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Motifs — first 20 of 170
- Mountain from accident to primeval lizard. Lizard passing through a mountain is broken; his fore and hinder parts become mountains. A961.3
- Man chosen as best gift by primeval women. In beginning only women on earth. Deity kills one by accident and promises anything as reparation. They choose man. A1276
- Men originally blind: eyes opened by accident. A1316.3.3
- Origin of fire – children strike rocks together, accidentally produce fire. A1414.3
- Animal characteristics: accidental action of ancient animal. A2211
- Other accidents to ancient animal. A2219
- Son accidentally kills father, who returns to life as cuckoo and tells people when to sow grain. A2275.6
- Plant characteristics from accident to original plant. A2741
- Animal warns against accident. B521.2
- Magic object accidentally found. D841
- Magic object protects from discomfort or from accident on journey. D1384
- Noose used by suicide as protection from accident. (Cf. D1278.) D1384.2
- When spying follower accidentally touches holy man's cloak he loses his eyesight and falls down senseless. (Cf. D1053.) D1410.8
- Power of prophecy from accidental drinking of water from magic fountain. D1812.2.3
- Man killed by accident when ship is pushed into the sea taken as an evil omen. D1812.5.1.23
- Ghost haunts place of great accident or misfortune. E275
- The Vanishing Hitchhiker. Ghost of young woman asks for ride in automobile, disappears from closed car without the driver's knowledge, after giving him address to which she wishes to be taken. Driver asks person at address about the rider, finds she has been dead for some time. (Often driver finds that ghost has made similar attempts to return, usually on anniversary of death in automobile accident. Often ghost leaves some item such as a scarf or a traveling bag in car.) E332.3.3.1
- Ghost of person killed in accident seen at death or burial spot. E334.2.2
- Sounds of accident re-enact tragedy. E337.1.2
- Persons who die violent or accidental deaths cannot rest in grave. E411.10
Tale types
- ATU 1420D Accidental Discovery of Identity
- ATU 1651A* The Accidental Heiress
- ATU 1835A* Gun Accidentally Discharged in Church
- ATU 1890F Shot causes a Series of Lucky or Unlucky Accidents (previously Lucky Shot: Miscellaneous Forms)
- ATU 2036 A Drop of Honey Causes Chain of Accidents
- ATU 2042 Chain of Accidents (previously Chain of Accidents: the Ant (Crab) Bite and its Consequences)