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Z. Miscellaneous groups of motifs.
Z0--Z99 Formulas.
Z0. Formulas.
Z10. Formulistic framework for tales.
Z10. Formulistic framework for tales.
Z10.1. Beginning formulas.
Z10.2. End formulas.
Z10.3. Transition formulas.
Z11. Endless tales. ---- Hundreds of sheep to be carried over stream one at a time, etc. The wording of the tale so arranged as to continue indefinitely. *Type 2300.
Z11. Endless tales. ---- Hundreds of sheep to be carried over stream one at a time, etc. The wording of the tale so arranged as to continue indefinitely. *Type 2300.
Z11.1. Endless tale: corn carried away grain at a time.
Z11.2. Endless tale: hundreds of birds in snare fly away one at a time.
Z12. Unfinished tales. ---- Just as the interest is aroused the narrator quits. "If the bowl had been stronger my tale had been longer." *Types 2250, 2260.
Z13. Catch tales. ---- The manner of the telling forces the hearer to ask a particular question, to which the teller returns a ridiculous answer. Type 2200.
Z13.1. Tale-teller frightens listener: yells "Boo" at exciting point. Type 366.
Z13.2. Catch tale: teller is killed in his own story.
Z14. "Runs." ---- Conventional passages of set form within a tale, usually recited in a different voice from the rest.
Z15. Tale avoiding all pronouns.
Z16. Tales ending with a question. *Type 653.
Z16.1. Four brothers construct a woman. ---- Whose is she?
Z17. Rounds. ---- Stories which begin over and over again and repeat. Type 2350.
Z18. Formulistic conversations.
Z18.1. What makes your ears so big? -- To hear better, my child, etc. Type 333.
Z19. Formulistic frameworks -- miscellaneous.
Z19.1. Game-tales. ---- (Used as game.)
Z19.2. Tales filled with contradictions.
Z20--Z59 Cumulative tales.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20. Cumulative tales. ---- Tales arranged in chains.
Z20.1. Cumulative nonsense tales.
Z21. Chains based on numbers.
Z21.1. Origin of chess. ---- Inventor asks one wheat-grain for first square, two for the second, four for the third, eight for the fourth, etc. The king cannot pay.
Z21.1. Origin of chess. ---- Inventor asks one wheat-grain for first square, two for the second, four for the third, eight for the fourth, etc. The king cannot pay.
Z21.1. Origin of chess. ---- Inventor asks one wheat-grain for first square, two for the second, four for the third, eight for the fourth, etc. The king cannot pay.
Z21.1.1. Wages: successive harvests from one grain of rice. ---- Master has no fields left.
Z22. Ehod mi yodea (One; who knows?); ---- Le dodici parole della verità, Las doce palabras retorneadas. The numbers from one to twelve are brought into relation with various objects, often of religious significance.
Z22.1. The Twelve Days (Gifts) of Christmas: ---- 1 partridge, 2 turtle-doves, 3 French hens, 4 colly birds, 5 gold rings, 6 geese, 7 swans, 8 maids, 9 drummers, 10 pipers, 11 ladies, 12 lords.
Z22.2. the Twelve kinds of Food: 1 partridge, 2 turtledoves, 3 wood-pigeons, 4 ducks, 5 rabbits, 6 hares, 7 hounds, 8 sheep, 9 oxen, 10 turkeys, 11 hams, 12 cheeses.
Z23. How the Rich Man paid his Servant ---- (Lönen hos den rike man). A farmer pays his servant in the first year a hen, in the second a cock, goose, goat, cow, horse, …. girl, farmstead.
Z24. The forgetful man counts the days of the week. ---- On Monday they go to mill, etc. (First ed. Z21.4.) He thus discovers that it is Sunday.
Z24.1. Widower tells of his courtship, his marriage, and the death of his wife, all in a week. (First ed. Z21.4.1.)
Z24.1.1. Life story in ten hours: ---- "At one I was born …. at ten my child's soul was crowned in heaven."
Z24.1.2. Bird advises man to treat his lazy children as she does her young: ---- "In March I make my nest …. in August I have nothing more to do with my young."
Z24.1.3. "Solomon Grundy, born on Monday …. buried on Sunday."
Z25. Fly forgets her name; asks woodcutter, axe, tree, etc., in vain. ---- Finally foal in mare's belly says her name is "fly".
Z30. Chains involving a single scene or event without interdependence among the individual actors.
Z31. Chains involving a wedding.
Z31.1. Pif Paf Poltrie. ---- The suitor sent from one relation to the other for consent to the wedding. *Type 2019.
Z31.2. Louse and flea wish to marry. ---- Mosquito, toad, ant, etc. volunteer to supply the wedding feast.
Z32. Chains involving a death: animal actors.
Z32.1. The funeral procession of the hen. ---- Animals one by one join the procession. The funeral carriage breaks down or the procession drowns. *Type 2021.
Z32.1. The funeral procession of the hen. ---- Animals one by one join the procession. The funeral carriage breaks down or the procession drowns. *Type 2021.
Z32.1.1. The death of the cock. ---- (Der Tod des Hühnchens.) The cock chokes and the hen seeks aid of objects and persons (stream, tree, pig, miller, baker, etc.)
Z32.2. The death of the little hen. ---- She is characteristically mourned by objects and animals; e.g., flea, door, broom, cart, ashes, tree, girl. (Firs ed. Z31.2.2.)
Z32.2.1. The death of the little hen described with unusual words. ---- Each act of mourning described by a neologism: the table untables itself. (First ed. Z31.2.2.1.) (Cf. X1506.)
