Search
Motifs — first 20 of 36
- Soul-bridge: easy for righteous to cross, more difficult for others. A661.0.5.1
- Cold before theft of fire impedes speech: explanation of difficulty of certain languages. A1616.1
- Animal cries recall ancient adventure. The ancient animal cries out in difficulty. The present animal has the same cry. (Cf. A2426.1.1, A2426.4.1.) A2275.4
- Why cuckoo flies with difficulty, and sings with wings spread. A2442.2.2
- Birds give hero feather to burn if he is in difficulty. B501.4
- Swan Maiden. A swan transforms herself at will into a maiden. She resumes her swan form by putting on her swan coat. (It is difficult to tell in most Swan Maiden tales whether the primary form is swan or maiden: the incident may belong at D161.) D361.1
- Transformation to reach difficult place. D641
- Transformation to escape difficult situation. D642
- Hairs of lion, when burnt, get owner out of difficulties. (Cf. D1023.) D1390.1
- Dance with the dead. Girl invites dead to come from grave and dance with her. Difficult escape. E238.1
- Mother returns to encourage daughter in great difficulties. E323.6
- Suitor contest: difficult riding. H331.1
- What is the most difficult to find and the most difficult to lose? The truth. H659.19
- Tasks imposed. A person's prowess is tested by assigning him certain tasks (usually impossible or extremely difficult) to be performed either to escape punishment or to receive a valuable reward. H900
- Tasks: other difficult measurements. H1145
- Boy who says "I know" gets into all sort of difficulties; now says "I don't know." J21.52.7
- Difficulty of thinking of God when occupied with worldly affairs. Shown by test: holy man made to carry milk without spilling. So occupied he forgets to think of God. J94
- Stones shaken in jar: difficulty in learning many dialects. J98
- Squirrel tries to dip out lake with his tail: difficulty of reforming the world. J133.5
- Difficult choice between relatives. J226