batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l2002-l2071
---
record_id: batch.motif.celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg-l2002-l2071
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
passage_locator:
label: INTRODUCTION / C. E. G. / THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN / PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC;
lines 2002-2071
start: '2002'
end: '2071'
translation: The Mabinogion
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Peredur accompanies Arthur hunting, follows a slain hart to a remote hall,
encounters maidens and a violent one-eyed black man called the Black Oppressor,
is spared for one night through a maiden's intercession, fights the man the next
day, compels him to explain the loss of his eye and the Black Serpent's treasure-stone,
receives directions toward further marvels, and kills the oppressor.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Arthur is at Caerlleon upon Usk and goes hunting with Peredur.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Peredur's dog kills a hart in a desert place, after which Peredur sees signs
of a dwelling and approaches a hall.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: At the hall door, bald swarthy youths are playing chess.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Inside the hall, three high-ranking maidens sit on a bench, clothed alike.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: One maiden weeps because she expects Peredur to be slain if he remains there
overnight.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The maiden says the palace belongs to her father, who kills everyone who comes
there without his leave and renders justice to none.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: A huge black one-eyed man enters after a tumult, and the maidens rise to meet
him and disarray him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: At a maiden's request, the black man grants Peredur his life for one night.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Peredur comes to the fire, eats and drinks, speaks with the ladies, and while
elated with liquor asks who put out the black man's eye.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The black man says that anyone who asks about his eye should not escape with
life, but again spares Peredur for the maiden's sake that night.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The next day the black man arms himself and tells Peredur to arise and suffer
death.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Peredur asks either for the black man to remove his armor or for arms to be
given to him; the maiden brings Peredur arms.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: Peredur fights the black man and forces him to crave mercy.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:14
text: The black man says he lost his eye fighting the Black Serpent of the Carn.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:15
text: The black man describes the Mound of Mourning, a carn on the mound, a serpent
in the carn, and a stone on the serpent's tail that produces desired gold for
whoever holds it in one hand.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:16
text: The black man identifies himself as the Black Oppressor and says he has oppressed
every man around him and done justice to none.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:17
text: The black man gives Peredur directions to the Palace of the Sons of the King
of the Tortures, the Court of the Countess of the Achievements, and the Mound
of Mourning.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:18
text: The Addanc of the Lake is said to slay the Sons of the King of the Tortures
once every day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:19
text: Three hundred tent-owners guard the serpent around the Mound of Mourning.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:20
text: Peredur says he will stop the Black Oppressor from continuing as an oppressor
and kills him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Arthur
description: Arthur is at Caerlleon upon Usk and goes hunting.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Peredur
description: Peredur accompanies Arthur, enters the hall, is threatened, fights
the black man, receives information, and kills him.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Peredur's dog
description: The dog is loosed upon a hart and kills it.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: hart
description: A hart is killed by Peredur's dog in a desert place.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: bald swarthy youths
description: Youths at the hall door play chess and later clear the chessmen from
the board.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: three maidens
description: Three similarly clothed high-ranking maidens sit on a bench; one speaks
for Peredur and brings him arms.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: maiden who intercedes for Peredur
description: One maiden weeps for Peredur, explains the danger, asks the black man
to spare him, and brings Peredur arms.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: huge black one-eyed man / Black Oppressor
description: A huge black one-eyed man owns the palace, kills visitors without leave,
oppresses neighbors, has lost one eye fighting the Black Serpent, and is killed
by Peredur.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Black Serpent of the Carn
description: A serpent in the carn on the Mound of Mourning; a stone is on its tail,
and it is guarded by three hundred tent-owners.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Sons of the King of the Tortures
description: They are said to be slain once every day by the Addanc of the Lake.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Addanc of the Lake
description: A being said to slay the Sons of the King of the Tortures once every
day.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Countess of the Achievements
description: Her court has a household of three hundred men whose achievements are
related to strangers.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: three hundred men of the Countess's household
description: They sit next to the lady and relate the achievements of the household
to strangers.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: owners of three hundred tents
description: They are stationed around the Mound of Mourning guarding the serpent.
