Man does not recognize his own reflection in the water

Motif

Man does not recognize his own reflection in the water.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Absurd misunderstandings. · One thing mistaken for another. · Shadow mistaken for substance. · view the constellation · filed as J1791.7

Filed across the traditions

India Thompson-Balys
Indonesia DeVries's list No. 17
Hawaii Beckwith Myth 441
American Negro Harris Remus 68 No. 14.
general *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 276 No. 311
general Penzer VI 86f.

Within the index

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

1 finer motif beneath it

Simpleton thinks his reflection in jar of melted butter is thief; strikes at the jar and breaks it

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 it Rescuing 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 it Dog 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 meat Diving for reflected enemy Diving for reflection of beautiful woman Goose dives for star, thinking it a fish. The next day when she sees fish, she lets it escape Fools see bee's nest reflected in water: try to carry off the well Fool sees golden-crested bird reflected in water. Thinks it is gold Diving for reflected fruit. Meantime rascal steals the fruit itself Elephant frightened at agitated reflection of moon in water

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