batch.motif.islamicate-folklore-arabian-nights-lang-gutenberg-l10397-l10512
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamicate-folklore-arabian-nights-lang-gutenberg-l10397-l10512
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
passage_locator:
label: The Arabian Nights Entertainments; lines 10397-10512
start: '10397'
end: '10512'
translation: The Arabian Nights Entertainments
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: '"a little boy, beautiful as the sun"'
summary: Three sisters state what husbands they would choose; the youngest wishes
for the Sultan. The Sultan overhears, has them brought to court, and marries the
youngest while marrying the elder sisters to palace servants. The elder sisters
become jealous and later plot against the Sultana. When the Sultana gives birth
to a beautiful boy, they set the child afloat in a cradle on a palace canal and
falsely report that she gave birth to a puppy. The child is found by a high official,
who decides to raise him as his own son.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The second sister says she would be content to marry the Sultan's head cook
because of the food available in the palace.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The youngest sister says that, if wishing for husbands, she would choose no
one less than the Sultan himself.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The Sultan overhears the sisters' conversation and orders the grand-vizir
to bring the women before him the next morning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: The Sultan declares that the youngest sister will marry him and that the other
two sisters will marry his baker and chief cook.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The wedding of the youngest sister is celebrated with royal magnificence,
while the other two weddings are celebrated according to lower rank.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The elder sisters become jealous of the youngest sister and discuss revenge
against her.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The elder sisters stay with the Sultana near the expected birth of an heir
and are present when a beautiful boy is born.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The elder sisters put the newborn boy in his cradle, carry it to a canal in
the palace grounds, and leave it there.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The elder sisters falsely tell the Sultan that the Sultana has given birth
to a puppy.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The Sultan reacts with rage and grief, and the grand-vizir prevents harm to
the Sultana.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The cradle floats along the canal until an intendant sees it near the outskirts
of the royal gardens.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: The intendant has the cradle retrieved, finds a baby inside, and decides to
raise the child as his own son.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: youngest sister / Sultana
description: The youngest and most beautiful of the three sisters; she wishes to
marry the Sultan, becomes his wife, and later gives birth to a boy.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Sultan
description: The sovereign who overhears the sisters, fulfills their wishes through
marriage arrangements, and reacts with rage and grief to the false report about
the Sultana's child.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: elder sisters
description: The two older sisters marry the Sultan's baker and chief cook, become
jealous of the youngest sister, and replace the newborn heir with a false report.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: grand-vizir
description: The official ordered to bring the sisters before the Sultan; later
he saves the Sultana from the Sultan's wrath.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: newborn boy
description: A boy born to the Sultana, described as beautiful; he is placed in
a cradle on the canal and later found by the intendant.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: intendant
description: A high and respected official who sees the cradle, has it retrieved,
and decides to adopt the baby as his son.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: gardener
description: A gardener ordered by the intendant to retrieve the cradle from the
canal.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: royal bride
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Sultan states that the youngest sister will be his wife that same day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: sovereign husband
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The Sultan arranges the marriages and marries the youngest sister.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: jealous plotters
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The elder sisters resent the Sultana's elevation, plan revenge, set the child
adrift, and lie to the Sultan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:4
label: wronged mother
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The Sultana gives birth to a boy, but her sisters remove the child and falsely
accuse her of bearing a puppy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:5
label: royal intermediary
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The grand-vizir carries out the Sultan's order to summon the sisters and
later intervenes to protect the Sultana.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: hidden royal child
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The Sultana's newborn son is removed from the palace and found by another
household.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: role:7
label: abandoned infant
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The baby is placed in a cradle and left to float along the canal.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: adoptive rescuer
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The intendant retrieves the child and decides to raise him as his own son.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: retriever of the cradle
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The gardener is ordered to get the cradle from the canal and places it in
the intendant's hands.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: canal water
literal_form: A canal passing through the palace grounds, along which the cradle
floats.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: sym:2
label: cradle
literal_form: The newborn boy's cradle, used to carry and set him afloat on the
canal.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:3
label: false puppy birth report
literal_form: The sisters' claim that the Sultana gave birth to a puppy instead
of a son.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Sisters' wishes overheard
summary: The sisters speak of desired husbands; the youngest names the Sultan, and
the Sultan overhears and decides to act on their wishes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Royal marriage arrangements
summary: The sisters are brought before the Sultan, who announces that the youngest
will marry him and that the others will marry the baker and chief cook.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Jealous conspiracy
summary: The elder sisters resent the Sultana's higher marriage and conspire to
mortify or revenge themselves on her.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Substitution at the heir's birth
summary: When the Sultana gives birth to a beautiful boy, the elder sisters place
him in a cradle on the canal and tell the Sultan she has borne a puppy.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:5
label: Discovery and adoption of the child
summary: The cradle floats to the outskirts of the royal gardens, where the intendant
has it retrieved, finds the baby, and resolves to recognize him as his son.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: child set adrift in a vessel and rescued
taxonomy_refs:
- ark_vessel
basis: A newborn boy is placed in a cradle, left on a canal, floats away, and is
found and adopted by a high official.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The vessel is a cradle on a canal rather than an ark or boat; the taxonomy
reference is approximate.
