Comparative mythology corpus

batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l13786-l13838

batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l13786-l13838

---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l13786-l13838
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
  label: CHAPTER IV. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD / CHAPTER V. / IN THE
    NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 13786-13838
  start: '13786'
  end: '13838'
  translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an)
  notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
    human review required.
canonical_text:
  quote: ''
  summary: 'Editorial notes mention prophetic intervals, divine deliverance at the
    Red Sea, provision in the wilderness, giants, and Israelite wandering. The main
    passage relates the story of the two sons of Adam: offerings are made, one is
    accepted and one rejected; Cain threatens and kills Abel; God sends a raven to
    show how to cover the brother''s body; Cain repents. The passage then states a
    command to the children of Israel about the gravity of killing or saving a soul,
    and describes punishments for those who fight God and his apostle and act corruptly,
    with an exception for repentance before capture.'
  language: English
  quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
  text: The notes define an interval between prophets during which no new revelation
    or dispensation was given.
  category: other
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:2
  text: The notes mention the dividing of the Red Sea, guidance by a cloud, and food
    of quails and manna.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: obs:3
  text: The notes mention Israelite wandering in the desert within a limited compass,
    repeatedly returning to the starting place.
  category: setting
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:4
  text: Two sons of Adam offer offerings; the offering of one is accepted and the
    offering of the other is not accepted.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: obs:5
  text: Cain tells his brother that he will kill him.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: obs:6
  text: Abel says that God accepts only the offering of the pious and that he will
    not stretch out his hand to kill Cain.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: obs:7
  text: Cain slays his brother and becomes numbered among those who perish.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: obs:8
  text: God sends a raven that scratches the earth to show Cain how to hide his brother's
    shame.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:9
  text: Cain laments his inability to be like the raven and becomes one of those who
    repent.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:10
  text: The passage states that killing one soul unjustly is as if killing all mankind,
    and saving one soul is as if saving all mankind.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
- id: obs:11
  text: The passage lists punishments for those who fight against God and his apostle
    and act corruptly in the earth.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:9
- id: obs:12
  text: The passage excepts those who repent before being overcome, and says God is
    forgiving and merciful.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
  name_or_label: God
  description: The divine figure who accepts offerings, sends the raven, commands
    the children of Israel, and is described as forgiving and merciful.
  role_refs:
  - role:1
  - role:2
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:7
  - ev:8
  - ev:10
- id: fig:2
  name_or_label: Cain
  description: One of the two sons of Adam; his offering is not accepted, he threatens
    and kills his brother, learns from the raven, and repents.
  role_refs:
  - role:3
  - role:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: fig:3
  name_or_label: Abel
  description: One of the two sons of Adam; his offering is accepted, and he refuses
    to retaliate against Cain because he fears God.
  role_refs:
  - role:5
  - role:6
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
- id: fig:4
  name_or_label: raven
  description: A bird sent by God that scratches the earth to show Cain how to hide
    his brother's shame.
  role_refs:
  - role:7
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: fig:5
  name_or_label: children of Israel
  description: The collective group to whom the command about killing or saving a
    soul is addressed.
  role_refs:
  - role:8
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
- id: fig:6
  name_or_label: apostles
  description: Messengers formerly sent with evident miracles.
  role_refs:
  - role:9
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:9
- id: fig:7
  name_or_label: those who fight against God and his apostle
  description: People who fight against God and his apostle and study to act corruptly
    in the earth.
  role_refs:
  - role:10
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:9
  - ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
  label: divine acceptor of offerings
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: The passage says God accepts only the offering of the pious, and one brother's
    offering is accepted while the other's is not.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
- id: role:2
  label: divine lawgiver and merciful judge
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: The passage frames commands, punishments, and forgiveness as associated with
    God.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
  - ev:9
  - ev:10
- id: role:3
  label: rejected offerer
  assigned_to:
  - fig:2
  basis: Cain is identified as the brother whose offering is not accepted in the narrative
    context.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
- id: role:4
  label: brother-slayer and penitent
  assigned_to:
  - fig:2
  basis: Cain kills his brother, then laments after seeing the raven and becomes one
    of those who repent.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: role:5
  label: accepted offerer
  assigned_to:
  - fig:3
  basis: Abel is identified as the brother whose offering is accepted in the narrative
    context.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
- id: role:6
  label: non-retaliating victim
  assigned_to:
  - fig:3
  basis: Abel says he will not stretch out his hand to kill Cain even if Cain stretches
    out his hand to slay him.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: role:7
  label: animal instructor
  assigned_to:
  - fig:4
  basis: The raven scratches the earth to show Cain how to hide his brother's shame.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: role:8
  label: commanded community
  assigned_to:
  - fig:5
  basis: The passage says the command concerning killing or saving a soul was commanded
    to the children of Israel.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
- id: role:9
  label: miracle-bearing messengers
  assigned_to:
  - fig:6
  basis: The passage says apostles formerly came with evident miracles.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:9
- id: role:10
  label: corrupt opponents
  assigned_to:
  - fig:7
  basis: The passage describes them as fighting against God and his apostle and acting
    corruptly in the earth.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
  label: offering
  literal_form: offerings made by the two sons of Adam
  associated_figures:
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  - fig:1
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: sym:2
  label: raven
  literal_form: a raven scratching the earth
  associated_figures:
  - fig:4
  - fig:2
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: sym:3
  label: earth covering the dead
  literal_form: earth scratched by the raven to show burial or concealment of the
    brother's shame
  associated_figures:
  - fig:4
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: sym:4
  label: hell fire
