Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
K53 — Animal skins – a means of transformation.
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewA character temporarily transforms into an animal or bird of a certain species by putting on its skin, or skins taken along with them come to life and serve the hero.
Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| M17 | 98.18% | A wife, mother or grandmother directs the arrow of a blind man or boy at game, lies that he missed, cooks and eats the meat herself. See motif M16 (man is blind, K333.1). |
| M29F | 96.24% | As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the wolverine dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. |
| L102 | 95.87% | A girl or woman (for various reasons, jokingly or seriously) calls an animal or animal remains her husband, or steps on bones and addresses them. The animal (comes to life and) carries her away. Her human husband, parents or brother come for her, and they flee; usually the animal husband pursues them, but stops the chase or dies. |
| M20 | 95.79% | The character does something unacceptable, is caught, and his beak or jaw is damaged. Usually (except for the Koryaks), people keep the torn-off beak (jaw) in their homes, and the character comes and takes it back. |
| L10 | 95.40% | The character has a sharp (biting) tail or a protrusion on its back. See motif L9, cf. motif L9C. |
| A13A1 | 95.13% | The raven rescues or obtains the hidden or stolen sun (daylight). |
| M123D | 95.09% | A bird from the corvid family is rejected after its mate or relatives discover that it eats carrion or filth. |
| M29A | 94.79% | See the motives in square brackets. |
| M29A1 | 94.65% | In three or more different episodes related to deception, absurd, obscene or anti-social behavior the protagonist is raven (crow) |
| K51B | 94.23% | The bodies of the slain are left in such a position that it seems as if they are rejoicing – smiling, laughing, dancing. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Traditions
23 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 23 traditions: Mansi, Khakas, Nenets, Southern Selkups, Northern Selkups, Chukchi, Central Yupik, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Athna, Tanana, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Western Woods Cree, Assiniboine, Yurok, Hopi, Kekchi; Mopan, Kodiak
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