μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 1reference

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.

  • IndiaThompson-Balys.
Within the index

Filed under 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.

Filed beside it
Literal following of instructions about actionsLiteral following of instructions about greetings. Numskull gives wrong greeting and is told how to give the correct one. When he tries it, however, the conditions are wrongLiteral numskull laughs at his child's deathMaster tells servant (sarcastically) to take a year to do errand. Servant stays away a year and then returns to claim salaryNumskull told not to forget to get the handsel (a little token extra in the bargain); brings it but leaves what he has been sent to buyLiteral fool: fool told to follow his nose in a journey, runs head against tree, climbs itAsking favor when master is in good humor. Fool waits till master is laughing at servant's stupidityNumskull told to attract girl's attention by throwing pebble at her flings large stone which breaks her head

wander