μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Foolish thief asks help of owner. Caught. (Cf. J2223.)

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Absurd short-sightedness. · Foolish disregard of personal danger. · view the constellation · filed as J2136.5.6

Filed across the traditions
  • India *Thompson-Balys.
Within the index

Filed under Careless thief caught.

1 finer motif beneath it
Master asked to help in the theft. The fool sent in by thieves is told to bring out the heaviest thing. As this is a grain-grinder and he cannot carry it, he wakes the master of the house to help him
Filed beside it
Thief stops to admire beautiful things before stealing them. Caught Talkative thief caught Thief of deer cuts it up and keeps counting pieces. Rescued by wife Numskull as thief's assistant wakens owner. Pleads successfully that he was trying to awaken the household and prevent theft Foolish thief cooks food and awakens household Thieving numskull beats drum (blows trumpet, etc.) he finds in outhouse. Caught Thieves disposed of one at a time. They will not help each other since the fewer thieves there are the more there is to share Thieving wolf persuaded to sing. Caught
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
The thief as discoverer. The fool lies still as the thief enters the house, hoping that the thief may find something so that he can take it back from the thief
Carried in tale types

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