μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

What is in the dish: "Poor Crab". A sham wise man named Crab is put to a test of his powers of divination. He is to tell what is in a covered dish (crabs). In despair he says, "Poor Crab!" and is given credit for knowing.

Chance and fate. · Lucky accidents. · Other lucky accidents. · Lucky accidents – miscellaneous. · view the constellation · filed as N688

Filed across the traditions
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Indonesia DeVries's list No. 302
  • Philippine Fansler MAFLS XII 7f., 144
  • American Negro (Georgia) Harris Friends 24ff. No. 3
  • Cape Verde Islands Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 182 No. 62.
  • general *Type 1641
  • general *BP II 401ff., 409
  • general Louisiana French: Fortier MAFLS II 116
Within the index

Filed under Lucky accidents – miscellaneous.

1 finer motif beneath it
Doctor know-all accidentally saves raja. Roof caves in after he has dragged raja out with the intention of killing him and putting an end to all of his questions
Filed beside it
Lucky fool Series of lucky successes Husband (lover) arrives home just as wife (mistress) is to marry another Prophecy of future greatness fulfilled when hero returns home unknown. Parents serve him Stranger accidentally chosen king. Picked up by sacred elephant Naked soldier becomes general. Stripped for bathing he takes his place as guard when the king unexpectedly arrives. King invites him to come naked to the castle, where he is chosen as husband by a general's daughter Fool passes as wise man by remaining silent Hero's (heroine's) identity established as he (she) is on the point of being executed Hero unwittingly helps fee's sons: rewarded Objects accidentally picked up used to overawe ogress Person reported lost joins unwittingly in search for himself Man sent away from battlefield to deliver message the only survivor of battle Apparently dead woman revives as she is being prepared for burial. Cf. Type 990 Passengers on a boat are terrorized by a cutthroat. He turns courteous and leaves them unharmed Fugitive in tree urinates from fright: pursuers think it rain and leave Hawk carries off necklace from bathing queen and drops it by lucky girl, who gets reward
Carried in tale types

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