Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
L73A — Darkness behind, light ahead.
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
OverviewThe fugitives make sure that darkness spreads behind them, hindering their pursuers (while light pours in front of them).
Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
L73 has 4 other sub-motifs
RelatedL73. Trying to drink a river, lake, or sea, the antagonist bursts.
L73a. The fugitives make sure that darkness spreads behind them, hindering their pursuers (while light pours in front of them).
l73a1. Throwing some object behind him, the fleeing character creates fog or darkness in the path of his pursuer.
L73b. The fugitive draws a line on the ground (ice), creating an obstacle in the path of the pursuer.
L73c. By waving a piece of cloth (towel, scarf, item of clothing) or throwing it, placing it on water, etc., the character creates obstacles (in the path of the pursuer) or a means of overcoming them (bridge, etc.).
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| B33E1 | 100.00% | It is said that the cold, which is stronger than anything else, can freeze boiling water, a foetus in the womb, etc. |
| I114 | 100.00% | Describes a ram or sheep with golden wool or the skin of such a ram. |
| M29Z2 | 99.99% | Being smart and witty, the Gipsy overcomes strong adversaries |
| A32D1 | 99.99% | Cain and Abel are associated with the moon, usually distinguishable (both or only Cain) in the silhouette of lunar spots. |
| B122 | 99.98% | Birds (cranes/storks, geese or crows) carry children away to another world or bring them back from there. See motif H6c3, "The Immortal Stork". |
| K61A1 | 99.98% | 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. |
| M39A5A3 | 99.97% | 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 | 99.95% | 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 | 99.95% | mushroom (pumpkin) thinks that it is as durable as a tree. |
| K38B3B | 99.93% | A mighty bird (rarely β another creature) helps a person for sheltering (warming) its chicks (offspring, children). |
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
11 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 11 traditions: England, British, Bretons, Germans: North (Low- and Central German dialects): Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pommern, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony, incl East Frisia and Oldenburg), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, ThΓΌringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Brandenburg, RΓΌgen, Hungarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Swedes, Danes, Danish, Western Ukrainians, Nogai, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Transylvanian Saksons
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