batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l3606-l3684
---
record_id: batch.motif.comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg-l3606-l3684
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER I. THE KING OF THE WOOD. / MACAULAY. / CHAPTER II. THE PERILS OF
THE SOUL. / HEINE.; lines 3606-3684
start: '3606'
end: '3684'
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 surveys beliefs that a person’s soul may be located in a reflection
in water or a mirror, describes dangers to that reflection-soul, connects these
beliefs with taboos against looking into water or mirrors, interprets the Narcissus
story and water-fairy superstition through this pattern, and explains customs
of covering mirrors after death or during sickness as protective measures against
soul loss.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Several groups are reported to regard a person’s reflection in water or a
mirror as the person’s soul, or as one of multiple souls.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage states that a reflection-soul, because it is external to the person,
is exposed to dangers similar to those of a shadow-soul.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: An Aztec practice is described in which a vessel of water with a knife in
it is placed behind a door to frighten a sorcerer by showing his reflected image
transfixed by the knife.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Zulu, Basuto, and Melanesian examples describe danger or death from looking
into water where the reflection may be taken, dragged under, or seized.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Ancient Indian and Greek maxims against looking at one’s reflection in water
are explained as fear that water-spirits might drag the reflection-soul underwater.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The passage links the story of Narcissus dying after seeing his reflection
in water to the same belief about dangerous reflection-souls.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The passage cites an English superstition in which a mortal who sees a water-fairy
must pine and die.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The passage explains covering or turning mirrors after a death as a means
to prevent a person’s soul, projected as a mirror reflection, from being carried
off by the ghost of the departed.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Customs of covering mirrors or other shining objects after death are reported
for Oldenburg, parts of Germany, England, Scotland, Madagascar, and Suni Mohammedans
of Bombay.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The passage says that sick people should not see themselves in a mirror because
sickness is a time when the soul may easily take flight.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The passage compares mirror avoidance for the sick with rules against allowing
sick people to sleep, since sleep is said to project the soul out of the body.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: The Raskolniks are reported to regard a mirror as accursed and invented by
the devil.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: person whose reflection is soul
description: A human being whose reflection in water or a mirror is treated as the
person’s soul or one of the person’s souls.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: reflection-soul
description: The person’s reflected image in water or a mirror, described as external
to the person and vulnerable to harm or capture.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: sorcerer
description: A sorcerer who enters a house and flees when he sees his reflection
in water transfixed by a knife.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: water-being or water-spirit
description: Beings or powers in water, including a beast, crocodiles, a malignant
spirit, and water-spirits, said to take, drag under, or seize a person’s reflection
or life.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Narcissus
description: A beautiful figure said to pine and die after seeing his reflection
in water.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: water-fairy
description: A divine or fairy maiden on a stream whose sight is associated in the
cited English superstition with a mortal’s pining and death.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: ghost of the departed
description: A ghost believed to linger in a house until burial and to be able to
carry off a living person’s soul projected in a mirror reflection.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: sick or dying person
description: A sick or dying person whose soul is considered especially liable to
take flight or be projected in a reflection.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: bearer of reflection-soul
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage reports beliefs that a person’s reflection in water or a mirror
is the person’s soul or one of the person’s souls.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: external vulnerable soul
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The reflection-soul is described as external to the person and exposed to
stabbing, capture, or being dragged under water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: endangered viewer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:8
basis: People who see or project their reflection may be frightened, lose the soul,
pine, die, or face special danger during sickness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: capturing or fatal otherworldly agent
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: Water-beings, a water-fairy, and a ghost are associated with taking reflections,
causing death, or carrying off the soul.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: water
literal_form: Water in pools, streams, vessels, or reflective surfaces
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: mirror
literal_form: Mirror or looking-glass that reflects a person’s image
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: reflection
literal_form: Reflected image in water or mirror
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: sym:4
label: knife in water
literal_form: Knife placed in a vessel of water so that the entering sorcerer’s
reflection appears transfixed
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: covered mirror
literal_form: Mirror covered with cloth or turned to the wall after death or near
a dying person
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: white cloth
literal_form: White cloth used to cover mirrors in Oldenburg after a death
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Reflection identified with soul
summary: Frazer lists examples in which reflections in water or mirrors are understood
as souls or as one of a person’s souls.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Sorcerer frightened by pierced reflection
summary: A vessel of water with a knife in it is placed behind a door so an entering
sorcerer sees his reflection pierced and flees.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Reflection taken by water powers
summary: Examples from Zulu, Basuto, and Melanesian contexts describe a reflection
being taken, dragged under, or seized by beings or powers in water, resulting
in death.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Ancient water-reflection taboo and Narcissus
summary: Ancient Indian and Greek prohibitions against looking at one’s reflection
in water are explained through fear of water-spirits, and the Narcissus story
is interpreted as an instance of fatal reflection-seeing.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Water-fairy seen on stream
summary: A cited English superstition and poem describe a mortal seeing a fairy
maiden on a stream and expecting to pine and die.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Mirrors covered after death
summary: Mirrors or shining objects are covered or turned away after a death to
prevent the departed ghost from carrying off a living person’s reflection-soul.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:7
label: Mirror danger during sickness and sleep
summary: The passage explains mirror-covering in sick-rooms and near dying persons
as protection against soul projection, comparing it with avoiding sleep because
the soul may leave the body and fail to return.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: reflection as external soul
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage repeatedly reports that a person’s reflection in water or a mirror
may be regarded as the person’s soul or one of the person’s souls, external to
the body.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: This motif label is derived from the passage; no supplied taxonomy family
directly names it.
