Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
J33 — Scarecrow.
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 boy, a young man, or two children live in the house of an older character. In order to elicit a certain reaction from him, they kill a person or a large animal, stuff the scarecrow with insects, worms, ashes, grass, or inflate it.
Berezkin category: Avenger heroes: The amerinday cycle
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
J33 has 1 other sub-motifs
RelatedJ33. A boy, a young man, or two children live in the house of an older character. In order to elicit a certain reaction from him, they kill a person or a large animal, stuff the scarecrow with insects, worms, ashes, grass, or inflate it.
J33a. A boy, a young man, or two children live in an old woman's house. They kill her husband—a man or a large animal—and make a scarecrow out of him. Angry that her husband is not responding to her, the old woman beats the scarecrow and then discovers that her husband has been killed. See motif J33.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| A23 | 98.02% | The first ancestors come together to choose who will become the sun, to raise the sun to the sky, to see the sun rise for the first time, and to name the sun correctly. See motif A22. |
| A22C | 97.06% | In order for the sun to rise, move to the right distance from the earth, or follow its heavenly path, a human being must be sacrificed. |
| K16A | 97.02% | In an effort to show that he is a good hunter, a man regularly walks in front of a girl, pretending to carry prey. Once he slips, and the imaginary prey turns out to be a scarecrow stuffed with ashes or a bundle of termites. |
| D4D | 96.90% | The opossum obtains fire for humans. See motif D4A. |
| D4G | 94.40% | Hummingbird steals, finds or spreads fire. See motif D4A. |
| L58 | 94.24% | A man refuses to give food to his closest relatives or spouse; as punishment, he or his food changes its nature. |
| I75 | 92.97% | Before the emergence of the present world or present humans, there were others (at least two worlds or races). |
| A24 | 91.92% | 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. |
| F36 | 91.57% | (Adopted) children of a woman or man kill the lover (or spouse of non-human nature) of their father or (adoptive) mother. |
| I17A | 90.88% | Creatures without an anal opening or mouth - dwarves. |
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
16 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 16 traditions: Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Pawnee, Yokuts, Kitanemuk, Hopi, Zuni, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Eastern Keres (Cochiti, Sia, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, Paguate, Seama), Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Gulf Nahuatl, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Zapotec, Chatino, Tzotzil, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Zaparo
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