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| The Dark Tower, by Thomas Moran (Wikimedia) |
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The justly-famous Brothers Grimm were not the only collectors of fairy tales before the 20th century. Charles Perrault did the same with French stories, though he spruced them up quite a bit more than the Grimms did, creating literary fairy tales out of the earlier folk tales; the Grimms left the ones they published more-or-less "raw." Perrault brought us stories like "Little Red Riding Hood," "Cinderella," and "Sleeping Beauty"--over two centuries before the Grimms.
In English Fairy Tales he also published a story which, while not as famous as those three, is probably my favorite fairy tale of all time, one which has had an enormous influence on literature far beyond its genre.
"Childe Rowland" tells a simple story with many recognizable themes: the third brother (this time with a sister); "low literature" remnants of King Arthur stories; the mystical advisor; the One Forbidden Thing; a famous sword "that never struck in vain"; a literal battle between Good and Evil; and much more!
Long before Jacobs published the story, it was hinted at in, of all places, Shakespeare's King Lear. When one character, Edgar, feigns madness, he speaks nonsense, including these lines:
Child Rowland to the dark tower came.
His word was still "Fie, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man."
So the story has been floating around at least since Shakespeare's time.
Incidentally, the last lines may remind you of "Jack and the Beanstalk" (which, as mentioned, Jacobs also collected), but you'll see them again in another form in this story.
In 1852--again, before Jacobs--the English poet Robert Browning wrote "Childe Rowland to the Dark Tower Came"--almost certainly based on the lines in Lear, but showing full awareness of our story, perhaps from a slightly different Scottish version that was published in 1814. The macabre first-person account begins with Rowland riding through a wasteland searching for a Dark Tower, and ends with his arrival at that Tower, leaving off before he enters.
The Anglo-Irish writer Lord Dunsany's best-known novel is his 1924 The King of Elfland's Daughter, which shares many similarities with our story. The book is widely recognized as one of the most influential works in all of fantasy literature, a precursor to Tolkien and others, most of whom have overshadowed it.
More consciously (if creatively) reflecting our story is Stephen King's eight-novel Dark Tower series, begun in 1982. Based largely on Browning's poem, its main character is a "gunslinger" named Rowland Deschain who sets out on a quest toward a physical and metaphorical tower.
Finally--and most worth reading--is Alan Garner's 1965 novel Elidor. Garner is one of my favorite authors, and in Elidor he weaves a story of four siblings--and especially the youngest child (not the third)--in a bombed-out district of an English city. They begin by searching for a lost ball in a ruined church; one by one the children disappear until only the youngest, Rowland, remains. As the story develops, the children must strive to hold back a terrible darkness that might destroy their world in favor of another. It is more an homage than a copy of our story, however, taking the theme in new directions.
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Before we start, a few quick notes (numbers in [square brackets] refer to the paragraph in which the terms first appear):
- A Childe is a young man of noble birth, especially one who is a candidate for knighthood. [1]
- A Burd is a young lady, in the sense of a woman of noble birth. [1]
- As Merlin [4] is the advisor, the "good queen" [11] is most likely Guinevere, though never named; the sword "that never struck in vain" [12] is probably Excalibur, also not named; and the king, never seen or even mentioned in this story, must then be Arthur.
- Widdershins is counterclockwise, believed to be bad luck in many cultures. [4]
- A bogle is a ghost, goblin, or other scary supernatural creature. The word is related to our common term "bogeyman." [39]
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| Burd Ellen playing with the ball (Archive.org) |
Jacobs's version begins with several stanzas of poetry, and sprinkles a few more throughout. I have generally "prose-ified" these, keeping a few for flavor. I have also smoothed over some awkward language, offering "two brothers" for "brothers twain"; "over" for "o'er"; "sword" for "brand"; and so on.
And now, on with the story.
Note: Items in [square brackets] and the subheadings were added by yours truly.
---CHILDE ROWLAND---
A. A Prodigious Kick and an Unfortunate Fetch
[1] Childe Rowland and his two brothers were playing ball next to a church, with their sister Burd Ellen running around amongst them.
