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Motifs
- Man in the moon. A man is said to be seen in the moon. Various explanations are given as to how he came to be there. A751
- Pseudo-scientific explanations of the flood. A1016
- Ant carries load as heavy as himself. Defeats bear, raven (or other bird). Various explanations. (Cf. A2435.3.3, A2486.1.) A2251.1
- 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
- How the tower was built. Fool gives three explanations: (1) It was formerly a deep well; dug up and set out; (2) it was built by a very tall man; (3) it was built flat on the ground and then set up. J2711
- Death message softened by equivocations. Various false explanations are given to prepare the hearer. K2313
- Where children come from. Explanations given to children. T589.6
- Three explanations. When explanation of phenomenon is asked, three explanations are offered of which the last is always the true one. (Cf. Z71.1.) Z64