Directions followed literally to the sorrow of the giver.
The wise and the foolish. · Fools (and other unwise persons). · Foolish extremes. · Foolish extreme. · view the constellation · filed as J2516
Motif
Filed across the traditions
- India Thompson-Balys.
Within the index
Filed under Foolish extreme.
10 finer motifs beneath it
Literal misconstruction of order. Hero gets revenge Think thrice before you speak. The youth obeys literally the precept even when he sees the master's coat on fire "Pick up everything!" The youth so instructed picks up too much. The master then tells him to pick things up only when the master gives the signal. The master falls into a hole and cannot give the signal "Do nothing but attend to the horse." The youth obeys the command to such extent that he almost lets his master drown "Do not leave my side." The youth obeys the command to such an absurd extent that he is a nuisance to his master "Hang out lanterns." Officer calls to householders to hang out lanterns. One hangs out lantern but does not light it. The next night the officer calls to them to hang out lanterns and candles. He hangs out a lantern with a candle in it but unlighted. The next night the officer calls out to hang out lanterns and candlelight "Let no one in." When lizard comes in fool burns house down to drive it out Remove turban as last duty. Sleepy servant removes master's turban while still in council meeting To draw out fence stakes and throw them down. Boy throws them into river "Foresee the possible event." Asked to call a doctor when his master falls ill, fool also calls the undertaker
Filed beside it
The silence wager. A man and his wife make a wager as to who shall speak first (close the door). The man (woman) becomes jealous and scolds; loses the wager The fool and the visitor's large nose. The fool asks where he got the large nose. Is removed from the room. He comes back to mend matters. He says, "What a small nose you have!" He is again taken from the room. The third time: "What difference does it make whether you have a nose or not?" Plenty of holy water. A fool hearing of the effectiveness of holy water for the forgiveness of sins pours the whole supply over himself Sickle bought at great cost given back. In a land where the sickle is not known the new sickle cuts off the head of a man and is thereupon given back to the original owner Couldn't wait to dress. The overzealous visitor rides naked to see his friends Absurd extreme of discouragement Extreme prudery Breaking the glassware to prevent others from doing so. A king thus removes temptation from his subjects The obedient husband: the leave of absence. His wife says, "You may go away for a little while." He stays away for days and then sends a messenger to his wife asking if he has been away long enough Fool liking salt decides to eat nothing else Fool will not drink from a river because he cannot drink it all Equal share in the bed. Wishing to prove their equality twelve fools sleep on the ground and put their feet on the one bed provided for the chief Thief out of habit robs from his own purse Letter believed against clear evidence. Fool believes letter apparently reporting his uncle's death, though he has just seen uncle Bureaucrats debate as to who shall put out palace fire: meantime palace burns "Don't eat too greedily." Fool starves himself at table. Later hunts food in house and gets into trouble
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