The Mythology and Folklore Database
H36D - The hare betrays man.
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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
The hare distorts God's command and/or is responsible for the fact that humans are mortal. See motif H36.Berezkin category: Paradise Lost
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 4, Origin of death, diseases and hard life
H36 has 17 other sub-motifsH36. A character is sent to deliver instructions or certain items. The messenger distorts the message, brings the wrong items, loses what he is carrying, delays (and is overtaken by another messenger). This has important consequences for him and for the future lives of the people. H36a. The character distorts the message conveyed to him, deliberately lies, brings the wrong thing, loses what he is carrying, delays (and is overtaken by another messenger). As a result, people become mortal (they do not revive after death). H36aa. The messenger must tell people what they should do if they want to avoid death, but he distorts the instructions and people become mortal. In Mesoamerican variants, it is not about people in general, but about a specific character. H36b. The chameleon is to blame for the fact that man is mortal or that he must labour; he loses the trust placed in him by the deity. See motif H36. H36c. The lizard is to blame for the fact that man is mortal. See motif H36. H36d. The hare distorts God's command and/or is responsible for the fact that humans are mortal. See motif H36. H36e. The rat is to blame for the fact that man is mortal. H36f. The raven is sent to deliver an important item or message. He distorts the message or loses what has been entrusted to him. H36ff. The raven (crow) or other large bird of prey tries to kill people and/or is responsible for the fact that humans (tigres: domestic animals) are mortal or susceptible to disease. H36g. God sends a messenger to the people to tell them to eat infrequently (once a day, once every three days, etc.). The messenger says that one should eat often – at least two or three times a day. H36g1. When a bull (ox, cow) is ordered to convey certain instructions to people, he confuses them or deliberately distorts them. H36g2. When a character, who later became a dung beetle, was ordered to convey certain instructions to people, he distorted them. H36gg. The coyote is to blame for the fact that humans are mortal. H36h. Creatures, including a frog or toad, must cross an obstacle. This does not go as planned and results in humans becoming mortal. H36hh. The frog or toad is to blame for the fact that humans are mortal. H36i. The goat or sheep is to blame for the fact that man is mortal. See motif H36. H36j. The lark is to blame for the fact that man is mortal. h36k. Trees try to prevent humans from appearing on earth, fearing that they will cut them down. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of H36's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| L108B2 | 99.91% | To acquire a thin voice, the character allows ants to bite his tongue. |
| M172 | 98.94% | To show that a strong character is his slave, a riding animal, the weak one adjusts so that the strong one takes him along. Those around them are convinced of the truthfulness of the weak one. |
| M29X | 98.58% | As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the hyena dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. |
| K108A | 98.29% | A man acquires a magical wife. Another woman orders him to kill her or divorce her, then she will become his wife. Having fulfilled the request, he loses everything. |
| L127 | 98.29% | Having entered another world, the character sees dancing body parts and other strange creatures. He must not be surprised, laugh, or mention God. |
| K140 | 98.10% | Travelling with his sister or brother, the young man regularly kills his saviours and helpers, exposing himself to ever new dangers. |
| F70D | 98.00% | A girl pretends to be a man or a eunuch, or a girl hides a disability, or a man pretends to be a girl. Someone reveals a secret. At the last moment, the hero or heroine magically gets rid of the disability (acquires male or female nature), the informer is disgraced (executed). |
| L106A | 97.28% | The antagonist makes formally justified but essentially unfair demands on the hero. The hero either fulfils them or is punished by the antagonist. Then the antagonist takes an object or animal belonging to the hero, but cannot return it and is punished equally or more severely. |
| M132 | 97.13% | The enemy is ready to seize the character. The character asks the enemy to first take and throw away his clothes or shoes, and then offers his ears. The enemy grabs him by the ears and throws him away, and the character runs away. |
| M192A | 97.13% | The character agrees to have a freshly removed skin put on him or to be wrapped in wet belts. The skin or belts cause suffering or death (usually because they dry out and shrink). |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 9 traditions: Berbers of Morocco and adjacent parts of Algeria, Nuba, Nyimang (incl Ama), Ila (Baila), Luba (Baluba, Luba-Katanga, Shaba), (Ba)Holoholo, Tumbwe, Bena-Piana, Tabwa, Benabena-Mitumba, Zela, Bene-Marungu, Hausa, Mandjak, Mankanya, Pepel, Balant, Felupe, Diola (Jola), Khoekhoe (=Hottentot; incl Nama, Korana); Damara, Bushmen (all groups)