μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Lazy man asks if wood is split before he accepts it as a gift.

Traits of character. · Unfavorable traits of character. · Unfavorable traits of character – personal. · view the constellation · filed as W111.5.10

Filed across the traditions
  • U.S. Baughman.
Within the index

Filed under Other lazy persons.

1 finer motif beneath it
Lazy man is being taken to poorhouse or out of town or to cemetery to be buried alive. The group take pity on him, offer him various articles to help him get started again. One offers a bushel of corn. The lazy one rises up from the bottom of the wagon or coffin where he has been lying: "Is the corn shelled?"
Filed beside it
Lazy mother given shoes of cotton; son knows that she will not wear them out Lazy girl does not know where the spring is Lazy man asked direction only points with his foot Lazy dog wakes only for his meals Man in mud too lazy to take hand extended to help him up Lazy son-in-law: afraid of a dog Ruler is too lazy to stop quarrels. They lead to his death Man with stolen fig in his mouth submits to having cheek lanced rather than open his mouth. (Cf. J1842.2.) Learning a trade in bed. Working independently, the lazy fellow spoils the materials received – starts making something big, which at the end turns to nothing. For example, begins with forging a plough: this becomes an axe, the axe a knife, and knife a needle, the needle – nothing. (Cf. J2080.) Lazy man misses seeing the sheriff's funeral; he is facing the wrong way as the procession passes Man digs three potatoes in one day: one dug, one being dug, one about to be dug Man weeds garden from cushioned rocking chair, using fire tongs to reach weeds
Carried in tale types

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