μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Filling cracks with butter. Numskull sees cracks in the ground and feels so sorry for them that he greases them with the butter he is taking home.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Absurd disregard of facts. · Animals or objects treated as if human. · Absurd sympathy for animals or objects. · view the constellation · filed as J1871

Filed across the traditions
  • Missouri French Carrière.
  • general *Type 1291
  • general BP I 521
  • general *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 250 No. 165
Within the index

Filed under Absurd sympathy for animals or objects.

Filed beside it
Creaking limbs. Numskull hears limbs creaking in the wind. He is sorry for them and holds them apart. While he is caught between them his enemies take advantage of him Animals or objects kept warm Relieving the beast of burden Objects ascribed human feelings Absurd sympathy for animals or objects – miscellaneous
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Numskull prepares brother's wedding (father's funeral). On the way home from town he destroys his purchases. (Cf. J1851, J1856, J1871.) Food given to object. (Cf. J1871.)
Carried in tale types

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