K1A — Trap: a young man or man is abandoned.

A young man or man finds himself in a place where he is unable to move, but which is isolated from the ground: the top of a tree, a rock, a cave, a burrow, an island. This happens through someone else's fault: the antagonist lures or traps the hero, or (less often) leaves him no other option but isolation. After some time, the hero either finds a way to salvation himself, or is saved by someone else (often a bird or animal), or (rarely) undergoes a metamorphosis and no longer returns to his normal life. For texts with a fairy-tale episode in which the hero is sent down to the underworld and abandoned there, see motif K2A.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes

K1A.  A young man or man finds himself in a place where he is unable to move, but which is isolated from the ground: the top of a tree, a rock, a cave, a burrow, an island. This happens through someone else's fault: the antagonist lures or traps the hero, or (less often) leaves him no other option but isolation. After some time, the hero either finds a way to salvation himself, or is saved by someone else (often a bird or animal), or (rarely) undergoes a metamorphosis and no longer returns to his normal life. For texts with a fairy-tale episode in which the hero is sent down to the underworld and abandoned there, see motif K2A.
K1B.  A woman is lured onto a tree, rock or island and left there.
K1c.  A man is abandoned on an island but survives. After some time, the person who abandoned him comes to look at his bones. The abandoned man sails away in his boat, leaving him to die.
K1d.  The hero's wife's brothers try to kill him by leaving him on an island.
K1e.  The character is abandoned on an island or on the other side of a river or sea. See motif K1A.
K1f.  One man traps another, driven by jealousy or the desire to possess his rival's wife. See motifs K1A, K1E, K2A.
K1g.  The hero turns into a deer or creates a deer to gore the relative who sent him into a trap.
K1h.  The character finds himself inside a tree trunk or inside a rock; someone frees him by making a hole from the outside.
K1i.  Near the cliff, at the bottom of the pit, or in the underworld, a tree, reed, or vine grows, which the character uses to descend or climb to the ground.
K1j.  The abandoned one turns into a bird and returns home faster than the one who abandoned him.