Z32.3. Little ant finds a penny, buys new clothes with it, and sits in her doorway. ---- Various animals pass by and propose marriage. She asks what they do at night. Each one replies with its characteristic sound, and none pleases her but the quiet little mouse, whom she marries. She leaves him to tend the stew, and he falls in and drowns. She weeps and, on learning the reason, bird cuts off its beak, dove cuts off its tail, etc. (First ed. Z31.2.3.)
Z32.4. Cumulative: master to kill hen. ---- She begs off; he goes to kill rooster …. goose, rabbit, toad, tiger.
Z32.5. Mourning about the dead ass (Tulsi Das): ---- from washerman to the queen. "But who is Tulsi Das?" The report is traced back to the washerman, who says: "He was my ass."
Z33. Chains involving the eating of an object. ---- (Members of the chain not interrelated.)
Z33.1. The fleeing pancake. ---- A woman makes a pancake, which flees. Various animals try in vain to stop it. Finally the fox eats it up. (first ed. Z31.3.1.)
Z33.2. The fat cat. ---- While the mistress is away, the cat eats the porridge, the bowl, and the ladle. When the mistress returns she says, "How fat you are!" The cat: "I ate the porridge, the bowl, and the ladle, and I will eat you." The cat meets other animals and eats them after the same conversation. Finally eats too many. (First ed. Z31.3.2.)
Z33.3. Woman meets a pig. ---- "Good morning." "Why are you up so early?" "I am not up so early. I have drunk seven vats of milk and eaten seven plates of porridge and I shall eat you." She ate the pig. (First ed. Z31.3.3.)
Z33.4. The fat troll (wolf). ---- A troll eats the watcher's five horses and finally the watcher himself. The master goes to investigate. The troll: "I ate the five horses, I ate the watcher, and I will eat you." Does so. Likewise the wife, servant, daughter, son, and dog. The cat scratches the troll open and rescues all. (First ed. Z31.3.4.)
Z33.4.1. Louse and crow make covenant of friendship: ---- louse eats crow despite crow saying, "If I strike you once with my beak you will disappear; how then can you talk of eating me?" Likewise louse eats loaf of bread, she-goat, cow, buffalo, five sepoys, wedding procession with one lakh of people, elephant, tank of water. A sepoy cuts louse in two with his sword and rescues all.
Z33.4.2. The singing wolf. ---- By his singing the wolf compels the old man to surrender his cattle, his children and grandchildren, and finally his wife. The old woman goes in the wolf's service. She returns home bringing butter, etc.
Z39. Chains involving other events without interrelation of members. (First ed. Z31.4.)
Z39.1. The goat who would not go home. ---- One animal after another tries in vain to persuade the goat to go home. Finally a wolf (bee) bites him and drives him home. (First ed. Z31.4.1.)
Z39.1.1. The goat who would not leave the hazel bush. ---- Final formula: The devil goes to strangle the Jew, the Jew to kill the ox, the ox to drink the water, the water to quench the fire, the fire to burn the stone, the stone to blunt the axe, the axe to cut the rope, the rope to tie the hunter, the hunter to shoot the goat -- the goat leaves the hazel bush, the wee goat leaves the hazel bush.
Z39.2. There was a wee wee woman who had a wee wee cow, etc. (First ed. Z31.4.2.)
Z39.3.
Z39.4. Where have you been, goose? ---- In the fields. -- What have you in your beak? -- A knife. -- etc. (Tile, water, ox, firewood, old woman, friars, mass, shirt.) (First ed. Z31.4.4.)
Z39.4.1. Titmouse, what are you eating? ---- A large turnip -- etc.
Z39.4.2. Sparrow, where are you going? ---- To eat seed. -- The owner will scold you. -- I'll sit on a pine tree, etc.
Z39.5. The hen lays an egg, the mouse breaks it. ---- Sorrowing over this mishap, all show extraordinary behavior; the master puts an end to it. Final formula: hen strips off feathers, rubbish heap catches fire, oak falls to ground, hare drowns self, magpie twists leg, ox breaks horns, river flows blood, maid breaks pails, housewife scatters dough. Master locks up wife and maid, goes to seek people more foolish.
Z39.6. Mother ties bell on child; cat cuts it off. ---- "Why did you cut off the bell?" -- "Why did you lay the block here, etc."
Z39.7. Girl left in tree by sisters: ---- asks monkey, ape, bear, and tiger to put her down or else bite her. All refuse. Panther comes and devours her.
Z39.8. Small grain-measure runs away when her husband beats her: ---- succession of suitors.
Z39.9. Series of things acquired by mouse ---- "You cannot have this but you may have that instead," etc. Clod -- fish -- cakes -- kid -- goat -- drum -- girl. Girl kills mouse accidentally.
Z40. Chains with interdependent members.
Z41. The old woman and her pig. ---- Her pig will not jump over the stile so that she can go home. She appeals in vain for help until the cow gives her milk. The final formula is: cow give milk for cat; cat kill rat; rat gnaw rope; rope hang butcher; butcher kill ox; ox drink water; water quench fire; fire burn stick; stick beat dog; dog bite pig; pig jump over stile. (Various introductions.) (First ed. Z41.1.)
Z41.1. Woman has meat (liver) stolen by bird. ---- Recovery chain (similar to Z41).
Z41.2. Crow must wash his bill in order to eat with other birds. ---- Asks water; water must first have horn from stag, who must first have milk from cow, etc.
Z41.3. Conflict between fowl and thistle. ---- Wind obeys and breaks the chain.
Z41.4. The mouse regains its tail. ---- The cat bites off the mouse's tail and will return it in exchange for milk. The mouse goes to the cow for milk, the farmer for hay, the butcher for meat, the baker for bread. Other persons mentioned are the locksmith and the miner.
