batch.motif.norse-myths-of-norsemen-guerber-gutenberg-l9318-l9428
---
record_id: batch.motif.norse-myths-of-norsemen-guerber-gutenberg-l9318-l9428
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
passage_locator:
label: 'CHAPTER XXIII: THE GIANTS / CHAPTER XXIV: THE DWARFS / CHAPTER XXV: THE
ELVES / CHAPTER XXVI: THE SIGURD SAGA; lines 9318-9428'
start: '9318'
end: '9428'
translation: 'Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas'
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A divine sword embedded in the Branstock oak resists Volsung, Siggeir,
and the nine elder Volsung sons, but yields to Sigmund. Siggeir envies the weapon,
plots against the Volsungs, and invites them to his court. Signy warns her father
and brothers of an ambush, but Volsung refuses to break his pledged word. Siggeir's
men ambush the Volsungs, kill Volsung, capture his sons, and take Sigmund's sword.
Signy obtains only a delayed death for her brothers, who are chained in a forest.
A nightly beast devours them one by one until only Sigmund remains. Signy arranges
for honey to be smeared on Sigmund's face; when the beast licks him, he bites
its tongue, breaks his bonds during its struggles, kills it, and disappears into
the forest.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A sword is embedded in an oak or tree-trunk called the Branstock, and several
men attempt to draw it out.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Siggeir, Volsung, and the nine eldest Volsung sons fail to draw the sword
from the tree.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Sigmund, the tenth and youngest son, draws the sword out easily.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Siggeir envies and covets the sword, offers to buy it, and is refused by Sigmund.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: After the refusal, Siggeir secretly resolves to destroy the Volsungs and obtain
the divine sword.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Signy suspects danger and asks Volsung not to keep the promised visit to Siggeir's
court, but Volsung refuses to withdraw his word.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Signy warns the arriving Volsungs that Siggeir has prepared an ambush, but
they land armed and proceed.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The Volsungs are ambushed; Volsung is killed, his sons are captured, and Sigmund
is forced to give up the sword.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Signy intercedes for her brothers and obtains a sentence in which they are
chained to a fallen oak in the forest rather than immediately executed.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: A monster or wild beast comes at night and devours one Volsung prince each
night until only Sigmund remains.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Signy has honey smeared over Sigmund's face and mouth while he is bound in
the forest.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: The beast licks Sigmund's face, thrusts its tongue into his mouth, and Sigmund
bites down, causing a struggle that breaks his bonds; Sigmund then kills the beast.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: After killing the beast, Sigmund hides in the forest until the messenger comes
and until Signy later arrives to mourn her kinsmen.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Volsung
description: Father of the Volsung sons; he attempts the sword trial, accepts Siggeir's
invitation, refuses to break his pledged word, and is killed in the ambush.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Siggeir
description: Bridegroom and Signy's husband; he fails to draw the sword, envies
it, plots against the Volsungs, arranges the ambush, and condemns the captured
brothers.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Sigmund
description: The tenth and youngest Volsung son; he draws the sword, refuses to
sell it, is captured and dispossessed, survives the chained ordeal, kills the
beast, and hides in the forest.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Signy
description: Volsung's daughter and Siggeir's wife; she warns her father and brothers,
pleads for her brothers, and arranges the honey that enables Sigmund's escape.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Nine eldest Volsung sons / Sigmund's brothers
description: They fail to draw the sword, are captured with Sigmund, chained in
the forest, and devoured one by one by the night beast.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Monster or wild beast
description: A nocturnal creature that devours the bound Volsung princes and is
eventually killed by Sigmund.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Siggeir's messenger
description: A messenger sent each morning into the forest to see whether the Volsung
prisoners are still alive.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:11
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Signy's servant
description: A servant persuaded by Signy to carry honey into the forest and smear
it over Sigmund's face and mouth.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: chosen sword-bearer
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The sword that resists others comes out easily when Sigmund grasps it, and
he declares it was intended for him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: treacherous coveter of the divine weapon
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Siggeir covets the sword, secretly resolves to destroy the Volsungs to secure
it, and later ambushes them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: oath-bound father and leader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Volsung refuses to retract his promised visit despite Signy's warning and
leads his sons ashore.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: warning and rescuing kinswoman
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Signy warns her kinsmen, intercedes for her brothers, and later arranges
the honey stratagem for Sigmund.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: surviving bound hero
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Sigmund remains the last living brother, breaks his bonds through the beast's
struggle, kills it, and escapes into hiding.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: role:6
label: doomed captive brothers
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The brothers are captured, chained in the forest, and devoured one by one.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:7
label: nightly devouring beast
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The creature comes during the night and devours the bound princes until Sigmund
kills it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Branstock oak / tree-trunk
literal_form: Oak or tree-trunk containing the embedded sword
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: divine sword
literal_form: Sword or blade embedded in the Branstock and later taken from Sigmund
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: fallen oak in the forest
literal_form: Fallen oak to which the Volsung brothers are chained
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: honey
literal_form: Honey smeared over Sigmund's face and mouth
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: sym:5
label: forest captivity
literal_form: Forest where the brothers are chained and where Sigmund later hides
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Trial of the sword in the Branstock
summary: Volsung, Siggeir, and the elder sons fail to remove the embedded sword;
Sigmund succeeds easily.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Siggeir's envy and plotted revenge
summary: Siggeir covets the sword, fails to buy it from Sigmund, and secretly plans
to destroy the Volsungs while inviting them to his court.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Warning before the ambush
summary: Signy warns the arriving Volsungs not to land because an ambush awaits,
but Volsung and his sons choose to continue.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Ambush and capture of the Volsungs
summary: Siggeir's forces overpower the Volsungs; Volsung is slain, his sons are
captured, and Sigmund loses the sword.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Chaining in the forest and nightly devouring
summary: After Signy's plea, the brothers are chained to a fallen oak in the forest,
and a beast devours them one by one.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Honey stratagem and Sigmund's escape
summary: Signy sends honey to be smeared on Sigmund; the beast licks him, Sigmund
bites its tongue, breaks free in the struggle, kills it, and hides in the forest.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: chosen hero draws a divine weapon from a tree
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The sword remains fixed for Siggeir, Volsung, and the nine elder sons, but
yields easily to Sigmund, indicating that the weapon was intended for him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: No formal taxonomy reference for this exact weapon-selection motif is
supplied.
