Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

L7 — Mistakenly chases after an animal.

55 Myths, legends and folktales

55 Unique narratives for motif L7

34 Cultures & traditions where L7 is told

2 Sub-motifs of motif L7

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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

Overview

While chasing a person, spirit, monster or beast, mistakenly chases after a large two-legged object passing by, usually an animal.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

L7 has 2 other sub-motifs

L7.  While chasing a person, spirit, monster or beast, mistakenly chases after a large two-legged object passing by, usually an animal.
L7a.  A character who sticks to another creature and refuses to let go, first sticking to a human, then to an animal, or first sticking to an animal, then to a bird.
L7b.  While chasing a person, spirit, monster or beast, he mistakenly throws himself after a calabash floating down the river.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of L7’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
B22	99.02%	The character left under the tree is offended by those who climbed up the tree (usually they do not share their food with him or her). In retaliation, he or she knocks down the tree. The events described are of cosmic proportions.
B22A	99.01%	Boys climb a tree to eat fruit and refuse to throw the fruit down to the tapir, who tries to kill the boys.
E9K	99.01%	The husband or wife is the embodiment of honey or a human bee.
F84	99.01%	A guest or younger brother has sexual intercourse with the wife of the host or older brother. Wanting to demonstrate long abstinence, the character sprinkles ash on the head of his penis or smears it with fruit juice.
F29	98.94%	A girl (woman) sits on the ground and copulates with a snake, worm or eel that crawls out of the ground towards her. This usually happens when she is busy with housework (cooking, weaving, etc.).
F9B	98.88%	A biting piranha in a woman's genitals.
H35	98.86%	Human teeth are made of fragile material. Usually, the motif explains the aetiology of toothache.
J28A	98.82%	When asking how one of his parents died, the hero receives a series of false answers. He often exposes himself to the same dangers, but remains alive, proving the falsity of the proposed versions.
M29W	98.78%	As a result of their stupidity or antisocial behavior, a jaguar (puma, ocelot) dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. The character is named if it is a puma or ocelot; otherwise, a jaguar.
L5D	98.72%	The rolling head suffers from thirst. See motif L5.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

34 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 34 traditions: Zulu, Swazi, Sepik-Ramu stock: Abelam, Yatmul, Aibom, Ayom (incl Tembregak, Asai-river pygmies), Tangu, Porapora (Ambakich), Rao and other groups of Middle Ramu and Upper Keram River tribes; Kwanga, Watam, Kaian, Gamei, Awar; Kire (Lower Ramu), Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), Toda, Kota, Kuruba (Kurumba), Badaga, Maravar, Pulaya, Kadar, Kets, Central Yupik, Yana, Navajo, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Pipil, Tzeltal, Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan, Yanomamo (Yanoama): Yanomam, Yanomami, Warao, Trio, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Locono, Wayana, Aparai, Wayapi, Emerillon, Colorado (Tsachila), Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Kofan, Karijona, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Yagua, Ticuna (Tucuna), Juruna, Kechua-speaking communities of Apurimac, Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno departments; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries; Callawaya (Kechua with Pukina substratum), Yabuti, Amniapä, Kumana, Wari (Aikana), More (Itene), Mundurucu, Curuaia, Trumai, Kaingang, Xokleng, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Kpelle (incl Kono)

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