Madness from fright — Mythoi

Motif

Madness from fright.

Chance and fate. · Unlucky accidents. · Other unlucky accidents. · view the constellation · filed as N384.0.1

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed

Greco-Roman The Metamorphoses of Ovid , Book 4
Irish Cuchulain of Muirthemne: The Story of the Men of the Red Branch of Ulster , Ch. 11 THE WAR FOR THE BULL OF CUAILGNE
Literary Crystallization Moby-Dick; or, The Whale , 87
Literary Crystallization Four Plays (The Tempest, A Midsummer-Night's Dream, The Winter's Tale, King Lear) — University Press Shakespeare, ed. Sidney Lee , The Tempest Act 2

Filed across the traditions

U.S. *Baughman.

Within the index

Filed under Death from fright. (Cf. N383.3.)

1 finer motif beneath it

The cadaver arm. Medical students (or student nurses or hospital employees) play trick on one of their number by suspending a cadaver arm or leg from the light cord in the person's room (sometimes the object is placed in the person's bed). Some circumstance keeps them from being on hand to observe the person's reaction; the next day they remember the joke and go to the victim's room to investigate. They have to break down the door. They find the victim sitting on the bed – her hair is snow white – and she is gnawing on the cadaver arm

Filed beside it

Mouse frightens man to death Death in the graveyard; person's clothing is caught; the person thinks something awful is holding him; he dies of fright Wicked stepmother falls into the fire because of fright. (Cf. M431.6.) Fraternity initiate dies of fright Queen dies from fright because of evil prophecy Sham magician causes simpleton's death. Is frightened to death by the impersonation of demons Sham execution proves fatal. Jester condemned to die on block. Pail of water used instead of axe. He dies Priest frightens boy by tying girl's corpse to bell-rope. In revenge the boy puts the body in the priest's bed. Priest flees. Dies from injuries Lover frightens mistress as a joke. She dies from the shock Man playing ghost killed. Meaning to frighten son, father plays devil or a ghost. Son kills him Joker playing dead killed Woman playing dead to spy on husband killed Brothers fall dead at sight of long lost brother whom they sold into captivity. (Cf. N733.)

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