# Bull Shockhead — The Well at the World’s End character guide > Bull Shockhead in The Well at the World’s End by William Morris. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Bull, Bull Nosy, Nosy **First appearance:** 0047-xxii-ralph-talks-with-bull-shockhead ## Snapshot A fierce mountain warrior who rises to Lord of Utterbol and swears friendship to Ralph with the blunt honor of a man who has found something worth keeping. ## Who they are Bull begins as a hard man of a hard country, and his transformation is one of the book's quietest surprises: he grows big-hearted enough to call Ralph friend and to swear an oath on Ursula's hand. He talks often of his kin and lineage, and his loyalty, once given, is total. His Utterbol is not the same place Ralph first feared, and that change matters. ## Relationships ### [Ralph of Upmeads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/characters/ralph_of_upmeads) _friendship_ Bull Shockhead is a strong and loyal ally to Ralph, offering protection and camaraderie in dangerous situations. ### [Ralph of Upmeads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/characters/ralph_of_upmeads) _friendship_ Bull Shockhead is a strong and loyal ally to Ralph, offering protection and camaraderie in dangerous situations. ### [Ralph of Upmeads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/characters/ralph_of_upmeads) _friendship_ Bull Shockhead is a strong and loyal ally to Ralph, offering protection and camaraderie in dangerous situations. ## In the story ### [How Ralph Departed from the Burg of the Four Friths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xv-how-ralph-departed-from-the-burg-of-the-four-friths) Implied as the tall man who speaks to Ralph and is recognized as the man from the churchyard gate. ### [A Battle in the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxi-a-battle-in-the-mountains) A Strong-thief captured by Ralph; agrees to serve him faithfully but warns he will not fight his kindred. Described as strong, with black hair and blue eyes. ### [Ralph Talks with Bull Shockhead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxii-ralph-talks-with-bull-shockhead) Merry after eating, defends his trade, and reveals that his kinsman Bull Nosy captured a woman wearing beads like Ralph's. ### [Of the Town of Cheaping Knowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxiii-of-the-town-of-cheaping-knowe) Ralph's war-caught thrall; disguised as a chapman lad and his hair docked on Clement's advice. ### [XXIV: Ralph Heareth More Tidings of the Damsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxiv-ralph-heareth-more-tidings-of-the-damsel) Ralph speaks with him about his kinsman Bull Nosy, who had the damsel. ### [XXVI: They Ride the Mountains Toward Goldburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxvi-they-ride-the-mountains-toward-goldburg) Bull finds his brother Bull Nosy dead, wails and accuses the damsel of the slaying, but later buries his brother and pledges to serve Ralph truly, seeking the true slayer. ### [XXVII: Clement Tells of Goldburg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxvii-clement-tells-of-goldburg) Rises early with Ralph and Clement to search for lost companions. ### [Of Goldburg and the Queen Thereof](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxix-of-goldburg-and-the-queen-thereof) Bull assists Ralph by seeking tidings about the damsel and the Lord of Utterbol, using a cautious approach to questioning. ### [Ralph Hath Hope of Tidings Concerning the Well at the World’s End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxx-ralph-hath-hope-of-tidings-concerning-the-well-at-the-world-s-end) Mentioned as a possible companion, but Ralph decides not to take him due to his wild nature. ### [The Beginning of the Road to Utterbol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxxi-the-beginning-of-the-road-to-utterbol) Released from thrall by Ralph, gives him a token of brotherhood, and parts ways. ### [IV: They Ride the Wood Under the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/iv-they-ride-the-wood-under-the-mountains) Mentioned as the wild man who captured Ursula and was later killed by the Lord of Utterbol's men. ### [II: They Hear New Tidings of Utterbol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/ii-they-hear-new-tidings-of-utterbol) Ralph suspects the new Lord of Utterbol might be Bull Shockhead, his former thrall. ### [III: They Winter with the Sage; and Thereafter Come Again to Vale Turris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/iii-they-winter-with-the-sage-and-thereafter-come-again-to-vale-turris) Now the new Lord of Utterbol, Bull joyfully reunites with Ralph and Ursula, having reformed the tyranny of Utterbol into a merry dwelling. ### [IV: A Feast in the Red Pavilion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/iv-a-feast-in-the-red-pavilion) Now Lord of Utterbol, hosts the feast and swears to purge the land of tyrants. ### [Bull Telleth of His Winning of the Lordship of Utterbol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/v-bull-telleth-of-his-winning-of-the-lordship-of-utterbol) Narrates his journey to Utterbol, taming of the lion, and slaying of the Lord to avenge his brother. ### [X: An Adventure on the Way to the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/x-an-adventure-on-the-way-to-the-mountains) Mentioned as the kinsman of the Bull captain who sent a message and gave Ralph a token. ### [Yet a Few Words Concerning Ralph of Upmeads](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxxii-yet-a-few-words-concerning-ralph-of-upmeads) Bull arrives with a chosen band including Otter and Redhead, joins Ralph in battle, and later becomes a mighty man and warder of peace at Utterbol. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/characters/bull_shockhead - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/characters