The Mythology and Folklore Database
K20 - Mortal desires a star, C15.1, C15.1.1.
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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
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.Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part group 10, Adventures
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| L61 | 96.13% | The character eats himself, guts himself, or kills himself in order to be eaten. |
| M29H | 96.06% | See the motives in square brackets. |
| L31 | 95.25% | 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). |
| B27 | 94.83% | The characters ponder what object or creature they should transform into, and once they have made their choice, they undergo metamorphosis. |
| M18B | 93.62% | The character turns into a fishing object in order to carry away the hook with which he is caught or the spear with which they try to harpoon him, or he turns into a hook to catch fish. See motif M18. |
| M22 | 93.27% | A long-necked bird living near water (crane, heron, bittern, swan) helps a fugitive escape from his pursuer (indicated in brackets). See motifs J44-J46 (a long-legged bird helps cross the river, drowns the pursuer; the pursuer is most often a bear). |
| C34 | 93.16% | The flood begins after people kill (harm, maim) some kind of creature (usually aquatic). |
| M19 | 92.95% | The character ties another person (usually a child) to the end of a line, using them as bait or forcing them to catch fish with their hands. |
| B27B | 92.90% | The characters ponder what they should transform into and decide to become a celestial object. |
| K18A | 92.58% | The boy's father is recognised as the man whose bow or arrows he chooses. See motif K18. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 47 traditions: Melanesians of the northern coast New Guinea, nearest off-shore islands and Huon Gulf (Morobe district): Watut, Bilbil (Bilibili), Jabim (incl Kai), Tami, Bukawac, Wogeo, Tumleo, Yakamul, Manam, Sissano, Sio, Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Bashkirs, Tutchone, Tagish, Tahltan, Tsetsaut, Gwich'in (Kuchin, Loucheux), Malecite, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, Western Ojibwa (Chippewa), Blackfoot, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Arapaho, Oto, Arikara, Pawnee, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Gros Ventre, Assiniboine, Chilkotin, Shuswap, Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Twana (Skokomish), Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Quinault, Tillamook, Maidu, Nisenan, Konkov, Washo, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza, Yabuti, Amniapä, Kumana, Wari (Aikana), More (Itene), Nambikwara, Paresi, Umotina (Umutina), Craho, Apinaye (Apinage, Apinaje), Shavante, Sherente, Mocovi; Kechua of Santiago del Estero with probable Guaikuruan substratum; Abipon, Mataco, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Chorote, Kodiak