A collection of English folk tales centering around a character usually named "Jack," Jack tales are also popular in Appalachian folklore.
The Jack in these tales is usually a weak character, sometimes a foolish one, but generally a kindly one. "Jack and the Beanstalk", and "Jack the Giant Killer" are just some of the most popular Jack tales.
Richard Chase, an American Folklorist, collected in his book "The Jack Tales" many popular Appalachian Jack tales as told by descendents of Council Harmon. Council Harmon's grandfather, Cutliff Harmon, is known to very possibly be the one who originally brought the Jack tales to America.
As pointed out by folklorist Herbert Halpert, the Appalachian Jack tales are an oral tradition as opposed to written, and like many Appalachian folksongs, trace back to sources in England. For instance, where the English original would feature a king or other noble, the Appalachian Jack tale version would have a sheriff. Some stories feature Jack's brothers, Will and Tom. Some Jack tales feature themes that trace to Germanic folk tales.
Famous quotes containing the words jack and/or tales:
“Gup, Christian Clout, gup, Jack of the Vale!
With Mannerly Margery Milk and Ale.”
—John Skelton (1460?–1529)
“ech of yow, to shorte with oure weye,
In this viage shal telle tales tweye
To Caunterbury-ward, I mene it so,
And homward he shal tellen othere two,
Of aventures that whilom han bifalle.”
—Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?–1400)