[2] Childe Rowland kicked the ball so hard that it flew right over the church! Trying to fetch the ball for her brothers, Burd Ellen ran around the church, with the building on her left side. But she never returned.
[3] They sought her east, they sought her west,
They sought her up and down,
And woe were the hearts of those brethren,
For she was not to be found.
B. The First Two Quests
[4] At last her eldest brother went to the Warlock Merlin, told him what had happened, and asked him if he knew where Burd Ellen was. "The fair Burd Ellen," said the Warlock Merlin, "must have been carried off by the fairies, because she went round the church 'widdershins'--the opposite way to the sun. She is now in the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland, and only the boldest knight in Christendom will be able to bring her back."
[5] "If anyone can do it" said her brother, "I will, or die trying."
[6] "It can be done," said the Warlock Merlin, "but the man who succeeds must be taught beforehand what to do."
[7] Burd Ellen's eldest brother was not to be put off by any fear of danger, so he begged the Warlock Merlin to tell him what he should do, and what he should not do, in going to seek his sister. After he had been taught, and had repeated his lesson over and over, he set out for Elfland.
[8] His family waited a long time, and longer still, doubting and in much pain. They experienced great sorrow when he failed to return.
[9] The second brother got tired and sick of waiting, and he also went to the Warlock Merlin, and made the same request as his brother. With the same instructions, he set out to find Burd Ellen.
[10] They waited a long time, and longer still, doubting and in much pain. His mother and brother experienced great sorrow when he also failed to return.
C. Childe Rowland to the Dark Tower Went
[11] After they had waited a long time, Childe Rowland, the youngest of Burd Ellen's brothers, wished to go, and asked permission from his mother, the good queen. At first she refused, because he was the only child she had left. If he were lost, all would be lost.
[12] But he begged, and he begged, until at last the good queen gave leave for him to go, and gave him his father's good sword that never struck in vain. And as she tied it around his waist, she said the spell that would give it victory.
[13] So Childe Rowland said good-bye to the good queen, his mother, and went to the cave where the Warlock Merlin lived. "Once more, and just once more," he said to the Warlock, "tell me what I should do, and what I should not do, to rescue Burd Ellen and her two brothers."
[14] "Well, my son," said the Warlock Merlin, as he had to the two older brothers, "there are but two things. They may seem simple, but they are hard to do: one thing to do, and one thing not to do. And the thing to do is this: after you have entered the land of Fairy, whoever speaks to you before you meet Burd Ellen, you must take out your father's sword and chop off their head. And what you must not do is this: bite no bit, and drink no drop, however hungry or thirsty you may be; drink a drop, or bite a bit in Elfland and you will never see Middle Earth again." So Childe Rowland said these two things over and over again, until he knew them by heart. Then he thanked the Warlock Merlin and went on his way.
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| The Warlock Merlin advises Childe Rowland (Wikimedia) |
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D. The Three Guides Lose Their Heads
[15] He went along, and along, and along, and still further along, until he came to the horse-herd of the King of Elfland feeding his horses. He knew whose they were by their fiery eyes, and thus knew that he was at last in the land of Fairy. "Can you tell me," said Childe Rowland to the horse-herd, "where the King of Elfland's Dark Tower is?"
[16] "I cannot tell you," said the horse-herd, "but if you go on a little further you will come to the cow-herd; perhaps he can tell you."
[17] Then, without a word more, Childe Rowland drew the good sword that never struck in vain, and off went the horse-herd's head. Childe Rowland went on further, until he came to the cow-herd, and asked him the same question.
[18] "I can't tell you," said he, "but go on a little farther, and you will come to the hen-wife. She is sure to know." Then Childe Rowland took out his good sword that never struck in vain, and off went the cow-herd's head.
[19] And he went on a little further, until he came to an old woman in a grey cloak, and he asked her if she knew where the Dark Tower of the King of Elfland was.
[20] "Go on a little further," said the hen-wife, "until you come to a round green hill, surrounded with ringed terraces, from the bottom to the top; go round it three times, widdershins, and each time say:
[21] "Open, door! open, door!
"And let me come in."
[22] and the third time the door will open, and you may go in."
[23] And Childe Rowland was just about to go on, when he remembered what he had to do; so he took out his good sword that never struck in vain, and off went the hen-wife's head.
