batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l6092-l6153
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l6092-l6153
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: 'BOOK ONE: FINN, SON OF CUMHAL. / CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF FINN / CHAPTER
II. FINN''S HOUSEHOLD / CHAPTER III. BIRTH OF BRAN.; lines 6092-6153'
start: '6092'
end: '6153'
translation: Gods and Fighting Men
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Tuiren is married to Iollan under a pledge to Finn that she will be safely
returned if requested. Iollan’s Sidhe sweetheart Uchtdealb, jealous of the marriage,
disguises herself as Finn’s messenger, lures Tuiren away, and changes her into
a hound with a Druid rod. The hound is entrusted to Fergus Fionnliath, gives birth
to two whelps, and later Tuiren is restored to human form after Iollan bargains
with Uchtdealb. The two whelps remain with Finn and are named Bran and Sceolan.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Muirne comes to Almhuin with her sister Tuiren.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Iollan Eachtach asks Tuiren in marriage, and Finn requires him to pledge that
he will bring her back safe if Finn asks for her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Caoilte, Goll, and Lugaidh Lamha are named as sureties for Iollan’s pledge.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Before the marriage, Iollan had a Sidhe sweetheart named Uchtdealb, who becomes
jealous when she learns he has taken a wife.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Uchtdealb takes the appearance of Finn’s woman-messenger and comes to Tuiren.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Uchtdealb lures Tuiren away from the house and strikes her with a dark Druid
rod, changing her into a hound.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Uchtdealb brings the hound to Fergus Fionnliath and says Finn wants him to
care for it, noting that the hound is with young.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Fergus is described as hostile to dogs, but he accepts the hound because he
believes Finn sent it.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: The hound proves to be an exceptional hunter, and Fergus takes a liking to
hounds afterward.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: When her time comes near, the hound is kept from hunting and gives birth to
two whelps.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Finn calls on Iollan to fulfill the pledge when he hears Tuiren is not living
with Iollan.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Iollan goes to Uchtdealb and tells her about his danger and his promise to
give himself up to the Fianna if he cannot find Tuiren.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Uchtdealb agrees to free Iollan from danger if he pledges to keep her as his
sweetheart for life.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: Uchtdealb brings Tuiren from Fergus’s house, restores her own shape to her,
and gives her up to Finn.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:15
text: Finn gives Tuiren to Lugaidh Lamha in marriage.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:16
text: The two whelps stay with Finn and are named Bran and Sceolan.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Finn
description: Leader associated with Almhuin and the Fianna; he requires Iollan’s
pledge, later demands its fulfillment, receives Tuiren back, and keeps the two
whelps.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Muirne
description: Finn’s mother, who brings her sister Tuiren to Almhuin.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Tuiren
description: Muirne’s sister; Iollan’s wife; transformed into a hound by Uchtdealb,
gives birth to two whelps, and is later restored to human form.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Iollan Eachtach
description: A chief man of the Fianna of Ulster who marries Tuiren under pledge
to Finn and later bargains with Uchtdealb.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Uchtdealb of the Fair Breast
description: Iollan’s Sidhe sweetheart; she disguises herself as Finn’s messenger,
transforms Tuiren into a hound, and later restores Tuiren after receiving Iollan’s
pledge.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Fergus Fionnliath
description: King of the harbour of Gallimh; initially unfriendly to dogs, he cares
for the transformed hound and later likes hounds.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Caoilte
description: One of Iollan’s sureties named among the chief men of the Fianna.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Goll
description: One of Iollan’s sureties named among the chief men of the Fianna.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Lugaidh Lamha
description: One of Iollan’s sureties; he gives Tuiren into Iollan’s hand and later
receives her from Finn in marriage.
role_refs:
- role:10
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:8
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Bran
description: One of the two whelps born to Tuiren while she is in hound form; remains
with Finn.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Sceolan
description: One of the two whelps born to Tuiren while she is in hound form; remains
with Finn.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: pledge-holder and keeper of the whelps
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Finn demands a pledge for Tuiren’s safe return, later calls for its fulfillment,
receives Tuiren back, and keeps Bran and Sceolan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:2
label: kinswoman who brings Tuiren to Almhuin
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Muirne is identified as Finn’s mother and Tuiren’s sister, and she brings
Tuiren to Almhuin.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: transformed wife
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Tuiren is married to Iollan and then changed into a hound by Uchtdealb.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: mother of the two whelps
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The hound-form Tuiren gives birth to two whelps.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: husband under pledge
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Iollan marries Tuiren after giving Finn a pledge secured by sureties.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: bargainer with the Sidhe woman
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Iollan goes to Uchtdealb and pledges to keep her as sweetheart in exchange
for relief from danger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: jealous Sidhe sweetheart
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Uchtdealb is named as Iollan’s sweetheart of the Sidhe and is moved by jealousy
after his marriage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: deceiver and transformer
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: She takes the appearance of Finn’s messenger and changes Tuiren into a hound
with a Druid rod.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: reluctant caretaker of the hound
