Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

F36 — Children against the lover.

52 Myths, legends and folktales

52 Unique narratives for motif F36

40 Cultures & traditions where F36 is told

0 Sub-motifs of motif F36

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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

(Adopted) children of a woman or man kill the lover (or spouse of non-human nature) of their father or (adoptive) mother.

Berezkin category: Gender and sex

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
D4D	96.85%	The opossum obtains fire for humans. See motif D4A.
A24	95.78%	The first ancestors live in twilight. When they first find themselves in the rays of the sun, they (spontaneously or by someone's will) perish, turning into animals, spirits, or stones.
B62	95.63%	Man believes that vultures live better than humans, changes his appearance to that of a vulture. The former vulture lives with the man's wife, and the man usually does not like his new life.
L26	95.44%	During the (first) initiation, supernatural beings teach boys rituals and kill them for violating rules related to the consumption and distribution of food.
M121	95.44%	A louse or other similar creature (flea, tick, firefly) is sent to follow a certain character.
G14	95.33%	A man swallowed by a water monster is carried away to an underwater or overseas world, obtains plants, and returns to people.
K11	95.33%	Brothers (brother and sister) kill a monstrous bird. Its eyes turn into heavenly bodies (among the Oaxacan Indians) or something else (among the present-day Condors of the Yokuts).
J24	95.25%	The hero, ground into powder, is reborn.
L58	95.14%	A man refuses to give food to his closest relatives or spouse; as punishment, he or his food changes its nature.
B2B	94.71%	The earth feeds on the people buried in it. See motif B2A.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

40 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 40 traditions: Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Hare (K'ahsho Got'ine), Tahltan, Koyukon, Western Ojibwa (Chippewa), Menominee, Arapaho, Mandan, Arikara, Pawnee, Kiowa, Kiowa Apache, Crow, Carrier, Alabama, Koasati, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Southern Paiute, Jicarilla, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Pipil, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Zapotec, Chatino, Tzotzil, Chorti, Kekchi; Mopan, Sibundoy: Kamsa, Ingano (Inga), Sicuani, Yaruro, Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Kofan, Chayahuita , Karijona, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Tariana, Witoto, Ocaina, Mojo, Baure, Itonama, Kanichana, Chiquito, Manasi, Paresi, Chamacoco (Ishir), Berbers of Algeria

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How to cite: Fielder-White, J. (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com

0009-0006-1672-4451
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