μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

"Noman." Escape by assuming an equivocal name. (Sometimes "myself.")

Deceptions. · Escape by deception. · Murderer or captor otherwise beguiled. · view the constellation · filed as K602

Filed across the traditions
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Chinese Eberhard FFC CXX 262
  • Buddhist myth Malalasekera II 36.
  • general *Hackman Polyphemsage 179, 203, 219
  • general *Fb "selv"
  • general Clouston Noodles 194 n.
  • general BP III 378
  • general *Oertel Studien zur vgl. Literaturgeschichte VIII 117f.
  • general *Toldo Zs. f. Vksk. XV 70. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 56 No. 480
Within the index

Filed under Murderer or captor otherwise beguiled.

2 finer motifs beneath it
Fairy child injured by man who says that his name is "Self". Child tells mother, "Self did it." "Bee is eating the sweets." Man has eaten sweets and says his name is B
Filed beside it
Escape by posing as member of murderer's family or tribe Escape under ram's belly. By hiding under the belly of a ram the hero escapes under the legs of the blind ogre The 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 escapes Escape by singing song. Captive gradually moves away and at last escapes Enemy in ambush (or disguise) deceived into declaring himself Escape 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 her Escape by putting captor off guard Prisoner released on promise to wed guard (captor) Prisoner released on promise of life-long allegiance Animal captor appeased by being fed captive's family Boy in hole escapes descending log by digging hole Murderer or captor beguiled – miscellaneous
Carried in tale types

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