A man argues that giants are foolish and decides to prove it. He stands naked and motionless on a trail frequented by giants. A giant approaches, inspects him thoroughly, but, puzzled by his stillness, concludes he isn’t prey and leaves. The man then returns home, demonstrating that giants can be easily deceived. This story highlights the perceived simplicity of giants in Tahltan folklore.
Source:
Tahltan Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.32, No.124, pp.198-250
April-June, 1917
Vol.34, No.133, pp.223-253
July-September, 1921
Vol.34, No.134, pp.335-356
October-December, 1921
► Themes of the story
Mythical Creatures: The story features a giant, a mythical being common in various cultural tales.
Cunning and Deception: The man’s strategy involves deceiving the giant by remaining motionless, highlighting the use of wit to achieve his goal.
Moral Lessons: The tale imparts a lesson about the power of intelligence and cunning over brute strength, teaching that even formidable adversaries can be overcome with wit.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Tahltan people
Some men were disputing as to the powers of cannibals and giants. One of them maintained that giants were not clever. They had mosquito brains: therefore they could easily be deceived. He claimed that giants and cannibals and mosquitoes were all related, parts of the same flesh. They all had the same instinctive desire to attack, kill, and eat people; but nevertheless they were all foolish. This man said he would show the others how foolish giants really were. He would try them. He stripped off all his clothes, and stood naked near a trail that giants frequented, in an open place, where people could see a long way. A giant saw him, and came stealthily towards him. The man stood perfectly rigid and motionless. The giant came up and felt of him, saying to himself, “He is just like game.” He smelled of his mouth, privates, and anus. He smelled of him all over. He lifted his eyelids, and opened his mouth.
► Continue reading…
He said again, “He is just like game, but he does not act like game. It is funny that he should be here now. Not long ago there was nothing standing here.” He wondered. He went away some distance and watched the man, but the man never moved. He went farther away and watched. Then he came back and examined the man again. At last he made up his mind that the object could not be game, and departed. When the giant was out of sight, the man put on his clothes and went home. This is why, if a hunter sees game at a distance lying or standing and motionless, he is sometimes deceived, and mistakes the game for something else. When one does this, other people joke him or make fun of him by saying, “You are just the same as a giant,” or “You have mosquito brains.”
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