role_refs:
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: hunting king
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Arthur goes hunting from Caerlleon upon Usk.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: armed challenger and slayer of oppressor
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Peredur confronts the black man, fights him after receiving arms, and kills
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: role:3
label: hunting animal
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The dog is loosed upon the hart and kills it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: hunted animal
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The hart is killed by the dog during the hunt.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: hall attendants or youths at game
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The youths are at the hall door playing chess and clear the chessmen before
the black man's entrance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: warning maiden
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: A maiden weeps and warns Peredur that he may be slain if he remains.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: intercessor and helper
assigned_to:
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: The maiden persuades the black man to spare Peredur for the night and later
brings Peredur arms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: violent host
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The maiden says her father owns the palace and kills those who come without
leave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: oppressor
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: He names himself the Black Oppressor and says he has oppressed all around
him and done justice to none.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: defeated adversary
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Peredur defeats him in combat, compels his story, and kills him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: treasure-guarding serpent
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The serpent is in the carn and has a gold-giving stone on its tail; three
hundred tent-owners guard it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: role:12
label: daily victims
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: They are said to be slain by the Addanc of the Lake once every day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:13
label: daily slayer
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The Addanc of the Lake slays the Sons of the King of the Tortures once every
day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:14
label: courtly lady
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: The Countess has a court and a household whose achievements are recounted.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:15
label: achievement-reciters
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The household sits next to the Lady to relate the achievements of the household.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:16
label: serpent guards
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: The owners of three hundred tents guard the serpent around the mound.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fire
literal_form: fire in the hall
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: chess board and chessmen
literal_form: chess game at the hall door
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: one eye lost
literal_form: huge black one-eyed man; missing eye explained by combat with serpent
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: Mound of Mourning
literal_form: mound containing a carn and serpent
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: sym:5
label: carn
literal_form: carn on the Mound of Mourning containing the serpent
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: Black Serpent
literal_form: serpent in the carn with a stone on its tail
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: gold-giving stone
literal_form: stone on the serpent's tail that gives the holder as much gold as
desired in the other hand
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: lake
literal_form: lake associated with the Addanc
associated_figures:
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:9
label: armor and arms
literal_form: armor worn by the black man and arms given to Peredur
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: hunt and discovery of remote hall
summary: Arthur goes hunting with Peredur; Peredur's dog kills a hart in a desert
place, and Peredur follows signs of dwelling to a hall.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: warning in the hall
summary: Peredur finds chess-playing youths and three maidens; one maiden weeps
and warns that her father kills unauthorized visitors.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: arrival of the one-eyed host and night reprieve
summary: The black one-eyed man enters after a tumult, is served by the maidens,
and grants Peredur life for one night at a maiden's request.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: armed combat with the Black Oppressor
summary: The next day the black man tells Peredur to suffer death; Peredur asks
for equal arms, receives them from the maiden, fights, and forces the black man
to ask mercy.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: serpent treasure and route of marvels disclosed
summary: The defeated black man explains that he lost his eye fighting the Black
Serpent of the Carn and describes the Mound of Mourning, the gold-giving stone,
the Addanc's daily killings, the Countess's court, and the guarded serpent.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
- fig:14
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: scene:6
label: death of the oppressor
summary: Peredur declares that the Black Oppressor will no longer continue oppressing
and kills him.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: hero enters perilous hall and is warned by maiden
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
- departure
basis: Peredur leaves the hunt for a remote hall where a maiden warns that the host
kills visitors and intercedes for him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage itself presents a perilous lodging and warning, but broader
initiatory significance depends on surrounding narrative.
- id: motif:2
label: violent host grants temporary reprieve through female intercession
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The black man is said to kill unauthorized visitors but twice spares Peredur
for one night at the maiden's request.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No external motif index number is supplied.
