen at the exhibition of strength, but proposed that they have another trial. This time he who could throw an ice ax highest into the air should be declared the victor. The Giant threw first, and to such a height that the ax was almost lost to sight.

“That was a miserable throw,” said the Lapp. “When I throw it shall be so high that it will lodge upon a cloud.”

“No, my dear!” shouted the Giant. “Rather let me acknowledge myself the weaker, than lose my splendid ax.” Thus again the Lapp came off champion.

The next day, as the Lapp and the Giant were out in company, the Lapp gathered a number of willow twigs and began twisting them together.

“What are you about to do with those?” asked the Giant.

“I mean to carry away your treasure house,” answered the Lapp.

“Oh, my son,” sighed the Giant, “let me retain my house, and I will fill your hat with silver.”

“Very well,” replied the Lapp.

While the Giant was away after the silver, the Lapp dug a pit, cut a hole in his hat crown and sat the hat over the pit.

“It’s a big hat you have,” complained the Giant.

“Fill it up!” shouted the Lapp. “Otherwise I’ll throw you, as I would have done the ice ax, up into the clouds.” And the Giant was compelled to give the Lapp such a sum of money that he was ever after a rich man.


Story DNA folk tale · humorous

Moral

Brains and cleverness can overcome brute force and physical superiority.

Plot Summary

A poor Lapp is captured by a Giant who intends to eat him. To escape, the Lapp proposes a series of strength contests. First, he tricks the Giant into believing he can butt his head into trees by pre-hollowing them. Next, he threatens to throw the Giant's ice ax so high it will be lost, making the Giant concede. Finally, he claims he will carry away the Giant's house with willow twigs, then tricks the Giant into filling a hat with a hole over a pit with silver. The Giant, outsmarted and fearing further loss, gives the Lapp enough wealth to become rich, allowing him to escape.

Themes

cunning over strengthsurvivalresourcefulnessdeception

Emotional Arc

fear to triumph

Writing Style

Voice: third person omniscient
Pacing: brisk
Descriptive: sparse

Narrative Elements

Conflict: person vs person
Ending: moral justice
Magic: Giants
the hat with a hole (symbol of insatiable desire/cleverness)the ice ax (symbol of Giant's prized possession/power)

Cultural Context

Origin: Scandinavian (Lappland)
Era: timeless fairy tale

Lapps (Sami people) are an indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. Their folklore often features interactions with nature and mythical beings like giants.

Plot Beats (15)

  1. A poor Lapp is caught by a Giant who plans to eat him.
  2. The Lapp proposes a contest of strength to save himself.
  3. For the first contest, they must butt their heads into a tree to see who can make the deepest impression.
  4. The Giant tries first, hitting a pine tree with no visible mark.
  5. The Lapp secretly hollows out several trees and covers the holes with bark overnight.
  6. The next morning, the Lapp pretends to butt his head into the trees, making it appear as if his head goes in up to his ears.
  7. The crestfallen Giant proposes a second contest: throwing an ice ax highest.
  8. The Giant throws his ax very high, almost out of sight.
  9. The Lapp claims he will throw it so high it will lodge on a cloud, threatening to lose the Giant's ax.
  10. The Giant, fearing the loss of his ax, concedes defeat in this round.
  11. The next day, the Lapp begins twisting willow twigs, claiming he will use them to carry away the Giant's treasure house.
  12. The Giant, alarmed, offers to fill the Lapp's hat with silver if he leaves his house alone.
  13. While the Giant is getting silver, the Lapp digs a pit and places his hat, with a hole in the crown, over it.
  14. The Giant complains about the hat's size, but the Lapp threatens to throw him into the clouds if he doesn't fill it.
  15. The Giant is compelled to give the Lapp so much silver that he becomes a rich man.

Characters 2 characters

The Lapp ★ protagonist

human adult male

A man of short to average height, lean but wiry build, with features typical of the Sámi people: perhaps a slightly broader face, high cheekbones, and a sturdy constitution suited to a life in the northern wilderness. His movements are quick and agile.

Attire: Practical, durable clothing made for the cold northern climate. Likely wears a 'gákti' (Sámi traditional costume) consisting of a tunic-like garment made of wool or reindeer hide, possibly in dark blue or red, with simple woven bands or embroidery. Reindeer hide trousers and sturdy leather boots (nuvttagat) with upturned toes. A thick wool cap or a 'ládjogahpir' (four-cornered hat) for warmth.

Wants: Survival and self-preservation, which evolves into a desire for wealth and security once he realizes he can outwit the Giant.

Flaw: Physically much weaker than the Giant, making him vulnerable if he cannot rely on his wits.

Transforms from a desperate man trying to survive into a wealthy man who has successfully outsmarted a formidable foe, gaining security and prosperity through his cleverness.

His traditional Sámi attire, particularly a distinctive wool cap, combined with a shrewd, knowing smirk.

Cunning, resourceful, quick-witted, pragmatic, and determined. He uses his intelligence to overcome physical disadvantages.

