Motif
wished-for infant killing to avert later evil
wished_for_infant_killing_to_avert_later_evil
A motif of the Miraculous Child and Sacred Birth family, within the sub-family Infant Killing, Dynastic Persecution, and Sparing. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.
1 occurrences
1 traditions
finnish karelian
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Kalevala: The Epic Poem of Finland JOHN MARTIN CRAWFORD. / THE KALEVALA. / PROEM / BOOK II; lines 19126-19285 confidence: high
Kullervo weeps, says he has slain his virgin-sister and shamed his mother's daughter, curses his birth, and says death or sickness should have killed him in the cradle after seven days.
Kullervo repeatedly says it would have been better if death, sickness, or his mother had killed him in infancy, including by fire or water.
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