Z41.4.1. Mouse bursts open when crossing a stream. ---- Series of helpers similar to Z41.4.
Z41.4.2. My dog picked up a string, ---- but did not wish to give it to me unless I gave her bread. Cupboard did not wish to give bread unless I gave it a key; smith, charcoal; charcoal-burner, calf's legbone; butcher, milk; cow, grass; meadow, water; clouds, dove's feather. Dove gave me a feather which I gave to clouds, etc.
Z41.5. Lending and repaying: progressively worse (or better) bargain. Type 2034C*.
Z41.5. Lending and repaying: progressively worse (or better) bargain. Type 2034C*.
Z41.6. Bird's pea gets stuck in socket of mill-handle. ---- She goes to carpenter, king, queen, who refuse to help. She asks snake to bite queen, stick to beat snake, fire to burn stick, etc. Final formula: cat eats mouse, mouse cuts plant creeper, creeper snares elephant, elephant drinks up sea, sea quenches fire, fire burns stick, stick beats snake, snake bites queen, queen speaks to king, king chides carpenter, carpenter cuts mill handle, and pea is extracted. Questions in rhyme.
Z41.6.1. Gram (parched grain) sticks in post; ---- parrot goes to raja, etc., for help. Final formula: at last creeper took pity on birds, and elephant feared creeper, and ocean feared elephant, and fire feared ocean, and stick feared fire, and snake feared stick, and carpenter feared snake; and carpenter split post which gave up the grain to the birds, who went away.
Z41.7. The wormwood does not want to rock the sparrow. ---- Final formula: the worms begin to gnaw the rods, the rods to beat the oxen, the oxen to drink the water, the water to quench the fire, the fire to burn the hunters, the hunters to shoot the wolves, the wolves to kill the goats, the goats to gnaw the wormwood, the wormwood to rock me -- it rocked and rocked me to sleep.
Z41.7.1. Boy dirties his shoe and asks the hay stack to wipe it clean.
Z41.8. Pulling the needle out of the seamstress's hand. ---- Final formula: That was just what the cat was waiting for -- it sprang to devour the mouse, the mouse to tear the spider's web, the spider to entangle the dog, the dog to eat the goat, the goat to gnaw the rushes, the rushes to grow in the stream, the stream to quench the fire, the fire to burn the stone, the stone to beat the axe, the axe soon pulled out the needle that was stuck in the seamstress's hand.
Z41.9. The lazy servant and the grain. ---- "Lentils, lentils, get into my sack!" Final formula: the hungry hawk attacks the hens, the hens the worms, the worms the stick, the stick the ox, the ox runs to the water, the water attacks the fire, the fire the hunters, the hunters the wolf, the wolf the goat, the goat the willow, the willow the cat, the cat the mice, the mice the lentils, the lentils go whoosh whoosh into the sack.
Z42. Stronger and Strongest. ---- The frost-bitten foot. Mouse perforates wall, wall resists wind, wind dissolves cloud, cloud covers sun, sun thaws frost, frost breaks foot.
Z42. Stronger and Strongest. ---- The frost-bitten foot. Mouse perforates wall, wall resists wind, wind dissolves cloud, cloud covers sun, sun thaws frost, frost breaks foot.
Z42.1. The Esdras chain: stronger and strongest, wine, king, woman, truth.
Z42.2. Abraham learns to worship God. ---- At nightfall Abraham worships a star, then the moon, then the sun, and finally gives up idolatry.
Z42.3. Brahmin worships idol and sets sacrifices before it daily. ---- Rat devours offerings and he sets it up as his idol as a being more powerful than his idol. When cat devours rat, he worships it instead. His wife accidentally kills the cat, so he sets her up to worship. He happens to slap her and she loses consciousness. Thereafter he worships himself as most powerful after all.
Z43. The cock's whiskers. ---- A mouse throws a nut down and hits the cock on the head. He also steals the cock's whiskers. The cock goes to get an old woman to cure him. The final formula is: Fountain give up water for forest, forest give up wood for baker, baker give up bread for dog, dog give up hairs to cure the cock. (Variant: mouse loses tail.)
Z43.1. Toad asks magpie in tree to throw down a chestnut. ---- Magpie refuses, saying it might break its beak. Toad promises, if that happens, to get a horsehair to tie it up again. Magpie throws chestnut and breaks beak. Toad asks ass for hair, but ass first demands grass; mower demands sheep; shepherd, pup; mother dog, bread; baker, stumps. Toad cuts the stumps and gets the hair.
Z43.2. The cock strikes out the hen's eye with a nut. ---- The cock blames the hazel bush for tearing its knickers, the hazel bush the goat for gnawing at it, the goat the shepherd-boy for not tending it, the boy his mistress for not baking him a bun, the mistress the pig for eating up the dough, the pig the wolf for killing its young.
Z43.3. Nut hits cock in head: he thinks world is coming to an end. ---- He sends the hen to tell the duck, the duck to tell the goose, etc. Final formula: Fox, who told you? -- Hare. -- Hare, who told you? -- Goose, etc. For sequel see Type 20C. Sometimes the animals have queer names (Cf. Z53. )
Z43.4. Fly frightens snake; snake frightens rats; rats frighten monkey, etc.
Z43.5. Boy changes self to nut; fowl eats nut; bush cat eats fowl; dog eats cat; dog swallowed by python.
Z43.6. Man invites animals to come and work in his field. ---- Rooster kills beetle; cat kills rooster; dog kills cat; leopard kills dog; hyena kills leopard; buffalo kills hyena; elephant kills buffalo, and lion chases elephant so that both fall into trap. Man calls wives to see meat he has killed.
