Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
A42A — The sun imitator falls from the sky.
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
OverviewHaving risen into the sky, the character unsuccessfully performs the role of the sun and as a result falls or is thrown down to earth.
Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.
A42 has 1 other sub-motifs
RelatedA42. The character comes to the Sun, tries to fulfil its role, but deliberately or through incompetence breaks the rules, usually causing disasters on earth.
A42a. Having risen into the sky, the character unsuccessfully performs the role of the sun and as a result falls or is thrown down to earth.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| F60 | 99.58% | A girl or woman falls ill. A character comes to heal her. The treatment consists of him copulating with her or attempting to do so. |
| B92 | 99.05% | A character whose body is hard and has broken into small pieces, or (rarely) a small object, turns into flint or other hard stones (the origin of flint). |
| M29Y | 99.01% | See the motives in square brackets. |
| A5A | 98.99% | The younger brother (usually the Sun) is made from the urine and swaddling clothes of his older brother (usually the Moon), who was kidnapped as a baby. See motif A5. |
| B107 | 98.99% | During the (world) fire, the oyster burns, which is why oyster shells are black. |
| B28B | 98.99% | The inhabitants of the area where the hero finds himself are afraid of creatures that are tools, utensils, and plants that are now harmless. The hero easily defeats these creatures and usually transforms them into what they are now. |
| B28D1 | 98.99% | Not understanding who he is facing, the man promises to kill the Transformer. The Transformer turns his weapon into deer antlers and him into a deer. |
| B61 | 98.99% | The mole had to hold up the fallen sky and sun. Since then, its paw (hand) has remained dislocated backwards. |
| B64C | 98.99% | Fish, together with other earthly creatures, wage war on the inhabitants of the sky. Falling to the ground, they break their bones, which is why fish have many small bones in their bodies. See motif B64. |
| B91 | 98.99% | The snail had (the most keen-eyed) eyes. Another character borrows them and does not return them. |
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
8 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 8 traditions: Ancient Greece, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Sechelt (incl Sisiatl), Squamish, Halcomelem, Chumash, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet
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