Motif
unrecognized father-son combat
unrecognized_father_son_combat
A motif of the Recognition Tokens and Identity Proofs family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
2 occurrences
1 traditions
persian
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Persian Literature, Volume 1 THE SEVEN LABORS OF RUSTEM / INVASION OF IRN BY AFRSIYB / THE RETURN OF KAI-KS / STORY OF SOHRB; lines 6481-6592 confidence: high
The young warrior’s joy is damped; he is perplexed by his mother’s words; a space is prepared for single combat and both rush forward with lances.
The passage explicitly frames the duel as son and father driven to mortal strife while the combat itself proceeds without mutual recognition resolving it.
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The Shahnama of Firdausi, Vol. II VOL. II. I / KA1 KAUS 139 / ISO THE SHAH NAM A OF FIRDAUSI / VOL. 11. L; lines 8287-8440 confidence: high
Suhrab asks for the truth about parentage and says, "I think that thou art Rustam"; Rustam answers, "I am not Rustam."
Suhrab suspects Rustam's identity, Rustam denies it, and the narrator explicitly identifies the fighters as sire and son while lamenting failure to distinguish child from foe.
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