μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 1reference

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • general U.S., England, Wales: Baughman.
Within the index

Filed under Devil cheated of his promised soul. The man saves it through deceit.

7 finer motifs beneath it
Devil cheated of his promised soul by making the intended victim drunk. The devil may punish the drunk man's body but has no power over his soulDevil cheated of his promised soul when the victim sells his to a comrade. The latter says, "The devil can take only one soul from each person. I bought the soul so that when he comes I can give him one and still save my own."God cheats the devil of his promised soul. The devil is to fill a cask full of money. God knocks the bottom out of the caskDevil is to get soul of man whether he is buried "inside or outside of church, above or below ground." The man has himself buried in the wall of the church, partly in and partly out of the ground. (Cf. H1052.)Man cheats devil by giving him sole instead of soul. (Cf. E459.1.)Devil gets an animal in place of a human beingDevil gets a flea instead of man's soul
Filed beside it
Devil cheated by imposing an impossible taskDevil cheated by being frightenedDevil pounded in knapsack until he releases manDevil's magic power turned on himself. The hero who is riding the devil as a horse receives supernatural strength from plucking a hair from the devil's mane. He then spurs the devil until he agrees to forego his bargain for the man's soulDevil cheated by pretended hanging. The man has promised himself to the devil in return for money. He stuffs his clothes with straw and hangs them up. The devil thinks the man has hanged himself and is satisfiedDevil to release man for performing seemingly impossible task. The task is performed by trickeryDevil gets another soul instead of one bargained for. The devil bargains with a man for his soul, but the man fulfills his contract and escapes. In envy two persons commit suicide. The devil rejoices that though he lost one he has gained twoDevil cheated by religious or magic means. Missouri French: Carrière

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