μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Taming the shrew. By outdoing his wife in shrewishness the husband renders her obedient.

Sex. · Married life. · Characteristics of wives and husbands. · view the constellation · filed as T251.2

Filed across the traditions
  • Italian Novella Rotunda
  • India *Thompson-Balys.
  • general *Types 900, 901
  • general *BP I 443
  • general **Philippson FFC L
  • general *Wesselski Arlotto II 229 No. 95
  • general *Gigas "Et eventyrs vandring" Litteratur og Historie (3e samling) (København, 1902)
  • general *Krappe Études ital. II 141ff.
  • general *Wesselski Märchen 216 No. 24
  • general Köhler-Bolte I 137
  • general Chauvin II 155 No. 27. Spanish Exempla: Keller
Within the index

Filed under The shrewish wife.

5 finer motifs beneath it
Shrew tamed by setting another shrew against her Husband dons armor and forces the household to shout: "Long live the Master!" Takes off his breeches and dares his wife to put them on. Establishes his mastery in the home Wife becomes obedient on seeing husband slay a recalcitrant horse The wicked queen reformed. While asleep she is made to exchange places with the cobbler's wife. She thinks she is in hell. The cobbler teaches her to obey and fear her husband Shrewish wife driven from home but when in danger, runs to husband and receives protection. She is a good wife thereafter
Filed beside it
Man ejected from heaven for folly of marrying twice Christ, not having married, knew nothing about suffering. So thinks the man after hearing all about Christ's torments Man reprimanded by judge for marrying several times. The man replies that he was always looking for a good wife Avoiding the shrewish wife St. Peter's wife meets him with a broom handle. She is waiting for him at the rear door of the house Socrates and Zanthippe: "After thunder rain". He thus remarks as she empties slops on his head Strength in words, in herbs, and in stones. When first two do not cure shrewish wife, the last does. (Cf. J1563.6, J1581.2, J2412.5.) The browbeaten husband from under the table: "The man always has a man's heart." Husband will not search for shrewish wife who has run away from him Shrewish wife gives husband beating every morning Husband consoled by seeing woman even more shrewish than his wife. (Cf. J882.) Wife beats her husband and eats up everything he earns Fakir thankful for shrewish wife: she is a thorn in his flesh and warns him from neglecting the ways of righteousness
Carried in tale types

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