Numskull shoots grasshopper which lighted on the shoulder of his friend and kills friend

Motif

Numskull shoots grasshopper which lighted on the shoulder of his friend and kills friend.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Absurd misunderstandings. · Inappropriate action from misunderstanding. · view the constellation · filed as J1833.1

Filed across the traditions

India *Thompson-Balys.

Within the index

Filed under Numskull thinks the bishop's snoring is his death rattle. He strikes at a fly on the bishop's nose because it seems to be killing the bishop.

2 finer motifs beneath it

Boy strikes at a fly on his sister's breast: it turns into nipple and girl thinks it due to brother's caress One man strikes at partridge which has lighted on second man's head

Carried in tale types

The Man in Court for Killing a Fly · ATU 1586 1 recorded variant

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