Aarne-Thompson-Uther (ATU) - Types of Folktales
311: Rescue by the Sister
Description
Rescue by the Sister, who deceives the ogre into carrying the girls in a sack (chest) back to their home. Cf. Types 312, 1132.
I. The Forbidden Chamber. (a) Two sisters, one after the other, fall into an ogre's power,
and are taken into a subterranean castle. (b) They are forbidden entrance into one room or (b1) to see souls in torment or (b2) to eat a human bone. (c) They disobey and an egg or key becomes bloody.
II. Punishment. The ogre kills them for disobedience.
III. Rescue by youngest sister. (a) The youngest sister finds the bodies and (b) resuscitates them by putting their members together or (c) otherwise, and hides them.
VI. Carrying the Sacks. (a) The girls are put into sacks and the ogre is persuaded to carry the sacks home without looking into them.
V. Disguise as Bird (a) The youngest sister leaves a skull dressed as a bride to deceive the ogre. (b) She smears herself with honey and feathers and escapes as a strange bird.
VI. Punishment of the Murderer. Rescue by the Sister, who deceives the ogre into carrying the girls in a sack (chest) back to their home.
Cf. Types 312, 1132.
Motives
G400,
R11.1,
G81,
T721.5,
C611,
C311.1.1,
C227,
C913,
C920,
R157.1,
G551.2,
E30,
G501,
G561,
K525,
K521.1,
Q211,
Examples
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