Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

exact sorting or division task under threat

exact_sorting_or_division_task_under_threat

A motif of the Initiation and Transformative Ordeal family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


estonian

  • The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country THE TREASURE-BRINGER. / THE WOODEN MAN AND THE BIRCH-BARK MAID. / MARTIN AND HIS DEAD MASTER. / THE COURAGEOUS BARN-KEEPER.; lines 13056-13141 confidence: high

    The old man opens a square trap-door to cellar steps and leads the barn-keeper into a deep arched cavern containing a huge heap of gold and silver, then orders him to divide it exactly into two equal parts within three days or be strangled.

    The old man gives the barn-keeper three days to count and sort the gold and silver heap into two exactly equal parts, warning that a mistake will lead to strangling.

    read in the book