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Overview

The wood-gatherer divides the hind’s golden apple, and four giants appear asking what he needs. They first deliver an abundance of wood to his mother. When summoned again, they create a magnificent palace with a princess inside; the youth takes possession of it.

A witch steals the apple for an envious man, after which palace and clothing disappear. Imprisoned in a tower, the youth obtains help from a cat and the king of the rats. Once the rats retrieve the pendant, opening it summons the giants again: they restore his palace and princess. Their service is tied to possession and opening of the apple, rather than an independently described giant kingdom.

Four summoned giantsWood transportPalace constructionRestoration after recovery
01

Origins & earliest records

Consiglieri Pedroso, Portuguese Folk-Tales, translated from the original manuscript by Henriqueta Monteiro, London: Elliot Stock for the Folk-Lore Society, 1882; tale XXX, pp. 121–124. The selected account does not identify an individual narrator or collecting locality.

02

Records & interpretation

The located 1882 English translation presents this figure within a complete collected narrative. Pedroso’s introductory pp. 1–2 describe the thirty published selections from his larger collection.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Portuguese Folk-Tales, tale XXX, pp. 121–124

    Collected by Consiglieri Pedroso; translated by Henriqueta Monteiro · 1882

    Located complete narrative in the original London edition; Ralston’s comparative introduction is separate commentary.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary textPortuguese Folk-Tales, original 1882 edition scan and transcriptionResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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