μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
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Filed under Literal obedience.

2 finer motifs beneath it
Foolish bride gives away dowry. While her parents are away from home, a matchmaker and a suitor come to the foolish girl. By following her mother's advice literally, she gives away her dower to the trickstersMarrying a stranger. The girl shortly to be married complains: "It was all very well for you, mother, to marry father, but I am to marry a complete stranger."
Filed beside it
Disastrous following of misunderstood instructions. (To burn land, then sow seed. Opposite done.)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 punishedFoolish bridegroom follows instructions literallyThe 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 instructionsLiteral following of the countInstructions followed literally – miscellaneous

wander