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Motifs — first 20 of 125
- Marplot at creation. An evil opponent attempts to undo or mar the work of the creator. A60
- Satan attempts to create another world. A63.8
- Animate and inanimate objects attempt to destroy humanity. A1009.2
- Fettered monster's vain attempt to reach sword with man's help. Could he reach it he would escape. A1074.2
- Devil's unsuccessful attempt to vivify his creations as God has done. Succeeds only in making animal. A1217
- Origin of death from bad creator's unsuccessful imitation. The bad creator attempts in vain to endow his creations with life like the good creator. Fails and thus introduces death. A1335.2
- Vain attempts to circumvent theft of fire. A1415.4
- Mole struck on head in attempt to steal fire: hence his flat head. A2213.5.1
- Crossbill, attempting to draw thorn from the crown of thorns, twists bill in the attempt. A2221.2.4.2
- Raven attempts to imitate dove: punished with awkward gait. A2232.10
- Man attempts to kill faithful serpent at wife's instigation. Loses everything. B335.1
- Unsuccessful attempt by enemy to kill helpful animal. B335.3
- Attempt to learn about magic object by spying. D830.1
- Attempted resuscitation fails because of overanxiety. E186.1
- 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
- Unsuccessful attempt to steal fairy necklace. F357
- Fairies bind man fast to ground after he has attempted to capture fairy prince and princess. F361.2.3
- Strong man evades death. Vain attempts to kill him. F615
- Clerics and property cast safely on shore when enemies attempt their drowning. F1088.3.1
- Girl attempts to eat parents but they escape. G71.1