μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 3references

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • IndiaThompson-Balys
  • JapaneseIkeda
  • N. Am. Indian*Thompson Tales 352 n. 270a.
Within the index

Filed under Reflection in water thought to be the original of the thing reflected.

3 finer motifs beneath it
Shooting at enemy's reflection in waterMan throws stone at own reflection in waterFrog leaps into water after elephant's reflection
Filed beside it
Drinking the moon. The numskull sees a cow drink from a pool where the moon is reflected. The moon goes under a cloud. He thinks the cow has eaten the moon and slaughters her to recover itRescuing the moon. A numskull sees the moon in the water and throws a rope in to rescue it, but falls in himself. He sees the moon in the sky. At least the moon was saved!Diving for cheese. Man (animal) sees moon reflected in water and, thinking it a cheese, dives for itDog drops his meat for the reflection. Crossing a stream with meat in his mouth he sees his reflection; thinking it another dog with meat he dives for it and loses his meatDiving for reflection of beautiful womanMan does not recognize his own reflection in the waterGoose dives for star, thinking it a fish. The next day when she sees fish, she lets it escapeFools see bee's nest reflected in water: try to carry off the wellFool sees golden-crested bird reflected in water. Thinks it is goldDiving for reflected fruit. Meantime rascal steals the fruit itselfElephant frightened at agitated reflection of moon in water

wander