batch.motif.islamicate-folklore-arabian-nights-lang-gutenberg-l3148-l3248
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamicate-folklore-arabian-nights-lang-gutenberg-l3148-l3248
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
passage_locator:
label: The Arabian Nights Entertainments; lines 3148-3248
start: '3148'
end: '3248'
translation: The Arabian Nights Entertainments
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: "“The Golden Door, alone, forbear to open, as you value your own peace, and
the happiness of your life.”"
summary: After escaping the roc, the narrator finds a magnificent castle with a
hundred doors and is welcomed by forty princesses. Before leaving for forty days,
they give him keys but forbid him to open the Golden Door. He explores the other
rooms, then opens the forbidden door, enters a perfumed vaulted chamber, finds
a black horse with golden tack, mounts it, and is carried into the sky before
being thrown down and losing his right eye.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The narrator cuts the threads binding him after reaching the ground, and the
roc flies away when it sees him in his proper clothes.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The castle has a square court with one hundred doors, ninety-nine of rare
woods and one of gold.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Forty beautifully dressed young ladies welcome the narrator, seat him above
themselves, wash his hands with scented water, provide clothes, food, wine, music,
dancing, and a prepared room.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: obs:4
text: The ladies say they are princesses, each a king’s daughter, and that secret
duties call them away for forty days at the end of every year.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:5
text: The princesses leave the narrator their keys and forbid him to open the Golden
Door, warning that opening it will mean farewell forever.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:6
text: During their absence, the narrator opens many doors and finds orchards, flower
courts, an aviary, and a treasury.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:7
text: After thirty-nine days, the narrator stands before the Golden Door, reasons
that unlocking it need not mean entering, and turns the key.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:8
text: A pleasant smell from beyond the door overcomes the narrator and he faints
across the threshold.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:9
text: The forbidden room is large and vaulted, lit by tapers, scented with aloes
and ambergris, and contains gold and silver lamps.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:10
text: A great black horse stands in the room, with a saddle and bridle of massive
gold; its trough contains barley and sesame on one side and rose water on the
other.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:11
text: When struck lightly, the horse spreads previously unnoticed wings, flies into
the sky with the narrator, then returns to earth, throws him from the saddle,
and knocks out his right eye with its tail.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Narrator / prince
description: The first-person speaker, addressed by the ladies as “Prince,” who
arrives at the castle, receives hospitality and keys, opens the Golden Door, mounts
the black horse, and loses his right eye.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:12
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Roc
description: A great bird from which the narrator escapes after cutting his bindings;
it flies away when alarmed by his appearance.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Forty princesses
description: Forty young ladies, each a king’s daughter, who live together in the
castle, welcome and host the narrator, then depart for forty days on secret duties
after giving him keys and a warning.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Great black winged horse
description: A handsome black horse in the forbidden chamber, equipped with golden
saddle and bridle, that reveals wings after being struck and carries the narrator
into the sky before throwing and injuring him.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
roles:
- id: role:1
label: Guest and recipient of hospitality
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The narrator is welcomed, seated, washed, clothed, fed, entertained, and
given a room.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: Keeper and violator of a prohibition
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He receives keys with an explicit command not to open the Golden Door, then
later unlocks it and enters.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: role:3
label: Departing bird that had carried or bound the narrator
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The narrator cuts threads that bound him and the roc flies away when alarmed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: Princess hosts
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They welcome the narrator, provide hospitality, and identify themselves as
princesses.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: Givers of keys and warning
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They leave their keys and forbid the narrator to open the Golden Door.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: Winged carrier and injurer
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The horse flies into the sky with the narrator, returns to a terrace, throws
him down, and knocks out his right eye.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Golden Door
literal_form: A single golden door among one hundred castle doors, explicitly forbidden
to the narrator.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: Keys
literal_form: Keys left by the princesses so the narrator may use the castle’s rooms
during their absence.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: Castle of one hundred doors
literal_form: A glorious castle court opening onto one hundred doors, with gardens,
storerooms, orchards, flower courts, an aviary, a treasury, and the Golden Door.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: Perfumed forbidden chamber
literal_form: A large vaulted room beyond the Golden Door, lit by tapers, scented
with aloes and ambergris, and filled with rich objects.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: Black winged horse with golden tack
literal_form: A great black horse with massive gold saddle and bridle and hidden
wings.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Escape from the roc and search for the castle
summary: The narrator reaches the ground, cuts his bindings, alarms the roc into
flight, and sets out to find the castle.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Welcome in the marvelous castle
summary: The narrator finds the castle of one hundred doors and is welcomed by forty
ladies who provide elaborate hospitality and entertainment.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Departure of the princesses and the prohibition
summary: The princesses explain their yearly forty-day absence, leave the narrator
their keys, and forbid him to open the Golden Door.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Exploration of the permitted rooms
summary: The narrator opens many doors during the princesses’ absence and sees orchards,
flowers, birds, and precious stones.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Opening the Golden Door
summary: Near the end of the forty days, the narrator unlocks the forbidden door,
is overcome by perfume, recovers, and enters the chamber.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: scene:6
label: Flight and injury by the winged horse
summary: The narrator finds the black horse, leads it out, mounts it, strikes it
lightly, and is carried into the sky before being thrown down and blinded in one
eye.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Forbidden door or chamber opened despite warning
taxonomy_refs:
- forbidden_knowledge
basis: The princesses explicitly forbid the Golden Door and warn of permanent separation;
the narrator nevertheless unlocks it and enters the room.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the act as disobedience and curiosity, but does not
explicitly describe the contents as knowledge in doctrinal terms.
