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AT 0708: Alle volksverhalen

- The Wonder-Child

Through the magic power of her evil stepmother, a princess gives birth to a monster and is banished. The monster aids her till everything turns out well. The monster is transformed into a prince. Cf. Type 711. I. The Monster Child. (a) Through the enchantments of a witch or the power of a magic apple (or the like) fed her by her stepmother, a maiden gives birth to a monster. II. Banishment. (a) The girl is driven forth into the forest or (b) abandoned in a boat on the sea. (c) The monstrous son shows that he has miraculous powers. III. The Son's Help. (a) The son helps his mother in her work of spinning at a castle. (b) He goes with a prince in search of a bride or on a hunt; they are cast into prison; the boy promises to rescue the prince if the latter will marry his mother. Though the prince imagines the mother must be a monster, he consents. IV. Transformation. (a) The prince marries the mother and rejoices that she is like other people. (b) At the wedding the prince is disenchanted when his mother calls him her son or when his head is cut off.

G200

L112.1

T511.1.1

T513

T550

S31

S410

S441

S431.1

D1717.1

H1092

D741

D741.1

D711

L162

I. G200. Witch. L112.1. Monster as hero. T511.1.1. Conception from eating apple. T513. Conception by wish. T550. Monstrous births. S31. Cruel stepmother.
II. S410. Persecuted wife. S441. Cast-off wife and child abandoned in forest. S431.1. Cast-off wife and child exposed in boat. D1717.1. Magic power of monster child.
III. H1092. Task: spinning impossible amount in one night. D741. Disenchantment of monster when prince promises to marry the monster's mother. The prince images falsely that the mother is also a monster.
IV. D741.1. Disenchantment of monster when mother acknowledges him as son. D711. Disenchantment by decapitation. L162. Lowly heroine marries prince (king).

sprookje

*BP II 236.