Z44. The house that Jack built. ---- Final formula: This is the farmer that sowed the corn that fed the cock that crowed in the morn, that waked the priest all shaven and shorn, that married the man all tattered and torn, that kissed the maiden all forlorn, that milked the cow with a crumpled horn, that tossed the dog, that worried the cat, that caught the rat, that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.
Z44.1. The house the old man was to build. ---- The woman for whom he is to build the house has some beans for him. The goat eats these up. Cumulative search. Final formula: Smith give me my iron, iron which belongs to the man, man who ate up my fish, fish which belongs to the sea …. sea -- shirt -- washerwoman -- soap -- woman -- wood -- press -- grease -- herder -- cheese-frame -- fig-tree -- horn -- goat -- beans.
Z45. The Horseshoe Nail. ---- For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for the want of a horse the rider was lost …. and all for the want of a horseshoe nail. (first ed. Z41.9.)
Z46. The climax of horrors. ---- The magpie is dead. Overate on horseflesh. -- Horses dead? -- Overworked at fire. -- House burned down? -- etc. (First ed. Z41.10.)
Z47. Series of trick exchanges.
Z47. Series of trick exchanges.
Z47.1. Series of trick exchanges: razor -- pot -- bride -- drum by tricky fox. ---- Fox sings formula of exchanges.
Z49. Miscellaneous interdependent chains.
Z49.1. "I killed my grandmother because she refused to cook a hare. ---- I killed a priest because he said my crime was bad. A friar absolved me to avoid being killed." (First ed. Z41.7.)
Z49.2. Cumulative pursuit. ---- Boys get help. One of them injures the helper. Pursued. Hidden by kind hen. One injures the hen. Hen pursues, etc. (First ed. Z41.8.)
Z49.2.1. Fat mouse cannot get into hole. ---- "Carpenter, please pare off a little flesh from my ribs." Refused. Final formula: the scythe cuts the creeper loose.
Z49.3. The bird indifferent to pain. ---- A man catches a mango-bird eating mangoes and strikes it against the roots of a mango-tree. The bird cannot be made to say it suffers from the blow. In turn, he puts it in water, strikes it on the ground, a stile, a door-frame, singes its feathers, cuts it up, cooks it, and eats it. The bird always expresses indifference in a cumulative rhyme. At last the bird asks him to look out of the window, whereupon it flies out of his nose and the man dies. (First ed. Z41.11.)
Z49.4. There was once a woman; the woman had a son; ---- the son had red breeches; etc. -- At last: "Shall I tell it again?" (First ed. Z41.12.)
Z49.5. Where is the warehouse? ---- The fire burned it down. -- Where is the fire? -- The water quenched it. (First ed. Z41.13.) Type 2018.
Z49.5.1. "Where is that grain?" ---- "The cock snatched it." -- "Where is that cock?" -- "He drowned in the sea." -- "Where is that sea?" -- "It is grown over with reeds." -- "Where are those reeds?" -- "The maids have cut them down", etc.
Z49.5.2. The wolf who wanted to make bread. ---- The farmer explained to him how bread is made. He keeps on asking: "Shall I then be able to eat?" Decides he will not have enough patience to make bread. (Cf. K555.1.2. )
Z49.6. Trial among the animals. ---- Deer steps on kitten: cat investigates. Deer has been frightened by bird, this bird by another bird … by crab's pointed claw, crab by mouse in his hole. Cat eats mouse. (Frog croaks because turtle carries his house on his head; turtle carries house because firefly is bringing fire; firefly brings fire because mosquito tries to bite him, etc.) (first ed. Z41.14.)
Z49.6.1. Birds fight and cause series of accidents to other animals and people.
Z49.6.2. Bite (prick) causes series of accidents.
Z49.6.3. Man sharpening his dao is bitten by a prawn. ---- He cuts down a big bamboo; a fruit falls from bamboo and strikes a bird on the nape of the neck; the bird scratches up an ant's nest with his feet; the ant bites a wild boar in the eye; and the boar bears down upon a plantain tree where a bat dwells under a leaf; the bat seeks refuge in the ear of an elephant, and the elephant kicks down the house on an old woman. She rushes out and falls into a well.
Z49.7. Cumulative tale: bird who seeks carpenter to release young caught in closed tree. ---- Beetle bites calf, calf bites cow, cow hoofs carpenter, carpenter beats wife, hunters save carpenter's cow, carpenter releases birds.
Z49.8. Biting a grain in half. ---- Final formula: Forester attacks bear, the bear the wolf, the wolf the dog, the dog the cat, the cat the mouse, the mouse the grain -- the grain is bitten in two.
Z49.9. Pulling up the turnip. ---- Final formula: The mouse holds onto the cat, the cat holds onto Mary, Mary holds onto Annie, Annie holds onto grandmother, grandmother holds onto grandfather, grandfather holds onto the turnip -- they all pull and pull it out.
Z49.10. Lizard eats cricket, frog eats lizard, snake eats frog, eagle eats snake, man shoots eagle; ---- animals escape except lizard. Man takes eagle home.
Z49.11. Who is guilty of the accident. ---- (One person blames another who blames another, etc.)
Z49.11.1. Wall in construction collapses. ---- Finally the king finds out that the sea is guilty. (The chain: mason -- cement mixer -- beautifully singing woman -- pearl necklace -- jeweler -- diver -- sea.)
Z49.11.2. Thief breaks foot climbing wall to rob. ---- Suit against owner for dangerous wall.
Z49.12. Hermit must get cat to kill rats in hunt, cow to give cat milk, etc.
Z49.13. Chain of killings: ---- Bulbul destroys flower and is killed by cat; cat shaken by dog; dog killed by boy; boy sentenced to death by king.
