Substituted object left in bed while intended victim escapes — Mythoi

Motif

Substituted object left in bed while intended victim escapes.

Deceptions. · Escape by deception. · Death escaped through disguise, shamming, or substitution. · view the constellation · filed as K525.1

Filed across the traditions

U.S. Baughman
Icelandic FSS 38, Boberg
Cheremis Sebeok-Nyerges (K437.1.1.)
French Canadian Barbeau JAFL XXIX 22
Spanish Boggs FFC XC 116 No. 970
Italian Basile Pentamerone III No. 4, Rotunda
India *Thompson-Balys
Buddhist myth Malalasekera I 207
Chinese Graham
Hawaii Beckwith Myth 444
Tuamotu Stimson MS (T-G. 3115)
Tahiti ibid. 63
Africa (Kaffir) Theal 125, (Ekoi): Talbot 249
American Negro (Georgia) Harris Nights 3 No. 1.
general *Type 1115
general *BP I 148ff., 164
general Australia: Dixon 279

Within the index

Filed under Escape by use of substituted object. The object is attacked rather than the intended victim.

3 finer motifs beneath it

Woman puts figures of paramour and herself in bed. Husband attacks them. Woman uses it as a lesson to "reform" husband Bride substitutes wooden picture while she herself escapes sleeping groom In order to save child from death, maid substitutes block dressed to resemble it. Enemy strikes block

Filed beside it

Man steps aside so that only his shadow is caught Object substituted for murdered person so as to allay suspicion Animal jumps out of skin so that only skin is caught Man leaves mantle so that only mantle is hit Escape, leaving dog as substitute Girl escapes from ogress by substituting pig Destructive magic object tried out on something inanimate Cock's blood given spirits instead of human blood Escape by leaving behind false images made of spittle

Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)

Robber cheated by substitution. Spending the night in company with a suspicious-looking stranger, the man does not go to sleep, but leaves his clothes in bed and waits to see what will happen. When the stranger wakes up in the night, he stabs at his sleeping companion, who shoots him down. (Cf. K525.1.)

Carried in tale types

The Brave Tailor · ATU 1640 2 recorded variants
The Basil Maiden · ATU 879 2 recorded variants
Attempted Murder with a Hatchet · ATU 1115 1 recorded variant
The Punished Seducer · ATU 883B 1 recorded variant

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