Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
H34D — A piece bitten off 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
OverviewA zoomorphic character climbs or attempts to climb up to the sky or the moon to bite off a piece of them.
Berezkin category: Paradise Lost
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 4, Origin of death, diseases and hard life.
H34 has 9 other sub-motifs
RelatedH34. Work did not require effort. Some people do not believe that this is possible, or do not consider it to be right, or do not fulfil the necessary conditions, which is why people have to work. See motifs H34A â H34H; H34 contains only texts that are not classified in more detail.
H34a. The character believes that people should live easily (without labour and suffering) and makes appropriate suggestions. The interlocutor rejects them. This dialogue forever determines the conditions of people's lives. Those traditions in which the dialogue is conducted by two anthropomorphic brothers or companions are highlighted in bold in the list.
H34b. Somewhere there is or was a river that flowed or, according to the plan, was supposed to flow in two directions at once.
H34c. Rice flew (came) from the field to the house.
H34d. A zoomorphic character climbs or attempts to climb up to the sky or the moon to bite off a piece of them.
H34d1. The sky or celestial objects were edible, but then this source of food became inaccessible or is now only used by inhabitants of a country beyond the human world.
H34e. The snow was edible.
H34f. Baskets or clay vessels carried heavy loads themselves.
H34g. One grain was enough to prepare a meal.
H34h. Firewood and brushwood came by themselves, flying into the house; there was no need to specially harvest and deliver them.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| H34D1 | 98.58% | The sky or celestial objects were edible, but then this source of food became inaccessible or is now only used by inhabitants of a country beyond the human world. |
| L42H | 97.31% | A cannibal catches the hero and invites other cannibals to a feast. The hero escapes, and the cannibals eat the one who invited them. |
| H36H | 96.97% | Creatures, including a frog or toad, must cross an obstacle. This does not go as planned and results in humans becoming mortal. |
| K61B | 96.91% | In order to learn the names of strangers, the character finds or creates a situation in which they call each other by name aloud. |
| H25 | 96.27% | People are offered a choice between two objects, one of which represents death and the other life, or they are asked whether they want to be reborn or die forever. Death is chosen. |
| L106 | 95.89% | A person takes an object belonging to another and loses it; the owner demands that the object be returned; the hero goes after it (to another world), usually finds it and brings back what was lost. See motifs K56a3 and L105. |
| M129 | 95.85% | A parent intends to transfer primogeniture (royalty, other privileges) to a chosen son. Another son or brother comes under the guise of the chosen one and receives primogeniture. |
| H36HH | 95.56% | The frog or toad is to blame for the fact that humans are mortal. |
| M180A | 95.40% | A zoomorphic character invites another to visit, but demands that they wash their hands or feet before eating. This proves impossible, and the guest leaves hungry. |
| K140 | 95.32% | Travelling with his sister or brother, the young man regularly kills his saviours and helpers, exposing himself to ever new dangers. |
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
5 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 5 traditions: Masai, Kikuyu, Chuka, Embu, Emberre, Mwimbe, Mandjak, Mankanya, Pepel, Balant, Felupe, Diola (Jola), Khoekhoe (=Hottentot; incl Nama, Korana); Damara, Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians
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