Little bird as large bird's mate. A large bird wishes to mate with a little bird. The latter says that she is going to swallow a large eel. The large bird sees the absurdity of his proposal

Motif

Little bird as large bird's mate. A large bird wishes to mate with a little bird. The latter says that she is going to swallow a large eel. The large bird sees the absurdity of his proposal.

The wise and the foolish. · Cleverness. · Clever verbal retorts (repartee). · Reductio ad absurdum of question or proposal. · view the constellation · filed as J1293.1

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed

Indian / Hindu (Sanskrit epic) The Ramayan of Valmiki (Griffith verse translation) , Book 4, Canto 1

Filed across the traditions

Indonesia DeVries's list No. 104.

Within the index

Filed under Reductio ad absurdum of proposal.

1 finer motif beneath it

Absurdity: sea (river) is on fire. Not more absurd than crow claiming swan as wife

Filed beside it

If his head is taken off other punishments do not matter. Judge shows criminal mercy: he will not punish him as he deserves, only take off his head Turning king into Brahmin like turning donkey into horse Pot full of milk as sign that city is full of fakirs; flower on top of milk not disturbing it as sign that one more will not matter All appurtenances included. Butcher buyer demands saddle and ornaments along with camel (or the like). Seller later buys all heads in butcher shop: demands heads of butcher's family

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