The Giant Puke.[1](#xd32e1489)
by Herman Hofberg
](https://xmoj.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpustaka.org%2Flibrary-files%2Fenglish%2Fherman_hofberg%2Fswedish_fairy_tales%2Fthe_giant_puke_1_xd32e1489%2Fimages%2Fcover%2Fcover_001.png&w=800&h=1064&fit=cover&output=webp&q=80)
The Old Giant and the Noisy Bells
Long, long ago, a very big giant lived in a very big mountain. His name was Old Giant.
Old Giant lived in a big mountain. He was very, very big. The mountain was his home. He liked his home. He lived there for many, many years.
People built a church. The church had loud bells. The bells made much noise. Old Giant did not like the noise. He felt very unhappy. The noise hurt his big ears.
Old Giant had a daughter. Her name was Giant Girl. She heard the loud bells. Giant Girl got very angry. She threw a big rock. The rock flew very far. It missed the church. It made a big hole in the ground.
Giant Girl walked far away. She saw three small children. They played with a stick. It looked like a toy plow. Giant Girl was curious. She picked them up. She took them to her father.
Old Giant looked at the children. He felt a little sad. He said, "Humans are here now. Giants must go away. Our time is past. This is their world."
Old Giant was very sad. He packed his things. He left his big mountain home. He went to a new land. It was far away. He walked for many days.
Old Giant met a Boat Captain. He gave him a box. The box was closed tight. It had a secret inside. He told the man what to do.
"Take this box," Old Giant said. "Go to my old mountain. Find a key near the church. Open a secret door. You will see shiny cups. Take only one cup. Do not take more. This is very important."
The Boat Captain went home. His friends were with him. They talked about the box. They were very curious. What was inside the box?
The Boat Captain did not listen. He did not hear Old Giant's words. He threw the box away. It fell on a small island. He did not think about the rules.
The island got very hot. Smoke went up fast. The island turned black. It was empty now. No trees grew there. It was a sad, black place.
Original Story
The Giant Puke.[1](#xd32e1489)
In the parish of Lofta in the department of North Tjust there lies, near the sea, a mountain called Puke Mountain. From the land side running into the mountain, there is a long fissure terminating in a cave or hall, where formerly lived a giant called Puke, concerning whom many stories are still quite prevalent among the people.
When the church at Lofta was built the giant was sorely tormented by the church bells. He suffered great discomfort even from the water courses which gurgled out of the mountain, and in a meadow directly north of Lofta Church, was formed a pond, Kofre Spring, in which holy baptism was sometimes performed.
Puke often declared that he must depart from his mountain because of Kofre Spring and Lofta scolding, meaning the church bells in Lofta.
One Sunday the Giant was more than usually disturbed by the long continued bell ringing, and sent his daughter to the top of the mountain, from which, with her apron strings converted into a sling, she threw an enormous stone at the church tower. But the force was too great, and the stone fell upon the other side of the church, where it lies to this day, as large as a good sized cottage.
Some days later the giant maiden, while wandering over the surrounding country, was attracted by three children at play on a hill near by. They had discovered a fallen branch of an oak tree, and to this they had fastened a rope, pretending it was a plow, which one was holding as the others dragged it over the ground. Surprised at this curious implement and the small creatures, she gathered them all into her apron and ran home with them to her giant father. He, however, found no pleasure in the intended playthings but said only:
“Take them out again, our time is past; it is now these who shall rule over us.”
In the end Puke became dissatisfied with everything and moved to Götland, where he was some time later found by a ship’s master, to whom he gave a box, and bade him offer it upon the altar at Lofta while the people were in church, cautioning him strongly not to open it before.
“If you do as I bid you,” said the Giant, “you will find, under the left fore-foot of Lofta’s white mare—meaning the church—a key, with which you are to proceed to Puke Mountain. There you will see a door, which you shall open. When you are inside you will meet two black dogs. Do not be afraid of them, but press forward into the room, where you will find a table and upon it many beautiful silver vessels. Of them you may take the largest, but if you take anything more, misfortune will surely overtake you.”
The captain kept this all in mind, but when he approached Puke Mountain, on his journey homeward, the conversation of the ship’s people was turned to the box. After many deliberations, it was determined to throw it overboard onto a small island which lay near by. This was done, and upon the instant the island was in flames, and even to-day it is brown and desolate as if it had recently been swept by a fire.
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[1](#xd32e1489src) This legend is a complex of different giant stories localized at Puke Berg—Puke Mountain. Nearly every parish has its legend, in which the resident giant has been angered with the noise of the church bells, and has sought to destroy his disturber. The legend of the giantess who took the children from their plowing and bore them to her giant parent is not confined to the Giant Puke. Similar legends are current in Kläppe, in Oldesborg parish, in Dalland, etc. [↑](#xd32e1489src "Return to note 1 in text.")
Moral of the Story
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Characters
Puke ★ protagonist
Immense in size, far larger than any human, with a formidable and imposing presence. His skin is likely weathered and rugged from living in a mountain, suggesting a connection to the earth and stone.
Attire: Simple, robust clothing befitting a giant living in a mountain cave, likely made of coarse animal hides or rough-spun wool in muted, earthy tones. Perhaps a large, simple tunic and trousers, practical for his environment.
