μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 2references

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.

  • India*Thompson-Balys
  • Africa (Kaffir)Theal 130, (Basuto): Jacottet 2 No. 1, (Fjort): Dennett 106 No. 30.
Within the index

Filed under Murderer or captor otherwise beguiled.

2 finer motifs beneath it
Escape by posing as preceptor of tiger's deceased father"Don't eat your nephews." Giants thus dissuaded
Filed beside it
"Noman." Escape by assuming an equivocal name. (Sometimes "myself.")Escape under ram's belly. By hiding under the belly of a ram the hero escapes under the legs of the blind ogreThe three teachings of the bird (fox). In return for release from captivity the bird (fox) gives the man three teachings. These usually mock the man for his foolishness in releasing what he has. (See for these counsels: J21.12, J21.13, J21.14.)Cannibal sent for water with vessel full of holes: victim escapesEscape by singing song. Captive gradually moves away and at last escapesEnemy in ambush (or disguise) deceived into declaring himselfEscape by laughing and crying at same time. Captured bird cries in thinking of her little ones and laughs under pretext that the hunter is wasting his time instead of taking the treasure which she pretends is in her house. The hunter leaves herEscape by putting captor off guardPrisoner released on promise to wed guard (captor)Prisoner released on promise of life-long allegianceAnimal captor appeased by being fed captive's familyBoy in hole escapes descending log by digging holeMurderer or captor beguiled – miscellaneous

wander