Glew (character)
Encyclopedia
Glew is a fictional character in The Castle of Llyr
, the third book in Lloyd Alexander
's fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain
. He is discovered by accident when the companions fall into and are trapped in an underground cavern on the Isle of Mona
.
. He found none of them to his liking, mostly due to his own sniveling disposition. Finally he decided the only answer was to turn to sorcery
, and he attempted to buy a book of spells
from the enchanter Morda
. When Glew got the book home he discovered he has been cheated- the book appeared to be nothing but blank pages (in actuality there was writing in the book, however the light from Eilonwy's bauble was required to see it).
Glew then turned his mind to creating a potion
that would make him a giant
, in hopes that he might finally achieve the power and respect he felt he deserved. He began cooking up growth potions in his hut
, and testing them on Llyan
, a small wildcat
he had trapped and put in a cage. The potions worked, and Llyan grew larger. When the cat had grown to the size of a draft horse
, she broke free and attacked Glew. Forced to flee, he ran into series of caverns, and as he ran he drank the potion. He grew quickly, and was forced to run deep into the caverns to find large enough rooms to accommodate him. He found a huge chamber in which he could rest, but he was trapped because of his large size.
Glew lives in the damp and darkness of the caverns for many years, until he encounters the companions in The Castle of Llyr. Despite the fact that he attempts to trap
them to use one of them as a final ingredient for a shrinking potion he is concocting, Taran
promises that he will ask Dallben
if he can do anything to help the miserable giant. Dallben eventually sends the potion, which restores him to his original dwarfish size and enables him to leave the cave. He makes his way to the Castle of Mona, where he is given refuge despite the fact that he keeps complaining about all sorts of things.
In The High King
, Glew had been taken by Prince Rhun
from Mona to Caer Dalben, where he did nothing except eat and whine about how much he missed being a giant. He is forced to accompany Taran and the others when they go on their conquests against Arwan.
Accompanying Taran's Commot men after the fall of Caer Dathyl, he inadvertendly causes the collapse of a Fair Folk mine shaft the Commot people are passing through whilst greedily digging up jewels, forcing them to turn back. In Annuvin, he and Gurgi stumble upon Arwan's treasure room. Though Gurgi suspects the room is rigged with traps, Glew tries to steal treasure from it. He is nearly killed in a trap, but Gurgi rescues him.
At the end of The High King
, Glew tells the truth about his folly in Arawn's treasure room, much to everyone's amazement. He is allowed to journey with them to Summer Country, where he is told he will grow to the size of a man. Before leaving, he gives Taran a present of a small crystal he had kept as a keepsake (another selfless action).
The Castle of Llyr
The Castle of Llyr is the third volume in the children's fantasy series Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, first published in 1966.Taran continues his adventures and encounters new friends and old enemies.- Plot :...
, the third book in 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...
's fantasy series, 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...
. He is discovered by accident when the companions fall into and are trapped in an underground cavern on the Isle of Mona
Isle of Mona
The Isle of Mona is the original name of the Isle of Anglesey, and is also the name of a fictional island off the western coast of Prydain in Lloyd Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain series...
.
Background
Glew was formerly a very small man. In his younger days he tried unsuccessfully to enter a number of careers including slaying dragons or being a wandering bardBard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
. He found none of them to his liking, mostly due to his own sniveling disposition. Finally he decided the only answer was to turn to sorcery
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
, and he attempted to buy a book of spells
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
from the enchanter Morda
Morda
Morda is a village on the outskirts of the town of Oswestry, Shropshire, England, located near the border of England and Wales.It is named after the River Morda, which, with the River Tanat, is one of the first major tributaries joining the River Severn as it wends its way from its birth place on...
. When Glew got the book home he discovered he has been cheated- the book appeared to be nothing but blank pages (in actuality there was writing in the book, however the light from Eilonwy's bauble was required to see it).
Glew then turned his mind to creating a potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
that would make him a giant
Giant (mythology)
The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...
, in hopes that he might finally achieve the power and respect he felt he deserved. He began cooking up growth potions in his hut
Hut
Hut may refer to:*Hut , a small and crude shelter*Hans Hut , Anabaptist leader*Hut Records, an English audio records company*Sunglass Hut International, largest American retailer of sunglasses...
, and testing them on Llyan
Llyan
Llyan is a fictional character introduced in book three of Lloyd Alexander's The Prydain Chronicles, The Castle of Llyr.Llyan is described as a large female cat, roughly larger than a horse, with orange fur. Her size does not diminish her natural agility or speed, however...
, a small wildcat
Wildcat
Wildcat is a small felid native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa.-Animals:Wildcat may also refer to members of the genus Lynx:...
he had trapped and put in a cage. The potions worked, and Llyan grew larger. When the cat had grown to the size of a draft horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
, she broke free and attacked Glew. Forced to flee, he ran into series of caverns, and as he ran he drank the potion. He grew quickly, and was forced to run deep into the caverns to find large enough rooms to accommodate him. He found a huge chamber in which he could rest, but he was trapped because of his large size.
Glew lives in the damp and darkness of the caverns for many years, until he encounters the companions in The Castle of Llyr. Despite the fact that he attempts to trap
Trap (tactic)
A trap is a device intended to catch an intruder or prey. "Trap" may also refer to the tactic of catching or harming an adversary. Conversely it may also mean a hindrance for change, being caught in a trap.-Device:*Animal trapping*Bird trapping...
them to use one of them as a final ingredient for a shrinking potion he is concocting, Taran
Taran (character)
Taran is a fictional character in The Chronicles of Prydain series, as well as in the film and game named after the second novel, The Black Cauldron.-Profile:...
promises that he will ask 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...
if he can do anything to help the miserable giant. Dallben eventually sends the potion, which restores him to his original dwarfish size and enables him to leave the cave. He makes his way to the Castle of Mona, where he is given refuge despite the fact that he keeps complaining about all sorts of things.
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:...
, Glew had been taken by Prince Rhun
Prince Rhun
Prince Rhun is a fictional character in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain series. He is featured prominently in the latter half of the five-book series.-Profile:...
from Mona to Caer Dalben, where he did nothing except eat and whine about how much he missed being a giant. He is forced to accompany Taran and the others when they go on their conquests against Arwan.
Accompanying Taran's Commot men after the fall of Caer Dathyl, he inadvertendly causes the collapse of a Fair Folk mine shaft the Commot people are passing through whilst greedily digging up jewels, forcing them to turn back. In Annuvin, he and Gurgi stumble upon Arwan's treasure room. Though Gurgi suspects the room is rigged with traps, Glew tries to steal treasure from it. He is nearly killed in a trap, but Gurgi rescues him.
At the end of 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:...
, Glew tells the truth about his folly in Arawn's treasure room, much to everyone's amazement. He is allowed to journey with them to Summer Country, where he is told he will grow to the size of a man. Before leaving, he gives Taran a present of a small crystal he had kept as a keepsake (another selfless action).
Sources
- Tunnell, Michael O., The Prydain Companion, Henry Holt, 1989. ISBN 0805072713