Search
Motifs — first 20 of 22
- Original creator followed by transformers. These demigods change the original creation into the present forms. A72
- 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
- Magic object effective only when exact instructions for its use are followed. D806
- Breakage of glass or crockery occurs in threes. One breakage is followed by two more. D1273.1.1.2
- Deaths in a community come in threes. One death is shortly followed by two more. D1273.1.1.3
- Sound of drum followed into ghost town. F102.2
- Wheel (apple) to be followed to otherworld. F159.3
- Long sleep, long waking. (Six months sleep followed by six months waking, or the like.) F564.3.1
- Image with pointing finger. Inscription says, "Dig here." Treasure etc. found when directions are followed. F855.1
- Witch followed by husband; dies when discovered. (Cf. G252.) G249.6
- Devil is followed by a thunderstorm. G303.6.3.1
- Found mortar taken to king reveals peasant girl's wisdom. Peasant finds mortar in his field and against his daughter's advice takes it to the king, who demands the pestle as well. Peasant laments that he has not followed daughter's advice. King summons her. H561.1.2
- 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
- Thief makes it fall out that he has but taken what has been given him (he has followed literal instructions). J1161.11
- Thief followed home. A thief ransacks a man's house and departs. The man gathers together the rest of his belongings and tracks the thief. Comes to the thief's door. Thief: "What do you want with me?" "What, isn't this the house we set out for?" J1392.1
- Throw at a rich man. Philosopher gives a penny to a man who throws stones at him but advises him that it will be wiser to throw at one who can afford to give more. The advice is followed and the rascal is arrested and hanged. J1602
- Instructions followed literally – miscellaneous. J2469
- Directions followed literally to the sorrow of the giver. J2516
- Girl made to carry shell from which ashes fall: she is thus followed. K321.1
- Sage's advice followed: he is killed so that sacrifice can be mixed with his blood. K1673
Tale types