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Motifs
- Enchanted person. See also the entire section on transformation. No real difference seems to exist between transformation and enchantment. A bewitched or enchanted person may, however, retain his original physical form, but may be affected mentally or morally. D5
- Axe will not cut man, however much he strikes himself. D1841.5.3
- Children choose father they know rather than real father they do not yet know. Woman confesses that child is not by her husband. Child, however, chooses to keep the father he knows. (Cf. J391, J1279.1.) J325
- Earthen and brazen pots in river. Brazen pot thinks that they should stay together for company. Earthen pot, however, fears approach of brazen pot. J425.1
- Turning the plate around. A cuts the meat and puts all the good things on his side. B turns the plate around: "See how all things turn about in this world." A turns it back: "However the world may turn, with good friends like us the plate will always remain the same." J1562.1
- The man who wanted to be dead one day. A husband tells his wife that he has provisions for every day in the year but one. He proposes to play dead for that one day, thinking that the servants will be overcome with grief and cannot eat. After brief mourning, however, they eat more than usual. The man then thinks to frighten them by rising from the dead. One servant thinking the dead man suffering from devils kills him. J2188
- Literal following of instructions about greetings. Numskull gives wrong greeting and is told how to give the correct one. When he tries it, however, the conditions are wrong. J2461.2
- Faithless widow ready to marry messenger who brings news of husband's death. The husband, however, has only feigned death to test her. (Cf. T235.) T231.3
- Virgin Mary saves life of man who at devil's instigation has castrated himself. She will not, however, restore his severed members. V256.4