μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed
Scholars’ trail — 2references

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.

  • Italian NovellaRotunda
  • 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 frightMouse frightens man to deathDeath in the graveyard; person's clothing is caught; the person thinks something awful is holding him; he dies of frightWicked stepmother falls into the fire because of fright. (Cf. M431.6.)Fraternity initiate dies of frightQueen dies from fright because of evil prophecySham magician causes simpleton's death. Is frightened to death by the impersonation of demonsSham execution proves fatal. Jester condemned to die on block. Pail of water used instead of axe. He diesPriest 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 injuriesLover frightens mistress as a joke. She dies from the shockMan playing ghost killed. Meaning to frighten son, father plays devil or a ghost. Son kills himJoker playing dead killedWoman playing dead to spy on husband killedBrothers 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 villagesFugitive slave takes wrong road and is caughtMan falls dead from sudden realizationUnintentional 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 trifleBlind men accidentally hurt each other. (Trying to kill pig, or the like.)Lover who is detained away beyond stipulated time returns to find fiancée marriedRobber attempting to steal cow at night seizes thieving tiger. Great fight in stableDelay in bringing pardon allows deserved execution. Messenger, ignorant of contents of message, stops to view culprit's executionMan blinded trying to heal girl. Powders blow into his one good eyeThe sleeping guard. Watchman falls asleep as enemy approachesAccidental self-injuryMistake in interpreting prophecy (oracle) brings misfortuneAdditional unlucky accidents
Travels with
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

wander