- id: motif:2
label: fatal loss or capture of reflection-soul in water
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Water-beings or powers are said to take, drag under, or seize a reflection,
causing the person to die; related taboos warn against looking at reflections
in water.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage groups several examples under Frazer’s interpretation; individual
source contexts are not available here.
- id: motif:3
label: dangerous reflected image pierced or harmed
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Aztec example presents a sorcerer’s reflection as transfixed by a knife
in water, implying harm to the reflection-soul.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The episode is reported as an apotropaic practice rather than as an actual
injury to the sorcerer.
- id: motif:4
label: covering mirrors after death to prevent soul capture
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage explains the widespread custom of covering or turning mirrors
after a death as protection against a lingering ghost carrying away a living person’s
reflection-soul.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The explanation is Frazer’s comparative interpretation of the custom.
- id: motif:5
label: mirror avoidance during sickness or dying
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage states that sick or dying people should not see themselves in
a mirror because the soul may be projected out of the body and be at risk.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The cited rule is interpreted through the reflection-soul framework.
- id: motif:6
label: fatal vision of water-fairy
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_beloved
basis: The quoted English superstition describes a mortal seeing a fair maiden or
water-fairy on a stream and knowing that his life will fade because she is divine
and he is mortal.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is tentative; the passage emphasizes fatal fairy-sight
rather than a reciprocal beloved relationship.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage presents reflection-as-soul beliefs among the Andamanese, some
Fijians, Motumotu of New Guinea, and other examples as instances of a shared functional
pattern in which the reflected image is treated as a vulnerable soul external
to the body.
claim_level: same_function
target: reflection-soul belief across the groups named in the passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage provides Frazer’s brief comparative summaries, not full
ethnographic contexts or original-language materials.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage compares Indian and Greek prohibitions against seeing one’s water-reflection
with Zulu, Basuto, and Melanesian beliefs in dangerous water powers that can seize
a reflection.
claim_level: same_function
target: water-reflection taboo and reflection-capture beliefs
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The historical relationship among the traditions is not demonstrated
in the passage; the comparison is functional.
- id: claim:3
claim: The passage interprets the Narcissus story and the English water-fairy superstition
as later or faded forms of a belief that seeing a dangerous water-associated image
or being can lead to wasting and death.
claim_level: same_function
target: Narcissus and English water-fairy superstition
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage’s claim about Narcissus and the water-fairy is interpretive
and does not supply independent evidence for transmission or common origin.
- id: claim:4
claim: The passage treats mirror-covering customs after death in several regions
as functionally parallel to the Aru custom of avoiding sleep in a house after
a death, because both protect a soul projected outside the body from a ghost.
claim_level: same_function
target: mirror-covering after death and Aru post-death sleep avoidance
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: Only Frazer’s summarized comparison is available; local explanations
may vary.
- id: claim:5
claim: The passage compares mirror avoidance for sick people with rules against
allowing sick people to sleep, since both involve danger when the soul is projected
outside the body and may not return.
claim_level: same_function
target: mirror avoidance in sickness and sick-person sleep taboo
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage does not identify all peoples observing the sleep rule
in this excerpt.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3606-3615
quote_or_summary: The passage reports that the Andamanese regard reflections rather
than shadows as souls; some Fijians distinguish a dark soul and a light soul identified
with reflection; and Motumotu viewers of a looking-glass thought their likenesses
were their souls.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 3615-3623
quote_or_summary: The reflection-soul is described as external and vulnerable like
the shadow-soul; an Aztec practice places water with a knife behind a door so
a sorcerer sees his reflection transfixed and flees.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3623-3632
quote_or_summary: Zulu, Basuto, and Saddle Island examples describe dangerous pools,
crocodiles, or a malignant spirit that can take, drag under, or seize a person’s
reflection or life, causing death.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 3633-3644
quote_or_summary: Frazer explains Indian and Greek maxims against looking at one’s
water-reflection as fear that water-spirits might drag the reflection-soul underwater;
he also connects this with Narcissus pining and dying after seeing his reflection.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 3644-3662
quote_or_summary: 'The passage says an English superstition preserves the belief
in faded form: one who sees a water-fairy must pine and die; the cited poem describes
seeing a maiden on a stream and expecting life to fade because she is divine.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 3663-3671
quote_or_summary: Frazer explains covering or turning mirrors after a death as fear
that the soul projected as a mirror reflection may be carried off by the departed
ghost lingering until burial, and compares this to an Aru custom concerning dreams
after death.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 3671-3679
quote_or_summary: Oldenburg, parts of Germany, England, Scotland, Madagascar, and
Suni Mohammedans of Bombay are cited for covering mirrors or shining objects after
a death or near a dying man; Oldenburg uses white cloth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 3679-3683
quote_or_summary: The passage explains covering mirrors in sick-rooms as protection
because in sickness the soul may easily take flight; it compares this with rules
preventing sick people from sleeping because sleep projects the soul outside the
body.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 3683-3684
quote_or_summary: The Raskolniks are said to regard a mirror as accursed and invented
by the devil, perhaps because it can draw out the soul in a reflection and facilitate
its capture.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/comparative/project-gutenberg/golden-bough-volume-1-frazer.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is high-confidence from the provided passage. Motif labels
and comparison claims follow Frazer’s own comparative framing but require human
review for taxonomy alignment and source-critical assessment.
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 external sources were used. Taxonomy references were limited to supplied refs; most motif candidates have no direct supplied taxonomy match.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:comparative-golden-bough-volume-1-frazer-gutenberg__l3606-l3684
passage_sha256=0e1d3d537d159b3da32647c88295e4dd545aa6a89a9118eae2c30971bd03980a