Folk Tale Heroes

That you may not know about

Finn McCoolThis powerful man with white hair built the Giant’s Causeway to use as stepping stones to Scotland so he would not get his feet wet. He also scooped up part of Ireland to fling at a rival. That clump of land became the Isle of Man.

Kate ShelleyThis American herione raced through flood conditions to sound the alarm at a train depot. The alarm warned an incoming train not to cross a damaged bridge, and 200 passengers were saved.

William WallaceThis legendary knight led his people in a revolt against the English and eventually became known as the Guardian of Scotland.

King ArthurHe was the leader of the Knights of the Round Table. He pulled a sword out of a stone and sought advice from Merlin the Wizard.

Joaquin MurrietaKnow as the Mexican Robin Hood, this legend was a noble landowner who sympathized with Native Americans and Mexicans and sought justice for those who had been wronged.

Casey JonesThis legendary engineer always got his train in on time. He was known for his blaring whistle and high speed. They say that on the tragic day his train crashed, he was found with one hand on the whistle and the other on the brake.

SacagaweaFor thousands of miles, this legendary Shoshone woman accompanied and aided Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their expedition to the Pacific Northwest.

The Loch Ness MonsterAffectionately known as “Nessie,” this legendary creature is reputed to inhabit the depths of a famous lake in the Scottish Highlands.

The Headless HorsemanIn this story, Ichabod Crane is missing! Did he encounter Sleepy Hollow’s most terrifying ghost? A shattered pumpkin is the only clue . . .

Annie OakleyThis sharp-shooter could handle a rifle or a six-gun better than anyone of her time. She could split a card in mid-air with one bullet, and put more holes in it before it landed. She was called “Little Sure Shot.”

The Pied Piper of HamelinThis stranger saves a rat-infested town by luring the rodents into the river with a musical pipe. When the townspeople refuse him a reward, he returns with his pipe. . . This time to lure all the children away!

Uncle RemusThis southern storyteller spun tales of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and other trickster animals.

Baba YagaThis old witch rides around on a broom made from a silver birch and lives in a house built on chicken legs. Sometimes she helps children, and sometimes she eats them!

Davy CrockettHe was a soldier, politician, statesman, and adventurist. This hero is also known as the King of the Wild Frontier.

Bremen Town MusiciansIn this tale, when a donkey, dog, cat and rooster search for a better place to live, they come upon a house full of robbers! They scare the robbers away, and live happily ever after in their new home.

Mike FinkKnown as the “king of Keelboaters” this character ran boats up and down the Ohio River and the Mississippi. He was a bully and a brawler, Davy Crockett said he was “half horse and half alligator.”