Disastrous following of misunderstood instructions. (To burn land, then sow seed. Opposite done.) — Mythoi

Motif

Disastrous following of misunderstood instructions. (To burn land, then sow seed. Opposite done.)

The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Literal fools. · Literal obedience. · view the constellation · filed as J2460.1

Filed across the traditions

Chinese Graham.

Within the index

Filed under Literal obedience.

Filed beside it

What should I have done (said)? The mother teaches the boy (the man his wife) what he should say (do) in this or that circumstance. He uses the words in the most impossible cases and is always punished Foolish bridegroom follows instructions literally The foolish bride The servant to improve on the master's statements. The wooer makes boasts to the girl and the servant always doubles the master's boast. Finally the master says, "I have poor eyesight." – The servant, "You don't see at all." (Or the master coughs and apologizes; the servant says that he coughs all night.) Disastrous following of instructions Literal following of the count Instructions followed literally – miscellaneous

Carried in tale types

For the Long Winter · ATU 1541 1 recorded variant

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