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AT 0425: Alle volksverhalen
AT 0425 in Grimm

- The Search for the Lost Husband

Cf. also Types 430, 432, and 441. I. The Monster as Husband. (a) A monster is born because of a hasty wish of the parents. (b) He is a man at night. (c) A girl promises herself as bride to the monster, (c1) to recover stolen clothes or jewels, (c2) to escape from captivity in spring or well, (c3) or a girl seeks out or ac- cidentally discovers a supernatural husband, (d) or her father promises her (d1) in order to secure a flower (lark) his daughter has asked him to bring from journey, (d2) to pay a gambling debt, or (d3) to escape from danger. (e) The father and daughter try in vain to send another girl as the monster's bride. II. Disenchantment of the Monster. (a) The girl disenchants the monster (dwarf, bear, wolf, ass, snake, hog, hedgehog, frog, bird, or tree) by means of a kiss and tears, or (b) by burning the animal skin or (c) by decapitation, or (d) by other means. III. Loss of the Husband. (a) But she loses him because she has burned the animals skin too soon, or (b) has revealed his secret to her sisters, or (c) has broken other prohibitions, (c1) looking at him, (c2) kissing him, or (c3) staying too long at home. IV. Search for Husband. (a) She undergoes a sorrowful wandering in iron shoes, (b) gets magic objects from an old woman or from her own child, (c) asks her directions from the wind and stars, (d) climbs a steep glass mountain, (e) takes service as maid with witch who gives her impossible or dangerous tasks to perform, or (f) deceives importunate suitors. V. Recovery of Husband. (a) She buys with three jewels three nights by the side of her lost husband, and wins him back, or (b) disenchants him by affectionate treatment. (c) Sometimes she must go on a journey (as in Type 480) and be compassionate to people and objects. Various forms of the type follow. (noot 1: In general I have followed the divisions suggested by Swahn in his study, but because so many regional surveys have listed the Cupid and Psyche as 425A, that number has been retained and includes both Types 425A and B. Swahn's type 425A is here called 425B. The rest of the series corresponds with Swahn's numbering.)

C758.1

D621.1

T111

B640.1

S215.1

K1335

S240.1

B620.1

L221

S228

S221.1

S221.2

S222

S241

S252

L54.1

D735.1

D711

I. C758.1. Monster born because of hasty (inconsiderate) wish of parents. D621.1. Animal by day; man by night. T111. Marriage of mortal and supernatural being. B640.1. Marriage to beast by day and man by night. S215.1. Girl promises herself to animal suitor. K1335. Seduction (or wooing) by stealing clothes of bathing girl (swan maiden). S240.1. Girl promised unwittingly by her parents to ogre. B620.1. Daughter promised to animal suitor. L221. Modest request: present from the journey. S228. Daughter promised to monster as bride to secure flower (bird) she asked for. S221.1. Bankrupt father sells his daughters in marriage to animals. S221.2. Youth sells himself to an ogre in settlement of a gambling debt. S222. Man promises (sells) child in order to save himself from danger or death. S241. Child unwittingly promised: »first thing you meet.» S252. Vain attempt to save promised child. L54.1. Youngest daughter agrees to marry monster; later the sisters are jealous.
II. D735.1. Beauty and the beast. Disenchantment of animal by being kissed by woman (man). D711. Disenchantment by decapitation. D766.3. Disenchantment by tears. D721.3. Disenchantment by destroying skin (covering).
III. C32. Tabu: offending supernatural husband. C932. Loss of wife (husband) for breaking tabu. C757.1. Tabu: destroying animal skin of enchanted person too soon. C421. Tabu: revealing secret of supernatural husband. C32.1. Tabu: looking at supernatural husband. C916.1. Trespass betrayed by dripping candle. C121. Tabu: kissing supernatural husband. C761.2. Tabu: staying too long at home.
IV. H1385.4. Quest for vanished husband. Q502.2. Punishment: wandering till iron shoes are worn out. H1125. Task: traveling till iron shoes are worn out. D1313.1. Magic ball indicates road. N825.3. Old woman helper. H1233.1.1. Old woman helps on quest. H1235. Succession of helpers on quest. One helper sends to another, who sends toanother, etc. H1232. Directions on quest given by sun, moon, wind and stars. H1114. Task: climbing glass mountain. Q482.1. Princess serves as menial. H1010. Impossible tasks. D2006.1.1. Forgotten fiancée re-awakens husband's memory by detaining lovers through magic.
V. N681.1. Wife finds lost husband just as he is to marry another. D2006.1.4. Forgotten fiancée buys place in husband's bed and re-awakens his memory. D735.1. Disenchantment of animal by being kissed by woman. Q41. Politeness rewarded.

sprookje

**Swahn The Tale of Cupid and Psyche (Lund, 1955). For list and evaluation of other monographs on this cycle, see Swahn 395-418. See also references for 425A.