μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Numskull is told that he is to die when his horse breaks wind three times. When this happens he lies down for dead.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Gullible fools. · Nature of gullibility. · view the constellation · filed as J2311.1

Cited in the index
  • general *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 216f. No. 49
  • general *Fb "æsel"
  • general Köhler-Bolte I 135, 486, 505.
Within the index

Filed under Person made to believe that he is dead.

5 finer motifs beneath it
Man believes he is to die when he breaks wind. Lies down for dead Numskull is told that he will die when his mouth bleeds Man believes, he will die when water falls on his head Man believes he will die when he gets a scarlet thread on his coat Fool, told yellowing soles of his feet sure sign he is going to die, digs his grave and lies in it
Filed beside it
Wife makes her husband believe that he is dead. (Cf. J2301.) The "poisoned" pot. The wife tells the husband that a certain pot of preserves is poison. He decides to kill himself and eats the preserves. He believes that he is poisoned and lies down for dead Sham revenant. A man takes refuge from robbers in an open grave. Robbers see him and ask what he is doing. "It is my grave. I went out to get a breath of air." The dead man speaks up. A numskull who has lain down thinking he is dead is carried off in a bier. The carriers lose their way. He speaks up, "I always went that way when I was alive." The dead man in spite of himself. Neighbors who have heard of the numskull's death insist on the funeral although he is alive and well. He is persuaded and is carried on a bier. They meet a busy man whom they try to persuade to join them. He pleads business. The "dead" man speaks: "It's no use, friend, to try to dissuade them." Sham-dead man punished. A numskull lies in an old grave to see the Day of Judgment. He hears bells and thinks that the Last Day has come. He is beaten by mule-drivers when he tells them that he is a dead man. He returns home and tells his wife that he returns from the dead. "How goes it in heaven?" "For one thing, avoid mule-drivers." Cold hands and feet for the dead man. His wife has told him that one tells a dead person by his cold hands and feet. He freezes his feet and hands and lies down for dead. Wolves eat his ass. "Lucky for you that his master is dead!" Parents made to believe that they are dead and are married to each other again Foolish peasants carry couple to burial; when "corpses" speak they flee in terror Drunken man insists that he be beheaded. Is struck with the flat of his sword. He thinks he is dead Idiot tells his mother he has been dead twelve years Supposed dead man roused with whip
Carried in tale types

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