μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Biting the foot. Fox to bear, who is biting his foot: "You are biting the tree root." Bear lets loose.

Deceptions. · Escape by deception. · Escape by overawing captor. · view the constellation · filed as K543

Filed across the traditions
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • S. Am. Indian (Brazil) Hartt Amazonian Tortoise Myths (Rio de Janeiro, 1875) 29
  • Africa Werner African 296, 299, (Kaffir): Theal 187, (Mpongwe): Nassau 17 No. 1, 45 No. 6, (Zulu): Callaway 6, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 395 No. 18, (Nakami): FL X 386
  • American Negro (Georgia) Harris Remus 58 No. 12
  • West Indies Flowers 514
  • Bahama Parsons MAFLS XIII 103.
  • general *Type 5
  • general *BP II 117 n. 2
  • general Krohn Bär (Wolf) und Fuchs (JSFO VI) 62ff.
  • general *Fb "bjørn" IV 43b
  • general Indonesia, Malay Peninsula: *Dixon 190 n. 11, *DeVries's list No. 1
Within the index

Filed under Escape by overawing captor.

1 finer motif beneath it
Fox to crocodile who has caught him by the tongue: "Those are the dirty clothes I've been washing!" She lets go
Filed beside it
Escape by reporting oneself invulnerable and overawing captor Escape by falsely reporting one's ability to escape. "I should be caught if there were not an escape at the back." When the captors run to the rear, the captive escapes Escape by alleged possession of external soul. Monkey caught for his heart (as remedy) makes his captor believe that he has left his heart at home Escape by falsely reporting approach of rescuers Pope escapes captivity and death by dressing in full regalia and overawing captor Escape by frightening would-be captors. (Cf. K1710.) Escape by making attacker believe there are many defenders. (Cf. K2368.)
Carried in tale types

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