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

4 finer motifs beneath it
Attempted escape by persuading captor to talk failsAnimal captor persuaded to talk and release victim from his mouth. Usually cock and fox, fox and wolf, or mouse and catSheep persuade the wolf to sing. Dogs are summonedCrocodile persuaded to open his mouth. When he does, he shuts his eyes automatically and monkey escapes
Filed beside it
Escape by equivocal oath. (Cf. K475.)Respite from death granted until particular act is performed"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 oneRat 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

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