E. In the Hall of the Elfin King
[24] Then he went on, and on, and on, until he came to the round green hill with the ringed terraces from top to bottom, and he went round it three times, widdershins, saying each time:
[25] "Open, door! open, door!
"And let me come in."
[26] And the third time the door did open, and he went in, and it closed with a click. Childe Rowland was left in the dark.
[27] But not exactly the dark, more a kind of twilight or gloaming. He could not make out where the twilight was coming from, if not through the walls and roof, for there were neither windows nor candles. The walls and roof were rough arches made of a transparent rock, encrusted with mica crystals, feldspar, and other bright stones. But though the chamber was hewn from rock, the air was quite warm, as are all places in summery Elfland.
[28] So he went through this passage until at last he came to two wide and high folding doors which stood ajar.
[29] When he threw them open, he saw a most wonderful and glorious sight: a large and spacious hall, so large that it seemed to be as long and broad as the green hill itself. The roof was supported by fine pillars, so large and lofty that the pillars of a cathedral were as nothing compared to them. They were fashioned all of gold and silver covered in fretted work. Between them and around them were wreaths of flowers composed of diamonds and emeralds and all manner of precious stones. The keystones of the arches had for ornaments clusters of diamonds and rubies and pearls and other jewels.
[30] All of the arches met in the middle of the roof, and from there, hanging by a gold chain, was an immense lamp made out of one giant pearl hollowed out and quite transparent. In the middle of this was a huge red gemstone, which spun round and round continuously. Its rays gave light to the whole hall, making it seem as if the setting sun were shining in it.
F. When Childe Rowland Met Burd Ellen
[31] The entire hall was furnished in an equally grand manner, and at one end of it was a glorious couch of velvet, silk and gold, on which sat Burd Ellen, combing her golden hair with a silver comb. When she saw Childe Rowland she jumped up and said:
[32] "God pity you, poor luckless fool! Why are you here?
[33] "Hear this, youngest brother: Why didn't you stay at home? Even if you had a hundred thousand lives, you should not waste even one.
[34] "But sit down beside me! Woe that ever you were born, for if the King of Elfland comes in, your life will be forfeit."
[35] Then they sat down together, and Childe Rowland told her all that he had done; and she told him how their two brothers had reached the Dark Tower, but had been enchanted by the King of Elfland, and lay there in tombs as if dead.
G. A Near-Fatal Blunder
[36] After they had talked a little longer Childe Rowland began to feel hungry from all his travels, and asked Burd Ellen for some food, forgetting all about the Warlock Merlin's warning.
[37] Burd Ellen looked at Childe Rowland sadly, and shook her head, but because she was under a spell, she could not speak to warn him. So she rose up, and went out, and soon brought back a golden basin full of bread and milk.
[38] Childe Rowland was just about to raise it to his lips, when he looked at his sister and remembered why he had come all that way. So he dashed the bowl to the ground, and said: "Not a sup will I swallow, nor a bit will I bite, until you, Burd Ellen, are set free."
H. The Final Battle
[39] At that very moment they heard the noise of someone approaching, and a loud voice was heard saying:
[40] "Fee, fi, fo, fum
"I smell the blood of a Christian man,
"Be he dead, be he living, with my sword,
"I'll dash his brains from his brain-pan."
[41] Then the folding doors of the hall burst open, and the King of Elfland rushed in.
[42] "Strike then, Bogle, if you dare," shouted Childe Rowland, and rushed to meet him with his good sword that never yet did fail. They fought, and they fought, and they fought, until Childe Rowland beat the King of Elfland down on to his knees, and caused him to yield and beg for mercy.
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| Rowland fights the King of Elfland (Wikimedia) |
I. Mercy, Resurrection, and Return
[43] "I will grant you mercy," said Childe Rowland, "but you must raise my brothers to life and release my sister from your spells, then let us all go free. Only then shall you be spared."
[44] "It will be as you say," said the Elfin King, and rising up he went to an ancient chest from which he took a vial filled with a blood-red potion. With this he anointed the two brothers: their ears, eyelids, nostrils, lips, and fingertips. They sprang at once into life, and declared that their souls had been away, but had now returned.
