One scholar speculates the public had grown weary of King Arthur – the greatest of all giant killers – and Jack was created to fill his shoes. It is probable an enterprising publisher assembled a number of anecdotes about giants to form the 1711 tale. Neither Jack nor his tale are referenced in English literature prior to the eighteenth century, and his story did not appear in print until 1711. Jack's belt is similar to the belt in "The Valiant Little Tailor", and his magical sword, shoes, cap, and cloak are similar to those owned by Tom Thumb or those found in Welsh and Norse mythology. Some parallels to elements and incidents in Norse mythology have been detected in the tale, and the trappings of Jack's last adventure with the giant Galigantus suggest parallels with French and Breton fairy tales such as Bluebeard. Giants are prominent in Cornish folklore, Breton mythology and Welsh Bardic lore. The tale is characterised by violence, gore and blood-letting. " Jack the Giant Killer" is a Cornish/British fairy tale and legend about a plucky lad who slays a number of giants durin King Arthur's reign.
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