Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

L56 — Fire in the belly of a monster.

68 Myths, legends and folktales
68 Unique narratives for motif L56
46 Cultures & traditions where L56 is told
0 Sub-motifs of motif L56
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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

Overview

A large animal or monster perishes from a fire kindled in its belly. See motif K8A.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny
MotifSimilarityMotif summary
K8694.57%A small (usually capricious) child is ignored, sent away from home, abandoned on the road, or given to another person for a time. As a result, the child is carried away by an animal or a spirit.
I2393.82%The door of the house opens and slams shut by itself, crushing those entering or leaving. See motif I22.
I4993.10%Earthquake – an anthropomorphic character (or category of characters) that moves around, shaking the earth.
K27K92.50%Test: to dive underwater for a long time or deeply. See motif K27.
F6592.14%To satisfy their secret desire, which involves breaking social norms (forbidden sex, refusing to share food with relatives), the character pretends to be dying, abandoned at the burial site.
L5192.11%A cannibal, spirit, or predatory beast regularly throws its victims down, where they are devoured by aquatic or chthonic creatures.
M8191.91%Wandering, the hero finds himself in a place where blind or blind (two or more) live.
L5791.87%The character loses an internal organ or part of the body, which is taken away by others; he approaches unnoticed and takes back what was lost.
M4691.68%Some creatures steal or own valuables. To return (get) them, the character turns into a small object, from contact with which a woman becomes pregnant, or into a baby. A picked up or born baby takes on its true appearance and steals valuables (including making the girl who picked it up pregnant, if that was his goal).
I1591.67%Creatures without mouths. Usually, their mouths are cut open later.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

46 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 46 traditions: Nyatutu, Kiniramba, Isanzu, Bushmen (all groups), Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni, Scotland, Scots, Picts, Scotti, Scottish, Basques, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Albanians, Balkarians, Western Ukrainians, Bashkirs, Udmurt, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Udeghe, Olcha (Ulch), Forest (Upper Kolyma) Yukaghir, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Inland Tlingit, Athna, Denaina, Koyukon, Tanana, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Shuswap, Lillooet, Comox, Pentlatch, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Nez Perce, Tillamook, Kutenai, Yurok, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Akawai, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Russian Federation

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