- id: motif:3
label: hero demands fair arms before combat
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Peredur refuses to suffer death unarmed and asks either that the black man
remove armor or that arms be given to him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a narrative action pattern rather than a supplied taxonomy motif.
- id: motif:4
label: defeated adversary reveals next quest information
taxonomy_refs:
- mystical_quest
basis: After being defeated, the black man tells Peredur his identity, the cause
of his lost eye, the serpent's treasure, and the route to further places.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage points to a continuing quest, but the later completion is
outside this line range.
- id: motif:5
label: serpent associated with guarded treasure
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The Black Serpent of the Carn has a stone on its tail whose virtue yields
desired gold, and it is guarded around the mound.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The serpent's own actions in this passage are reported by another character
rather than directly narrated.
- id: motif:6
label: marvelous object producing inexhaustible wealth
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The stone on the serpent's tail gives the holder as much gold as desired
in the other hand.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The object is described but not obtained in this passage.
- id: motif:7
label: daily slaughter by lake monster
taxonomy_refs:
- death_rebirth
basis: The Addanc of the Lake is said to slay the Sons of the King of the Tortures
once every day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage states daily killing but does not state rebirth or restoration,
so the death_rebirth taxonomy link is tentative.
- id: motif:8
label: slaying of unjust oppressor
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The Black Oppressor confesses oppression and lack of justice, and Peredur
kills him to end his oppression.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames Peredur's act as ending oppression, but does not explicitly
characterize it as divine judgment.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2002-2006
quote_or_summary: Arthur is at Caerlleon upon Usk, goes hunting, and Peredur's dog
kills a hart in a desert place; Peredur sees signs of a dwelling and approaches
it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 2006-2010
quote_or_summary: At the hall door are bald swarthy youths playing chess; inside
are three similarly clothed high-ranking maidens sitting on a bench.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 2010-2021
quote_or_summary: A maiden weeps for Peredur, says he will be slain if he remains,
and explains that her father owns the palace, kills visitors without leave, does
violence and wrong, and renders no justice.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 2021-2029
quote_or_summary: The youths clear the chessboard; after a tumult a huge black one-eyed
man enters, the maidens meet and disarray him, and at a maiden's plea he grants
Peredur life for the night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 2029-2040
quote_or_summary: Peredur goes to the fire, eats and drinks, asks who put out the
black man's eye, and the black man says such a question normally costs life but
spares him again for the maiden's sake that night.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 2041-2048
quote_or_summary: The next day the black man arms himself and tells Peredur to suffer
death; Peredur asks for equal terms or arms, and the maiden brings arms for him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 2048-2053
quote_or_summary: Peredur fights the black man, forces him to crave mercy, and asks
who he is and who put out his eye; the man says he lost it fighting the Black
Serpent of the Carn.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 2053-2058
quote_or_summary: The Mound of Mourning has a carn, within it a serpent, and on
the serpent's tail a stone that gives the holder as much gold as desired in the
other hand.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 2058-2063
quote_or_summary: The man says he is called the Black Oppressor because he has oppressed
every nearby man and done justice to none.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 2063-2069
quote_or_summary: The black man says the route leads to the Palace of the Sons of
the King of the Tortures, whom the Addanc of the Lake slays once daily, then to
the Court of the Countess of the Achievements with its household of three hundred
men who recite achievements.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 2069-2071
quote_or_summary: The route reaches the Mound of Mourning, where owners of three
hundred tents guard the serpent; Peredur says the oppressor will continue no longer
and kills him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/celtic-welsh/project-gutenberg/mabinogion-guest.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif candidates are conservative
and limited to patterns directly present or reported in the passage; comparison
claims are omitted because the passage itself does not support a specific cross-text
comparison.
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 or motif indices were used beyond the supplied taxonomy reference list.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:celtic-welsh-mabinogion-guest-gutenberg__l2002-l2071
passage_sha256=c2bd31c17be91aaa51f5a2e0e68f84eb83b8328fda4de98012b181950e235873