Z49.14. The little old lady who swallowed a fly. ---- She swallows a spider to eat up the fly, a bird to eat up the spider, a dog to eat the bird, a cow to eat the dog. "The little old lady swallowed a horse -- she died, of course."
Z50. Cumulative tales -- miscellaneous.
Z51. Chains involving contradictions or extremes. (First ed. Z23.)
Z51.1. The house is burned down ---- That is too bad. -- That is not bad at all, my wife burned it down. -- That is good. -- That is not good, etc. (First ed. Z23.1.) Type 2014.
Z52. Bird avenges caged mate. ---- Builds cart, yokes frogs to it, arms himself with piece of reed, and proclaims war with king. Collects cat, ants, rope, club, and river. He is put by king into fowl house; cat eats up fowls. In stable rope and club beat up horses. In elephant-house ants get into their brains and kill them all. Tied to king's bed, river floods king in his bed. King gives bird back his mate.
Z53.
Z60. Other formulistic motifs.
Z61. Never. ---- Various ways of expressing this idea. When black sheep turn white, when a dry branch sprouts, etc.
Z61. Never. ---- Various ways of expressing this idea. When black sheep turn white, when a dry branch sprouts, etc.
Z61. Never. ---- Various ways of expressing this idea. When black sheep turn white, when a dry branch sprouts, etc.
Z61. Never. ---- Various ways of expressing this idea. When black sheep turn white, when a dry branch sprouts, etc.
Z61. Never. ---- Various ways of expressing this idea. When black sheep turn white, when a dry branch sprouts, etc.
Z61. Never. ---- Various ways of expressing this idea. When black sheep turn white, when a dry branch sprouts, etc.
Z61. Never. ---- Various ways of expressing this idea. When black sheep turn white, when a dry branch sprouts, etc.
Z61.1. Never. "Till Ogham and pillar be blent together, ---- till heaven and earth, till sun and moon be blent together."
Z61.2. Forever. "A day and a night."
Z61.3. Butterby Church -- no church at all. ---- If person says he has gone to Butterby Church, he has not gone to church.
Z61.4. 'He struck him such a blow that he remembered the milk he drank on the sixth day after he was born."
Z62. Proverbial simile.
Z62.1. The old and the new keys. ---- Hero marries his first sweetheart according to the proverb that the old key is better than the new. (Cf. L214. ) *Type 313.
Z62.2. "Bridegroom like the sun and bride like the moon."
Z63. Formulas signifying fruitlessness, ---- e.g. like putting a withe about sand, like mocking a beggar.
Z64. Three explanations. ---- When explanation of phenomenon is asked, three explanations are offered of which the last is always the true one. (Cf. Z71.1. )
Z64.1. Proverb: one man for worship, two men for cultivation of a field, three men for a journey.
Z65. Color formulas.
Z65. Color formulas.
Z65.1. Red as blood, white as snow. ---- Often from blood on snow as a suggestion, a wish is made for a child (wife) with skin like snow and cheeks like blood, etc. (Sometimes black as raven.) Types 516, 709, 720.
Z65.1.1. Red as blood, white as snow, (and black as a raven). ---- Usually applied to the cheeks, skin, and hair of a girl's lover.
Z65.2. Series: white cock, red cock, black cock. ---- These crow at dawn and scatter ghosts. (Cf. E452. )
Z71. Formulistic numbers.
Z71.0.1. Odd numbers -- formulistic.
Z71.0.2. Formulistic numbers: a number plus one ---- (101, 1001, etc.).
Z71.0.2. Formulistic numbers: a number plus one ---- (101, 1001, etc.).
Z71.1. Formulistic number: three.
Z71.1.0.1. Triads.
Z71.1.0.2. Formulistic numbers: threefold ---- (e.g. three times thirty).
Z71.1.1. Formula: three days and three nights.
Z71.1.2. Three chairs in heaven for three saints.
Z71.1.3. Three strains of (fairy) music.
Z71.1.4. Three things that lead to hell (heaven).
Z71.1.5. Three innocent children: ---- Ananias, Zacharias, Misael.
Z71.1.6. Three Lents.
Z71.1.7. Three Maries.
Z71.1.8. Three orders of Irish saints.
Z71.1.9. Three seas surrounding the earth.
Z71.1.10. Three sods that none may escape: ---- "The sod of his birth, the sod of his death, the sod of his burying."
Z71.1.11. Three whom Christ raised from the dead.
Z71.1.12. Three spiritual gifts of God.
Z71.1.13. Three persons who spoke immediately after birth.
Z71.1.14. Three weak things that are the strongest.
Z71.1.15. Three worst things in Ireland.
Z71.1.16. Three reasons why men should condemn wealth.
Z71.1.17. Three cries of the world.
Z71.1.18. Three bad stories of the saints of Ireland.
Z71.2. Formulistic number: four.
Z71.2.0.1. Formulistic number: fourfold ---- (e.g. 400, 4000).
Z71.2.1. Formula: north, south, east, west. ---- (The cardinal directions.)
Z71.2.2. The four elements.
Z71.2.3. The four humors.
Z71.2.4. Four places that cleanse the soul.
Z71.2.5. Four categories of souls at Judgment.
Z71.2.6. Four things that prevent the holy life.
Z71.2.7. Four things to which the glory of the world is compared.
Z71.2.8. Sending four messengers with four winds.
Z71.3. Formulistic number: five.
Z71.3.0.1. Formulistic number: fivefold ---- (e.g. 50, 500).
Z71.3.1. Five sighs we should vent over our sins.
Z71.3.2. Five wounds of Christ.
Z71.4. Formulistic number: six.
Z71.4.0.1. Formulistic number: sixfold.
