Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
M46E — The Sun is a Toy
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
OverviewThey (promise to) give a child the Sun (and or the Moon) to play with
Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.
M46 has 5 other sub-motifs
RelatedM46. Some creatures steal or own valuables. To return (get) them, the character turns into a small object, from contact with which a woman becomes pregnant, or into a baby. A picked up or born baby takes on its true appearance and steals valuables (including making the girl who picked it up pregnant, if that was his goal).
M46a. The character turns into a baby, is picked up by the owners of valuables, and then steals valuables or converges with a woman. The baby is not a demonic creature and does not intend to kill those who pick it up (cf. Motive L60).
M46b. The character turns into a tiny object or creature, swallowing or touching which a woman (usually a virgin) becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy. He steals valuables or gets along with a woman. See M46 motif.
M46c. The character turns into a needle, a garbage, a small insect. A woman swallows it and becomes pregnant. See M46B motif.
M46d. A small child cries and calms down only after being given a valuable item hidden in the house to play with. After receiving an item, a child or an associated character takes it away.
M46e. They (promise to) give a child the Sun (and or the Moon) to play with
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| K27N3C2 | 99.08% | The hero's father-in-law, the bear, sets him difficult tasks and trials. |
| M190 | 99.08% | The beaver carries the porcupine across a water barrier. Usually, he throws it into the water or leaves it on an island. |
| M53E | 99.08% | A character (always a raven) kills a whale and points others to imaginary signs that whale meat is not suitable for food. People believe and all the meat goes to the deceiver. |
| K54A | 98.98% | A man and a friendly giant live together. The friendly giant fights another giant and asks the man for help. The help consists of the man damaging the enemy's legs. |
| E9M | 98.75% | A man marries a bear (white or grizzly) that takes the form of a woman, or a woman who takes the form of a bear. |
| E15B | 98.27% | Bird women sew the birch bark covering of the hero's boat. See motif E15. |
| E9AA | 98.27% | A man searches for a missing woman, who is a fox by nature, and comes to the burrow where she has hidden. Various bird or animal women come out of the burrow and offer themselves in place of the fox. Then they let him inside. |
| F51C | 98.27% | Upon learning that her unknown lover is her own brother, the girl shows him her genitals or bare breasts, offering him what he so desired. After that, she runs away, and he rushes after her. |
| H37A | 98.27% | A character gives another the ability to easily light a fire. The latter uses it unnecessarily and loses it. |
| K25A3 | 98.27% | The magical bird-wife flies away when she makes herself new feather clothing from feathers collected on the ground. |
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
26 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 26 traditions: Norwegians, Swedes, Aleuts, Central Yupik, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Han, Tutchone, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Tahltan, Athna, Ingalik (Der Hit’an), Koyukon, Tanana, Gwich'in (Kuchin, Loucheux), Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Mackenzie Delta, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Kodiak
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