  literal_form: fire of hell as the companion or reward of the unjust
  associated_figures:
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  taxonomy_refs:
  - fire
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: sym:5
  label: Red Sea
  literal_form: the Red Sea divided for deliverance
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  taxonomy_refs:
  - water
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
scenes:
- id: scene:1
  label: Editorial note on prophetic interval and wilderness traditions
  summary: The notes explain a period between prophets without new revelation and
    mention Red Sea deliverance, cloud guidance, manna and quails, giants, and desert
    wandering.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:5
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
  - ev:3
- id: scene:2
  label: Offerings of the two sons of Adam
  summary: The two sons of Adam offer offerings; one is accepted and the other is
    rejected.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:1
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: scene:3
  label: Threat and refusal to retaliate
  summary: Cain threatens to kill Abel; Abel says God accepts the offering of the
    pious and refuses to kill Cain in return.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: scene:4
  label: Fratricide and raven instruction
  summary: Cain kills his brother; God sends a raven to scratch the earth and show
    how to hide the brother's shame; Cain laments and repents.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:2
  - sym:3
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: scene:5
  label: Command about killing and saving a soul
  summary: The children of Israel are commanded that unjustly killing one soul is
    like killing all mankind, while saving one soul is like saving all mankind.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:5
  symbol_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:8
- id: scene:6
  label: Punishment and repentance for corruption
  summary: The passage describes punishments for those who fight God and his apostle
    and act corruptly, while exempting those who repent before being overcome.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  - fig:6
  - fig:7
  symbol_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:9
  - ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
  label: accepted and rejected offerings
  taxonomy_refs:
  - sacrifice
  basis: The brothers offer offerings; one is accepted and the other rejected, and
    the acceptance is linked to piety.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
  confidence: high
  cautions: The passage uses the language of offering rather than an extended ritual
    description.
- id: motif:2
  label: sibling pair conflict ending in fratricide
  taxonomy_refs:
  - sibling_pair
  basis: The two sons of Adam are brothers; one threatens and then kills the other.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
  confidence: high
  cautions: The passage is a moral and legal narration, not only a mythic family-conflict
    episode.
- id: motif:3
  label: divine judgment on unjust violence
  taxonomy_refs:
  - divine_judgment
  basis: The passage links Cain's killing to perdition and hell fire, and later gives
    legal and eschatological recompense for corrupt violence.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
  - ev:8
  - ev:9
  confidence: high
  cautions: Some punishments described are legal sanctions as well as divine judgment
    language.
- id: motif:4
  label: animal shows a human how to treat the dead
  taxonomy_refs:
  - wisdom
  basis: God sends a raven that scratches the earth to show Cain how to hide his brother's
    shame.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
  confidence: medium
  cautions: The taxonomy reference 'wisdom' is broad; the passage specifically presents
    an animal demonstration, not a formal wisdom teaching.
- id: motif:5
  label: repentance before punishment and divine mercy
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: Cain becomes one of those who repent, and the later legal passage excepts
    those who repent before being overcome because God is forgiving and merciful.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
  - ev:10
  confidence: high
  cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly matches repentance or mercy.
- id: motif:6
  label: miraculous deliverance through divided waters
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: The editorial note says God divided the Red Sea, guided the people by a cloud,
    and fed them with quails and manna.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
  confidence: medium
  cautions: This appears in an editorial note to the surrounding text rather than
    in the main narrated passage.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
  type: summary
  locator: 13786-13790
  quote_or_summary: The note defines al Fatra as an interval between two prophets
    when no new revelation or dispensation was given.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
  type: summary
  locator: 13791-13795
  quote_or_summary: The notes mention God giving a kingdom or self-rule, delivering
    from Egyptian bondage, dividing the Red Sea, guiding by cloud, and feeding with
    quails and manna.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
  type: summary
  locator: 13796-13803
  quote_or_summary: The notes mention giants and describe Israelite desert wandering
    within a limited area, repeatedly ending at the starting place.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
  type: quote
  locator: 13804-13807
  quote_or_summary: '"the history of the two sons of Adam"; they offered offerings,
    and one was accepted while the other was not.'
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; short quote used.
- id: ev:5
  type: summary
  locator: 13807-13813
  quote_or_summary: Cain threatens to kill his brother; Abel answers that God accepts
    the pious and that he will not kill Cain in return because he fears God.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
  type: quote
  locator: 13814-13816
  quote_or_summary: '"his soul suffered him to slay his brother, and he slew him";
    he became among those who perish.'
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; short quote used.
- id: ev:7
  type: summary
  locator: 13817-13819
  quote_or_summary: God sends a raven scratching the earth to show how to hide the
    brother's shame; Cain laments and becomes one of those who repent.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
  type: summary
  locator: 13820-13823
  quote_or_summary: The children of Israel are commanded that unjustly slaying one
    soul is like slaying all mankind, while saving one soul is like saving all mankind.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
  type: summary
  locator: 13824-13834
  quote_or_summary: Apostles came with evident miracles; those who fight God and his
    apostle and act corruptly face death, crucifixion, mutilation on opposite sides,
    or banishment, plus punishment in the next world.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
  type: summary
  locator: 13835-13838
  quote_or_summary: Those who repent before being overcome are excepted; God is described
    as inclined to forgive and merciful.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
  extraction: high
  motif_candidates: medium
  comparison_claims: high
  notes: Main Cain-and-Abel extraction is direct. Motif assignment for the raven as
    wisdom and the wilderness note is more interpretive. No comparison claims were
    added because the passage itself does not make a comparative claim.
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: |-
  Extraction uses only the supplied passage text and metadata. Footnote material is separated from the main narrative where possible.
  batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
  custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l13786-l13838
  passage_sha256=822dddac41f2dbb4dc8308885f9bf3a8a84cebedc901c23e1bbea85338a4c3a7