μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

The stupid devil.

Ogres. · Kinds of ogres. · Other ogres. · Other ogres. · view the constellation · filed as G303.13

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed
Filed across the traditions
  • Missouri French Carrière
  • Spanish Espinosa Jr. Nos. 82–84, 201
  • Jewish Neuman.
  • general **Wünsche Teufel
  • general Danielsson Djävulgestalten i Finlands svenska Folktro (Helsingfors, 1930) 35
Within the index

Filed under Devil. (The Devil, Satan, The Bad Man, Old Nick, etc.) Not clearly differentiated, especially in German tradition, from the stupid ogre. (See also F531 (Giant), G100–199 and G500–699.)

5 finer motifs beneath it
Devils do not know or understand thoughts of men Devil works backward. Begins building at top of house Devil tries to wall in too large a piece of ground in a night and fails The devil tries to learn a trade; he fails miserably at all but versemaking. He now loiters in alehouses, sings songs Simple-minded devil indicates how he can be driven away. (Cf. G303.16.)
Filed beside it
The origin of the devil and his companions Names applied to the devil Forms in which the devil appears The devil's physical characteristics How the devil is dressed Circumstances of the devil's appearance How the devil travels Devil's expulsion from heaven and his present haunts Deeds of the devil Allies and possessions of the devil The relatives of the devil Marital experiences of the devil. (Cf. H1153, K216.1, K2325, T251.1.1.) Devil's unfinished work cannot be completed by human hands. One stone missing in church, etc Places haunted by the devil How the devil's power may be escaped or avoided The devil's disappearance from the world

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “stupid” · wander