μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Foolish imitation of lucky man. Because one man has had good luck a numskull imitates and thinks he will have equal luck. He is disappointed.

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Foolish imitation. · Types of foolish imitation. · view the constellation · filed as J2415

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Scholars’ trail — 5references

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • LithuanianBalys Index No. 3252, 3255, 3594, 3691
  • ArabAzov JPASB II 412
  • India*Thompson-Balys
  • ChineseGraham
  • West IndiesFlowers 490.
Within the index

Filed under Types of foolish imitation.

7 finer motifs beneath it
The two presents to the king: the beet and the horse. A farmer takes an extraordinary beet as present to the king and receives a large reward. His companion is eager for a reward and leads a handsome steed to the palace. The king rewards him with the beetPicking the louse and the flea. One man rewarded with forty crowns for picking louse from king's robe. Imitator given forty lashes for picking fleaCrab tries to imitate bird who lays egg in pot of boiling water. Falls in instead of being rewardedFairies help forgotten child, but strangle child trying to imitate good luckAscetic imitates Brahmin's practices. Brahmin goes to heaven, ascetic to hellPig sees goat return decked with ornaments and plenty of food; goes out and imitates trick played by goat but is beaten insteadA snake for the real daughter. Stepdaughter, married to a snake, appears decorated with jewels. Stepmother desires a snake be procured for her daughter. She is swallowed instead
Filed beside it
Foolish imitation of miracle (magic)Foolish imitation of healingFoolish imitation by an animal. Tries to go beyond his powersPoor man foolishly imitates richFoolish imitation of leader
Carried in tale types

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