Coll (character)
Encyclopedia
Coll is a fictional character
from The Chronicles of Prydain
by Lloyd Alexander
. In the books, he occupies his time with farming, though prior to that he was a warrior. He was the original owner of the oracular pig Hen Wen
, established the farm that became known as Caer Dallben
when the enchanter Dallben
took up residence there, and served as a guardian to Taran
, the main protagonist of the stories.
His personality is rather amiable and modest, and in appearance he is short and burly. But his most striking feature is his bald head, which blushes whenever he is happy about something.
Coll's earliest story is found in Coll and His White Pig, a short story now published as part of The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain
. In it, he is introduced as a recently retired warrior who has settled down to enjoy a quiet life of farming with his prized pig, Hen Wen. One night he is awakened by Hen Wen's squeals, and when he goes to investigate he discovers she has been stolen.
He then sets out after her, at one point eating some magical acorns that temporarily enable him to understand the speech of all animals. He then talks to an owl who tells him why Hen Wen was stolen: She has the power to see the future, and Arawn
Death-Lord has taken her to his realm of Annuvin to get what information he can from her. With the help of the owl and a stag, Coll travels to Annuvin, rescues Hen Wen, and escapes with her.
Coll returns home to find that the enchanter Dallben had been maintaining the farm in his absence, and permits him to stay in order to protect Hen Wen. Some time shortly after that, Dallben discovered an orphaned baby in his travels and took him back to Caer Dallben to raise him. He named the boy Taran, and Coll took an active role in the child's upbringing, teaching him what he could about planting, animal care, and ironworking.
It was Coll who gave Taran the title of Assistant Pig-Keeper, in response to Taran's complaint that he was a nobody. It was a title Taran proudly bore throughout most of his travels, the first of which began that same day when Hen Wen ran away.
Coll participated in Taran's second quest; his previous experience in Annuvin made him a valuable member of the party Prince Gwydion
organized to seize and destroy the Black Cauldron.
In The High King
, Coll again went into action, first to help Gwydion retrieve the sword Dyrnwyn, and then to help Taran rally an army among the Free Commots
. Gwydion respected Coll's strategic adivice, and Taran likened him to a great oak staff upon which he could always lean when the challenges of supplying and leading his troops overwhelmed him.
The battle at Caer Dathyl
saw Coll in the thick of the action. He fought at Taran's side throughout, even saving the younger man's life when he was almost unhorsed. Following the battle, his knowledge of the land between Caer Dathyl and Annuvin aided Taran in his efforts to delay the Cauldron-Born
army returning to Arawn's fortress.
Part of that land was the Red Fallows, a once rich land that became desolate from the many armies that trampled the soil for control of it and stained it red with their blood. Coll had shed some of his own blood there when he was a young warrior, and it was here that he also fought his last battle. He led Taran's troops to a dilapidated wall, behind which they could deflect the deathless Cauldron-Born in relative safety. The Cauldron-Born almost breached an undefended segment of the wall, but Coll was able to force them back. He was mortally wounded by his action, however, only living long enough to urge Taran to continue harassing them.
He was buried next to the broken wall in the Red Fallows. His death and his suggestion that the Red Fallows might become fertile again deeply affected Taran and greatly influenced the course he followed for the rest of his life.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain is a five-volume series of children's fantasy novels by author Lloyd Alexander...
by Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Chudley Alexander was a widely influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books...
. In the books, he occupies his time with farming, though prior to that he was a warrior. He was the original owner of the oracular pig Hen Wen
Hen Wen
Hen Wen is a white sow featured in Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. She is an oracular pig - that is, she has the ability to prophesy about future events and reveal hidden information...
, established the farm that became known as Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben
Caer Dallben is a cottage farm within the lands of Prydain and the starting point for each book of Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain. It is also the setting for the series' final chapter....
when the enchanter Dallben
Dallben
Dallben is an important character in Lloyd Alexander's children's series The Chronicles of Prydain.-Profile:Dallben is described as an ancient man with a long white beard. He lives on the farm known as Caer Dallben, where he acts as protector of Coll's oracular pig, Hen Wen. He also is the...
took up residence there, and served as a guardian to Taran
Taran
- Given name :* Taran, a 7th century king of the Picts* Taran Taran, founder of the Taran Panth religious sect* Taran Adarsh, an Indian film critic* Taran Killam, an American comic actor* Taran Noah Smith, an actor...
