Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
M29A1 — Raven(s) - main trickster
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
OverviewIn three or more different episodes related to deception, absurd, obscene or anti-social behavior the protagonist is raven (crow)
Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 9, Identification of protagonists of the stories with particular animals or persons with particular qualities.
M29 has 45 other sub-motifs
RelatedM29. trickster is defined as a protagonist in the following characteristic episodes.
M29a. See the motives in square brackets.
M29a1. In three or more different episodes related to deception, absurd, obscene or anti-social behavior the protagonist is raven (crow)
M29b. Fox (a), Jackal, Coyote (or Wolf when, apparently, we mean a steppenwolf, i.e. the same coyote). See the motives in square brackets.
M29b1. As a result of his stupidity or antisocial behavior, the wolf dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29b2. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the bear dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29b3. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the fox (jackal) dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. If it is not specified that a “jackal”, then the protagonist is a fox.
M29c. See the motives in square brackets.
M29d. See the motives in square brackets.
M29E. See the motives in square brackets.
M29f. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the wolverine dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29g. See the motives in square brackets. They include traditions in which the hare/rabbit appears only as a trickster, and another trickster (usually a fox or jackal) often occurs.
M29g1. In episodes involving deception, ridiculous, obscene, or antisocial behavior, the hare or rabbit is the main trickster. Traditions in which 1) a hare or rabbit occurs only once as a trickster, and another trickster (usually a fox/jackal/coyote) is typical; 2) Mesoamerican traditions in which a small rabbit is associated with a small a set of episodes and a high probability of recent African influences. See the motives in square brackets.
M29g2. Cancer (crab) defeats or deceives strong opponents by cunning.
M29gg. hedgehog defeats or deceives strong opponents by cunning.
M29h. See the motives in square brackets.
M29i. See the motives in square brackets.
M29j. See the motives in square brackets.
M29k. A turtle (toad, frog) defeats strong opponents by cunning or perseverance. See the motives in square brackets. The character is named if it is a toad or frog; otherwise, a turtle.
M29k1. A turtle (toad, frog) gets into unpleasant situations due to its own stupidity or carelessness. See the motives in square brackets. The character is named if it is a toad or frog; otherwise, a turtle.
M29l. See the motives in square brackets.
M29m. See the motives in square brackets.
M29n. See the motives in square brackets.
M29nn. See the motives in square brackets.
M29o. See the motives in square brackets.
M29o1. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the monkey dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29p. See the motives in square brackets.
M29q. See the motives in square brackets.
M29qq. See the motives in square brackets.
M29r. See the motives in square brackets.
M29S. See the motives in square brackets.
M29T. See the motives in square brackets.
M29v. The character defeats or deceives strong opponents using cunning. The protagonists are dwarf ungulates, usually duker or deer - taxonomically distant from each other, but similar in appearance. In some publications on African traditions, it is difficult to determine which animal we are talking about, but it is certain that these are small cloven-hoofed animals, usually (always?) dukers. See the motives in square brackets.
M29w. As a result of their stupidity or antisocial behavior, a jaguar (puma, ocelot) dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. The character is named if it is a puma or ocelot; otherwise, a jaguar.
M29w1. As a result of their stupidity or antisocial behavior, the leopard (panther, leopard) dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29w2. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the tiger dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29w3. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the lion dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29x. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the hyena dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
M29x1. See the motives in square brackets.
M29X2. See the motives in square brackets.
M29y. See the motives in square brackets.
M29z. hero of the story is a character named “Beardless” or Aldar-Kose (Aldar is a “deceiver”, a braid is “beardless”).
M29z1. purely anthropomorphic character, or a character who bears the name of an animal or plant but does not act zoomorphic in the course of his adventures. See the motives in square brackets. {Data not fully entered}
M29z2. Being smart and witty, the Gipsy overcomes strong adversaries
M29z3. The Gipsy (more often a female than a male) is an enemy overcome by the hero (heroine) or (rare) a weak failure
M29z4.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| E9M | 99.00% | 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. |
| M123C | 98.66% | A non-migratory bird sets off south with migratory birds, but is unable to reach its destination. |
| L102 | 98.52% | 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. |
| K51B | 98.43% | The bodies of the slain are left in such a position that it seems as if they are rejoicing – smiling, laughing, dancing. |
| M123D | 98.38% | A bird from the corvid family is rejected after its mate or relatives discover that it eats carrion or filth. |
| L10 | 98.36% | The character has a sharp (biting) tail or a protrusion on its back. See motif L9, cf. motif L9C. |
| B96 | 98.09% | The heroes' enemy turns into a large commercial fish (usually a sturgeon) or (rarely) a commercial aquatic mammal. |
| C19A | 98.01% | The character (except Quileut: Raven) turns into a child, asks for and receives heavenly bodies to play, or (Chukchi) comes to play with the little daughter of the owner of the stars. |
| A13A1 | 97.93% | The raven rescues or obtains the hidden or stolen sun (daylight). |
| K51 | 97.85% | The husband feigns death, disappears or leaves home for a long time. The wife learns that he has married another woman, finds and, as a rule, kills her husband and/or rival, who often turns out to be a creature of non-human nature. |
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
36 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 36 traditions: Kerek, Reindeer Koryak, Maritime Koryak (Alyutor), Chukchi, Central Yupik, Chugach, Chipewyan, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Han, Tutchone, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Tahltan, Kaska, Athna, Denaina, Koyukon, Tanana, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Netsilik, Iglulik, Polar Inuit, Labrador Inuit (Koksoagmiut), Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Chilkotin, Comox, Pentlatch, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Itelmen
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