Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
K61A1 — Two heads in a sack.
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 dangerous character mistakes two people sleeping (hiding) in a sack or two people lying with their feet towards each other for a single creature.
Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
K61 has 7 other sub-motifs
RelatedK61a. In order to find out the exact number, a specific object in a certain set, the name of a specific character, or the reason for a certain phenomenon, the character tries to surprise (or unintentionally surprises) the owner of such knowledge. The latter begins to talk to himself, involuntarily revealing the necessary information to the hero standing nearby.
K61a1. A dangerous character mistakes two people sleeping (hiding) in a sack or two people lying with their feet towards each other for a single creature.
K61b. In order to learn the names of strangers, the character finds or creates a situation in which they call each other by name aloud.
K61c. A demon agrees to help (agrees not to harm) a person on condition that the person guesses his name. At the last moment, the person accidentally learns the demon's name, and the demon disappears or rewards the person.
K61c1. A person will die if they cannot find the answer to the demon's question. A person or their acquaintance accidentally learns the answer by overhearing the demon talking to himself or to another demon. See motif C29.
K61d. A young woman accidentally gives her fiancΓ©, husband or mother-in-law the impression that she works a lot. To prevent the deception from being revealed, she or someone else makes others believe that women's work makes them ugly or turns them into animals. The husband forbids his wife to work.
K61e. Seeing an absurd situation, a powerful (supernatural) character laughs and is thereby usually cured of his ailment. For this, the people involved in the situation are rewarded and saved from danger.
K61f. Fearing her husband's wrath, a childless woman pretends to have given birth. Her husband believes that he has a daughter or son, and after some time marries her off (marries him off). During the wedding ceremony, a doll or animal is placed under the veil (in the palanquin), but at the last moment, a supernatural character transforms the supposed bride (groom) into a girl or boy.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| B122 | 100.00% | Birds (cranes/storks, geese or crows) carry children away to another world or bring them back from there. See motif H6c3, "The Immortal Stork". |
| A32D1 | 100.00% | Cain and Abel are associated with the moon, usually distinguishable (both or only Cain) in the silhouette of lunar spots. |
| M39A5A3 | 100.00% | Realizing that a wife telling the truth will cause trouble for the family, the husband says that the sounds she hears are the screams of her master (official, etc.) who is beaten, dragged to hell, etc. She repeats this to the master (official), who declares her insane. |
| B87B | 99.99% | The Great Bear β a cart harnessed by a wolf or bear. Usually, the shape of the handle of the dipper is explained by the fact that a wolf or bear attacked an ox harnessed to the cart and took its place. In this case, it is associated with Alcor or the last star of the handle of the dipper β Ξ·. |
| M38E | 99.99% | mushroom (pumpkin) thinks that it is as durable as a tree. |
| B33E1 | 99.98% | It is said that the cold, which is stronger than anything else, can freeze boiling water, a foetus in the womb, etc. |
| I114 | 99.98% | Describes a ram or sheep with golden wool or the skin of such a ram. |
| L73A | 99.98% | The fugitives make sure that darkness spreads behind them, hindering their pursuers (while light pours in front of them). |
| K38B3B | 99.98% | A mighty bird (rarely β another creature) helps a person for sheltering (warming) its chicks (offspring, children). |
| K56A2B | 99.97% | A supernatural character asks a girl to redeem (feed) his (her) children. These are snakes, beetles or wild animals. The girl does everything she is asked and is rewarded. |
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
12 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 12 traditions: Mon, Slovakians, Slovaks, Slovenians, Slovenes, Lithuanians, Latvians, Livonians, Western Ukrainians, Persians, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Lutsi (Ludza), China
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