Motif
failed recognition of the beloved in nonhuman form
failed_recognition_of_the_beloved_in_nonhuman_form
A motif of the Shapeshifter and Transformation family, within the sub-family Love, Kinship, and Marriage Transformations. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
2 occurrences
1 traditions
finnish karelian
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Kalevala: The Epic Poem of Finland PREFACE / JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD. / THE KALEVALA. / PROEM; lines 3298-3494 confidence: high
Wainamoinen describes the fish as unlike ordinary salmon, trout, pike, female fish, male fish, sea-born maidens, mermaids, or song-birds.
Wainamoinen catches the magical fish, treats it as food, and only after it escapes does it reveal itself as Aino and rebuke his lack of insight.
read in the book → -
Kalevala: The Epic Poem of Finland PREFACE / JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD. / THE KALEVALA. / PROEM; lines 3298-3494 confidence: high
Wainamoinen wonders at the fish, describing it as unlike familiar fish and unlike identifiable sea-born maidens or mermaids.
Wainamoinen treats the caught fish as food; Aino rebukes him for lacking insight, not knowing enough to keep her, and trying to kill her with his fish-knife.
read in the book →