Beschrijving
The Child’s Grave (previously Dead Child’s Friendly Return to Parents) [E324, E361]. This tale exists chiefly in two different forms:
(1) A mother discovers her dead child in a procession of dead children. It is forced to carry a heavy jug and tells its mother to stop weeping because it has to collect all her tears in the jug. From then on the mother stops weeping.
(2) A dead child returns to tell its mother to stop weeping. Its shroud is so wet from her tears that the child cannot find rest in the grave. From then on the mother bears her pain without weeping and her child stays quiet in the grave.
(1) A mother discovers her dead child in a procession of dead children. It is forced to carry a heavy jug and tells its mother to stop weeping because it has to collect all her tears in the jug. From then on the mother stops weeping.
(2) A dead child returns to tell its mother to stop weeping. Its shroud is so wet from her tears that the child cannot find rest in the grave. From then on the mother bears her pain without weeping and her child stays quiet in the grave.
Motief
E324
E361
Commentaar
Version (1) documented in the Middle Ages by Thomas Cantipratanus, Bonum universale de apibus (II,53,17). The theme is also found in classical sources.
Oorspronkelijk Verhaaltype
769
Subgenre
sprookje