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Motifs — first 20 of 52
- Making the earth smaller. Earth made too large. God learns from devil by trickery how to make it smaller. A852
- Man learns housebuilding from wasp. A1445.2.2
- Nightingale hears boy call oxen: learns her song. (Cf. A2426.2.1.) A2272.1.1
- Cricket hears water hiss on hot iron: learns his song. (Cf. A2426.3.4.) A2272.1.2
- Garden warbler hears smith beat iron: learns his song. (Cf. A2426.2.2.) A2272.1.3
- Remedy learned from overhearing animal meeting. The hero learns how to cure his own blindness and the sickness of the king (princess). B513
- Man borrows money from fairy (dwarf, devil). When the man brings the money back, he learns that the fairy was killed by thunder. He keeps the money. F342.2
- Man learns to fly. F1021.3
- Heart breaks when girl learns men are slain in battle on her account. F1041.1.3.6
- Man dies when he learns storm is magic. F1041.1.7
- Devil takes form of girl's lover and takes advantage of her. She meets lover on way home, learns what has happened, dies. G303.12.5.7
- "Love like wind in hot sun." Husband offended but later learns wife's meaning. H592.1.1
- Animal learns through experience to fear men. In spite of the warning of another animal he approaches man and is shot. J17
- Man learns the fear of Death by meeting Life. Life (old woman) beheads him and replaces his head backwards. Simpleton left in fear for hours before head is readjusted. J27
- Ruler learns lesson from the example of an exiled king. Rewards the exile rather than a successful merchant. J55
- Ruler learns lesson from seeing city governed by king as uncharitable as he. J56.1
- Bear learns how to catch crabs with his hairy claws. J102
- Fool is told to get a pottle of brains. He tries to buy them. He finally learns that advice was to marry a clever girl. J163.2.1
- The king and the cheap slippers. Steward buys the king a pair of slippers. King thinks not enough has been paid for them and refuses them. Steward buys another like the first and charges a good price. Learns that this is the way to deal with kings. J829.1
- The cynic's wish. When he learns that a woman has hanged herself from a tree he explains: "Would that all trees bore such fruit!" J1442.11.1
Tale types
- ATU 1682 The Horse Learns Not to Eat (previously The Groom Teaches his Horse to Live without Food)
- ATU 1750 The Hen Learns to Speak (previously The Parson's Stupid Wife
- ATU 2031B Abraham Learns to Worship God
- ATU 823A* A Mother Dies of Fright when she Learns that she Was About to Commit Incest with her Son