# The Carl of the Drab Coat — Irish Fairy Tales character guide

> The Carl of the Drab Coat in Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Carl, Carl, the Drab Coat

**First appearance:** 0053-the-carl-of-the-drab-coat

## Snapshot

A shabby stranger in a drab coat who moves through the tales testing kings and heroes while hiding what he really is.

## Who they are

The Carl appears in humble dress among the great, and his plain coat conceals a power that the proud consistently underestimate. He is the kind of figure who watches, waits, and then acts when the moment suits him, turning the tables on those who judge by appearance. His presence keeps the reader alert: in these tales the ragged stranger is often the one who decides the outcome.

## In the story

### [The Carl of the Drab Coat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/the-carl-of-the-drab-coat)

Mysterious figure who challenges Fionn and the Fianna.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/ii)

A monstrous giant encountered by Fionn in the wood; claims he can win the race against Cael of the Iron.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iii)

Laughs off Cael's insults and insists on the challenge.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/iv)

Builds a house, cooks a wild boar, eats half, and sleeps soundly; lets Cael start the race ahead.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/v)

Awakens, eats boar, ties bones in coat tail, and engages in a superhuman race with Cael, pausing to eat blackberries and retrieve his lost coattails.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/vi)

The Carl is the actual runner in the race, derided by champions as a 'clump,' 'hog,' and 'pork' for his perceived lack of ability.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/vii)

The Carl is carried on Cael's back, and the Fianna react with relief and exultation upon his return.

### [The Carl of the Drab Coat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/chapters/viii)

Arrives demanding meal and blackberries, defeats Cael of the Iron, and reveals himself as the ruler of the Shí of Rath Cruachan.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters/carl_of_the_drab_coat
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/irish_fairy_tales_se/characters