μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Overheard (human) conversation.

Chance and fate. · Lucky accidents. · Valuable secrets learned. · Secrets overheard. · view the constellation · filed as N455

Filed across the traditions
  • Missouri French Carrière
  • Jewish Neuman
  • Japanese Ikeda.
  • general *Dickson 29 n. 1
Within the index

Filed under Secrets overheard.

12 finer motifs beneath it
Overheard boast about hidden money brings about robbery Robbers' plans overheard: owner warned Secret formula for opening treasure mountain overheard from robbers (Open Sesame) King overhears girl's boast as to what she should do as queen. Marries her Secret remedies learned from green-clad woman Husband learns of wife's fidelity through conversation overheard Secret about prince's father learned by eavesdropper from his mother's talking to him Friend lingering in the kitchen learns of friend's distress and helps him Location of sought object learned from overheard conversation By hiding, stupid son overhears conversation and claims magic power for bamboo cup Servant overhearing conversation realizes the misery of his employment Men hear father threaten to marry daughters to first comers
Filed beside it
Secrets overheard from animal (demon) conversation Secret remedy overheard in conversation of animals (witches) Man transformed as ant, learns secret of freeing princess Conversation of objects overheard 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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