# Surly John — The Sundering Flood character guide

> Surly John in The Sundering Flood by William Morris.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** John

**First appearance:** 0004-iv-surly-john-falls-out-with-the-goodman

## Who they are

A hired man at Wethermel who causes trouble.

## Relationships

### [Osberne Wulfgrimsson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/osberne_wulfgrimsson)

_social_

Osberne and Surly John are acquaintances from the same village, with Surly John often acting as a grumpy but familiar presence.

### [Goodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/goodman)

_social_

Goodman and Surly John are fellow villagers with a casual, somewhat grumpy acquaintance.

### [Osberne Wulfgrimsson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/osberne_wulfgrimsson)

_social_

Osberne and Surly John are acquaintances from the same village, with Surly John often acting as a grumpy but familiar presence.

### [Goodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/goodman)

_social_

Goodman and Surly John are fellow villagers with a casual, somewhat grumpy acquaintance.

### [Osberne Wulfgrimsson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/osberne_wulfgrimsson)

_social_

Osberne and Surly John are acquaintances from the same village, with Surly John often acting as a grumpy but familiar presence.

## In the story

### [Wolves Harry the Flock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/iii-wolves-harry-the-flock)

The shepherd who flees from the wolves and later quarrels with the goodman, being struck for his cowardice.

### [Surly John Falls Out with the Goodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/iv-surly-john-falls-out-with-the-goodman)

Quarrels with the goodman, receives his hire, attacks him, and is humiliated by Osberne before departing.

### [VI: They Fare to the Cloven Mote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/vi-they-fare-to-the-cloven-mote)

First man encountered at the Mote; listens to the tale of Osberne's deed but responds sourly, and is later mocked in a stave.

### [XV: Surly John Brings a Guest to Wethermel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xv-surly-john-brings-a-guest-to-wethermel)

Brings Hardcastle to Wethermel, laughs at Osberne's slap, and later cries out when his knife is twisted.

### [XVI: Hardcastle Would Seize Wethermel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xvi-hardcastle-would-seize-wethermel)

Stands by grinning, reports the goodman's weeping.

### [XVII: The Slaying of Hardcastle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xvii-the-slaying-of-hardcastle)

Flees the scene after witnessing his master's fall.

### [Osberne Is Chosen Captain of the Dalesmen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xxiii-osberne-is-chosen-captain-of-the-dalesmen)

Nominates Erling Thomasson as an alternative captain, but is mocked and hustled out of the Mote.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/surly_john
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters