The Hairy Man
Encyclopedia
The Hairy Man is a Russian fairy tale
. Andrew Lang
included it in The Crimson Fairy Book.
are found burned every night. Finally, a shepherd with dogs keeps watch, and catches the "hairy man" who is responsible. The king puts him in a cage. The hairy man pleads with the king's son so earnestly, that it really was an evil demon who blew on his camp fire, causing all the damage, that the young prince frees him. For this, the king orders that his son be taken to the forest, and killed, and that his lungs and liver be brought back as proof. The man who takes him can not do it, and kills an old, sick dog instead. The boy wanders the forest until he comes upon a cottage, where an old man, who was once the same hairy man, lives. There he stays for seven years, working hard, like a peasant, but never complaining, until he is old enough to travel on. Before he leaves, the hairy man gives the boy a golden apple, which magically contains a golden staff and a golden-maned horse; a silver apple, which contains a silver staff, and an army of hussar
cavalry; and a copper apple, which contains a copper staff, and an army of foot soldiers. The boy uses the first apple, and embarks on his journey, finally pledging his service to a distant king.
One day, the king, who only has a small army, is threatened by another, very powerful king. The boy uses his second magic apple to make reinforcements for his king. The youngest princess gives him a ring, and he carries it and half of a handkerchief his sister gave him into battle. The prince's men destroy the enemy so thoroughly that only two live and are deliberately permitted to escape as messengers to the powerful king that sent them. The prince falls in love with the youngest princess, and she with him, and he gives her the copper apple. The princess has already discovered who he really is after having his room searched, which turned up the half handkerchief. When the king learns that he is a prince, as well as a brave and honorable hero, the king is more than happy to allow him to marry his youngest daughter.
, Georgic and Merlin
, and Guerrino and the Savage Man
. A more widespread variant, found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, opens with the prince for some reason being the servant of an evil being, where he gains the same gifts, and the tale proceeds as in this variant; one such tale is The Magician's Horse
.
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
. Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang
Andrew Lang was a Scots poet, novelist, literary critic, and contributor to the field of anthropology. He is best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. The Andrew Lang lectures at the University of St Andrews are named after him.- Biography :Lang was born in Selkirk...
included it in The Crimson Fairy Book.
Synopsis
Two ricks of a king's rapeseed fieldsRapeseed
Rapeseed , also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rappi, rapaseed is a bright yellow flowering member of the family Brassicaceae...
are found burned every night. Finally, a shepherd with dogs keeps watch, and catches the "hairy man" who is responsible. The king puts him in a cage. The hairy man pleads with the king's son so earnestly, that it really was an evil demon who blew on his camp fire, causing all the damage, that the young prince frees him. For this, the king orders that his son be taken to the forest, and killed, and that his lungs and liver be brought back as proof. The man who takes him can not do it, and kills an old, sick dog instead. The boy wanders the forest until he comes upon a cottage, where an old man, who was once the same hairy man, lives. There he stays for seven years, working hard, like a peasant, but never complaining, until he is old enough to travel on. Before he leaves, the hairy man gives the boy a golden apple, which magically contains a golden staff and a golden-maned horse; a silver apple, which contains a silver staff, and an army of hussar
Hussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
cavalry; and a copper apple, which contains a copper staff, and an army of foot soldiers. The boy uses the first apple, and embarks on his journey, finally pledging his service to a distant king.
One day, the king, who only has a small army, is threatened by another, very powerful king. The boy uses his second magic apple to make reinforcements for his king. The youngest princess gives him a ring, and he carries it and half of a handkerchief his sister gave him into battle. The prince's men destroy the enemy so thoroughly that only two live and are deliberately permitted to escape as messengers to the powerful king that sent them. The prince falls in love with the youngest princess, and she with him, and he gives her the copper apple. The princess has already discovered who he really is after having his room searched, which turned up the half handkerchief. When the king learns that he is a prince, as well as a brave and honorable hero, the king is more than happy to allow him to marry his youngest daughter.
Variants
This tale is known throughout Europe, in such variants as Iron JohnIron John
"Iron John" is a German fairy tale found in the collections of the Brothers Grimm, tale number 136, about a wild man and a prince...
, Georgic and Merlin
Georgic and Merlin
Georgic and Merlin is a French fairy tale collected by François Cadic in "La Paroisse bretonne".It is Aarne-Thompson type 502. The oldest known tale of this type is Guerrino and the Savage Man. Another variant is Iron John.-Synopsis:...
, and Guerrino and the Savage Man
Guerrino and the Savage Man
Guerrino and the Savage Man is an Italian literary fairy tale written by Giovanni Francesco Straparola in The Facetious Nights of Straparola....
. A more widespread variant, found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, opens with the prince for some reason being the servant of an evil being, where he gains the same gifts, and the tale proceeds as in this variant; one such tale is The Magician's Horse
The Magician's Horse
The Magician's Horse is a Greek fairy tale. Andrew Lang included it in The Grey Fairy Book.-Synopsis:A king's three sons went hunting, and the youngest got lost. He came to a great hall and ate there. Then he found an old man, who asked him who he was. He told how he had become lost and offered...
.
See also
- The Gold-bearded ManThe Gold-bearded ManThe Gold-bearded Man is an Hungarian fairy tale collected in Ungarische Mahrchen. Andrew Lang included it in The Crimson Fairy Book.-Synopsis:...
- Little Johnny Sheep-DungLittle Johnny Sheep-DungLittle Alex Sheep-Dung is a French fairy tale collected by Achille Millien and Paul Delarue.-Synopsis:A good-for-nothing boy once begged a sheepskin from butchers; it was so filthy he came to be called "Little Johnny Sheep-Dung". One day, he met a bourgeois on a horse, who hired him on the...
- Snow WhiteSnow White"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
- Water and SaltWater and SaltWater and Salt is an Italian fairy tale, it can be found in the collection Italian Popular Tales, collected by Thomas Frederick Crane.In the Aarne-Thompson classification system, Water and Salt is Type 923.-Synopsis:...
- The Water of LifeThe Water of Life (German fairy tale)The Water of Life is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, tale number 97.It is Aarne-Thompson type 551.John Francis Campbell noted it as a parallel of the Scottish fairy tale, The Brown Bear of the Green Glen.-Synopsis:...
- Garry LyonGarry LyonGarry Peter Lyon is a former professional Australian rules football player and was captain of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. Since his retirement from football, he has been mainly an Australian rules football media personality, featuring on television, radio and in...