μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

The capriciousness of luck.

Chance and fate. · The ways of luck and fate. · The capriciousness of luck. · view the constellation · filed as N170

Filed across the traditions
  • Icelandic *Boberg
  • Jewish Neuman
  • India Thompson-Balys.
Within the index
12 finer motifs beneath it
Unprotected son makes fortune; protected son has bad luck Prodigal as favorite of fortune Disagreeable and disliked youth as favorite of Fortune Careful builder outside when storm comes is killed; careless builder saved Beggar escapes from fire. Refused hospitality, he must sleep outdoors. The house burns down Loss of eye saves man from execution. Man to be buried with king. Gets off because he lacks an eye Fortunes of the rich man and of the poor man. The Fortune of the rich brother tells the poor brother to seek his luck under a bush. The poor man goes there and Fortune tells him to become a merchant. He becomes rich Snake turns to gold in answer to dream. Woman tells dream of pot of gold. Robbers overhear but finding only snake in pot turn it loose on woman's bed. It turns to gold Money lost twice: recovered third time Fugitive woman burdened with child saved; childless woman killed Man who derided another's faith in the stars becomes respected astrologer. (Cf. P481.) Hero fails to meet the man he seeks, though they are close to one another

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