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Motifs
- Tabu: offending devil. A smith or priest continually insults the devil's statue or picture (cf. C13). The devil brings the offender into dangerous situation (suspicion of theft or murder), and saves him miraculously when he promises never again to abuse the devil's likeness. C45
- Transformation to escape difficult situation. D642
- Enigmatic statement betrays incest. (Cf. T411.) Woman, recognizing cleric as her son by her father (Fiachna), gives him a drink of milk and says, "I give drink to my brother; he is Fiachna's son, he is Fiachna's grandson; his mother is Fiachna's daughter." The son's reply shows that he understands the situation. H582.2.1
- Test of repentance: culprit exposed to situation identical to that in which he sinned. (Cf. H1573.) H1573.7.1
- Trickster overhears man praying for death to take him; the trickster appears at man's house, usually in disguise, says he is God (or the devil). The man tells him to take his wife (or he runs away). (Compare C11 for a similar situation in which Death appears.) J217.0.1.1
- Consolation by thinking of some good aspect of a situation. J865
- The story about theft. One thief steals, the other relates the situation, in the form of a tale, to the gentleman who is being robbed. K341.20
- The audacious water and the continent husband. A woman with a continent husband (lover) splashes water on her thighs as she crosses a stream and then reproves it for being bolder than her husband. She thus calls attention to her situation. T315.2.1
- Blind man reaches his home hanging on ox's tail (or in other ridiculous situation). X123.1
- Young man plowing corn sees letters "P. C." formed by clouds. He explains situation to minister, asks to be ordained. The minister explains that the letters mean "plow corn" instead of "preach Christ". X459.1.1