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Motifs — first 20 of 45
- God and the devil torment each other with their creations. Devil pesters God with gnats. God makes a fire and safeguards himself; God plagues the devil with fleas. Devil is unable to find means of protecting himself. A63.4.1
- God does not reveal himself; men unable to endure his glory. A182.0.1
- Human intellect unable to conceive God's essence. A182.0.2
- Talking animal or object refuses to talk on demand. Discoverer is unable to prove his claims: is beaten. B210.2
- Laughing fish reveals unjust judgment. A severe judgment is rendered for a small offence. As the convicted man is being led away, a dead (dried) fish is heard to laugh. The fish reveals that he has laughed at the foolishness of the judge who, while he punishes minor offences severely, is unable to see the capital crimes in his own household. (Cf. D1281.) D1318.2.1
- Horse (ox) unable to move wagon paralyzed by witch. D2072.0.2.1.1
- The unquiet grave. (Cf. D2151.1.2.3.) Dead unable to rest in peace. Aside from the references given in the numbers immediately following, see E200–E399 passim. E410
- Horse unable to draw evil dead man. E411.0.3
- Wraith takes place of person unable to do duty at the necessary time. E723.3
- Wraith does what person wishes to do but is unable to do in the flesh. E723.4
- Fairy unable to pass cross-roads. F383.1
- Fairy unable to cross running stream. F383.2
- Fairy unable to cross plowed ground. F383.3
- Devil becomes heavier and heavier. Animal taken into cart becomes so heavy that horses are unable to pull cart. If it is brought home it turns to stone or tree-stump. G303.3.5.3
- Person disenchanted from animal "unable to hide his tail." H64.3
- Person disenchanted from animal unable to eat after manner of men. H64.4
- Association of swan and swallow: swan unable to fly away from danger. J429.1
- Frog as beauty doctor unable to cure his own ugliness. J1062.1
- Doctor unable to cure himself scorned. J1062.2
- Parrot unable to tell husband details as to wife's infidelity. Wife has parrot describe a storm very realistically. Husband observes contrast in the two tales. (Cf. J1152.) J1154.1