23 motifs match “coward”  ·  back to the chapters

• Tribal characteristics – bravery or cowardice. A1676
• What is most shameful? Cowardice. H659.12.1
• Men shamed for their cowardice by woman standing naked before them. (Usually connected with Jus Primae Noctis [T161]). J87
• What the bear whispered in his ear. Paid guide climbs tree and leaves traveler to mercy of a bear. Traveler feigns death and the bear sniffs at him and leaves. The guide: "What did the bear say to you?" "He said, never trust a coward like you." J1488
• Cowardly fool. J2600
• Coward is frightened when clothing catches on thistle. (Cf. N384.2.) J2625
• Coward boasts of what he would have done after danger is over. J2626
• Boastful coward frightened when he sees strong adversaries. Hides in trousers of plowman who fights the men. J2631
• Boasting coward exposed by wife who masks as highwayman and robs him. K1837.1
• Boastful coward frightened by conspirators. K1951.4
• Coward boasts that he has frightened bear away. His wife has killed it and he has fled. K1953.1
• The cowardly duelers. In the war between the wild and the domestic animals, the cat raises her tail; the wild animals think that it is a gun and flee. K2323
• Cowardly to leave battle while lord is alive. W34.3
• Cowardice. W121
• Coward boasts when there is no danger. (Cf. J974, J978.) W121.2
• Coward gloats over robber slain by another person. W121.2.5
• Cowardly soldier turns back when he hears raven's croak. W121.3
• Queen mother shames cowardly son and companions. "In truth, gentlemen, you do well in weeping; for since you didn't fight like men to defend your land, it is suitable that now you weep like women on leaving it." W121.4
• Cowardly spider rushes at fly but hides when wasp appears. W121.5
• Coward gives his purse to thief with lame excuse. W121.6
• Cowardly bridegroom flees elephant and loses bride. W121.7
• Swooning from cowardice. W121.8.1
• Tailors cowards as warriors: go home to their needles. (Cf. W121.) X223