E9M — The magical wife – the bear.

A man marries a bear (white or grizzly) that takes the form of a woman, or a woman who takes the form of a bear.

Berezkin category: The origins of people and culture

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 5, Origin of human beings, ethnic groups, etiology of human anatomy, strange body configuration, ways of behavior, marriages before the establishment of the present norms.

E9.  The character notices that someone is running the house in his absence and catches the person doing so by surprise.
E9a.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a fox.
E9aa.  A man searches for a missing woman, who is a fox by nature, and comes to the burrow where she has hidden. Various bird or animal women come out of the burrow and offer themselves in place of the fox. Then they let him inside.
E9b.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of an elephant (elephant tusk).
E9c.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a large hoofed mammal (buffalo, antelope, moose, etc.).
E9d.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a dog or puppy (wolf cub).
E9e.  An animal or object received by a young man from supernatural beings as a reward for his kindness, upon the young man's return home (to earth), turns into a girl.
E9f.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a parrot.
E9g.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a vulture.
E9h.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a dove.
E9i1.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) takes the form of a swan.
E9i2.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper, adopted daughter) takes the form of a duck.
E9i3.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) has the image of a goose.
E9i4.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) takes the form of a crane.
e9i5.  Before meeting the hero, his wife takes the form of a snail.
E9j.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife) has the image of a monkey, or the man hides the woman and pretends that the mistress is a monkey.
e9j1.  Humans are considered descendants of monkeys.
E9k.  The husband or wife is the embodiment of honey or a human bee.
E9l.  Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife) has the image of a mouse (rarely: a rat).
E9m.  A man marries a bear (white or grizzly) that takes the form of a woman, or a woman who takes the form of a bear.
E9n.  A man marries a female seal, seal or dolphin that has taken the form of a woman and lives with her among people.
E9o.  A man marries a woman who has the appearance of a frog or toad.

This motif has been recorded in 16 traditions: Chukchi, Central Yupik, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Han, Tutchone, Tagish, Tahltan, Athna, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Mackenzie Delta, Iglulik, Tsimshian, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Scythians, Scythe