Z71.5. Formulistic number: seven.
Z71.5. Formulistic number: seven.
Z71.5.0.1.
Z71.5.1. Seven brothers and one sister. Type 451.
Z71.5.2. Journey beyond seven seas.
Z71.5.3. Seven year's peace with no killing of men.
Z71.5.4. King for seven years.
Z71.5.5. Exile for seven years.
Z71.5.6. Seven as a number in religious and social records.
Z71.5.6.1. Seven causes of poverty.
Z71.5.6.2. Seven Deadly Sins.
Z71.5.6.3. Seven eclesiastical orders.
Z71.5.6.4. Seven grades of wisdom.
Z71.5.6.5. Seven joys of the Virgin Mary.
Z71.5.6.6. Seven masses necessary to free soul from hell.
Z71.5.6.7. Seven orders of poets.
Z71.5.6.8. Seven gifts of God (Holy Spirit).
Z71.5.6.9. Seven penitential psalms.
Z71.5.6.10. Seven prayers of saint.
Z71.5.6.11. Seven to whom alms should be given.
Z71.5.6.12. Seven fair rivers in Inis Eidheand (Eden) in the East of Africa.
Z71.5.6.13. Seven daughters of Humility.
Z71.5.7. King with seven wives and seven mares. ---- The seven wives pregnant for seven years, the seven mares seven years in foal.
Z71.5.8. Seven brothers marry seven sisters.
Z71.6. Formulistic number: nine ---- (99, 900, 999, 99,999, etc.).
Z71.6.1. Three times nine.
Z71.6.2. Nine whirlpools of the world.
Z71.6.3. (Nine) wonders of Ireland.
Z71.6.4. Nine materials used in building Tower of Babel.
Z71.7. Formulistic number: eleven.
Z71.8. Formulistic number: twelve.
Z71.8.1. Twelve articles of faith.
Z71.8.2. Twelve abuses of the world.
Z71.8.3. Formulistic number: "twice twelve years".
Z71.8.4. Formulistic number: twelve plus thirteen.
Z71.8.5. Formulistic number: twelve score.
Z71.8.6. Formulistic number: twenty-four.
Z71.8.7. Formulistic number: thirty-six.
Z71.9. Formulistic number: thirteen.
Z71.9. Formulistic number: thirteen.
Z71.10. Formulistic number: sixteen.
Z71.11. Formulistic number: thirty. (Cf. Z71.1.0.1. )
Z71.12. Formulistic number: forty.
Z71.13. Formulistic number: sixty. (Cf. Z71.4. )
Z71.14. Formulistic number: seventy-two. (Cf. Z71.8. )
Z71.15. Formulistic number: seventy-seven. (Cf. Z71.5.0.1. )
Z71.16. Formulistic numbers -- miscellaneous.
Z71.16.1. Formulistic number: eight.
Z71.16.1.1. Eight deadly sins.
Z71.16.1.2. Eight virtues.
Z71.16.1.3. Eight miracles of Christ's body in the sacrament.
Z71.16.1.4. Eight unprofitable types of fasting.
Z71.16.2. Formulistic number: ten.
Z71.16.2.1. Ten plagues.
Z71.16.3. Formulistic number: twenty-five.
Z71.16.4. Formulistic number: twenty-six.
Z71.16.5. Formulistic number: thirty-two.
Z71.16.6. Formulistic number: eighty.
Z71.16.7. Formulistic number: sixteen hundred.
Z71.16.8. Formulistic number: eighty thousand.
Z71.16.9. Formulistic number: fifty-two lakhs.
Z71.16.10. Formulistic number: fourteen.
Z71.16.11. Formulistic number: fifteen.
Z71.16.11.1. Fifteen characteristics of a good (bad) woman.
Z71.16.11.2. The fifteen Oes.
Z71.16.11.3. Fifteen signs before Doomsday.
Z71.16.12. Formulistic number: seventeen.
Z71.16.13. Formulistic number: twenty-one.
Z71.16.14. Formulistic number: twenty-two.
Z71.16.14.1. Twenty-two rooms and twenty-two doors built by skillful carpenter.
Z71.16.15. Formulistic number: fifty-three.
Z71.16.16. Formulistic number: fifty-six.
Z72. Formulas based on the year.
Z72.1. A year and a day. (Cf. Z71.0.2. )
Z72.2. Seven years, seven months, seven days. Type 451.
Z72.3. Seven (three) years between feasts.
Z72.4. Seven years as length of course in school.
Z72.5. Every third year as period of tribute.
Z72.6. Three hundred and sixty-five.
Z72.6. Three hundred and sixty-five.
Z72.7. Twelve years and thirteen days.
Z73. A day and a night.
Z73. A day and a night.
Z73. A day and a night.
Z73.1. After four days -- another two days -- another day.
Z75. Formula: as many children as holes in a sieve.
Z76. Formulistic exaggerations.
Z76.1. Three-fourths of men of Ireland die in one night.
Z78. Testament willing rewards and punishments. ---- Conventional ending of a story.
Z80. Formulistic rimes.
Z81. Blowing the house in. ---- I'll huff and I'll puff till I blow your house in. Type 124.
Z81. Blowing the house in. ---- I'll huff and I'll puff till I blow your house in. Type 124.
Z90. Miscellaneous formulas.
Z91. Formula for other world: "Where no man goes and no crow flies."
Z92. Formulas of distance.
Z92.1. "A tree on island beyond the seven seas and the sixteen rivers."
Z100--Z199 Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100. Symbolism.
Z100.1. Names of giants (Fomorians) with sinister significance.
Z110. Personifications.
Z110. Personifications.
Z110. Personifications.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111. Death personified.
