{"id":231,"date":"2014-02-04T15:53:45","date_gmt":"2014-02-04T20:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/criticalenquiry.org\/wp\/?page_id=231"},"modified":"2014-02-04T15:55:42","modified_gmt":"2014-02-04T20:55:42","slug":"pirate-treasure-motif-index","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/criticalenquiry.org\/wp\/oak-island-information\/pirate-treasure-motif-index\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirate Treasure Motif-index"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some of the motifs from OI common to other treasure stories include:<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0 stone slab atop the treasure’s resting place
\n2)\u00a0 box slipping away or vanishing
\n3)\u00a0 indecipherable inscription
\n4)\u00a0 accidental discovery of the site
\n5)\u00a0 tapping on the chest\/box just before disaster strikes
\n6)\u00a0 site noticed by child, not by adults
\n7)\u00a0 guardian (OI: the flood tunnels\/water trap)
\n8)\u00a0 breaking the spell causing loss of the treasure (OI: going to church, tapping on the still-buried chest before uncovering it.)<\/p>\n

Something I need to think about:\u00a0 the “going to church = loss of treasure” idea might have other implications.\u00a0 I have a sense that since the treasure represents avarice (greed), perhaps the church attendance represents “the devil’s revenge,” in the respect that the men are punished for not completing the “evil” work of pursuing earthly gain.\u00a0 I seem to recall there are numerous examples of this motif in other tales, but I’m away from my references right now.<\/p>\n

Other motifs that appear common include:<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0 use of ritual to uncover treasure:
\na) divination
\nb) not speaking during excavation
\nc) reading of scripture to ward off “guardians”
\nd) digging only at night<\/p>\n

2)\u00a0 guardians
\na) dead pirates
\nb) “large black man” executed and buried atop the treasure
\nc) demons\/imps
\nd) witches
\ne) other supernatural forces<\/p>\n

3)\u00a0 person watches treasure being buried
\na) dies before recovering it
\nb) is not believed by others until it’s too late (Peter & the Wolf?)
\nc) thinks to keep it for himself, repents on deathbed
\ni) dies before disclosing location
\nii) discloses insufficient detail to permit recovery (OI: sailor’s tale)
\nd) is unable to locate it later on<\/p>\n

Also see: www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk\/folklore<\/strong>\/craig-y-ddinas.html<\/a><\/p>\n

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