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Motifs — first 20 of 25
- Talking stone as sign of Doomsday. A1002.2.3
- Talking dragon. B11.4.5
- 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
- Talking animal or object refuses to talk on demand. Discoverer is unable to prove his claims: is beaten. B210.2
- Talking statue, when destroyed, cannot be replaced for thirty thousand years. (Cf. D1268, D1620.) D1661.1
- Forgotten fiancée reawakens husband's memory by serving as milkmaid and talking to calf. D2006.1.2
- Resuscitation by talking to corpse. E67
- Talking bones of eaten man advise hero. E366.3
- Talking flowers. F814.2
- Weaver married to princess betrays trade by talking in his sleep. H38.2.4
- Silent princess gives right answer when talking monkey is given wrong one by suitor-prince. H343.2
- Talking private parts betray unchastity. H451
- How he shall be mourned. Women insist on knowing how a man wants to be mourned when he dies. "Mourn me as a man who was tormented by women talking foolishness." J1301
- Boiling pumpkin thought to be talking. J1813.3
- Animal betrays himself to his enemies by talking. J2351
- Hidden wolf gives himself away by talking. J2351.2
- Fool loses magic objects by talking about them. J2355.1
- Fool's talking causes himself and companions to be robbed. Thieves stumble over him as he lies on the ground. "What is this, a log?" The fool: "Does a log have five annas in its pocket?" When they have robbed him he says, "Ask the merchant in the tree if my money is good." They rob the merchant. J2356
- Fool's talking to himself thought to be inappropriate greetings. He keeps repeating a word to remember it but changes it so that it seems to refer unfavorably to people whom he meets. J2671.2.1
- Agreement not to scratch. In talking the trickster makes gestures and scratches without detection. K263