Z111.1. Death enclosed in a bottle.
Z111.1.1. Death imprisoned by a soldier in a magic knapsack, bottle or nutshell.
Z111.2. Death magically bound to tree. ---- While he is bound no one can die.
Z111.2.1. Death stuck to tree.
Z111.2.2. Death (demons) glued to chair.
Z111.3. Death as eight-headed monster.
Z111.3.1. Death allegorically personified as an animal made up of several different animals.
Z111.4. Death excluded from sacred grove.
Z111.5. Death (fate) assumes various forms to destroy men.
Z111.6. Death's messengers.
Z111.6.1. Death's messengers bribed with food.
Z111.6.2. Salt in food given Death's messengers renders them harmless.
Z112. Sickness personified.
Z112.1. Fever personified.
Z113. Life personified: old woman carrying healing potions and salves.
Z114. Old age personified.
Z115. Wind personified.
Z115.1. Man takes case against wind for damages. ---- Wanting to have nothing to do with a court, the wind generously makes good the damages, and punishes the judge guilty of bribery.
Z116. Sovereignty personified.
Z116.1. Empire personified.
Z117. Poetry personified. (Cf. A465.1. )
Z118. Sea personified.
Z118.1. Waves as tresses of sea-god's wife.
Z118.2. Waves as sea-god's horses.
Z118.3. River personified (Mother Ganges).
Z121. Truth personified.
Z121.1. Truth leaves city because there is no place left for her.
Z122. Time personified.
Z122.1. "Time" overpowered when weight is taken from his clock.
Z122.2. Mother of Time personified.
Z122.3. Twelve months as youths seated about fire.
Z122.4. The four seasons personified.
Z123. Fury personified. (Cf. A486. )
Z123.1. Fury personified as demon which enters man's heart and counsels evil.
Z124. Valor personified.
Z124.1. Valor personified as bird which flutters over champion's head.
Z125. Virtue personified.
Z126. Energy (strength) personified.
Z127. Sin personified.
Z127.1. Sin personified as the goddess Venus with her train of nymphs.
Z127.2. Lust personified.
Z128. Wisdom personified.
Z128.1. Intelligence personified.
Z131. Falsehood personified.
Z132. War personified. (Cf. A485.1. )
Z132.0.1. Battle carnage personified.
Z132.1. Victory personified.
Z132.2. Defeat personified.
Z133. Poverty personified.
Z133.1. Poverty personified as diseased beggar woman.
Z134. Fortune personified. (Cf. N111. )
Z134.1. Fortune personified as a matron in fine clothing.
Z135. Adversity personified.
Z136. Civilization personified.
Z139. Personifications -- miscellaneous.
Z139.1. Sloth personified.
Z139.2. Crime personified.
Z139.3. Wine personified.
Z139.3.1. Wine personified in person of the god Bacchus. (Cf. A481. )
Z139.4. Cold personified.
Z139.4.1. Cold depreciated and praised. ---- Depreciated, takes revenge by becoming colder; praised, makes reward, gives clothing.
Z139.5. Worry personified.
Z139.6. Modesty personified.
Z139.7. Ladder as symbol of upward progress.
Z139.7.1. Ladder to heaven as symbol of saint.
Z139.8. Virginity, Wisdom, and Prophecy personified as three beautiful maidens.
Z140. Color symbolism.
Z140. Color symbolism.
Z140.1. Color of flag (sails) on ship as message of good or bad news.
Z140.1. Color of flag (sails) on ship as message of good or bad news.
Z140.2. Colors corresponding to the four world quarters.
Z140.2.1. Color symbolism of the cardinal points.
Z140.3. Symbolism of colors in mass vestments.
Z140.4. Bridegroom inadvertently buys for bride cloth suitable only for widows. ---- She supposes he has died.
Z141. Symbolic color: red.
Z141.1. Red garment to show anger of king.
Z141.2. Red as symbolic of martyrdom.
Z141.2.1. Martyrs called "red wheat"; saints, ---- "Dei triticum (God's wheat).
Z141.2.2. Mill in which two men are slain said to grind "red wheat".
Z141.3. Red as symbol of falsity.
Z142. Symbolic color: white.
Z142.1. White rose the symbol of death.
Z142.2. White as symbolic of martyrdom.
Z143. Symbolic color: black.
Z143.1. Black as symbol of grief.
Z144. Symbolic color: blue.
Z144.1. Blue as symbolic of martyrdom.
Z145. Symbolic color: green.
Z145.1. Green as symbolic of martyrdom.
Z146. Symbolic color: brown.
Z146.1. Brown hair as sign child is descended from goddess.
Z147. Symbolic color: purple.
Z147.1. Purple is symbol of royalty.
Z148. Yellow a lucky color.
Z150. Other symbols.
Z151. Ring broken as token of broken engagement.
Z153. Princess crushes lotus-flower to show that she will be submissive.
Z155. Gray hair the symbol of departed usefulness.
Z156. Cloud (mist) as symbol of misfortune.
Z157. Olive branch symbol of peace.
Z161. Symbolism: not to fight alone. ---- Various figures employed to show it is not good for one warrior alone to fight the battles of a host.
Z162. Arthur's Round Table symbolic of round earth.
Z174. Message or orders given symbolic action.
Z174.1. Inverted shoes at doors to indicate banishment.
Z174.1.1. Black dummy to indicate banishment.
Z175. Sign language. ---- Message delivered by means of the fingers, etc.
Z175.1. Language of flowers.
Z175.2. Lovers' assignation by symbolic messages.
Z176. Symbolism of the mass.
Z177. Lamb as symbol of Christ.
