Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
L22A — People go blind.
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
OverviewHaving broken some taboo, seen an unusual object or strange character, people fall into a deep sleep and wake up in the morning blind. See motif L22. Among the Watut, Khmou and Trumai, a spirit eats out a person's eyes and they die immediately without waking up).
Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
L22 has 2 other sub-motifs
RelatedL22. Having broken some taboo, seen an unusual object or a strange character, people fall into a deep sleep; at night, while asleep, they are killed or maimed.
L22a. Having broken some taboo, seen an unusual object or strange character, people fall into a deep sleep and wake up in the morning blind. See motif L22. Among the Watut, Khmou and Trumai, a spirit eats out a person's eyes and they die immediately without waking up).
L22B. People who wake up blind in the morning turn into fish, birds or animals. See motif L22.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| L22 | 98.89% | Having broken some taboo, seen an unusual object or a strange character, people fall into a deep sleep; at night, while asleep, they are killed or maimed. |
| F9D | 98.87% | Small stinging creatures dangerous to the partner are found in the genitals of women or men. |
| F18B | 98.58% | After intercourse with a forbidden partner (incest, intercourse with an animal or spirit), a man's penis becomes so long that he is forced to carry it in a basket, etc. |
| A1A | 98.07% | Before the sun appeared, the world was lit by a large bird with bright colours (a parrot or toucan). |
| A26 | 98.07% | The bird embodies the sun, daylight; it can be caught, released, killed. |
| B25 | 98.07% | Characters who climb trees or vines and then fall turn into wild pigs or other game animals. |
| B75D | 98.07% | The sound of leaves or grass rustling in the wind has been heard since the time of creation. |
| F29A | 98.07% | To kill a woman's lover, who has the appearance of a worm or snake and crawls into her vagina from under the ground, boiling water, resin or hot coals are poured on him. |
| J12C | 98.07% | A girl meets her fiancé at a dance and then follows in his footsteps. See motif J12. |
| K8F | 98.07% | The swallowed one discovers a living deer in the belly of the monster. See motif K8A. |
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: Tanana, Chayahuita , Karijona, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Wanana, Tucano proper, Pira-Tapuya, Arapaso, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Yagua, Tacana, Moseten, Chimane, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Trumai, Bororo, Sanapana, Lengua (incl Angaite), Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay)
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