Beschrijving
The Children Play at Hog-killing. (Previously Type 2401.) This tale combines a common introduction with either of two main parts.
Introduction:
Children, having seen a hog being slaughtered, play at slaughtering. The child who plays the butcher kills the child who plays the hog with a knife [N334.1].
Main parts:
(1) After this, the children hide in the oven. They are burned to death when their mother lights it to heat the room. (Or, the angry mother chokes the culprit. Meanwhile the baby drowns in the bath tub, and the mother hangs herself. The father comes home and dies of grief.)
(2) The murderer is taken to court. In order to decide whether he is guilty or innocent, a wise man says that he should be offered a choice between an apple and a piece of gold. The child chooses the apple and is declared to be innocent.
Introduction:
Children, having seen a hog being slaughtered, play at slaughtering. The child who plays the butcher kills the child who plays the hog with a knife [N334.1].
Main parts:
(1) After this, the children hide in the oven. They are burned to death when their mother lights it to heat the room. (Or, the angry mother chokes the culprit. Meanwhile the baby drowns in the bath tub, and the mother hangs herself. The father comes home and dies of grief.)
(2) The murderer is taken to court. In order to decide whether he is guilty or innocent, a wise man says that he should be offered a choice between an apple and a piece of gold. The child chooses the apple and is declared to be innocent.
Motief
N334.1
Commentaar
Documented in the 3rd century C.E by Aelian, Variae historiae (XIII,2). Also popular as a modern legend.
Oorspronkelijk Verhaaltype
1343*
Subgenre
mop