μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Weak animal (man) makes large one (ogre) believe that he has eaten many of the large one's companions. The latter is frightened.

Deceptions. · Deception through shams. · Deception through bluffing. · Ogre (large animal) overawed. · view the constellation · filed as K1715

Filed across the traditions
  • Russian Andrejev No. 126
  • Spanish Espinosa III Nos. 249f.
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Indonesia *Dixon 191 nn. 15, 16, 192 n. 17
  • Africa Weeks Jungle 394, Werner African 223, (Kaffir): Kidd 230 No. 2, (Vai): Ellis 191 No. 7, (Hottentot): Bleek 24
  • Cape Verde Islands Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 317, 320, 322
  • West Indies Flowers 543
  • American Negro (Georgia) Harris Nights 44 No. 9, 291 No. 49.
  • general Types 126*, 1149
  • general *BP I 160 n. 1
  • general *Krappe Neophilologus XV 274ff.
Within the index

Filed under Ogre (large animal) overawed.

14 finer motifs beneath it
Weak animal shows strong his own reflection and frightens him. Tells him that this animal is threatening to kill him. (Usually hare and lion.) Bluff: only one tiger; you promised ten. Child (or shepherd) calls out to the small hero (ape, hare) and makes the tiger (ogre) think that he is lucky to escape alive The wolf flees from the wolf-head. The sheep have found a sack and a wolf-head. They make the wolf believe that they have killed a wolf, and he flees in terror Enemies frightened away by making them think they will be eaten Leopard frightened away by report of lizard's presence. Lizard has bitten leopard before Trickster pretends to hunt certain tree with which his ancestors have killed tigers. Tiger frightened away Bluff: small (lame) hero makes demon believe he is a god and threatens to eat him. Demon terrorized Bluff: hero to brother, "You take one and I can manage the rest." Trickster purports to be deity's messenger to procure demon-skins for his drum. Demons bribe him instead of devouring him Ass claims to have killed cow: frightens tiger Lion frightened away by stabbing at it from inside iron cage Large animal frightened by smaller showing him well rope (for his tail), curds (for spit), winnowing fans (for ears) Tiger made to believe that his captor has eaten many crabs. Tiger fears crabs and releases him Fox overawes lion cubs by his boasting and eats their food
Filed beside it
Ogre made to believe small hero is large: overawed Boys threaten to harness tiger. They have jumped on him from behind and he cannot see. He buys them off Hare as ambassador of the moon. Hare claiming to be ambassador of moon shows elephant the moon irritated in a spring. Elephant is persuaded that the moon is angry Big shoes in front of the barn. Man makes giant shoes and places them so that ogre thinks a giant lives there Ogre overawed by hero's boasts about marvelous relatives Hero proves himself a cannibal by trick vomit-exchange Monkey pretends that his house always answers him Goat pretends to be chewing rock. Frightens wolf "St. George's Dogs" (wolves). The man says, "St. George's dogs are coming!" The ogre flees Giantess frightened of leaving cave because of hero's statue in entrance Tiger frightened at hearing unknown wind The bear trainer and his bear. (Schrätel und Wasserbär.) Ogre is driven out by hero's bear. The next year the ogre asks, "Is the big cat still living?" Hero says that it now has many kittens. Ogre is overawed Wages: as much as he can carry. To get rid of the boy the troll offers him as large wages as he is able to carry. Boy says that this will be too much, that he will be contented merely with what the troll can carry Ogre made to believe hero has withstood fire. Hero escapes and after the room he has been in is burned he returns and is found sitting in the ashes. "It was a bit hot," he says Dog pretends to be calling dog in the moon when he barks Troll bluffed away from christening. He is invited but told that guests will include the Virgin Mary, Thor the Thunderer, etc. He stays away but sends the finest present
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “companions” · wander