The Man Who Married the Bear-Goddess

A mythological tale from the ancient Sumerians about a man named Enkidu who marries the goddess of the bear, Enlil's daughter. The story explores themes of love, power, and the clash between human and divine realms.

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1925 · Genre: Mythology, Fantasy, Folklore · 996 words

First lines

There was a very populous village. It was a village having both plenty of fish and plenty of venison. It was a place lacking no kind of food. Nevertheless, once upon a time, a famine set in. There was no food, no venison, no fish, nothing to eat at all; there was a famine. So in that populous village all the people died.

What this Textopian page supports

The Man Who Married the Bear-Goddess is listed on Textopian as a short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1925 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Short story
• Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
• Date: 1925 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Folklore, Romance, Adventure
• Length: 996 words
• Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Man Who Married the Bear-Goddess by Basil Hall Chamberlain
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Man Who Married the Bear-Goddess?
• How does this short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mythology first become important in the reading?

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Genres

• Mythology — The title suggests a mythological tale involving a bear goddess, a type of character common in various mythologies.
• Fantasy — The concept of a 'Bear-Goddess', is unreal and imaginative, fitting into the fantasy genre.
• Folklore — The narrative of a man marrying a deity could be a part of local lore or tradition.
• Romance — The idea of marriage indicates a possible romantic theme.

Tags

Folklore · Mythology · Legend · Norse Mythology · Scandinavian Literature · Fairy Tale · Fable · Allegory · Supernatural · Magic Realism · Fantasy · Adventure

More by Basil Hall Chamberlain

• The Fisher-boy Urashima (1886)
• The Invention of a New Religion (1930)
• The Rat and the Owl (1899)
• The Loves of the Thunder-Gods (1906)
• Why the Cock Cannot Fly (1902)
• The Origin of the Hare (1902)
• The Reason for there being no Fixed Time for Human Beings to (1928)
• How a Man Got the Better of Two Foxes (1899)
• All works by Basil Hall Chamberlain