ATU 425A The Animal as Bridegroom

ATU 425A

The Animal as Bridegroom

Aarne–Thompson–Uther tale-type index · Tales Of Magic · The full type description is not served here; the number and name are the classification facts.

Motifs the recorded variants carry

Tabu: revealing secret of supernatural husband. 48 variants
Tabu: destroying animal skin of enchanted person too soon. 48 variants
Monster born because of hasty (inconsiderate) wish of parents. 48 variants
Loss of wife (husband) for breaking tabu. 48 variants
Forgotten fiancée reawakens husband's memory by detaining lovers through magic. Heroine takes up residence near home of her forgetful husband. She is apparently going to permit a lover to sleep with her when she detains him by having him try to place some magic birds on their roost. They continue to fall down throughout the night. (Or the lover is left magically sticking to a calf's tail or other object.) The thwarted lover tells of his experience, and in this way the attention of the husband is gained. 48 variants
Forgotten fiancée buys place in husband's bed and reawakens his memory. 48 variants
Directions on quest given by sun, moon, wind, and stars. 48 variants
Quest for vanished husband. 48 variants
Princess serves as menial. 48 variants
Punishment: wandering till iron shoes are worn out. 48 variants
Vain attempt to save promised child. 48 variants
Marriage of mortal and supernatural being. 48 variants
Daughter promised to animal suitor. 24 variants
Marriage to beast by day and man by night. (Cf. D621.) 24 variants
Tabu: looking at supernatural husband. 24 variants
Trespass betrayed by dripping candle. (Cf. C31.1, C32.1.) 24 variants
Animal by day; man by night. 24 variants
Old woman helps on quest. 24 variants
Succession of helpers on quest. One helper sends to another, who sends to another, etc. (Cf. H1241.) 24 variants
Youngest daughter agrees to marry a monster; later the sisters are jealous. 24 variants
Modest request: present from the journey. Asked what her father shall bring her as a present, the heroine chooses a modest gift. It is usually a flower but sometimes does not turn out to be such a simple gift after all (golden cloak, golden apple). 16 variants
Daughter promised to monster as bride to secure flower (bird) she has asked for. 16 variants
Child unwittingly promised: "first thing you meet." (Jephthah's vow.) 16 variants

Type numbers and names after Aarne–Thompson–Uther, via Hagedorn, trilogy (2022), CC-BY-NC-SA; motif links weighted by the dataset’s recorded tale variants. Served as classification facts with attribution.