Jack o' Kent

Jack o' Kent

Jack o' Kent (or Jack of Kent) is a mythological character in English folklore based in the Welsh Marches and English border counties. He is alternately referred to as either a human cleric or wizard who regularly beats the Devil in bets and games. He is most well known around Herefordshire and Monmouthshire and his legends are used to tell the origin of many of the geological formations around the region. For instance, he bet the Devil that the Sugar Loaf Mountain, Wales was higher than the Malvern Hills and when Jack proved the devil wrong, the Devil tried to put more soil on top of Malvern, but his carrier broke and dropped at the end of the island forming a small lump. He also liked to outsmart the Devil by entering into bargains and then fulfilling the letter of the bargain but not the spirit. He and the Devil made a deal so that Jack's crops would prosper, Jack would plant the crops and the devil would make sure the sun and rain came in proper amounts. Jack asked the Devil which part of the crops he wanted; the tops or the bottoms? The Devil picked tops, thinking of wonderful high wheat. But Jack planted turnips and left the Devil with the useless leaves. Next year the Devil thought he'd get the best of Jack and picked bottoms. Jack planted wheat, and once again the Devil was cheated.

In another story, he gets the Devil to help him build a bridge, promising the first soul that crosses it. They build the bridge and then Jack tosses a bone over the bridge and a hungry dog runs across. There is some question that he could be Siôn Cent, however its more likely he was a combination of many people and myths. [cite book|title=Jack O' Kent and the Devil: Stories of a Welsh Border Hero Told in Verse|last=Greene |first= William Henry |year=1974|id=ISBN 0900278218] [cite book |coauthors= Jaqueline Simpson, Steve Roud |title = A dictionary of English Folklore |publisher = Oxford University Press |year = 2000 |doi = |isbn= 978-0192100191A dictionary of English Folklore, Jaqueline Simpson and Steve Roud. Oxford University Press, 2000.] [ cite web|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~llantilio/villagesite/lswebpages/folklore.htm |title=The folklore, stories,legends and facts of Skirrid Fawr, Black Mountains, Monmouthshire. |accessdate=2008-06-01 |date=2004-11-14 ]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Jack o' Kent —    A legendary *wizard, hero of a cycle of humorous anecdotes in Herefordshire and Gwent. Some concern the rivalry between Jack and the Devil, each trying to outwit the other or to set the other a task he could not perform; Jack is invariably the …   A Dictionary of English folklore

  • Jack Kent (illustrator) — Jack Kent (1920–1985) was a prolific author and illustrator of nearly forty children s books. In addition to his own books, he also served as illustrator for nearly twenty books by other authors. Career Born in Burlington, Iowa, Kent dropped out… …   Wikipedia

  • Jack The Ripper — (engl.: „Jack, der Aufschlitzer“) ist das Pseudonym eines vermutlichen Serienmörders, der zwischen August und November 1888 im East End von London vermutlich fünf Prostituierte ermordete und vier von ihnen verstümmelte. Der Täter wurde niemals… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jack the ripper — (engl.: „Jack, der Aufschlitzer“) ist das Pseudonym eines vermutlichen Serienmörders, der zwischen August und November 1888 im East End von London vermutlich fünf Prostituierte ermordete und vier von ihnen verstümmelte. Der Täter wurde niemals… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jack Dee — in 2007 Born 24 September 1961 (1961 09 24) (age 50) Petts Wood, Kent, England Years active …   Wikipedia

  • Jack Cade — (möglicher echter Name John Mortimer; † 12. Juli 1450 bei Heathfield, East Sussex) war ein englischer Rebell, der den Sturz von König Heinrich VI. anstrebte. Einige Quellen gehen davon aus, dass Cade irischer Abstammung war, doch in Sussex… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kent (surname) — Kent is a surname, and may refer to: * A. Atwater Kent (1873 1949), American engineer and inventor * Aelfric of Kent, King of Kent * Æthelburg of Kent (died c. 647), Queen of Northumbria * St. Æthelberht of Kent (560 616), King of Kent *… …   Wikipedia

  • Jack Hubble — (born John Charlton Hubble; February 10, 1881 mdash; February 26, 1965) was an English cricketer. He was a right handed batsman and wicket keeper who played for Kent and Marylebone Cricket Club during a 25 year career.Hubble joined Kent as a… …   Wikipedia

  • Jack L'éventreur — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Jack l éventreur (homonymie). Évocation de Jack l éventreur en une du journal satirique Puck …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jack The Ripper — Jack l éventreur Pour les articles homonymes, voir Jack l éventreur (homonymie). Évocation de Jack l éventreur en une du journal satirique Puck …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”