This motif has been recorded in 261 traditions: Saho, Afar, Zande (Azande, incl Nzakara), Tonga, Swahili, Midjikenda (incl Giryama), Nyika, Duruma; Ngindo, Kiluguru and other Islamic groups of the Eastern Coast of Africa, Nyatutu, Kiniramba, Isanzu, Gogo, Kaguru, Luguru, Zigula, Taveta, Shambala (Sambala), Bondei, Taeta, Dabida; Zaramo, Bemba (Wemba, Babemba; incl Ambo, Lala, Lamba, Bisa), Holoholo, Kaonde, Herero (Herrero), Zulu, Swazi, Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire), Yoruba; incl Ife), Nupe, Bini (Edo), Engenni, Chamba, Dakka, Kukuruku, Dan (=Gio), Guro (=Kweni, incl Gagu, Neio), Toura, Mano, Ngere, Beng, Guro , Songhai, Tuareg, Hadza, Sandawe, Southeast Australia: Kamilaroi, Yualarai (Ualarai, Euahlayi), Milpulo (Mailpurgu), Wuradjeri (Wiradjurim, Wiradjeri, Wurundjeri, Yarra, Yarra Yarra), Wongaibon (Wonghibon), Noongahburrah (Narran, Narran River), Kurnai, and many others (see file 0.doc), Trans-New Guinea and unclassified Papuan groups of Irian Jaya: Mejprat, Arandai-Bintuni, Inanwatan-Berau, Papua of Gelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Kamoró, Marind Anim, Sawi, Mafore; Korowai; Kwerba; Momina, Eipo, Yale, Awyu, Torricelli family: Valman, Samap, Arapesh (Upper, Coastal), Monumbo, Lilau, Ngaimbom; Moando (Banara); Menya, Olo, Melanesians of the northern coast New Guinea, nearest off-shore islands and Huon Gulf (Morobe district): Watut, Bilbil (Bilibili), Jabim (incl Kai), Tami, Bukawac, Wogeo, Tumleo, Yakamul, Manam, Sissano, Sio, Melanesians and Papuans of Northern Solomons: Buka, Bougainville (Siuai, Buin), Melanesians and Papuans of Central Solomons: Vella la Vella (Bilua language), Shortland islands (Mono language), San Cristobal, Saint Georgia, Eddystone, Vangunu, Southern Solomons: southern part of Santa Ysabel (Bughotu), Guadalcanal, San Cristobal, Malaita, Ulawa, Central Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo, Araki, Aore, Maewo, Malekula, Vao, Efate (Vate), Nguna, Mae, Ambrim, Pentecost, Oba (=Aoba, East Ambae, Lepers'), Omba, Kanaka (New Caledonia), Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni, Yap, Truk, Eastern Fayu, Losap, Pulap, Puluwat, Mortlock (incl. Satawan), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Sinhalese; Vedda, Basques, Estonians, Norwegians, Uzbek, Tajik, Persians, Abaza (Abazins), Cherkassians, Adyghe, Kabardin, Ossetians, Ingush, Lezgians, Archin, Kürin; Khinalug, Laks, Avar, Andi, Akhvakh, Tats, Georgians, Armenians, Kalmyk, Anatolia Turks, Azeris (Azerbaijanis), Kurds, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Uyghur, Hui (Dungan) of Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (Dungan texts from Southern and Eastern China are clustered with the Chinese ones), Turkmen, Kazan (Middle Volga) Tatars, Bashkirs, Mari (Cheremis), Mordvins, Chuvash, Komi (Zyrians and Permyaks), Mansi, Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Mongols (Khalkha), Daur (Daghur), Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Tofa (Karagas), Khakas, Nenets, Nganasans, Southern Selkups, Northern Selkups, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Ainu, Oroch, Uilta (Orok), Olcha (Ulch), Nivkh, Chukchi, Aleuts, Central Yupik, Chugach, Tutchone, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Tahltan, Kaska, Koyukon, Tanana, Beaver, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Copper, Polar Inuit, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Malecite, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, Wawenock, Abenaki, Penobscot, Western Ojibwa (Chippewa), Eastern Ojibwa (Missisauga, Timagami and other groups in eastern Ontario), Northern Ojibwa (=Severn Ojibwa, Sandy Lake Cree), Eastern Cree, Naskapi, Montagnais, Menominee, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Miami, Illini, Five Nations Iroquois (Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga), Winnebago, Blackfoot, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Arapaho, Teton (incl Oglala), Yankton/Yanktonai, Omaha, Ponca, Iowa, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Kiowa, Kiowa Apache, Plains Cree, Plains Ojibwa, Assiniboine, Chilkotin, Shuswap, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lillooet, Comox, Pentlatch, Sechelt (incl Sisiatl), Squamish, Halcomelem, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Nez Perce, Quinault, Tillamook, Takelma, Oregon Athabaskans: Lower Umpqua, Tututni (incl Joshua), Upper Coquille, Galice, Tolowa, Coos, Alcea, Okanagon, Sanpoil, Kutenai, Lower Chinook (Chinook proper), Shasta; Chimariko, Karok, Klamath, Modoc, Yurok, Caddo, Tunica, Alabama, Koasati, Cherokee, Wappo, Pomo, Wintu, Patwin, Nomlaki, Yana, Chumash, Yokuts, Mono (Monache), Owens Valley Paiute, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Northern Shoshone, Western Shoshone, Gosiute, Eastern Shoshone, Upland Yuma: Walapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Ute, Southern Paiute, Luiseño, Juaneño, Navajo, Jicarilla, Chiricahua, Western Apache (White Mountain, San Carlos), 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), Yuma proper (Quechan), Mohave, Maricopa, Huichol, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Chinantec, Mazatec, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Lacandon, Kekchi; Mopan, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Guajiro, Sicuani, Cuiva, Makiritare (Yecuana), Yanomamo (Yanoama): Yanomam, Yanomami, Waiwai, Trio, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Wayapi, Emerillon, Colorado (Tsachila), Cañari, Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Mai Huna (Coto, Orejon), Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Kofan, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza, Chayahuita , Karijona, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Cubeo, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Baniwa (incl. Wakuenai), Bare, Piapoco, Curripaco, Siusi, Guarikena , Tariana, Andoque, Witoto, Ocaina, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Tenetehara, Machiguenga, Shipibo, Conibo, Setebo, Cashibo, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Harákmbet (=Mashco), Tacana, Moseten, Chimane, Bolivian Guarani: Chiriguano (including assimilated Chane Arawaks), Pauserna (=Guarasu), Guarayu, Tapiete, Chacobo, Siriono, Parintintin; Villa Bella (tribal affiliation unknown), Suruí, Gaviâo, Zoro, Arua, Cinta Larga, Mundurucu, Curuaia, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Kuikuro, Kalapalo, Calapalo, Kamayura, Trumai, Iranxe, Nambikwara, Paresi, Bororo, Umotina (Umutina), Caraja, Cayapo (incl. Kubenkranken, Pau d’Arco, Shikrin or Xikrin), Apinaye (Apinage, Apinaje), Suya, Txukarramae, Shavante, Sherente, Cariri, Sanapana, Lengua (incl Angaite), Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Yamana (Yaghan), Alacaluf, Kpelle (incl Kono), Biloxi, Itelmen, Berbers of Algeria, Egypt, Japan