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Motifs — first 20 of 148
- God in successive animal forms. A132.0.1
- God takes form successively of ants, scorpion, and cobra. A132.0.1.1
- Series of creations. The present universe is the last of a succession of creations. A630
- Succession of creations and cataclysms. From the ruins of each earlier creation a new one is raised. A632
- Devil's unsuccessful attempt to vivify his creations as God has done. Succeeds only in making animal. A1217
- Man created after series of unsuccessful experiments. A1226
- Origin of death from bad creator's unsuccessful imitation. The bad creator attempts in vain to endow his creations with life like the good creator. Fails and thus introduces death. A1335.2
- Bad women from transformed hog and goose. Peter, having only one daughter, foolishly promises her to three men. He asks the Lord to create two others. This request is granted. The first creature he meets on two successive mornings he is to greet, and they will be transformed. He meets a hog and a goose. His two new daughters have these characteristics. A1371.3
- Devil's unsuccessful creation produces certain animals. (Cf. A1811, A1833.1, A1862, A1893.) A1755
- Devil produces animals only in God's name. He tries unsuccessfully without using God's name. A1756
- Creation of monkeys: old woman thrown into fire. In unsuccessful imitation of Christ, the smith throws an old woman into the fire. She becomes a monkey. (Cf. A1710.) A1861.2
- Two animals learn songs together – one successfully, the other unsuccessfully. (Cf. A2425.) A2283
- Fly indicates successful suitor. Girl to marry man on whom specially marked fly lights. B152.2
- Person frightened by animals successively replying to his remarks. Example: Man riding horse and followed by dog tells horse to jump over a hole. Horse says, "I will not." Man turns to dog and says, "Isn't that strange – a horse talking!" The dog says, "Yes, isn't it." Often the man runs, meeting other animals which answer him, until he falls exhausted. B210.1
- Animal tried out as messenger. Hen (cock) the only one successful. B291.0.1
- Unsuccessful attempt by enemy to kill helpful animal. B335.3
- Animal helps person to success in love. B582
- Bee-master puts consecrated host into beehive. Has success with his bees. (Cf. B259.4.) – When he dies, his spirit haunts the place. C55.3
- Clerics' voyage unsuccessful because they sailed in boats of skin. C841.0.1
- Magic appearance of human limbs. A boy has no hands and legs; his abandoned sister successfully commands them to appear or disappear. D61
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