μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Lying contests.

Humor. · Humor of lies and exaggeration · Humor of lies and exaggeration. · view the constellation · filed as X905

In our texts — keyword-matched, unreviewed
Filed across the traditions
  • Italian Novella Rotunda
  • India *Thompson-Balys
  • Japanese Ikeda.
Within the index

Filed under Humor of lies and exaggeration.

4 finer motifs beneath it
Master brought to say, "You lie!" Greatest liar made king of Schlaraffenland. (Cf. X1503.) Claim of property based on unusual lie The liar: "I have no time to lie today"; lies nevertheless
Filed beside it
One lie a year. A man who tells but one lie a year is believed because of his general truthfulness. Amusing results Liar comes to believe his own lie. He tells a lie so often that he believes it himself. (Cf. X611.) Lie used as catch tale. (Cf. Z13.) The teller reduces the size of his lie Would not lie for a trifle. Liar tells of shooting large number of animals with one shot (an odd number, usually 99). When asked why he did not make it a round number (or an even hundred), he replies indignantly that he would not lie for one pigeon (rabbit) Man has servant corroborate his lies. Rewards him poorly. Servant exposes him Lie: sea has burned up. (Often with answer: "Many fried fish.") Other stories about liars [First Edition: X910. Münchhausen tales.]
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Liar escapes from devil: quest for greater liar. (Cf. G303.16.19.3, K210, X905.) Confession discredited by claim to be notorious liar. (Cf. X905.)
Carried in tale types

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