μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

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.

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 J1872

Attested across traditions
Filed across the traditions
  • N. Am. Indian *Thompson Tales 297 n. 85.
Within the index

Filed under Absurd sympathy for animals or objects.

2 finer motifs beneath it
Creaking wagon dies. When the wagon stops its creaking, fool decides it has died; he cremates it Helping the cuckoo. A numskull climbs a tree to help a cuckoo so that he may call louder than the one in the neighboring forest. Meanwhile his horse is eaten by a wolf
Filed beside it
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 Animals or objects kept warm Relieving the beast of burden Objects ascribed human feelings Absurd sympathy for animals or objects – miscellaneous
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Magic private parts – human Magic excrements Magic object gives advice Bodily members as advisers. (Cf. D990.) Magic object points out road Blinded trickster directed by trees. He asks them their names and by their answers he can tell where he is. (Cf. D950.) Magic swallow-skin warns of danger. (Cf. D1025.4.) Speaking plant. (Cf. D965, F815.) Talking private parts betray unchastity Picture mistaken for original Raven steals the robes of Red Willow Men and finds them useless Deception into entering bag

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