The Mythology and Folklore Database
B70 - Hare ears.




39 Myths, Legends and Folktales
38 Unique Narratives for Motif B70
13 Cultures & Traditions where B70 is told
81 Mythemes Indexed
0 Sub-Motifs of Motif B70


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 Motif Summary  -   Motifs with Simlar Dispersals  -    Map of Myth Distribution   -   List of Traditions  -   Myths



Source Data from Berezkin's Analytics Catalogue, if using this data please acknowledge and link to it here:
Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.



Summary of Motif

A man beats defenseless hares, foxes, and other small animals (one or many) that are usually locked in his house. The story explains the colouring of the tips of the ears and tails of these animals. Cf. motif M45A.

Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 7, Etiology of plants and animals and of their peculiar features, particular animals as protagonists of cosmological stories, metamorphoses, weather and calendar



Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
K89B98.55%At the beginning of the story, the sister parts with her brothers (or one brother), who die, remain on trees, on a hill, ascend to the sky, etc. Usually, after a successful marriage, the sister meets her brothers again, who have acquired superhuman nature.
M10897.62%The character is called upon to help perform a task (usually to transport property or provisions across a river) and takes away what has been entrusted to him.
A13A97.42%The raven steals or hides the sun, or attempts to do so.
K25A797.42%The older brother hunts, the younger brother takes care of the household. After catching the winged maiden, the older brother takes her as his wife, while the younger brother, out of naivety, returns her wings to her. The older brother sets off in search of his wife.
I10197.09%The Big Dipper or several bright stars of another constellation are stakes, pillars supporting a platform, or some object is stretched, dried, or stored on these stakes.
I8696.83%The inhabitants of the upper world produce down, wool, and scales, which turn into birds, animals, and fish.
B11296.12%The character is called upon to help perform a task (usually to transport property or provisions across a river) and takes away what has been entrusted to him. A woodpecker or titmouse returns the stolen goods. The owner of the property paints or dresses the bird, hence the colour of its plumage
B72A96.12%Mother (stepmother, adoptive father) does not give food to a girl or (less often) a boy. The child asks migratory birds to take him with them, they give him bird clothing, he flies away with them, becoming a bird.
M108B96.12%The deceiver takes away someone else's property in a boat or carries it away. A bird (usually a woodpecker) deceives him and returns the property to its owners.
E9I495.40%Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife, helper) takes the form of a crane.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 13 traditions: Kalmyk, Mari (Cheremis), Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Kets, Central Yakuts (Sakha), Dolgans, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Ainu, Udeghe, Oroch, Nanai, Negidal, Forest (Upper Kolyma) Yukaghir


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