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Motifs — first 20 of 240
- Origin of stones: punishment for discourtesy. Jesus asks a man what he is sowing. He answers, "Stones." Jesus turns the crop to stones. This is how stones originate. A973
- Origin of death: disrespectful answer to God. A1335.6.1
- Animal characteristics: punishment for discourteous answer to God (saint). (Cf. A2411.2.6.) A2231.1
- Discourteous answer: why cow (horse) is always eating. When God (Peter) wants to use the cow (horse) the excuse is made that she (he) is eating. Curse: "May you always be eating!" (Cf. A2472.1, A2478.) A2231.1.1
- Discourteous answer: flounder's crooked mouth. When God asks him where he is going, instead of answering he turns to go toward God. His mouth becomes crooked. (Cf. A2341.1.) A2231.1.2
- Discourteous answer: why crab has eyes behind. (Cf. A2332.4.1.) A2231.1.3
- Discourteous answer: tortoise's shell. Zeus celebrates a wedding and invites the animals. Tortoise is late. Why? "I like my house." "May you bear your house always." (Cf. A2312.1.) A2231.1.4
- Fly punished for failing to answer question: is speechless, buzzes and associates with foul things. (Cf. A2426.3.3, A2433.5.2.) A2239.2
- Plant punished for ungracious answer to holy person. A2721.3
- Person frightened by animals successively replying to his remarks. Example: Man riding horse and followed by dog tells horse to jump over a hole. Horse says, "I will not." Man turns to dog and says, "Isn't that strange – a horse talking!" The dog says, "Yes, isn't it." Often the man runs, meeting other animals which answer him, until he falls exhausted. B210.1
- Fish trained to answer person's call. B771.4
- Tabu: uncivil answer to holy (or supernatural) being. C94.1
- All questions to be answered, "I don't know". A youth is so advised by his horse. C495.1
- All questions to be answered "Thanks". Youth is so advised by old woman helper. C495.3
- Compulsion to answer cry. Hero is magically compelled to do so. C681
- Tabu: to rest sitting or lying until answer to certain question is learned. C735.2.9
- Tabu: answering call when asleep. C811.3
- Mirror answers questions. (Cf. D1163, D1323.1.) D1311.2
- Moon (stars) answers questions. D1311.6.1
- Magic cloud answers questions. (Cf. D901.) D1311.6.2
Tale types
- ATU 1349M* The Answered Prayer
- ATU 1446 'Let them Eat Cake!' When the queen was told that the poor people had no bread, she answered, 'Let them eat cake!' [J2227]
- ATU 1698 Deaf Persons and their Foolish Answers
- ATU 1701 Echo Answers
- ATU 1832* The Boy Answers the Clergyman
- ATU 2011 'Where Have you Been, Goose' Facetious questions and answers built upon the anatomy of an animal
- ATU 2043 'Where is the Warehouse' (previously A game, song, or rhyme composed of questions and answers that lead to the next question
- ATU 875A Girl's Riddling Answer Betrays a Theft
- ATU 921D* Witty Answers
- ATU 922 The Shepherd Substituting for the Clergyman Answers the King's Questions