- id: motif:2
label: Marvelous many-roomed castle with hidden wonders
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: The narrator wanders into a glorious castle of one hundred doors, each opening
onto gardens, storehouses, orchards, an aviary, a treasury, or the forbidden chamber.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents a wondrous setting rather than an explicitly spiritual
quest.
- id: motif:3
label: Ascent on a winged animal followed by violent return
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: The black horse spreads hidden wings and flies straight into the sky with
the narrator, then returns to earth and throws him down.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: The ascent is involuntary after the horse is struck and ends as punishment
or injury; the passage does not state a celestial destination.
- id: motif:4
label: Temporary absence of supernatural or royal women with a test of restraint
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: The forty princesses depart for forty days, leave the narrator keys, and
impose a single restriction that he fails to keep.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly call the episode an initiation; the label
is based on the test-like structure.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The episode fits a forbidden-chamber pattern: a guest receives access to
many marvels but is warned not to open one door and suffers consequences after
opening it.'
claim_level: same_motif
target: forbidden door / forbidden chamber motif pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:12
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: No external parallel or historical relationship is established by the
passage alone.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3148-3152
quote_or_summary: The narrator reaches the ground, cuts the threads binding him,
alarms the roc, and sets out to seek the castle.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 3154-3158
quote_or_summary: 'The castle has a square court with one hundred doors: ninety-nine
of rare woods and one of gold, opening toward gardens or storehouses.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3160-3170
quote_or_summary: Forty magnificently dressed young ladies welcome the narrator,
seat him above themselves, bring garments, wash his hands with scented water,
prepare refreshments, and ask for his story.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 3172-3182
quote_or_summary: At night the ladies light the castle with many tapers, share supper,
sing and dance, and later conduct the narrator to his prepared room.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 3184-3199
quote_or_summary: After thirty-nine days, the ladies weep and say they must leave;
one explains that they are princesses, each a king’s daughter, and must go away
for forty days each year because of secret duties.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: lines 3199-3204
quote_or_summary: 'They will leave their keys, but ask him: “The Golden Door, alone,
forbear to open,” warning that if it is unlocked they must bid him farewell forever.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation from public domain text.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 3208-3217
quote_or_summary: The narrator opens two or three new doors each day and sees orchards
with enormous fruit, flower courts, an aviary of singing birds, and a treasury
of precious stones.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 3219-3227
quote_or_summary: After thirty-nine days, with only the Golden Door unexplored,
the narrator gazes at it and reasons that he may unlock it without entering.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 3228-3231
quote_or_summary: When the narrator turns the key, a pleasant smell rushes out,
overcomes him, and he faints across the threshold.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 3231-3236
quote_or_summary: After recovering, the narrator enters a large vaulted room lit
by tapers, scented with aloes and ambergris, with gold candlesticks and gold and
silver lamps.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 3238-3243
quote_or_summary: The narrator notices a great black horse, handsome and well-shaped,
with massive gold saddle and bridle; its trough contains barley and sesame on
one side and rose water on the other.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 3243-3248
quote_or_summary: The narrator mounts the horse and lightly strikes it; the horse
spreads hidden wings, flies high into the sky, returns to earth, throws him onto
a castle terrace, and knocks out his right eye with its tail.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamicate-folklore/project-gutenberg/arabian-nights-lang.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary provided.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is well supported by the supplied passage. Motif labels
are cautious and based only on the available taxonomy and the passage’s internal
sequence.
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: '2026-04-29'
notes: |-
No external parallels or historical-contact claims were added; comparison is limited to a generic forbidden-chamber pattern supported by the passage.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamicate-folklore-arabian-nights-lang-gutenberg__l3148-l3248
passage_sha256=7f50f4509533e8df126eb93e265bec8e9e2704c1b069e122df5a266e18347bbc