Death from fright. (Cf. N383.3.) — Mythoi

Motif

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

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

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed

Filed across the traditions

Italian Novella Rotunda
Eskimo (Greenland) Rink 228, 439, 452, Rasmussen I 148, II 334, III 61, 97, Holm 26.

Within the index

Filed under Other unlucky accidents.

14 finer motifs beneath it

Madness from fright 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.)

Filed beside it

Drop of honey causes chain of accidents. Hunter drops honey in a grocery; weasel eats honey; cat chases weasel; dog chases cat; grocer kills dog: all the cause of a bloody feud between villages Fugitive slave takes wrong road and is caught Man falls dead from sudden realization Unintentional injuries bring unfortunate consequences. (Sometimes the injuries are mere breeches of tabu.) Lover's wound breaks while he is in bed with mistress. He bleeds to death (or is discovered because of the blood) Feud starts over trifle Blind men accidentally hurt each other. (Trying to kill pig, or the like.) Lover who is detained away beyond stipulated time returns to find fiancée married Robber attempting to steal cow at night seizes thieving tiger. Great fight in stable Delay in bringing pardon allows deserved execution. Messenger, ignorant of contents of message, stops to view culprit's execution Man blinded trying to heal girl. Powders blow into his one good eye The sleeping guard. Watchman falls asleep as enemy approaches Accidental self-injury Mistake in interpreting prophecy (oracle) brings misfortune Additional unlucky accidents

Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)

Mother dies of fright when she learns that she was about to commit incest with her son. He has disguised himself to test her chastity

Carried in tale types

Frightened to Death (previously Clothing Caught in Graveyard) · ATU 1676B 1 recorded variant

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