Z178. Allegorical game. ---- Witch, aided by dragon (lion) is vanquished by maiden, aided by lamb (ram). Witch is devil; maiden, church of Christ.
Z181. Nudity as sign of anger.
Z181.1. Nudity as sign of madness.
Z182. Symbolic wounding of king.
Z183. Symbolic names.
Z183.1. Three trees called "Grief," "Dark," and "Dumb-Mouthless Oak."
Z184. Symbols of divinity.
Z185. Mill turned by the water of the grace of God as symbol of saint.
Z186. Symbolism: needle and thread -- sexual intercourse.
Z200--Z299 Heroes.
Z200. Heroes.
Z200. Heroes.
Z200. Heroes.
Z200. Heroes.
Z200. Heroes.
Z200. Heroes.
Z200. Heroes.
Z210. Brothers as heroes. Type 303.
Z210. Brothers as heroes. Type 303.
Z210. Brothers as heroes. Type 303.
Z210. Brothers as heroes. Type 303.
Z210. Brothers as heroes. Type 303.
Z210.0.1. Warriors identically equipped (brothers).
Z210.1. Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away as joint adventurers. ---- Of brothers (sometimes twins taken from body of slain mother) one is abandoned and becomes wild. Later he joins his brother.
Z210.1. Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away as joint adventurers. ---- Of brothers (sometimes twins taken from body of slain mother) one is abandoned and becomes wild. Later he joins his brother.
Z210.1. Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away as joint adventurers. ---- Of brothers (sometimes twins taken from body of slain mother) one is abandoned and becomes wild. Later he joins his brother.
Z210.1. Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away as joint adventurers. ---- Of brothers (sometimes twins taken from body of slain mother) one is abandoned and becomes wild. Later he joins his brother.
Z210.1. Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away as joint adventurers. ---- Of brothers (sometimes twins taken from body of slain mother) one is abandoned and becomes wild. Later he joins his brother.
Z210.1. Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away as joint adventurers. ---- Of brothers (sometimes twins taken from body of slain mother) one is abandoned and becomes wild. Later he joins his brother.
Z211. Dreadnaughts. ---- Brothers deliberately seek dangers they have been warned against. Triumph.
Z211. Dreadnaughts. ---- Brothers deliberately seek dangers they have been warned against. Triumph.
Z211. Dreadnaughts. ---- Brothers deliberately seek dangers they have been warned against. Triumph.
Z211. Dreadnaughts. ---- Brothers deliberately seek dangers they have been warned against. Triumph.
Z215. Hero "son of seven mothers". ---- Seven mothers each with a child imprisoned. Six eat their children to keep from starving. Seventh does not. He rescues all the mothers and becomes hero.
Z216. Supernatural origin of hero: magic conception. (Cf. T510. )
Z221. Eldest brother as hero.
Z230. Extraordinary exploits of hero.
Z231. Boyish exploits of hero.
Z235. Hero with extraordinary animal companions ---- (cock, goat, cow, horse).
Z251. Boy hero.
Z251. Boy hero.
Z251. Boy hero.
Z251. Boy hero.
Z251. Boy hero.
Z251. Boy hero.
Z252. Hero at first nameless.
Z253. Fool as hero. (Cf. L121. )
Z254. Destined hero. (Cf. M311, T22. )
Z255. Hero born out of wedlock. (Cf. L111.2. >L111.2. )
Z257. Beardless hero.
Z261. Giant heroes.
Z292. Death of hero.
Z293. Return of the hero. (Cf. L111.1. L111.1 )
Z300--Z399 Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z300. Unique exceptions.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z310. Unique vulnerability.
Z311. Achilles heel. ---- Invulnerability except in one spot.
Z311.1. Left eye only vulnerable spot.
Z311.2. Spot below right ear only vulnerable one.
Z311.3. Leprosy cured by holy water except on thumb.
Z311.4. Man can be injured only in armpits.
Z312. Unique deadly weapon. ---- Only one thing will kill a certain man.
Z312. Unique deadly weapon. ---- Only one thing will kill a certain man.
Z312. Unique deadly weapon. ---- Only one thing will kill a certain man.
Z312. Unique deadly weapon. ---- Only one thing will kill a certain man.
Z312. Unique deadly weapon. ---- Only one thing will kill a certain man.
Z312.1. Person can be killed only by red-hot spits being thrust through soles of his feet.
Z312.2. Giant ogre can be killed only with iron club he carries (with own sword).
Z312.2. Giant ogre can be killed only with iron club he carries (with own sword).
Z312.2. Giant ogre can be killed only with iron club he carries (with own sword).
Z312.2. Giant ogre can be killed only with iron club he carries (with own sword).
Z312.2. Giant ogre can be killed only with iron club he carries (with own sword).
Z312.3. Unique source of weakness.
Z312.4. Unique bait for fish.
Z313. Vulnerability only by one person.
Z313.1. Only one person can overtake hero.
Z314. Sword which will break in only one peril: ---- this known only to the maker of the sword.
Z315. Ogre vulnerable only when his face is turned away when he is struck.
Z316. Only one way to besiege certain city.
Z320. Object will fit only one thing (or person).
Z321. Ring fits only one person.
Z321. Ring fits only one person.
Z322. Only one ferule fits certain staff.
Z323. Vessel from which nothing can be drunk save through certain tube.
Z350. Other unique exceptions.
Z351. Only one person refuses to weep at hero's death.
Z352. All trees except aspen refuse to make Christ's cross.
Z355. All snakes but one placated by music. ---- In snake den prisoner fails to placate one snake and loses his life.
Z356. Unique survivor. ---- Only one person left from destruction of his community.
Z356.1. Unique survivor from destruction of animals.
Z357. Unique exceptions from curse.

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