μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 3references

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.

  • U.S.Baughman
  • West IndiesFlowers 515.
  • general *Type 122A
Within the index

Filed under Escape by false plea. A captive makes a request or proposes an action that permits him eventually to escape.

28 finer motifs beneath it
Respite from death granted until prayer is finished. It lasts till rescue comesRespite from death until prisoner has finished drinking his glass. It is left half finishedRespite from death until victim has blown on a horn (three times). Rescuers comeRespite from death until toilet is made permits escapeGirl makes toilet and calls help. When she sees robber under her bed she pretends not to see him and combs her hair at the window. She says, "When I am married my husband will come home from the tavern and seize me by the hair and I shall cry: "Help!" Rescue comesEscape by asking to die on a horseCaptured animal asks respite while he gives war alarmWolf kept at door until children have been christened. He loses his feastLet me live as long as this candle lasts. Man who has sold his soul to devil thus escapes. (Cf. G303.12.5.4.)Escape by asking a last kiss. Uses the opportunity to attack adversaryTen (five) year respite given captive while he undertakes to teach elephant (ass) to speak. Captive explains to friends that in that time the captor, the elephant (ass), or himself is likely to dieRespite from death until muddy victim may dry self in sunRespite from death until one pays a last visitRespite from death until captive has taken six steps toward God. Takes prodigious ones and escapesRespite from death until prisoner is healed by magic objectWoman escapes by ruse: must go to defecateRespite from death for drink of waterRespite from death granted until wolf reads horse's passport. Wolf kicked to death. (Cf. J1608.)Respite from death granted while wolf counts hairs in horse's tail. Wolf kicked to deathWolf is requested by tailor to be measured for suit of clothes; wolf beatenRespite from death until minister shows king how to reap pearlsDefinite respite from death grantedEscape by false plea: jackal asks to be able to clasp tree before crocodile kills itRespite from death until hero climbs tree. He flies away in machine stored there +4 more
Filed beside it
Escape by equivocal oath. (Cf. K475.)"Wait till I get fat." Captured person (animal) persuades his captor to wait and fatten him before eating himExecutioner kept busy or interested until rescue comes. Sometimes until he changes his mindDeath cheated by moving bed. The man who has chosen Death as his godfather has his bed turned around when he sees Death standing at the foot of his bed. He thus escapes deathMan allowed to pick out tree to be hanged on. Cannot find oneEscape by persuading captor to talkRat persuades cat to wash face before eating: escapesEscape because of plea that leaves means of egress openThumbling in animal's belly persuades latter to go to his father's house for plunder: rescuedAss begs wolf to pull thorn out of foot before eating him: kicks wolf in mouthEscape by pretending to perform errand (do work) for captorEscape by pretending to dance so as to be untiedEscape from captor by means of flatteryEscape by asserting that captor will have ill luck after killing victimEscape by false prophecy: if corpses are buried in city, it will become a ruin: king releases condemned manTo get out of thieves' clutch, man reports high prices in another town
Carried in tale types

wander