42 motifs match “greed”  ·  back to the chapters

• Greedy god. A139.15
• Animal characteristics: punishment for greed. A2238
• Spider transformed for greediness: now occupies dark corners. (Cf. A2433.5.3.) A2261.2
• "We three" – "For gold" – "That is right" devil's bargain. Three brothers have agreed to say only these things. They incriminate themselves. C495.2.1
• Ruby shatters into half-dozen pieces when it is acquired by greedy lapidary. D1641.14.1
• Dying peasant summons greedy bishop for heavenly funeral; the bishop dies hearing the message. D1715.2
• Bride test: greediness. H385
• Riddle: deaths from sleepiness, anger, and greed. Elephant sleeps before snake's hole. Snake bites elephant and kills it. Jackal eats hole in elephant and is caught inside. Snake can't get out of its hole. H803
• "Don't be too greedy in making a trade": counsel proved wise by experience. Man refuses fifty ducats for horse. Horse suddenly dies. J21.26
• One should not be too greedy. J514
• Greedy man keeps demanding one more thing from complacent man; at last is magically blinded. J514.3
• Greedy pig looks up into tree for figs. This causes his death. J514.4
• Greedy man dissatisfied with gold looks for jewels; finds only iron and eventually nothing. J514.5
• Drunk philosopher wagers that he can drink the ocean dry. Agrees to do so if the other will hold back streams emptying into the ocean. Agreed to drink only the ocean. J1161.9
• The greedy dreamer. He dreams that he receives nine coins. He demands ten. He wakes and finds that he has dreamed. He is willing to accept the nine. J1473
• God as surety; the abbot pays. A young man is ransomed by giving God as surety for the ransom money. He fails to return as agreed. The creditor sees a wealthy abbot, who says that he is a servant of God. He robs the abbot and when the young man finally appears he tells the latter than the debt is already paid by God's servant. J1559.2
• The greedy host. J1562
• Settling the dispute. Two men cannot agree to bride's dowry. Third party tells each parent that the other has agreed. Marriage. "Now that you are relatives you can settle it between yourselves." J1678
• Greedy jackal caught in carcass of dead bullock. J2136.6.1
• The gift of the donkey. Ruler rewards the gift of a clever donkey. Greedy nobleman seeking a like reward sends ruler two donkeys in rich trappings. Ruler advises the donor that he is sorry that his gift will deprive him of worthy companionship. J2415.1.1
• "Don't eat too greedily." Fool starves himself at table. Later hunts food in house and gets into trouble. J2541
• Trickster's greed while hunting causes him to be deserted. J2751
• Tortoise asks greedy man to give him first ruby it has given him to be sure second one will be perfect match: disappears into water with it. K439.7.1
• Two rival parties of fifteen each on ship. When food is exhausted, it is agreed that half the company be thrown overboard, "every ninth man as they stood to be selected." Clever sister of leader of one party arranges men so that enemies are chosen and so drowned. K527.4
• The cave call. ("Hello, house!") An animal suspecting the presence of an enemy in his cave (house), calls and receives no answer. He then says, "Don't you know, O cave, that we have agreed that I must call you when I come from abroad and that you in turn must answer me?" The hiding animal answers and the other flees. K607.1
• Stone (hard fruit) thrown into greedy dupe's mouth. K1035
• Blind man asks thief to invest a larger sum for him. The greedy thief puts back the stolen money hoping to get more. The blind man recovers his money. K1667.1.2
• Men are too rich: greedy gods created to impoverish them. L482.1
• Flies caught in honey. Death from greed. N339.2
• Greedy disciple decides to remain in city despite learned teacher's warning and is condemned to take the place of a thief. N347.7
• Guests accused of greediness. P334.1
• Barbers cunning and greedy. P446.2
• Dying priest looks greedily on ripe plum: is reincarnated as insect feeding within plum. Q551.5.1.3
• Punishment for greed: streams of sugar, molasses, and milk from anchorite's tomb dry up and petrify because of townspeople's greed. (Cf. Q272.) Q552.3.5
• Punishment: small catch of fish for child-murderers. Fisherman and his wife have always caught three fishes. From greed they kill their child in order to have more fish for themselves. But they thereafter catch but two fishes. (Cf. Q211.4.) Q553.5
• Dove flies out of man's mouth. Impious anchorite has agreed to forsake his religion in return for the possession of a maid. When he repents the dove reenters his mouth. V345
• Greedy animal eats poisoned fruit in spite of warning. W125.1
• Greed. W151
• Cauldron of greed. W151.0.1
• Hospitable man impoverished by greedy guests. W151.2.2
• Greedy person (animal) gets hand (head) stuck in food jar. W151.9
• Greedy man tries to stuff food into his nostrils as well as into his mouth. W151.10