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Motifs — first 20 of 54
- Enigmatic counsels of a father. Taken literally bring trouble, but when properly interpreted are valuable. H588
- 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
- Literal pleading: letter of law has been met. J1161
- Pound of flesh. (Fleischpfand.) Literal pleading frees man from pound of flesh contract. Contract does not give the right to shed blood. Impossible, therefore, to carry out. J1161.2
- Literal penance: boy outwits pope. For three years not to drink wine, not to lie in bed, nor sleep with a prostitute. He goes to a convent, sleeps on eider down, and sleeps with the nuns. (God's daughters). When the pope condemns him he says he will go to his brother-in-law (Christ: he has wedded God's daughters). (Cf. J1764.5.) J1161.5
- Thief makes it fall out that he has but taken what has been given him (he has followed literal instructions). J1161.11
- Sharing joy and sorrow. Man pledged to do so with his wife follows instructions literally. Beats her – a joy to him and a sorrow to her. J1541.1.1
- Literal fool. J2450
- Literal obedience. J2460
- Literal following of instructions about actions. J2461.1
- Literal numskull drags jar (bacon) on string. He has sent a pig home alone. Told that he should have led it by a string. J2461.1.1
- Literal numskull is gay at a fire. He has wept at a wedding and been told to be gay. J2461.1.2
- Literal numskull sings entertaining songs on approach of death. J2461.1.2.1
- Literal numskull throws water on roasting pig. Told that he should have thrown water in the fire when the house burnt. J2461.1.3
- Literal numskull cuts peas into four parts. Told that he should have cut up the pancakes which he has eaten whole. J2461.1.4
- Literal fool is told to cook a few peas for five persons. Cooks five peas. Next time he is told to cook an abundance. Cooks half-bushel. J2461.1.4.1
- Literal fool puts three empty measures in pot. Told to put in three measures of rice to boil. J2461.1.4.2
- Literal fool strangles the hawk. On last trip he has lost the gloves and has been told that he should have put them in his bosom. He puts the hawk inside his shirt. J2461.1.5
- Literal fool carries the harrow in his hand. He has killed a sparrow by his stupidity and has been told that he should have carried it in his hand. J2461.1.6
- Literal numskull destroys inherited property since his sister has instructions not to object to his actions. J2461.1.8
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