μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Foundling hero.

Reversal of fortune. · Unpromising hero (heroine). · Types of unpromising heroes (heroines). · view the constellation · filed as L111.2

Filed across the traditions
  • Irish myth Cross
  • Icelandic *Boberg
  • Missouri-French Carrière
  • Italian Novella *Rotunda
  • Tonga Gifford 130
  • N. Am. Indian Lowie JAFL XXI 27.
  • general *Dickson 144ff. n. 147
  • general Hdwb. d. Märchens II 120b
Within the index

Filed under Hero (heroine) of unpromising origin.

5 finer motifs beneath it
Future hero found in boat (basket, bushes). Legends of Moses, Cyrus, Beowulf and others Future hero found on shore Future hero found on top of a tree Future hero found in wolf den Heroine found in harp
Filed beside it
Exile returns and succeeds Widow's son as hero Orphan hero Bastard hero Anchorite's son as hero Future hero (heroine) raised by animal Heroes sons of wife not favorite of king Hero of story neglected grandson of raja Unpromising fourth son succeeds
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Hero born out of wedlock. (Cf. L111.2.)

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