μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Secrets overheard from animal (demon) conversation.

Chance and fate. · Lucky accidents. · Valuable secrets learned. · Secrets overheard. · view the constellation · filed as N451

Filed across the traditions
  • Icelandic Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 131, 144, Boberg
  • Italian Novella Rotunda, Basile Pentamerone IV No. 9
  • Greek Grote I 105
  • Jewish Neuman
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Buddhist myth Malalasekera II 1138
  • Chinese Graham
  • Japanese Ikeda
  • Korean Zong in-Sob 150, 155.
  • general *Types 516, 517, 670, 673
  • general BP I 42ff., 131f.
  • general **Aarne FFC XV
  • general **Rösch FFC LXXVII 102, 114
  • general Penzer I 48, III 60
Within the index

Filed under Secrets overheard.

1 finer motif beneath it
Secrets of animals (demons) accidentally overheard from tree (bridge) hiding place
Filed beside it
Secret remedy overheard in conversation of animals (witches) Man transformed as ant, learns secret of freeing princess Conversation of objects overheard Overheard (human) conversation Enigmatical smile (laugh) reveals secret knowledge Secret physical peculiarity discovered by barber. (Midas.) Daughter lousing mother weeps and reveals secret King in disguise to learn secrets of his subjects Newborn babe reveals secret; then becomes silent Foolish attempt of second man to overhear secrets (from animals, demons etc.). He is punished Secret name overheard by eavesdropper Secret of unique vulnerability disclosed Secret wealth betrayed by money left in borrowed money-scales Secret escapes with man's blood Secret learned by torture Giant unwittingly reveals span of life to dwarf, who is thus emboldened to attack him
Carried in tale types

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