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Motifs — first 20 of 41
- Sun swallowed and spit out. In theft of sun, the raven (or devil) thus succeeds. A721.2
- Earth Diver. From a raft in the primeval sea, the creator sends down animals to try to bring up earth. After a number of animals have failed, one (often the muskrat) succeeds. The earth is made from the bit brought up. A812
- Devil as Earth Diver. Satan dives for earth at instance of God. Succeeds only third time (by use of right formula). He hides the earth under his tongue. It swells, and he must be rescued by God. A812.1
- Fettered monster's escape at end of world. Giant, or monster, is fettered in depths of the earth. His movement causes earthquakes. When he succeeds in freeing himself from the fetters and escapes, the world will end. A1070
- Devil's unsuccessful attempt to vivify his creations as God has done. Succeeds only in making animal. A1217
- Hare and man contest in watching for leaf to fall off tree. First one to succeed may eat other. Hare loses. A2256.1
- Forgotten fiancée. Young husband visiting his home breaks tabu and forgets his wife. Later she succeeds in reawakening his memory. (For details of the ways in which the memory is lost and regained see D2004 and D2006. D2003
- Rescue tokens. Proof that hero has succeeded in rescue. (Cf. H105, H105.1, H105.2.) H83
- Youngest brother alone succeeds on quest. H1242
- Unpromising hero succeeds in quest. H1242.1
- Test of sex of man masking as girl: jumping over pit (only man succeeds). H1578.1.4.2
- Old woman prays for safety of cruel tyrant for fear a worse one will succeed him. J215.2.1
- Flea and fever exchange night-lodgings. Flea had attacked abbess and been chased all night; fever, a washerwoman who nearly froze it to death by going to the river and washing clothes. They exchange and succeed. J612.1
- Fight of lions and bulls. Lion succeeds only when bulls separate. J1022
- Clever wife advises husband how to succeed on adventures. J1112.3
- Unjust oath countered by another. A woman entrusts three coins to a headsman. He denies her claim which she fails to substantiate in ordeal. She now claims more and happens to succeed with ordeal. J1521.4
- Kissing the mother first. Oracle that the first of three sons to kiss his mother will be king. One of them kisses the earth, mother of all. He succeeds. J1652
- Sunlight carried into windowless house in baskets. When this plan does not succeed, they gradually pull down the house to get light. J2123
- Three reasons for not giving alms. (1) Student has only one eye: Aristotle says to beware of those whom nature has marked. (2) Student comes from Bremen: no one of consequence comes from there. (3) His name is Nicholas: no one with that name can succeed. J2225
- The judge wants to know how the theft was committed. The witness tells. The judge: "You are wonderful; I have tried it thirty times and succeeded only once." J2372