ATU 825
The Devil in Noah's Ark [K485]
Aarne–Thompson–Uther tale-type index · Religious Tales · The full type description is not served here; the number and name are the classification facts.
Motifs the recorded variants carry
- Creation of mouse by devil in ark. (Cf. A1811.2.) 12 variants
- Insects from body of slain monster. Usually the monster is burnt; sometimes the insects come from his head, sometimes from his body as it burns. (Cf. A1716.1.) 12 variants
- Flies on the ark. Noah tries to keep them out. Devil says that either the flies go in or he does. Noah chooses the lesser of two evils. Later the devil slips in nevertheless. 12 variants
- Snake preserved in ark: to stop hole with tail. 12 variants
- Unicorn thrown from ark and drowned: hence no longer exists. 12 variants
- Griffin disdains to go on ark; drowned: hence extinct. 12 variants
- The giant on the ark. Noah saves a giant on the ark. Cannot enter but stays in the rigging. Noah sends him food through a hole. 12 variants
- Noah's secret betrayed by his wife. The devil persuades his wife to intoxicate him and then find out what he is doing (building the ark). 12 variants
- Flood caused by gods or other superior beings. (Cf. A1018.) 6 variants
- Deluge: escape in boat (ark). 6 variants
- Noah's curse admits devil to ark. Devil persuades Noah's wife to stay out of ark till Noah shall call devil in. Noah at last loses patience and calls out, "The devil! Come in!" The devil comes in and turns himself into a mouse. 6 variants
- The devil gets into the ark. The devil wants to know what Noah is doing when he is building the ark. He forbids Noah's wife to enter the ark until Noah has also invited him. 6 variants
- Extraordinary battle-axe. 4 variants
- Task: cutting firewood from rocks with brass axe (rock struck to splinters by lightning used). 4 variants
- Task: squaring the lumber on a stone without blunting the axe. Woman is purposely sent to distract him. 4 variants