Metaphors literally interpreted.
The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Literal fools. · Metaphors literally interpreted. · view the constellation · filed as J2470
Motif
Filed across the traditions
- India *Thompson-Balys
- general N. Am. Indian (Wyandot): Barbeau GSCan XI 224 No. 68.
Within the index
15 finer motifs beneath it
"Taking a pattern (picture) of conduct" from other people. Fool steals a picture from the church "Skinning farmers". A master tells his servant that he is going to skin some farmers (i.e., cheat them). When a farmer inquires for a tanner, the servant directs him to his master Peasant opens his mouth. He tells his wife about the good things he gets to eat at the rich man's house. The wife says, "Open your mouth for me once so that I may get some too." The peasant gets up after the next large meal and opens his mouth to the astonishment of all present The hunter's mass. A count instructs his chaplain to read a hunter's mass (i.e., a short one). The chaplain searches the prayerbook in vain for a hunter's mass "Greasing the judge's palms." The woman puts butter on his hands The literal host: bread and salt. Guest finds that his host spoke literally when he invited him to share his bread and salt. Later, when the host threatens an importunate beggar, the guest advises the beggar to flee since the host means what he says Christ has too many debts. St. Peter is to give Christ to a woman as husband. She hears people say, when they are asked for money, "When Christ pays me, I will pay you." The woman says that Christ has too many debts The numskull buys water at market. He looks at bread. The merchant: "It is as good as butter." He decides on butter. The merchant: "It is as sweet as oil." He decides on oil. The merchant: "It is as clear as water." He decides on water The horse that went like a ship. Men have been assured that a horse will "go like a ship". When they spur the horse, it will not move. A man takes a pole and hits the horse. It goes. "See, it goes like a ship. It is started by a pole, not by spurs." The fool is told that his son has given up the ghost. He wonders. He didn't know that the son had a ghost to give up The house without food or drink. A fool and his son meet women mourning a dead man. "He goes to the place where there is darkness and nothing to eat or drink." The son: "They must be coming to our house." Father tells son that he has been scratched by "hairy rascals" (monkeys). Son attacks hairy ascetics What is behind you. Woman tells husband she has cooked what is behind him. He sees the door there and tries to cook it Numskull wants to see an abstract quality Metaphors literally interpreted – miscellaneous
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