batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l6156-l6247
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg-l6156-l6247
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER I. THE COMING OF FINN / CHAPTER II. FINN'S HOUSEHOLD / CHAPTER III.
BIRTH OF BRAN. / CHAPTER IV. OISIN'S MOTHER.; lines 6156-6247
start: '6156'
end: '6247'
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: Finn follows a beautiful fawn that is not harmed by Bran and Sceolan. At
Almhuin the fawn becomes Sadbh, a woman enchanted into deer-shape by Fear Doirche
after refusing him. Finn marries her. While Finn is away at war, a deceptive likeness
of him and his hounds lures pregnant Sadbh outside; a hazel rod changes her back
into a fawn and she is taken away. Finn searches for seven years. Later his trusted
hounds find and guard a wild young boy, whom Bran and Sceolan recognize affectionately.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Finn and his men hunt a beautiful fawn until only Finn, Bran, and Sceolan
continue the chase.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Bran and Sceolan do not harm the fawn but play around it and lick its neck
and face.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: At Almhuin, the fawn appears to Finn as a beautiful young woman in rich dress
and says she herself was the hunted fawn.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The woman says Fear Doirche, the Dark Druid of the Men of Dea, put her in
deer-shape because she refused his love.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The woman says she was safe with Bran and Sceolan because they had human wits
and knew her nature to be like their own.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Finn gives Sadbh his love, takes her as his wife, and gives up hunting and
other pleasures for her.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: While Finn is away fighting, an apparent likeness of Finn with likenesses
of Bran and Sceolan comes before the fort and lures Sadbh outside.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Sadbh calls Finn her husband and the father of her unborn child before running
toward the deceptive figure.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: When Sadbh touches the deceptive figure, it raises a hazel rod and she is
immediately changed into a fawn.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: The two hounds with the deceptive figure seize the fawn by the throat and
drag her back when she tries to return to the fort.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: Finn searches for Sadbh for seven years and hunts only with five trusted hounds
to avoid danger to her if he finds her track.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: After seven years, Finn's five hounds form a ring around a naked, long-haired
young boy and keep other hounds back.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: Bran and Sceolan approach the young boy, whine, and lick him; after being
brought to the hunting cabin he loses his wildness.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Finn
description: Leader of the hunting party, husband of Sadbh, absent warrior, and
later searcher for Sadbh.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Sadbh
description: A beautiful woman who had been changed into a fawn; Finn's wife; mother
of an unborn child at the time she is lured away and changed again into a fawn.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Fear Doirche, the Dark Druid of the Men of Dea
description: The druid named by Sadbh as the one who put her in deer-shape after
she refused his love.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Bran and Sceolan
description: Finn's hounds, described as having human wits; they do not harm the
fawn Sadbh and later recognize the young boy affectionately.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Deceptive likeness of Finn
description: A shadow or likeness of Finn that appears before the fort with likenesses
of Bran and Sceolan, stretches out its arms to Sadbh, raises a hazel rod, and
vanishes after her re-enchantment.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Two hounds with the deceptive likeness
description: Hounds accompanying the deceptive likeness; they drag the transformed
fawn back when she tries to return to the fort.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Young boy found at Beinn Gulbain
description: A naked, long-haired young boy found in the middle of Finn's hounds;
he is not frightened by the hounds and later loses his wildness among Finn's men.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Finn's people at Almhuin
description: People at the fort who witness Sadbh being lured away and report the
event to Finn.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: hunter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Finn pursues the fawn with his men and hounds.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: husband
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Finn takes Sadbh as his wife and is named by Sadbh as her husband.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: searcher for lost wife
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Finn searches for Sadbh for seven years after her disappearance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: enchanted woman in fawn-shape
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Sadbh says she was the fawn and had been put in that shape by the Dark Druid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: wife
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Finn takes Sadbh as his wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: pregnant beloved
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Sadbh speaks of Finn as father of the child not yet born.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: enchanter antagonist
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Sadbh identifies him as the one who transformed her after she refused his
love.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: recognizing protective hounds
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Bran and Sceolan spare and lick the fawn, are said to have human wits, and
later affectionately recognize the boy.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: deceptive lure
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The likeness of Finn lures Sadbh out and uses a hazel rod as she is changed
into a fawn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: coercive animal attendants
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The hounds with the deceptive figure drag the fawn back to him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:11
label: wild found child
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The boy is found naked and long-haired among hounds and later loses his wildness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:12
