Life bound to an object
In short: A motif in which a person’s life depends on an object kept outside the body.
Motif
How does it work in the tale?
In the Icelandic telling, Nornagest’s life ends when a candle burns out. In the Faroese ballad, it is bound to a casket sunk in a lake. The object changes, while the question remains: who can reach the hero’s life?
How can someone reach the candle or the casket?
In the Icelandic account of Nornagest, the candle can be lit and burns down in sight. In the Faroese ballad, a lead casket lies submerged in a lake. Reaching the life it holds first means finding the hiding place. Compare who can reach each object and what they must do to it.