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Fergus dislikes dogs but agrees to keep the hound believed to be sent by
Finn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: surety
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: Caoilte, Goll, and Lugaidh Lamha are named as sureties for Iollan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:11
label: later husband of Tuiren
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: After Tuiren is restored, Finn gives her to Lugaidh Lamha, who asks her in
marriage.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:12
label: named whelp of Finn’s household
assigned_to:
- fig:10
- fig:11
basis: The two whelps stay with Finn and are named Bran and Sceolan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: dark Druid rod
literal_form: A dark rod taken from under Uchtdealb’s cloak and used to strike Tuiren.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: hound form
literal_form: Tuiren’s magically imposed animal form, described as the most beautiful
hound ever seen.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: two whelps
literal_form: Two whelps born to Tuiren while she is in hound form and later named
Bran and Sceolan.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: sym:4
label: surety pledge
literal_form: A spoken pledge by Iollan, backed by named sureties, to return Tuiren
safe and sound if Finn asks.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:5
label: Sidhe hill
literal_form: The hill where Uchtdealb is located when Iollan goes to seek her help.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Marriage pledge at Almhuin
summary: Muirne brings Tuiren to Almhuin; Iollan asks Tuiren in marriage, and Finn
requires a pledge and sureties for her safe return if requested.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Jealous disguise and transformation
summary: Uchtdealb, jealous of Iollan’s marriage, disguises herself as Finn’s messenger,
lures Tuiren away, and changes her into a hound with a dark Druid rod.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: The hound at Fergus’s house
summary: Uchtdealb leaves the transformed and pregnant Tuiren with Fergus under
the claim that Finn sent the hound. Fergus accepts despite disliking dogs, and
the hound proves an excellent hunter.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Birth of the two whelps
summary: Near the hound’s time of giving birth, she is kept from hunting and gives
birth to two whelps.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Restoration of Tuiren and naming of Bran and Sceolan
summary: Finn demands fulfillment of the pledge; Iollan bargains with Uchtdealb;
Uchtdealb restores Tuiren and gives her to Finn. Tuiren is given to Lugaidh Lamha,
and the two whelps remain with Finn as Bran and Sceolan.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Transformation into animal form by supernatural rival
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Uchtdealb, a woman of the Sidhe, first assumes another woman’s appearance
and then changes Tuiren into a hound by striking her with a Druid rod.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes both disguise and magical transformation, but does
not provide a broader explanation of the magic.
- id: motif:2
label: Jealous supernatural rival removes the mortal wife
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Uchtdealb is jealous of Iollan’s marriage, deceives Tuiren, transforms her,
and removes her from Iollan’s household.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: Tuiren is a wife rather than explicitly a stolen beloved; the action is
transformation and concealment rather than romantic abduction.
- id: motif:3
label: Magically altered birth of named animal companions
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
basis: Tuiren, transformed into a hound, gives birth to two whelps who remain with
Finn and are named Bran and Sceolan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The offspring are whelps rather than human children; the motif fit rests
on the supernatural condition of the birth and the naming of Bran and Sceolan.
- id: motif:4
label: Binding pledge and compensatory bargain
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Iollan’s marriage is governed by a pledge and sureties, and later he makes
another pledge to Uchtdealb in exchange for being freed from danger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: low
cautions: The passage presents legal and personal pledges; the taxonomy label is
only a loose fit because the exchange is not explicitly marked as sacred.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6095-6106
quote_or_summary: Muirne brings Tuiren to Almhuin; Iollan asks Tuiren in marriage;
Finn requires Iollan’s pledge to return her safe and sound if asked, with Caoilte,
Goll, and Lugaidh Lamha as sureties.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 6108-6115
quote_or_summary: Uchtdealb of the Fair Breast, Iollan’s Sidhe sweetheart, becomes
jealous and takes the appearance of Finn’s woman-messenger to summon Tuiren.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 6117-6121
quote_or_summary: Uchtdealb took out “her dark Druid rod” and struck Tuiren, changing
her “into a hound, the most beautiful that was ever seen.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6121-6132
quote_or_summary: Uchtdealb brings the hound to Fergus Fionnliath, says Finn asks
him to care for it, warns that it is with young, and Fergus accepts despite being
very unfriendly to dogs.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6134-6137
quote_or_summary: When Fergus tries the hound, it is the best he has known and can
run down any wild creature; Fergus takes a liking to hounds afterward.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: lines 6139-6140
quote_or_summary: When her time came near, the hound was kept from hunting and “she
gave birth to two whelps.”
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 6142-6148
quote_or_summary: Finn hears Tuiren is not living with Iollan and calls for fulfillment
of the pledge; Iollan seeks Tuiren and goes to Uchtdealb at her hill, explaining
his danger.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 6148-6151
quote_or_summary: Uchtdealb says she will free Iollan if he pledges to keep her
as sweetheart for life; after his promise, she brings Tuiren from Fergus, restores
her shape, and gives her to Finn, who gives her to Lugaidh Lamha in marriage.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:9
type: quote
locator: lines 6153-6153
quote_or_summary: "“the two whelps” stay with Finn and are named “Bran and Sceolan.”"
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The plot actions, figures, and sequence are explicit in the passage. Motif
labels are candidate classifications and should be reviewed, especially stolen_beloved,
miraculous_child, and sacred_exchange.
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 passage itself does not explicitly compare the episode with another text, tradition, or motif family beyond candidate taxonomy mapping.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l6092-l6153
passage_sha256=4a8688e2bf13265245ae56a5d2eb03084ca8808c0bcabfe4f586277b92634a57