Search
Motifs — first 20 of 223
- Woman who fell from the sky. – Daughter of the sky-chief falls from the sky, is caught by birds, and lowered to the surface of the water. She becomes the creator. A21.1
- Goddess' throne shakes when some mischance befalls her faithful worshipper. A189.5
- Sun and moon as spangle which falls from creator's forehead into his own urine. A714.6
- Sun falls but is lifted back to sky and tied to it. A721.5
- Moon falls into pit but is rescued by man. A754.1.1
- Origin of falls (cataracts). A935
- Large stone falls from sky killing all but one couple. A1009.3
- Moon falls into sea and causes flood by overflowing. A1016.6
- First man descends on earth, falls in love with and marries a fairy. A1275.9
- Wolf falls out of nest: cause of straight back. (Cf. A2356.2.2.) A2211.3
- Tortoise hurled on rock: half falls on land, half in water. Therefore amphibious. A2214.5
- Bat falls from high perch due to extreme heat of sun's rays, breaks bones, etc. Hence peculiar feet and nose. A2214.6
- Treasure-hog. Alternate bristles of gold and silver; at each step a side of pork falls from him. B101.2
- Horse lies down when grain of wheat falls from load. B159.2
- 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
- Man falls in hole with horse; buzzards gather; he lassoes a number of buzzards, ties them together, frightens them; all fly at once, carry him from hole. (Tall tale.) B547.2.1
- Tabu: speaking while gathering fernseed to make wishes come true, at midnight on Christmas Eve when fernseed ripens and falls immediately. C401.5
- Building falls because of breaking of tabu. (Cf. C771.1.) C931
- Person falls because of broken tabu. C996
- Transformation to cure inconstant husband. He falls in love with another woman: his wife changes him to negro. He then falls in love with negress: wife changes him to ass. He then falls in love with she-ass. Finally restored to his original form. D662
Tale types
- ATU 1154 The Man Who Falls From the Tree and the Demons
- ATU 1325* Bird's Dung Falls on Record Books
- ATU 1365A Wife Falls into a Stream
- ATU 1526A** Waiting until the Tower Falls
- ATU 1776 The Sexton Falls into the Brewing Vat
- ATU 1871A Star Gazer Falls into Well
- ATU 240A* The Bee Falls into the Water
- ATU 729 The Merman's Golden Axe (previously The Axe Falls into the Stream)