[45] The Elfin King then said some words to Burd Ellen, and her enchantment was broken, and all four of the youngsters passed out of the hall through the long passage, and turned their back on the Dark Tower, never to return.
[46] And after long travel they reached home and the good queen their mother, and Burd Ellen never went widdershins round a church again.
A. A Prodigious Kick and an Unfortunate Fetch [1-3]
While playing ball with his two elder brothers, Childe Rowland kicks a ball over a church; his sister Burd Ellen goes to fetch it but never returns.
B. The First Two Quests [4-10]
After instructions from the Warlock Merlin, the two elder brothers set out one after the other to find Burd Ellen; neither returns.
C. Childe Rowland to the Dark Tower Went [11-14]
[11] After begging his mother, and receiving his father's sword, Childe Rowland sets out to try to succeed where his brothers failed. The Warlock Merlin tells him to cut off the head of anyone he speaks to, and to avoid eating or drinking anything in Elfland.
D. The Three Guides Lose Their Heads [15-23]
Childe Rowland meets--and cuts the heads off of--three guides: the horse-herd, the cow-herd, and the hen-wife of the King of Elfland--after receiving directions from each. The last of these tells him how to find and enter the Elfin King's hall.
E. In the Hall of the Elfin King [23-30]
The King of Elfland's Hall is described at great length. It is sumptuous.
F. When Childe Rowland Met Burd Ellen [31-35]
Childe Rowland sees Burd Ellen and, after she scolds her brother, they swap stories. She says the two elder brothers came and now lie "as if dead."
G. A Near-Fatal Blunder [36-38]
Hungry after his long journey, Childe Rowland asks Burd Ellen to bring him some food. Because of her spell, she cannot say anything, but brings him what he asked for. He nearly eats it before remembering the Warlock Merlin's warning.
H. The Final Battle [39-42]
The King of Elfland rushes in and fights with Childe Rowland. The youth gets the upper hand and the King yields and begs for mercy.
I. Mercy, Resurrection, and Return [43-46]
Childe Rowland grants the Elfin King mercy. The King resurrects the two elder brothers and releases Burd Ellen from her spell. The reunited siblings return home to their mother the good queen, and "Burd Ellen never went widdershins round a church again."
For discussion or writing:
- What kind of kid can kick a ball over church? [1]
- Why are the two elder brothers (and the "good queen") never named? [4] [9] [11]
- Why do you think "going widdershins" is considered unlucky? [4]
- Why does the "good queen" give "his father's good sword" to Childe Rowland, but not to either of the first two brothers? [12]
- Why does Childe Rowland refer to the two elder brothers as "her [Burd Ellen's] two brothers" and not his own? [13]
- Why does the Warlock Merlin instruct Childe Rowland to cut off the heads of people who have not tried to harm him? [14]
- Not eating in a magical place is an old, old idea. What do you think the mechanism could be that makes this dangerous? [14]
- Why must Childe Rowland go through (and kill!) three helpers--the horse-herd, the cow-herd, and the hen-wife--to find the Dark Tower? And why is it this kind of person, who tends animals, and not some other kind? [15-23]
- How could the horse- and cow-herds--who must be working for the King of Elfland--not know where the Dark Tower is located? [15-18]
- Why were the horse- and cow-herds men, and the hen-wife a woman? And why did Childe Rowland nearly forget to cut off her head? [15-23]
- Why does the hen-wife tell Childe Rowland to go around the round green hill "widdershins"? [20]
- Why is Burd Ellen so upset that Childe Rowland has come, instead of welcoming her rescuer? [32-34]
- What do you think caused the two elder brothers to "die"? [35]
- Why do you think Childe Rowland forgot the "one thing not to do," eating in Elfland? [36]
- Why did the King of Elfland call Childe Rowland a "Christian man"? [40]
- Why do you think Childe Rowland was able to beat the King of Elfland? [42]
- What is the significance of the places the King of Elfland anointed on the elder brothers: their "ears, eyelids, nostrils, lips, and fingertips"? [44]
- Do you think the last line is humorous? "Burd Ellen never went widdershins round a church again." Why or why not? [46]
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