Wants: To live in peace and quiet, undisturbed by the encroaching human world and its new customs (like church bells).
Flaw: His inability to adapt to change and his deep-seated annoyance with human activities, leading to his eventual departure and loss of his home.
Starts as an annoyed but resident giant, becomes increasingly disturbed by human activity, and ultimately resigns himself to leaving his ancestral home, acknowledging the end of his era.
Irritable, traditionalist, proud, resigned, somewhat detached.
Giant Maiden ◆ supporting
Of immense stature, though perhaps slightly less imposing than her father, with a strong, robust build. Her movements are powerful and unrefined, reflecting her giant nature.
Attire: Practical and sturdy clothing, likely a simple, oversized dress or tunic made of coarse, durable fabric in muted colors, suitable for wandering the countryside. She would have a large, functional apron.
Wants: To obey her father and to understand the strange new world of humans.
Flaw: Her naivety regarding human customs and her overwhelming strength, which makes her actions (like throwing a stone) disproportionately destructive.
Acts as an agent for her father's frustration and curiosity, demonstrating the giants' waning power and understanding of the human world.
Curious, obedient, powerful, somewhat naive.
Ship's Master ◆ supporting
A sturdy, weathered man, accustomed to life at sea. Likely of average height and build for a Scandinavian sailor of the period, with a strong, practical physique.
Attire: Practical seafaring attire of the era: sturdy wool trousers, a thick linen or wool shirt, and a heavy jacket or coat, possibly with a wide-brimmed hat. Colors would be muted blues, greys, and browns.
Wants: To fulfill his duties as a ship's master and to potentially gain wealth, but also driven by curiosity and the influence of his crew.
Flaw: His curiosity and susceptibility to the influence and deliberations of his crew, leading him to disobey Puke's strict instructions.
Receives a sacred task from Puke but fails to complete it due to curiosity and the influence of his crew, leading to a supernatural consequence.
Practical, somewhat superstitious, ultimately disobedient, curious.
Locations
Puke Mountain (Pukeberg)
A prominent mountain near the sea in the parish of Lofta, North Tjust, with a long fissure running from the land side into a cave or hall. The mountain is the home of the giant Puke.
Mood: ancient, imposing, slightly ominous, resonant with old magic
The giant Puke resides here and is tormented by church bells; his daughter throws a stone from its summit; it holds a hidden treasure chamber.
Lofta Church and Surrounding Meadow
A Christian church in the parish of Lofta, with loud bells that disturb the giant. Adjacent to it is a meadow where Kofre Spring, a pond used for holy baptism, is located. A massive stone, 'as large as a good sized cottage,' lies on the other side of the church.
Mood: sacred, peaceful, but also a source of irritation for the giant; historically significant
The church bells torment Puke; the giantess throws a stone at the church; Kofre Spring is a holy site.
Hill near Puke Mountain
A nearby hill where three children are playing, using a fallen oak branch and a rope as a pretend plow.
Mood: innocent, pastoral, a scene of human childhood
The giant maiden encounters human children for the first time, symbolizing the changing era.
Puke Mountain Cave/Hall (Interior)
A hidden chamber inside Puke Mountain, accessible via a door and a key. It contains two black dogs and a table laden with beautiful silver vessels.
Mood: mysterious, ancient, potentially dangerous, treasure-filled
The giant's hidden treasure is located here, with a warning about greed.
Burning Island
A small island near Puke Mountain, which instantly bursts into flames and becomes brown and desolate after the giant's box is thrown onto it.
Mood: catastrophic, desolate, cursed
The giant's warning about the box is ignored, resulting in the island's destruction.
Story DNA
Moral
null
Plot Summary
In Lofta, a giant named Puke is tormented by the new church bells and a holy spring. His daughter attempts to destroy the church with a stone, then brings human children to Puke, who declares the giants' time is past. Puke moves away, leaving a mysterious box and instructions for a ship's master to retrieve treasure from his mountain. However, the ship's crew disobeys, throwing the box overboard, which causes an island to burst into flames, leaving it desolate forever.
Themes
Emotional Arc
discomfort to resignation
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This legend reflects a common motif in Scandinavian folklore where giants are displaced by the spread of Christianity and human civilization, often reacting violently or with resignation to the new order. The 'Puke' name itself might derive from an Old Norse word for 'demon' or 'evil spirit', or simply be a personal name.
Plot Beats (11)
- Puke, a giant, lives in Puke Mountain near Lofta, known for many local stories.
- The construction of Lofta church, its bells, and Kofre Spring cause Puke great discomfort.
- Puke's daughter, disturbed by the bells, throws a massive stone at the church, missing and creating a landmark.
- The giantess finds three human children playing with a makeshift plow and brings them to her father.
- Puke dismisses the children, stating that the time of humans has come and the giants' time is over.
- Puke, dissatisfied, moves to Götland.
- Puke encounters a ship's master and entrusts him with a sealed box and specific instructions.
- The instructions involve placing the box on the Lofta altar, finding a key under the 'white mare' (church), opening a door in Puke Mountain, and taking only one silver vessel from inside.
- On the journey home, the ship's crew discusses the box.
- Against Puke's warnings, the crew throws the box onto a nearby island.
- The island immediately erupts in flames, becoming a desolate, burnt landscape.