Image Prompt & Upload
A short, lean adult man with a sturdy build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has tanned, weather-beaten skin, dark, keen eyes, and dark, straight hair, possibly in a practical, short style. He wears a dark blue wool gákti tunic with simple red and yellow woven bands at the cuffs and hem, reindeer hide trousers, and sturdy brown leather boots with upturned toes. He wears a dark blue wool cap with a red pompom. He holds a bundle of willow twigs in his left hand. He has a shrewd, confident expression with a slight smirk. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.

The Giant ⚔ antagonist

giant adult male

Immense in stature, towering over humans, with a massive, muscular build. His skin is rough and perhaps earthy-toned, showing signs of a life spent outdoors. His movements are powerful but can be clumsy or slow compared to the Lapp.

Attire: Simple, rough, and oversized clothing befitting a giant. Perhaps a tunic or shirt made of coarse animal hide or roughspun wool in earthy tones like brown or grey, belted with a thick leather strap. Simple, sturdy trousers and large, crude boots. His clothing is functional, not decorative.

Wants: To assert his dominance through physical strength and to maintain his possessions (treasure house, ice ax). Initially, to devour the Lapp.

Flaw: His gullibility and lack of intelligence. He is easily tricked and intimidated by cleverness he doesn't understand.

Begins as a terrifying threat, but is progressively humiliated and outsmarted, ending up poorer and acknowledging the Lapp's superior 'strength'. He learns a painful lesson about the limits of brute force.

His immense, towering height and broad, muscular frame, contrasted with a bewildered or crestfallen expression.

Boastful, easily outwitted, somewhat dim-witted, possessive, and easily intimidated by perceived greater strength. He is proud of his physical power but lacks cunning.

Image Prompt & Upload
An extremely tall, massive adult man with a muscular, imposing build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a broad, rough, earthy-toned face with a heavy brow, small dark eyes, and a wide jaw. His hair is coarse, dark, and unkempt, with a full, shaggy beard. He wears a simple, oversized tunic made of coarse brown animal hide, belted with a thick leather strap, and rough grey trousers. His feet are covered in large, crude leather boots. He has a bewildered and slightly crestfallen expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations 3 locations
No image yet

Pine Forest Clearing

outdoor morning Cool, clear weather, likely late spring or summer in a northern climate.

A clearing within a dense Nordic pine forest, characterized by tall, straight pine trees with rough bark. The ground is likely covered with pine needles, moss, and perhaps some low-lying undergrowth. The air is crisp and cool.

Mood: Initially tense and dangerous due to the Giant's presence, later shifts to cunning and strategic as the Lapp outwits him.

The first contest of strength where the Lapp tricks the Giant into believing he can drive his head into a tree.

Tall pine trees Forest floor covered in pine needles and moss Sunlight filtering through pine canopy Tree trunks with concealed hollows
Image Prompt & Upload
A sun-dappled clearing in a dense, ancient Nordic pine forest. Towering, straight pine trees with dark, textured bark rise majestically, their needles forming a thick, soft carpet on the forest floor. Patches of vibrant green moss cling to exposed roots and rocks, and shafts of golden morning light pierce through the high canopy, creating dramatic light and shadow patterns. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
No image yet

Open Nordic Landscape

outdoor morning Clear, possibly windy, with a wide-open sky.

A vast, open landscape typical of northern regions, possibly a tundra or a high-altitude meadow, with sparse vegetation like willow bushes. The sky is expansive, suggesting a wide-open space suitable for throwing objects high into the air.

Mood: Open, exposed, and competitive, with an underlying tension of the Lapp's continued deception.

The second contest of strength involving throwing an ice ax, and later, where the Lapp gathers willow twigs to trick the Giant about his 'treasure house'.

Expansive sky Scattered willow bushes Rocky or grassy ground Distant horizon
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, sweeping Nordic landscape under a vast, clear morning sky. The ground is a mix of low-lying tundra vegetation, sparse grasses, and scattered grey rocks. Clusters of gnarled willow bushes with slender branches are dotted across the undulating terrain. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, and the distant horizon stretches endlessly under the bright, pale blue sky. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
No image yet

Giant's Treasure House Exterior

transitional afternoon Clear, possibly sunny.

The exterior of the Giant's dwelling, implied to be a large, imposing structure, possibly a natural rock formation or a crude, massive dwelling. The immediate area around it is where the Lapp digs a pit and places his hat.

Mood: Deceptive and tense, as the Lapp prepares his final trick to gain wealth.

The final trick where the Lapp uses his hat and a pit to extort silver from the Giant.

Giant's dwelling (implied) Dug pit in the ground Lapp's hat with a hole in the crown Ground suitable for digging
Image Prompt & Upload
The rugged, imposing base of a colossal, ancient rock formation, possibly a natural cave entrance or a crudely constructed dwelling of massive, unhewn stones. The ground in front is uneven, composed of packed earth and small stones, with a freshly dug, deep circular pit. Sunlight casts long shadows across the rough textures of the rock and disturbed earth. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.