batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l1222-l1238
---
record_id: batch.motif.greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg-l1222-l1238
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
passage_locator:
label: THE MOON AND HER MOTHER / MERCURY AND THE WOODMAN / THE ASS, THE FOX, AND
THE LION / THE LION AND THE MOUSE; lines 1222-1238
start: '1222'
end: '1238'
translation: Aesop's Fables; a new translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: '"even a Mouse can help a Lion."'
summary: A lion spares a mouse after the mouse promises repayment. Later the lion
is trapped in a hunters' net, and the mouse gnaws the ropes to free him, proving
that even a small creature can help a powerful one.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A lion is asleep in his lair when a mouse runs over his face and wakes him.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The lion seizes the mouse with his paw and is about to kill it.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The mouse begs the lion to spare its life and says it will one day repay the
kindness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The lion laughs at the idea that the mouse could help him and lets it go.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The lion later becomes entangled in a net set by hunters.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The mouse hears and recognizes the lion's angry roars and runs to him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The mouse gnaws the ropes with its teeth and frees the lion.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The mouse points out that its promise to repay the lion has been fulfilled.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Lion
description: A lion sleeping in his lair, first threatening the mouse and later
trapped in a hunters' net.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Mouse
description: A mouse that wakes the lion, begs for mercy, promises repayment, and
later frees the lion by gnawing ropes.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Hunters
description: Hunters who had spread the net for game.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: powerful captor
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The lion seizes the mouse and is about to kill it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: vulnerable supplicant
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The terrified mouse entreats the lion to spare its life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: trapped captive
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The lion becomes entangled in a hunters' net.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: small rescuer
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The mouse gnaws the ropes and sets the lion free.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: trap setters
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The net that traps the lion had been spread for game by hunters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: lair
literal_form: the lion's lair
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: net
literal_form: a net spread for game by hunters
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: ropes
literal_form: ropes gnawed by the mouse
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: teeth
literal_form: the mouse's teeth used to gnaw the ropes
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Lion spares the mouse
summary: The mouse wakes the lion, is seized, begs for mercy, promises repayment,
and is released after the lion laughs at the promise.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Mouse frees the lion
summary: The lion is trapped in a hunters' net; the mouse hears him, gnaws the ropes,
and frees him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Promise vindicated
summary: The mouse states that the lion laughed at its promise, but now sees that
a mouse can help a lion.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: small creature helps powerful creature
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The mouse, described as insignificant by implication through the lion's laughter,
later frees the trapped lion.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is a passage-level motif label, not a supplied taxonomy identifier.
- id: motif:2
label: kindness repaid
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The mouse promises to repay the lion for sparing its life and later fulfills
that promise by freeing him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No specific taxonomy reference among the supplied motif families is a
precise fit.
- id: motif:3
label: power reversed by circumstance
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The lion first has power over the mouse, but later needs the mouse's aid
when trapped.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states the reversal through events rather than naming it as
a theme.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1222-1238
quote_or_summary: A lion asleep in his lair is awakened by a mouse running over
his face; he seizes it with his paw and is about to kill it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1222-1238
quote_or_summary: The terrified mouse begs to be spared and promises to repay the
kindness; the lion laughs at the idea but lets it go.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1222-1238
quote_or_summary: Later the lion becomes entangled in a net spread for game by hunters;
the mouse hears and recognizes his angry roars and runs to the place.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1222-1238
quote_or_summary: The mouse gnaws the ropes with its teeth and succeeds in setting
the lion free.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from provided passage.
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: lines 1222-1238
quote_or_summary: '"even a Mouse can help a Lion."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/greek/project-gutenberg/aesops-fables-vernon-jones.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt from provided passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward for the supplied fable passage. Motif
labels are descriptive and not mapped to supplied taxonomy families because no
exact available taxonomy reference fits.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Only the provided passage text was used. Although the locator label mentions multiple fables, the supplied passage text contains only “The Lion and the Mouse.”
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:greek-aesop-fables-vernon-jones-gutenberg__l1222-l1238
passage_sha256=e049b99292cf71e95c2f66c8f06dd9430265c267b6a2ac445c9ba23ecd078979