Weak (small) hero overcomes large fighter

Motif

Weak (small) hero overcomes large fighter.

Reversal of fortune. · Triumph of the weak. · Weak overcomes strong in conflict. · view the constellation · filed as L311

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Scholars’ trail — 12references

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.

Irish mythCross
EnglishChild II 35ff.
Icelandic*Boberg
Spanish ExemplaKeller
Italian NovellaRotunda
JapaneseAnesaki 311
JewishNeuman, I Samuel 17:23 (David and Goliath)
TuamotuBeckwith Myth 476.
general *Type 328
general A. Stender-Petersen Acta Jutlandica VI (1934) 166ff.
general N. Am. Indian (Southern Paiute, Shivwits): Lowie JAFL XXXVII 150 No. 17
general Guatamala Indian (Quiche): Alexander Lat. Am. 168ff.

Within the index

Filed under Weak overcomes strong in conflict.

5 finer motifs beneath it

Sick hero overcomes antagonist Poorly-armed hero overcomes well-armed by strategy Poor prince overcomes king Little innocent girl is able to drive giant out of land Small boy overcomes enraged gorilla

Filed beside it

Little strong man defeats giant in race Small animal overcomes large Offended rats gnaw saddle girths of king's horses so that he is defeated in battle Mice win war with woodcutters

wander