Gargantua is one of the largest characters in the history of literature. This behemoth was said to stand up to 1,000 feet tall, and the tales about him were wildly popular in 16th century France. It was written that the giant started eating and drinking the moment he was born, and he was almost always hungry from that moment on. Gargantua was ordinarily a peaceful giant, but had a temper that led to bad behavior or sometimes even ended with the deaths of people who angered him.
Size it Up: There's no doubt that Gargantua was a huge character, but his size varies in different stories, and even in different parts of the same stories. In some parts, the giant stands about 300 feet tall, but seems to reach heights up to 1,000 feet throughout the tale.
Hungry Man: When he was born, Gargantua was several times the size of a normal person. His big body gave him a huge appetite for food and drink; his first word was "drink!" As an adult, the giant could eat 12 whole pigs and ask for more!
Cakes & Cannonballs[]
Even as a baby, this giant needed milk from thousands of cows.
Though Gargantua was greedy when it came to food, he wasn't a mean giant, and kept a peaceful attitude toward the people around him. Some other people, however, felt threatened. After an argument over a big load of cakes, a king sent a group of bakers to attack the town where Gargantua lived. The weeks of fighting that followed annoyed the giant so much that he uprooted a huge tree and used it to smash the king's castle to pieces to put an end to the battle. The king's army shot hundreds of cannonballs at Gargantua, but he swatted them away like flies.
Beast of Burden: This giant traveled throughout France to meet new people. Gargantua got around by riding on a horse that was as big as six full-grown elephants!
Why, I Never! Gargantua was rude toward people he disagreed with. After arguing with a professor in Paris, he relieved himself all over the city, flooding its streets.
That's No Crouton![]
Gargantua went to his garden to gather ingredients for a salad one night, not knowing that six travelers had taken shelter under one of his gigantic heads of lettuce. Gargantua picked them up with the lettuce, and unknowingly scooped them into his mouth as he ate. The men escaped by hitting a nerve in the giant's teeth with their staffs-Gargantua used a giant toothpick to get them out of his mouth.
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Trivia[]
- Gargantua is featured in Monster Mix-Up on Monster Mania 101.