The Mythology and Folklore Database
L31 - The sticky monster.




47 Myths, Legends and Folktales
46 Unique Narratives for Motif L31
24 Cultures & Traditions where L31 is told
108 Mythemes Indexed
2 Sub-Motifs of Motif L31


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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

People are forced against their will to follow an object, person or animal (usually sticking to it) that carries them far away (usually into water or into the sky).

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

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


L31 has 2 other sub-motifs


L31.  People are forced against their will to follow an object, person or animal (usually sticking to it) that carries them far away (usually into water or into the sky).
L31a.  An object descends from the sky. Children playing climb into it or stick to it, and it carries them away to the sky. See motif L31.
L31b.  Upon discovering a reptile on land, people touch it or sit on it, stick to it, and it crawls away with them into the water. See motif L31.

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
L31B97.35%Upon discovering a reptile on land, people touch it or sit on it, stick to it, and it crawls away with them into the water. See motif L31.
D4J96.78%The thief, the thief's assistant, or the owner of fire is a rabbit, a hare, or (ofaye) a guinea pig. See motif D4A.
M29H95.93%See the motives in square brackets.
B27B95.91%The characters ponder what they should transform into and decide to become a celestial object.
L12395.67%In order to confuse the pursuer, the character leaves traces leading in all directions before running away.
F2595.52%Women have been stained with someone else's or their own blood, or with blood-like paint, ever since women began menstruating.
K27YY495.33%The hero must obtain tree bark, which is fraught with danger.
J5695.30%A son or sons come to their father. He subjects them to trials in order to find out whether they are really his children.
K2095.25%Looking at the sky at night, a man or woman expresses a desire to marry a star or the Moon (kuchin: to possess a star as an object). See motifs K19a, K19b.
L6894.93%Left alone (usually at night in a deserted place) with his companion, a man undergoes a monstrous metamorphosis.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 24 traditions: Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Ireland, Nivkh, Inland Tlingit, North Alaskan Inupiat, Haida, Tsimshian, Lenape (Delaware), Blackfoot, Shawnee, Yuchi, Teton (incl Oglala), Arikara, Pawnee, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Crow, Caddo, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Juruna, Kamayura, Canela: Ramkokamekra, Apaniekra, Mocovi; Kechua of Santiago del Estero with probable Guaikuruan substratum; Abipon, Caduveo, Mbaya, Ofaie


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