μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Filed across the traditions
Within the index

Filed under Tests of power to survive. Vain attempts to kill hero.

4 finer motifs beneath it
Heat test: swallowing red-hot stones Burning food test. Attempt to kill hero by feeding him burning food Smoke test. Attempt to kill hero by smoke Smoking test. Attempt to kill hero by having him smoke fatal pipe
Filed beside it
Cold test. Attempt to freeze hero to death Poisoned food test. Attempt to kill hero by feeding him poisoned food Poisoned clothing test. Attempt to kill hero by poisoning clothing Test: bite of poisonous snake Clam test. Hero is sent to capture a giant clam, so that he can be killed Killing trees threaten hero Clashing rocks test: hero to pass between them Spine test. Attempt to kill hero by throwing him on sharp spine or spike Wedge test. Hero is caught in cleft of tree Hanging test. Unavailing attempt to kill hero by hanging Plank test. Attempt to kill hero by letting plank fall on him Precipice test. Hero is pushed over a precipice Toboggan test. Attempt to kill hero on dangerous toboggan Test: playing game with ferocious beast Drowning test. Unavailing attempt to drown hero
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Drowning test. Unavailing attempt to drown hero Sun father-in-law Animal bribed with food. (Sop to Cerberus.) Animal as guard of person or house Guardian animals evaded Transformation: man to feather Protean beggar: Person assumes successive forms in order to beg Transformation combat. Fight between contestants who strive to outdo each other in successive transformations Transformation to reach difficult place Transformation to escape difficult situation Transformation to receive food Magic spittle
Carried in tale types

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