Hello to the collective memories of SurLaLuners!
I've received this request for help in identifying a fairy tale. While the theme of heros/heroines forgetting their spouses/lovers is a fairly common theme in folklore, this one is not specifically coming to mind. Do the details for this tale bring a particular tale to mind for anyone, especially the underwater kingdom element to it?
It involves a man who travels to an underwater kingdom and marries a princess he meets there. He then wants to return to his home to see his parents, and when he does, he forgets all about his wife and his life in the magical land. Does that ring a bell?
Despite my inability to find the story, I suspect it's a common theme. Any fairy tale at all about spending time in a magical kingdom, then losing all memory of it when the hero returns home would work for the book. Do you know of any stories like this?
I have read many tales where forgotten spouses are a theme. But since they are forgotten, usually the spouse who has been forgotten is the hero of the tale since he/she seeks out the spouse with the forgotten memory--after all, the faulty memory has no reason to go searching since he/she doesn't remember there is something to remember! But I can't think of forgotten kingdoms so much myself.
Just leave your suggestions in the comments if the tale sounds familiar. Or feel free to share tales with similar themes--the requestor is looking for tales with the lost memory theme from what I understand although this is the particular one that stands out in his memory.