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Motifs — first 20 of 105
- Origin of death: serpent given immortality instead of man. Renews his skin. A1335.5
- Discourteous answer: flounder's crooked mouth. When God asks him where he is going, instead of answering he turns to go toward God. His mouth becomes crooked. (Cf. A2341.1.) A2231.1.2
- Why giant lizard is blind. Chose poison instead of eyes. A2332.6.2
- Why quail has no tail. Tricks crab into pulling out tail instead of killing her. Says that gripping her neck would not hurt but that pulling tail will be fatal. A2378.2.1
- Goat giving coins instead of milk. B103.3.1
- Ass carries usurer's body to the gallows instead of to the church. He has been denied burial in the church. B151.1.1.2.1
- Marvelous post wears down at top instead of rotting from bottom. (Cf. D956, D1250.) D1688
- Saint magically causes druids to bless instead of curse. D2076
- Diamond does not break when struck with sledge hammer; penetrates iron instead. F826.3
- Man has witch aid him in reaping contest, the devil to get the hindmost. The devil tries to take the man but gets shadow instead. (Cf. G303.19, K210.) F1038.2
- As result of fraud, Saturn swallows stone instead of infant Jove. G11.0.1.1
- Captive sticks out bone instead of finger when cannibal tries to test his fatness. G82.1.1
- Witch's charm opposite of Christian. Must be "Without God and Holy Mary" instead of "With God, etc." (Cf. G224.5.) G224.1
- Ogre deceived by throwing burning oil instead of spittle on him. G572.1
- Substitution of low-caste boy for promised child detected when he prefers long road to short one through jungle (swimming instead of ferry, etc.) H38.2.5
- "Do not prolong a friendly visit." Guest stays so long that host gives him black bread instead of white. J21.9.1
- Soldier asks to be stabbed in chest. Prostrate soldier asks enemy to stab him in chest instead of back in order to save his honor. Captor frees him and the two become friends. J216.4
- Take money instead of revenge. Fool advises uncle, in letter which he did not send, to take money from wife's paramour instead of revenge. J229.11
- Wife chosen instead of fairy mistress. They let man choose between them. J414.1
- Peacock spends so much time preening for coronation that birds become impatient and make the owl king instead. J515
Tale types
- ATU 1214* Driving a Horse into its Collar (Bridle) instead of putting it on the horse
- ATU 1358C Trickster Discovers Adultery: Food Goes to Husband Instead of Lover [K1571]
- ATU 1623* An Old Hen Instead of a Young One
- ATU 1827B Billy goats instead of Sheep
- ATU 772* The Flies Instead of Nails on Christ's Heart