- id: motif:2
label: hidden or displaced royal heir
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The Sultana's newborn son is removed from the palace and raised outside his
birth family after a false report to the Sultan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not yet describe recognition or restoration of royal
status.
- id: motif:3
label: jealous relatives falsely accuse mother after birth
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The elder sisters, motivated by jealousy, remove the child and falsely report
an animal birth to the Sultan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No provided taxonomy family directly names this specific false-birth accusation
pattern.
- id: motif:4
label: extraordinary child marked by beauty
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
basis: The newborn boy is described as beautiful as the sun and promising great
beauty when found.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage emphasizes beauty but does not state supernatural conception
or powers.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 10397-10401
quote_or_summary: The second sister says she would be content with the Sultan's
head cook because she could enjoy delicate stews and palace bread.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: 10403-10407
quote_or_summary: The youngest sister says that if they are to wish for husbands,
"nothing less than the Sultan himself will do for me."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief quotation.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 10409-10417
quote_or_summary: The Sultan is amused by the overheard conversation and orders
the grand-vizir to note the house and bring the sisters before him the next morning.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 10419-10438
quote_or_summary: The Sultan asks the sisters about their wishes and announces that
the youngest will marry him, while the other two will marry his baker and chief
cook.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 10449-10455
quote_or_summary: The three weddings occur the same day, but the youngest sister's
wedding is celebrated with the magnificence customary for the Shah of Persia,
unlike the other two weddings.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 10457-10483
quote_or_summary: The elder sisters become jealous, insult the Sultana, and speak
of revenge and of finding a way to mortify her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 10485-10496
quote_or_summary: The elder sisters stay in the palace near the expected birth of
an heir; when a beautiful boy is born, they put him in his cradle, carry it to
the canal, leave it there, and tell the Sultan the Sultana has given birth to
a puppy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 10496-10499
quote_or_summary: At the false news, the Sultan is overcome with rage and grief,
and the grand-vizir saves the Sultana from his wrath.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 10501-10508
quote_or_summary: The cradle floats along the canal to the outskirts of the royal
gardens, where the intendant notices it and orders a gardener to retrieve it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 10509-10512
quote_or_summary: The intendant finds a baby in the cradle, notes its promise of
beauty, and decides to raise it as his own child because he and his wife have
no children.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; brief summary.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage clearly supports the literal sequence of jealous substitution,
water-borne abandonment, rescue, and adoption. Motif taxonomy mappings are partly
approximate because the available taxonomy does not include a precise false-birth
or exposed-infant category.
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: |-
No comparison claims were added because the supplied passage does not itself compare the episode to another text, tradition, or named motif family.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamicate-folklore-arabian-nights-lang-gutenberg__l10397-l10512
passage_sha256=4892e0ce13491df96bd17c53c46f7c0e1c90b47c09af1f57872e2af516b88b23