21 motifs match “literally”  ·  back to the chapters

• Enigmatic counsels of a father. Taken literally bring trouble, but when properly interpreted are valuable. H588
• Cum grano salis. Instructions of mother followed literally by one daughter when she marries. All goes wrong. Second daughter follows them in conformity with her father's explanations and all is well. J555.1
• Sharing joy and sorrow. Man pledged to do so with his wife follows instructions literally. Beats her – a joy to him and a sorrow to her. J1541.1.1
• Foolish bridegroom follows instructions literally. J2462
• Foolish bride gives away dowry. While her parents are away from home, a matchmaker and a suitor come to the foolish girl. By following her mother's advice literally, she gives away her dower to the tricksters. J2463.1
• Instructions followed literally – miscellaneous. J2469
• Metaphors literally interpreted. J2470
• The literal host: bread and salt. Guest finds that his host spoke literally when he invited him to share his bread and salt. Later, when the host threatens an importunate beggar, the guest advises the beggar to flee since the host means what he says. J2476
• Metaphors literally interpreted – miscellaneous. J2489
• "Keep locks of everyone in your hand" (keep control of them). Fool interprets literally. J2489.2
• "Bite the ear" (speak secretly). Fool interprets literally. J2489.3
• Names of dogs literally interpreted. The names are "The Shepherd" and "Get the stick". When the man calls his dogs to dinner, the thief thinks that he is telling the shepherd to get a stick. J2493
• Conventional greeting phrase taken literally: "Come and share it." J2499.6
• Directions followed literally to the sorrow of the giver. J2516
• Think thrice before you speak. The youth obeys literally the precept even when he sees the master's coat on fire. J2516.1
• Horse which will not go over trees. Salesman tells buyer that he is selling the horse because it eats too much and will not climb trees. On the way home the horse bites everyone and refuses to cross a bridge. Seller is literally correct. K134.1
• Owner trades a blind horse. He gives a description that is literally correct. K134.5
• Deceiver falls into his own trap (literally). Arranges a trap or pitfall but is himself caught. K1601
• Oath literally obeyed. K2312
• Oath literally obeyed: to tell no Christian. Woman thus sworn to secrecy talks to her unchristened child. K2312.1
• Saint with tongue of fire (literally). V229.11