Beschrijving
Brothers Seek Sisters as Wives (previously Six Brothers Seek Seven Sisters as Wives). A number of brothers (usually six, twelve or one hundred) set out to find a number of sisters as wives for themselves and their youngest brother who remained home [T69.1]. On the way an old man (giant, troll) transforms the brothers and their brides into stone and takes the youngest bride for himself [D231, R11.1].
The youngest brother goes to look for his lost brothers and comes to the old man’s house. Here he finds the youngest bride who tells him that the heart (life) of the old man is enclosed in a bird [E715.1]. With the help of grateful animals which he had fed on his way, the youngest brother catches the bird and kills it, thus killing the old man (he rescues his brothers and the brides by performing different tasks). Brothers and brides are restored to life [R155.1]. Cf. Type 302.
In some variants, the brothers marry the daughters of a witch. During the night in bed the brothers exchange their places with those of their wives. The witch kills her own daughters. Cf. Type 1119.
The youngest brother goes to look for his lost brothers and comes to the old man’s house. Here he finds the youngest bride who tells him that the heart (life) of the old man is enclosed in a bird [E715.1]. With the help of grateful animals which he had fed on his way, the youngest brother catches the bird and kills it, thus killing the old man (he rescues his brothers and the brides by performing different tasks). Brothers and brides are restored to life [R155.1]. Cf. Type 302.
In some variants, the brothers marry the daughters of a witch. During the night in bed the brothers exchange their places with those of their wives. The witch kills her own daughters. Cf. Type 1119.
Motief
T69.1
D231
R11.1
E715.1
R155.1
Combinaties
This type is usually combined with episodes of one or more other types, esp. 300, 302, 314, 327B, 328, 513A, 531, 550, and 1119.
Oorspronkelijk Verhaaltype
303A
Subgenre
sprookje