μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Filed across the traditions
  • Irish myth *Cross
  • Italian Novella *Rotunda
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • N. Am. Indian *Thompson Tales 329 n. 189
  • Africa (Zulu) Callaway 181ff.
  • general Penzer IX 55
Within the index

Filed under Marital impostors.

3 finer motifs beneath it
Monk becomes husband to girl at night, so that his friend may have dowry Through power of saint, man is caused to assume lover's form and sleep with princess. Lover plots death of saint, but is accidentally slain in his place Handsome man substituted for ugly as bridegroom: wins bride
Filed beside it
The false bride (substituted bride). An impostor takes the wife's place without the husband's knowledge and banishes (kills, transforms) the wife The false virgin. Various deceptions practiced to mask bride as virgin Abductor pretends to have been sent to fetch princess by lover Robber bridegroom. Robber marries girl under pretence of being a fine gentleman Penniless bridegroom pretends to wealth Monster disguises and wins girl. Borrows wedding garments one by one; later returns them one by one and reveals monster form Marital impostors – miscellaneous
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Magic spittle Magic excrements Magic tears Magic ornament provides treasure Magic building provides treasure Old man of the sea. Burr-woman. Ogre who jumps on one's back and sticks there magically Quest assigned because of feigned dream Heat test. Attempt to kill hero by burning him in fire Tree-pulling contest Deceptive eating contest Escape by shamming death: blood and brains. The trickster covers himself with paint (or the like) so that he will be thought to have bled to death (or with milk so that it will be thought that his brains have been knocked out) Substitute smoker. The hero is compelled to smoke a fatal pipe, but the helpful insect which he carries on his head smokes the pipe for him

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