, the main protagonist of the stories.
His personality is rather amiable and modest, and in appearance he is short and burly. But his most striking feature is his bald head, which blushes whenever he is happy about something.
Coll's earliest story is found in Coll and His White Pig, a short story now published as part of The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain
The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain
The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain is a collection of six short stories by Lloyd Alexander. Although first published in 1973, after the five novels that comprise The Chronicles of Prydain, these short stories take place before the events of the books that preceded them...
. In it, he is introduced as a recently retired warrior who has settled down to enjoy a quiet life of farming with his prized pig, Hen Wen. One night he is awakened by Hen Wen's squeals, and when he goes to investigate he discovers she has been stolen.
He then sets out after her, at one point eating some magical acorns that temporarily enable him to understand the speech of all animals. He then talks to an owl who tells him why Hen Wen was stolen: She has the power to see the future, and Arawn
Arawn
In Welsh mythology, Arawn was the king of the otherworld realm of Annwn, appearing prominently in the first branch, and alluded to in the fourth. In later tradition, the role of king of Annwn was largely attributed to the Welsh psychopomp, Gwyn ap Nudd...
Death-Lord has taken her to his realm of Annuvin to get what information he can from her. With the help of the owl and a stag, Coll travels to Annuvin, rescues Hen Wen, and escapes with her.
Coll returns home to find that the enchanter Dallben had been maintaining the farm in his absence, and permits him to stay in order to protect Hen Wen. Some time shortly after that, Dallben discovered an orphaned baby in his travels and took him back to Caer Dallben to raise him. He named the boy Taran, and Coll took an active role in the child's upbringing, teaching him what he could about planting, animal care, and ironworking.
It was Coll who gave Taran the title of Assistant Pig-Keeper, in response to Taran's complaint that he was a nobody. It was a title Taran proudly bore throughout most of his travels, the first of which began that same day when Hen Wen ran away.
Coll participated in Taran's second quest; his previous experience in Annuvin made him a valuable member of the party Prince Gwydion
Gwydion
Gwydion fab Dôn is a magician, hero and trickster of Welsh mythology, appearing most prominently in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, which focuses largely on his relationship with his young nephew, Lleu Llaw Gyffes...
organized to seize and destroy the Black Cauldron.
In The High King
The High King
The High King is the last book in the Chronicles of Prydain fantasy series of books by Lloyd Alexander. It was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1969.-Plot overview:...
, Coll again went into action, first to help Gwydion retrieve the sword Dyrnwyn, and then to help Taran rally an army among the Free Commots
Free Commots
The Free Commots are a region in the fictional country of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain. They are most prominently featured in the fourth novel, Taran Wanderer, where the protagonist of the series, Taran, does much of his maturing into...
. Gwydion respected Coll's strategic adivice, and Taran likened him to a great oak staff upon which he could always lean when the challenges of supplying and leading his troops overwhelmed him.
The battle at Caer Dathyl
Caer Dathyl
Caer Dathyl was a Welsh fortress in Arfon in northern Gwynedd referred to in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, the Tale of Math fab Mathonwy. Its precise location is currently unknown and has been the subject of speculation. In the tale, it is the seat of Math's court to which Gwydion ap Don...
saw Coll in the thick of the action. He fought at Taran's side throughout, even saving the younger man's life when he was almost unhorsed. Following the battle, his knowledge of the land between Caer Dathyl and Annuvin aided Taran in his efforts to delay the Cauldron-Born
Cauldron-Born
In Lloyd Alexander's series of fantasy books The Chronicles of Prydain, the Cauldron-Born are a race of deathless warriors in the service of Arawn, Death-Lord of Annuvin.- Origins :...
army returning to Arawn's fortress.
Part of that land was the Red Fallows, a once rich land that became desolate from the many armies that trampled the soil for control of it and stained it red with their blood. Coll had shed some of his own blood there when he was a young warrior, and it was here that he also fought his last battle. He led Taran's troops to a dilapidated wall, behind which they could deflect the deathless Cauldron-Born in relative safety. The Cauldron-Born almost breached an undefended segment of the wall, but Coll was able to force them back. He was mortally wounded by his action, however, only living long enough to urge Taran to continue harassing them.
He was buried next to the broken wall in the Red Fallows. His death and his suggestion that the Red Fallows might become fertile again deeply affected Taran and greatly influenced the course he followed for the rest of his life.