Note 451 — Chapter V · SYMBOLISM OF THE MOTHER AND OF REBIRTH
Beatrice M. Hinkle translation
Therefore the tree at times is also a representation of the sun. A Russian riddle related to me by Dr. Van Ophuijsen reads: “What is the tree which stands in the middle of the village and is visible in every cottage?” Answer: “The sun and its light.” A Norwegian riddle reads:
“A tree stands on the mountain of Billings,
It bends over a lake,
Its branches shine like gold:
You won’t guess that to-day.
In the evening the daughter of the sun collected the golden branches, which had been broken from the wonderful oak.
Bitterly weeps the little sun
In the apple orchard.
From the apple tree has fallen
The golden apple,
Do not weep, little sun,
God will make another
Of gold, of bronze, of silver.”
The picking of the apple from the paradise tree may be compared with the fire theft, the drawing back of the libido from the mother. (See the explanations which follow concerning the specific deed of the hero.)