Beschrijving
I. Two Brothers Wander in the Forest. (a) They are driven forth when their stepmother claims they have insulted her [K2111], or (b) are driven forth for other reasons [5322.4]. (c) They are spared by the man charged with executing them. He kills an animal and brings its blood, etc., as proof of the death of the brothers [K512]. (d) The queen sees the hen-sparrow feed thorns or fish bones to its stepchildren and asks her husband not to remarry if she should die [J134.1]. He does, however.
II. The Magic Object. (a) They discover a magic object (bird, fruit, etc.) which when eaten, will make one king, the other rich, etc. (b) Birds predict that one brother will be made king, the other rich. (c) The magic bird is prepared as a meal for another (by their mother) but the brothers eat it by mistake and flee.
III. The Adventures of the Elder Brother. (a) The brothers are separated (b) when one goes to look for water [N311]. (c) In a kingdom where the king has recently died the royal elephant chooses the older brother who is made king [H171.1]. (d) Or the elder brother is chosen a king in some other way.
IV. The Adventures of the younger Brother. (a) The younger brother falls into the hands of a ship-owner and is to be sacrificed so that a becalmed ship may sail [S264.1]. (b) He is carried to a distant land and wins a bride. (c) On the return voyage he is cast overboard (but is helped by his bride). (d) He wins other brides. (e) The younger brother, who magically produces gold, gems, etc., is imprisoned by a strange king, etc., and forced to produce gold, etc.
V. Reunion. (a) In the kingdom of his older brother, the younger is recognized by his brother and made prime minister, or (b) The older brother searches for, and finds, his younger brother.
Subgenre
sprookje