μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Question (propounded on quest): Why does not a certain tree flourish? Answer: Gold is hidden under it (or a serpent is under its roots).

Tests. · Tests of prowess: quests. · Nature of quests. · Quests to the other world. · Quests to the other world – miscellaneous motifs. · view the constellation · filed as H1292.2

Filed across the traditions
  • Italian Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Chinese Graham
  • Japanese Ikeda.
  • general Types 460, 461
  • general *Aarne FFC XXIII 133, 136
  • general Hdwb. d. Märchens I 256a n. 13
Within the index

Filed under Answers found in other world to questions propounded on the way. (Cf. H1278, H1282, H1283, H1284.)

1 finer motif beneath it
Question (propounded on quest): Why does no one desire to eat fruits of a certain tree? Answer: Tree in its last birth had been a very learned man who gave his knowledge away
Filed beside it
Question (propounded on quest): Why has spring gone dry? Answer: Animal to be removed from its water-vein Question (propounded on quest): Why do the live stock die? (Various answers.) Question (propounded on quest): How can the prince be cured? Answer: He must remove stone which he has spit out in the church Question (on quest): How can the girl thus far avoided by suitors marry? (Various answers.) Question (on quest): Where is the lost key? (Various answers.) Question (on quest): Where is the lost princess? (Various answers.) Question (on quest): When will a ferryman be released from his duty? Answer: When he is able to get out of the boat and leave the oar in another's hand Question (on quest): When will a certain water-animal be freed from an annoyance? (Various answers) Question (on quest): How can mice rid themselves of cats? (Answer: tie on bell.) Question (on quest): How can ants secure longer life? (Answer: by doing without wings.) Question (on quest): Where does Bras-de-Fer (Ver-sous-Terre) live? Question (on quest): Have you see my prince? Question (propounded on quest): Why can't the dragon king ascend to the sky? Question (propounded on quest): Why can't the child talk or the dog bark? Question (propounded on quest): Why is the cow so severely beaten every day by her calf? Answer: in her last birth she had been the young of her present calf and had treated it the same way Question (propounded on quest): Is a poor shepherd known to God? Answer: He had been a very generous god-fearing person in his last birth and God had not forgotten him

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