label: witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: They recount to Finn how Sadbh was lured away and transformed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fawn form
literal_form: A beautiful fawn into which Sadbh has been transformed.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: hazel rod
literal_form: A hazel rod raised by the deceptive figure immediately before Sadbh
becomes a fawn again.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: fort of the Fianna as refuge
literal_form: The dun of the Fianna of Ireland, within which the Dark Druid was
said to have no more power over Sadbh.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: hounds with human wits
literal_form: Bran and Sceolan, hounds said to have human wits and to recognize
Sadbh's nature.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:2
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: ring of hounds around child
literal_form: Finn's five hounds form a ring around a young boy and keep other hounds
back.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Fawn pursued and spared by hounds
summary: Finn and his hunting party pursue a fawn, but Bran and Sceolan overtake
it without harming it and play around it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Sadbh reveals her enchantment
summary: At Almhuin, the fawn becomes a young woman and explains that Fear Doirche
transformed her because she refused his love; she says the Fianna's fort protects
her and the hounds recognized her nature.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Marriage at Almhuin
summary: Finn loves and marries Sadbh and gives his attention to her instead of
hunting.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Deceptive abduction and re-enchantment
summary: While Finn is away fighting, a likeness of him and of his hounds lures
pregnant Sadbh outside; the figure raises a hazel rod, changes her into a fawn,
and has hounds drag her away.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Seven-year search
summary: Finn grieves and searches for Sadbh for seven years, taking only trusted
hounds while hunting so she will not be harmed if found.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Discovery of the wild young boy
summary: At Beinn Gulbain, Finn's hounds are found in a ring around a naked, long-haired
young boy; Bran and Sceolan lick him, and he is brought into Finn's company and
loses his wildness.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Woman transformed into deer
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Sadbh appears first as a fawn, reveals she was transformed into that shape,
and is later changed back into a fawn by a rod.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes externally imposed transformation rather than voluntary
shape-shifting.
- id: motif:2
label: Rejected supernatural suitor enchants beloved
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
basis: Sadbh says the Dark Druid transformed her because she refused his love; later
a deceptive figure lures and removes her from Finn's household.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage identifies the earlier enchanter but the later deceptive figure
is described as a likeness or shadow; it is not directly named in the abduction
report.
- id: motif:3
label: Beloved lured by false likeness
taxonomy_refs:
- stolen_beloved
- trickster_boundary
basis: A likeness of Finn and his hounds appears before the fort, using familiar
forms and a call to draw Sadbh outside the protective boundary.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage gives a deceptive action but does not explicitly classify
the figure as a trickster.
- id: motif:4
label: Wild child found and recognized by animals
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
basis: After Sadbh's pregnancy and disappearance, a young boy is found in a ring
guarded by Finn's trusted hounds, and Bran and Sceolan recognize him affectionately.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not explicitly state the boy's parentage or name within
this excerpt.
- id: motif:5
label: Protective animals recognize hidden identity
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Bran and Sceolan spare the enchanted fawn because they know her nature, and
later greet the wild boy with marked affection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches this animal-recognition
motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6158-6167
quote_or_summary: Finn and his men pursue a beautiful fawn; only Finn, Bran, and
Sceolan continue, and the two hounds play around the fawn and lick it rather than
harming it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 6168-6189
quote_or_summary: At Almhuin, the fawn appears as a richly dressed young woman and
says she was changed into a deer by Fear Doirche after refusing his love; she
says the Fianna's dun would protect her and that Bran and Sceolan, having human
wits, knew her nature.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 6190-6194
quote_or_summary: Finn loves the woman, takes her as his wife, and gives up hunting
and former pleasures because of his love for her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6195-6224
quote_or_summary: While Finn is away fighting, a likeness of Finn with likenesses
of Bran and Sceolan appears; Sadbh, speaking of Finn as husband and father of
her unborn child, goes to it. When she touches it, the figure raises a hazel rod
and she becomes a fawn; its hounds drag her back, and all vanish.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6225-6237
quote_or_summary: Finn grieves, then for seven years searches for Sadbh whenever
not fighting; he hunts only with his five trusted hounds so Sadbh will not be
endangered if he finds her trail.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 6238-6247
quote_or_summary: After seven years, Finn's hounds form a ring around a naked, long-haired
young boy at Beinn Gulbain and keep other hounds back; Bran and Sceolan lick him,
and after being brought to the hunting cabin he loses his wildness.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-irish/project-gutenberg/gods-and-fighting-men-gregory.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Narrative actions and figures are explicit. Motif labels are cautious; the
young boy's identity and parentage are implied by sequence but not stated directly
in the excerpt.
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 added because the passage itself does not explicitly support comparison beyond supplied motif-family tagging.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-irish-gods-and-fighting-men-gregory-gutenberg__l6156-l6247
passage_sha256=8519771373c2150f8da38a259a10a7374444800ef997d0041af82e91a968fd4e