μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Murder will out.

Chance and fate. · The ways of luck and fate. · Crime inevitably comes to light. · view the constellation · filed as N271

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed
Filed across the traditions
  • Missouri French Carrière
  • Spanish Espinosa Jr Nos. 202–209
  • Jewish *Neuman
  • India *Thompson-Balys.
Within the index

Filed under Crime inevitably comes to light.

11 finer motifs beneath it
The sun brings all to light. The murderer repeats as he sees the rays of the sun, the last words of the dying man, thus betraying the crime Murder revealed by unusual names of boys. The dying man leaves message to name his sons "O God" and "O king" (or the like). This arouses the king's curiosity and brings the murder to light The Cranes of Ibycus. Murdered man calls on cranes, the only witnesses of the murder, to avenge him. The cranes follow the murderer and point him out Murder discovered through knowledge of bird languages. Birds point out the murder Murderer through miracle suspected of theft; murder thus discovered Murder revealed by child Murder discovered on digging foundations of house. House burns. Diggers discover body Murderer traced through victim's ring Tree follows murderer Ship will sink if murderer is aboard Murder will out: murderers quarrel under influence of drink and reveal crime
Filed beside it
Criminal confesses because he thinks himself accused [First Edition: N276. Thief finally discovered when he pawns stolen goods.] Oxen bear dead usurer to gallows to be buried. They are allowed to go where they will Supernatural voice points out criminal [First Edition: N290. Luck and fate – miscellaneous motifs.]
Carried in tale types

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