batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l1113-l1126

---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l1113-l1126
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
passage_locator:
  label: PREFACE. / J. G. FRAZER. / CHAPTER I. THE KING OF THE WOOD. / MACAULAY.;
    lines 1113-1126
  start: '1113'
  end: '1126'
  translation: 'The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion (Vol. 1 of 2)'
  notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
    human review required.
canonical_text:
  quote: ''
  summary: Frazer describes a progression from generalized belief in human supernatural
    power, to temporary inspiration by a divine spirit, to the idea that certain men
    are permanently possessed by a deity and ranked as gods. He distinguishes human
    gods with spiritual functions from human gods who also hold supreme political
    power, producing theocracy.
  language: English
  quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
  text: The passage says that people who do not discern limits to human control over
    nature may ascribe supernatural powers to themselves and to all people.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:2
  text: Some persons are described as being supposed to be inspired for short periods
    by a divine spirit.
  category: attribute
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: obs:3
  text: Temporarily inspired persons are said to enjoy the knowledge and power of
    an indwelling deity during that period.
  category: attribute
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: obs:4
  text: The passage describes an inferred step to the belief that certain men are
    permanently possessed by a deity or otherwise have very high supernatural powers.
  category: sequence
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:5
  text: Such men may be ranked as gods and receive homage through prayer and sacrifice.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:6
  text: Some human gods are described as restricted to supernatural or spiritual functions.
  category: attribute
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: obs:7
  text: Some human gods also exercise supreme political power and are therefore kings
    as well as gods; such government is called a theocracy.
  category: attribute
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
figures:
- id: fig:1
  name_or_label: generalized humans ascribed supernatural power
  description: People described as ascribing supernatural powers to themselves and
    to all people.
  role_refs:
  - role:1
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: fig:2
  name_or_label: temporarily inspired persons
  description: Persons supposed to be inspired for short periods by a divine spirit
    and to enjoy divine knowledge and power temporarily.
  role_refs:
  - role:2
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: fig:3
  name_or_label: permanently possessed men or human gods
  description: Certain men believed to be permanently possessed by a deity or endowed
    with high supernatural powers, ranked as gods, and recipients of prayer and sacrifice.
  role_refs:
  - role:3
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: fig:4
  name_or_label: kings as gods
  description: Human gods who also exercise supreme political power and are kings
    as well as gods.
  role_refs:
  - role:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
  label: possessors of supposed supernatural power
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: The passage states that supernatural powers are ascribed to these humans.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: role:2
  label: temporary vessels of divine spirit
  assigned_to:
  - fig:2
  basis: They are said to be inspired for short periods by a divine spirit and to
    enjoy divine knowledge and power temporarily.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: role:3
  label: human gods receiving cultic homage
  assigned_to:
  - fig:3
  basis: They are described as permanently possessed or highly supernatural, ranked
    as gods, and receiving prayer and sacrifice.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: role:4
  label: divine kings
  assigned_to:
  - fig:4
  basis: They are human gods who exercise supreme political power and are kings as
    well as gods.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
symbols: []
scenes:
- id: scene:1
  label: From general supernaturalism to temporary divine inspiration
  summary: The passage first presents a general belief in human supernatural power
    and then a more specific belief that some persons can be temporarily inspired
    by a divine spirit.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  symbol_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
- id: scene:2
  label: Permanent possession and human gods
  summary: The passage describes a further belief that certain men can be permanently
    possessed by a deity or endowed with extraordinary supernatural powers, leading
    them to be ranked as gods and honored with prayer and sacrifice.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:3
  symbol_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: scene:3
  label: Human gods as theocratic kings
  summary: The passage distinguishes human gods limited to spiritual functions from
    those who also hold supreme political power, in which case they are kings as well
    as gods and the government is a theocracy.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  symbol_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
  label: divine possession of humans
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: The passage describes both temporary inspiration by a divine spirit and permanent
    possession by a deity.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
  - ev:3
  confidence: high
  cautions: This is presented as Frazer's comparative-theoretical description rather
    than a narrative episode from a single mythic tradition.
- id: motif:2
  label: human god receiving prayer and sacrifice
  taxonomy_refs:
  - sacrifice
  basis: Certain men are described as ranked as gods and receiving homage of prayer
    and sacrifice.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  confidence: medium
  cautions: Sacrifice appears as a form of homage to human gods, not as a detailed
    sacrificial story.
- id: motif:3
  label: divine kingship and theocracy
  taxonomy_refs:
  - royal_legitimacy
  basis: The passage states that some human gods exercise supreme political power,
    becoming kings as well as gods, and that such government is theocracy.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  confidence: high
  cautions: The passage names the pattern abstractly and promises later examples;
    it does not provide a specific case in these lines.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
  type: quote
  locator: lines 1113-1116
  quote_or_summary: '"failing to discern the limits of his ability to control nature"
    the savage "ascribes to himself and to all men" powers called supernatural.'
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
- id: ev:2
  type: summary
  locator: lines 1116-1120
  quote_or_summary: Some persons are supposed to be inspired for short periods by
    a divine spirit and temporarily to enjoy the knowledge and power of the indwelling
    deity.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:3
  type: summary
  locator: lines 1120-1123
  quote_or_summary: Frazer says it is an easy step to the conviction that certain
    men are permanently possessed by a deity or otherwise endowed with high supernatural
    powers, ranked as gods, and honored with prayer and sacrifice.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized evidence.
- id: ev:4
  type: quote
  locator: lines 1123-1126
  quote_or_summary: Some human gods have spiritual functions only; others exercise
    supreme political power, becoming "kings as well as gods," and such government
    is "a theocracy."
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt used for evidence.
confidence:
  extraction: high
  motif_candidates: medium
  comparison_claims: uncertain
  notes: Literal extraction is straightforward. Motif labels are based on Frazer's
    abstract comparative categories in the passage; no cross-text comparison is made
    here.
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 symbols from the supplied symbol taxonomy are present in this passage.
  batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
  custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg__l1113-l1126
  passage_sha256=c5086f87d222e3f9b4252574f65fd35e0cc097ad81c29d44cb02c6c3abf19fe5