What would happen if a tailor boldly wore a belt engraved with the words “Seven in One Blow,” which instantly grabs the attention of everyone around him? In this traditional medieval tale retold by Lori Verstegen, a tailor is irritated of several flies, and the result is he forcefully swings a broom and kills seven of them in one blow. Proudly, he engraves “Seven in One Blow” on his belt and walks through town to impress anyone who sees it. It this tailor worthy of praise or filled with baloney?
Quietly, the plot unfolds in a small, quaint medieval town where a tailor lives, who is supposedly clever and brave. In truth, he mainly seeks praise and money. The tailor, who killed seven flies in one blow, boldly writes the feat on his belt and shows it off in town. Quickly, the misleading belt makes people believe he killed seven giants, and the rumor spreads until it reaches the king. From the royal court, the king summons the tailor to drive out a boar from the land, which he efficiently accomplishes. The king, who then orders him to kill two giants, watches him succeed by throwing rocks until they fight each other to death. Eventually, the tailor wins the princess and half the kingdom. In the end, the reader learns that cleverness is rewarded.
Overall, the tailor is not admirable, which becomes clear even in the midst of his success. In every action, he shows no honor. The tailor, who boasts constantly, deliberately misleads people into believing he killed giants. Openly, he writes the feat on his belt to show it off, proving his tendency toward bragging. With a deceptive belt, he refuses to admit it wasn’t giants when questioned, which reveals his prideful and self‑centered nature. The tailor, who is deceitful and not trustworthy, ultimately deserves no praise.