μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Suitor contests: bride offered as prize.

Tests. · Marriage tests. · Suitor tests. · Suitor tests. · view the constellation · filed as H331

Filed across the traditions
  • Finnish Kalevala rune 3 → on our shelf: The Kalevala, Rune III
  • Italian Basile Pentamerone I No. 9, *Rotunda
  • French Canadian Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18f.
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Chinese Werner 420 → on our shelf: Myths & Legends of China, Chapter XVI
  • Japanese Ikeda
  • Eskimo (Aleut) Golder JAFL XXII 17
  • N. Am. Indian *Thompson-Tales 328n. 186
  • West Indies Flowers 457.
  • general *Types 513, 514, 900
  • general Philippson FFC L 12f. Icelandic: Egils saga einhendsa ok Ásmundar Berserkjabana (FAS III) 366
  • general Oceanic (New Zealand, Tahiti, Cook Group, Society Group): Dixon 61, 64
Within the index

Filed under Suitor tests. A suitor is put to severe tests by his prospective bride or father-in-law.

17 finer motifs beneath it
Suitor contest: difficult riding Suitor contest: tournament Suitor contest: prize to one whose staff blooms. Told of Joseph in contest for Virgin Mary Suitor contest: shooting Suitor contest: race Suitor contest: wrestling. (Cf. H1562.9.) Suitor contest: aiming with missile Suitor contest: splitting antlers Suitor contest: trapping Suitor contest: carrying one hundred jugs of water from sea to castle in one day Princess given to the one confessing all his treachery Suitor contest: splitting block of wood Suitor contest: cheating Suitor contest: trial of strength Suitor contest: animal fight Suitor contest: throwing ball up to princess Suitor contest: eating one hundred carcasses at a sitting. (Cf. H1141.)
Filed beside it
Tests for hero, husband of supernatural (divine) wife Brother unwittingly qualifies as bridegroom of sister in test Inspection test for suitors. Suitors for princess's hand must present themselves for public inspection. (Cf. H362, T55.7.) Physical and mental requirements for suitors Suitor test: obedience and humility before bride Suitor's sincerity tested Suitor test: to whom the princess turns. Rival suitors sleep with princess. The one she turns to is to have her. They vie in enticements Suitor test: apple thrown indicates princess's choice. (Often golden apple.) Long term of service imposed on suitor Suitor preferred who will pay enormous sum for bride Suitor test: hiding from princess. She has magic sight Suitor test: finding princess Suitor test: learning girl's name Suitor test: choosing princess from others identically clad Suitor test: skill Suitor test: cleverness and learning
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
City-gods Creation of the universe Wild man as king of animals Unusual animal as riding-horse Marriage to person in dog form. (Cf. B635.4, D141.) Marriage to dog in human form Jointed snake can join its segments when it is broken into pieces Tabu: looking under certain bell too soon Man caused to sink into mud Journey to Land of Women. Island of women, land of maidens, country of the Amazons, etc Spirits and demons (general) Remarkable persons. Extraordinary size, form, appearance, or habits
Carried in tale types

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