that I've always had a wee bit of trouble with the cakes, as to what the POINT of the story was. I can see several possibilities, but I'm not sure which one has made this story so indestructable:

a) Even kings can be stupid;
b) Alfred had far more on his mind than barley cakes;
c) The British didn't have much reverence for their kings;
d) Alfred was just a 'regular guy' and didn't mind getting the **** kicked out of him by a peasant woman.


I personally find the tale of the spider in the cave much easier to understand!