μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Mole as trickster killed in his own tunnel. He tricks the fox by going through the tunnel and eating the common food, but the fox sees the molehill and kills him.

Deceptions. · Deceiver falls into own trap. · Deceiver falls into his own trap – miscellaneous incidents. · view the constellation · filed as K1642

Filed across the traditions
  • Africa (Angola) Chatelain 203 No. 29.
Within the index

Filed under Deceiver falls into his own trap – miscellaneous incidents.

Filed beside it
Substituted caps cause ogre to kill his own children. The hero and heroine change places in bed with the ogre's children and put on them their caps so that the ogre is deceived Message of death fatal to sender. (Gang nach dem Eisenhammer.) A man is sent by the king to burners of a kiln who have been instructed to throw the first arrival into the fire. The intended victim goes elsewhere and the king's son (or the man's accuser), who next arrives, is burned instead Poisoner poisoned with his own poison Father delivering daughter to be eaten by cannibal is himself eaten Ogre's own moccasins burned. The ogre plans to burn the hero's moccasins while they are camping together, but the hero exchanges the moccasins Marooned man reaches home and outwits marooner Substituted arrows. Hero given arrows with soft points and sent after dangerous enemies. The deception discovered and the enemy discomfited Deceiver in swinging contest killed. Old woman planning to kill hero in swinging game by cutting rope is killed when hero cuts the rope first Tiger in sheep's clothing stolen by sheep-thief Thief climbing rope discovered and rope cut. He has tricked the guardian of the food-supply in the tree (by imitation of the owner's voice or the discovered pass-word) to let down the rope Lawyer agrees to pay debt on winning his first case. He refuses to plead so as not to pay. Debtor sues him for double the amount due him. If he wins he has to pay and if he loses he has to pay double. He settles debt Woman who engages false bridegroom for her daughter has plans go astray. Daughter is seduced Monkey instead of girl in floating basket: hermit made laughing-stock. He has persuaded girl's foolish father to place her in the basket. Prince takes girl and leaves monkey in her place. (Cf. K1333, K1674.) Would-be killers killed Sons have servant impersonate dead father and falsify his will. Servant deceives them by favoring himself The bribed boy sings the wrong song. The sexton steals the priest's cow. The next day the sexton's son sings, "My father stole the priest's cow." The priest pays the boy to sing the song in church. But the sexton teaches the boy a new song, "The priest has lain with my mother," and this is sung in church

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