“foolish” — Mythoi

Motifs — first 20 of 128

Twin culture heroes – one foolish, one clever. (Cf. A525.) A515.1.1.2
Men and animals readjust span of life. At first, thirty years are given to all animals and to man. For the animals it is too long, for man too short. Man is given a portion of animals' lives. Years 1–30 vigorous (man's own); 30–48 burdens and blows (ass's); 48–60 no teeth (dog's); 60–70 foolish (monkey's). A1321
Bad women from transformed hog and goose. Peter, having only one daughter, foolishly promises her to three men. He asks the Lord to create two others. This request is granted. The first creature he meets on two successive mornings he is to greet, and they will be transformed. He meets a hog and a goose. His two new daughters have these characteristics. A1371.3
Grave (of man) upon which no women can look without foolish laugh or "sine crepitu ventris eius." C181.7
Magic object acquired through foolish bargain. D837
Magic object exchanged for worthless. Foolish brother (wife) exchanges old object for new. D871.1
Laughing fish reveals unjust judgment. A severe judgment is rendered for a small offence. As the convicted man is being led away, a dead (dried) fish is heard to laugh. The fish reveals that he has laughed at the foolishness of the judge who, while he punishes minor offences severely, is unable to see the capital crimes in his own household. (Cf. D1281.) D1318.2.1
Magic object makes person foolish. D1353
Magic rain makes people foolish. All on whom it falls act like fools. (Cf. D902.) D1353.1
Princess brought to laughter by foolish actions of hero. H341.3
Tasks assigned because of mother's foolish boasting. The mother foolishly boasts to the king that the daughter can perform an impossible task (often spinning). H914
Tasks assigned because of girl's (boy's) own foolish boast. H915
Tasks imposed because of wife's foolish boast. H916.1
Task imposed because of girl's foolish boast. H916.2
Boy saves life by showing father foolishness of plowing up his crop. Father has been persuaded to kill child. J92
Wisdom from continual reminder of foolishness in the past. Unjust judge skinned and his skin stretched over a footstool kept in the presence of judges, so as to remind them to be just. J167
Choice: foolish son always with him or four wise daughters who will leave him. Latter chosen. J226.3
A bird in the hand foolishly given away in hope of greater gain. J321.1
Foolish association of young and old. J445
Foolish youth in love with ugly old mistress. J445.1

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