- id: motif:2
label: treacherous attempt to seize a sacred or divine object
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
basis: Siggeir covets the divine sword, plots to exterminate the Volsungs to secure
it, and later has Sigmund forced to relinquish it after the ambush.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents seizure by ambush and coercion rather than a stealth
theft; the taxonomy mapping is therefore broad.
- id: motif:3
label: kinship warning ignored because of pledged honor
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Signy warns Volsung and later the arriving Volsungs of Siggeir's ambush,
but Volsung refuses to retract his pledged word or retreat from danger.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches this honor-bound refusal
motif.
- id: motif:4
label: bound survivor escapes devouring beast by bodily stratagem
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The brothers are chained and devoured one by one; Sigmund survives when Signy's
honey stratagem causes the beast to expose its tongue, allowing him to bite down,
break his bonds, and kill it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches the honey-and-beast escape
episode.
- id: motif:5
label: forest ordeal of the last surviving brother
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Volsung brothers are condemned to exposure in the forest; all but Sigmund
are devoured, and he escapes into hiding.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
confidence: medium
cautions: The available 'survivor_pair' taxonomy does not apply because the passage
names Sigmund as a single survivor, not a pair.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 9318-9338
quote_or_summary: Volsung invites Siggeir, then attempts the feat himself; Siggeir,
Volsung, and the nine eldest sons fail to draw the divine weapon from the oak
or tree-trunk.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 9339-9352
quote_or_summary: Sigmund, the tenth and youngest son, grasps the hilt and draws
the sword easily from the Branstock, raising it triumphantly.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 9353-9362
quote_or_summary: Siggeir envies the weapon, offers to buy it, is refused by Sigmund,
and secretly resolves to exterminate the Volsungs and secure the divine sword.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 9363-9371
quote_or_summary: Siggeir invites Volsung and his kin to visit; Signy suspects evil
and implores her father to retract his promise, but he refuses to break his pledged
word.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 9372-9393
quote_or_summary: When Volsung's ships arrive, Signy warns her kinsmen of Siggeir's
ambush; Volsung and his sons arm themselves and land, refusing to turn back from
danger.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 9394-9402
quote_or_summary: The Volsungs fall into Siggeir's ambush; Volsung is slain, his
sons are captured, Sigmund is forced to surrender the sword, and the brothers
are condemned to death.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 9403-9409
quote_or_summary: Signy pleads for her brothers and obtains that they be chained
to a fallen oak in the forest, while Siggeir confines her in the palace under
guard.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 9410-9417
quote_or_summary: Each morning Siggeir sends a messenger to the forest; the report
is that a monster came at night and devoured one prince, until only Sigmund remains.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 9417-9420
quote_or_summary: Signy devises a plan and has a servant smear honey over Sigmund's
face and mouth in the forest.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 9421-9426
quote_or_summary: The beast licks the honey from Sigmund's face and puts its tongue
into his mouth; Sigmund bites it, the struggle breaks his bonds, and he kills
the beast.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 9426-9428
quote_or_summary: Sigmund vanishes into the forest and remains hidden until the
usual messenger comes and Signy later arrives to mourn her kinsmen's remains.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/norse/project-gutenberg/myths-of-the-norsemen-guerber.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The passage is explicit about actions, figures, and objects. Motif labels
are descriptive; only one supplied taxonomy reference is cautiously applied, and
no comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not support external
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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Line subranges are approximate subdivisions within the provided canonical range.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:norse-myths-of-norsemen-guerber-gutenberg__l9318-l9428
passage_sha256=4df910050cc9ad80ed2ae9ee040c57d453029bdead1a9e2909420cf5868254f6