μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Enigmatical smile (laugh) reveals secret knowledge.

Chance and fate. · Lucky accidents. · Valuable secrets learned. · Secrets overheard. · view the constellation · filed as N456

Filed across the traditions
  • Irish myth *Cross
  • Icelandic Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 358
  • India *Thompson-Balys.
  • general *Type 670
  • general **Aarne FFC XV 31ff.
  • general Wesselski Mönchslatein 93 No. 153
  • general Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 82
  • general Krappe Revue Celtique XLVIII 401ff.
  • general *Schoepperle I 198 n. 1
  • general *Penzer I 46 n. 2
Within the index

Filed under Secrets overheard.

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 Overheard (human) conversation 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
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Prophecy from enigmatical laugh. (Cf. N456.)
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “enigmatical” · wander