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L72G - Cast salt.
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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
Fleeing for his life, the character throws salt behind him, preventing his pursuer from continuing the chase.Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part group 10, Adventures
L72 has 12 other sub-motifsL72. While fleeing, the character throws small objects behind him, which turn into powerful obstacles in the path of the pursuer, or (rarely) the pursuer creates such obstacles in the path of the fugitives. (Cf. SUS 1979, No. 313H = AA 313I, p. 114: escape by throwing magical objects, an episode in various types of fairy tales). L72a. Fleeing for his life, the character throws behind him a comb (brush), which turns into an obstacle (almost always thickets) in the path of his pursuer. (In South America, this motif is most likely of European origin). See Andreev 1929, No. 313.I. L72b. Fleeing for his life, the character throws small objects behind him, which turn into powerful obstacles in the path of his pursuer. One of the objects thrown is a whetstone. (In one of the Udmurt variants, the objects thrown destroy the obstacles in the character's path). See motif L72. L72c. Fleeing for his life, the character throws a mirror behind him, which turns into an obstacle for his pursuer (ice, lake, etc.) or attracts his attention and causes him to lose time. (In the Udmurt version, objects destroy obstacles in the character's path). L72d. Fleeing for his life, the character throws behind him a pair of scissors, which turn into some kind of obstacle in the path of his pursuer. L72e. In order to overcome the obstacles created by the fleeing hero, the pursuer is forced to return home for the necessary tools. L72e1. In order to destroy the obstacles created by the hero, the pursuer uses tools. Before continuing the chase, he is forced to spend time taking them home or hiding them, otherwise animals and birds will steal them. L72f. Fleeing for his life, the character throws behind him the entrails or stomach contents of an animal, which become an obstacle in the path of his pursuer. L72g. Fleeing for his life, the character throws salt behind him, preventing his pursuer from continuing the chase. L72h. Fleeing for his life, the character throws behind him a tool for kindling fire (flint, tinder, match, kindling), which becomes an obstacle in the path of his pursuer. (A discarded flint is counted if it serves to strike fire, and is not counted if it is simply a hard stone that turns into a mountain). L72i. Fleeing for his life, the character throws soap behind him, which turns into an obstacle for his pursuer (a slippery mountain, river, etc.). L72j. Fleeing for his life, the character throws behind him an awl or needle, which turns into many awls or needles. L72k. Fleeing for his life, the character throws a jar of oil behind him. Spilling out, it turns into a lake or river. (Only North American materials are taken into account. In the Old World, the motif is rare and unsystematic. In North America, it most likely refers to hair oil in all cases). Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of L72's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| M91C3 | 98.01% | A person releases an animal or a bird - supposedly with his wife instructing his wife to cook food, etc. Another does not understand deception and buys an animal. |
| I35B | 97.59% | The sky is considered to be metallic. The process of its creation resembles metal forging. |
| I89 | 97.43% | There is a star that brings death and misfortune; it is usually told how people mistake a star or constellation rising at night for the Morning Star, set off on a journey and lose their way. |
| M198A4 | 97.33% | Those who listened to the story must answer who they liked more: the husband who let his wife go to another man after the wedding, the robber who did not harm her, or the man who immediately sent her back to her husband. |
| M29Z | 97.14% | hero of the story is a character named “Beardless” or Aldar-Kose (Aldar is a “deceiver”, a braid is “beardless”). |
| M198A3 | 97.00% | One of the brothers secretly takes valuables belonging to all of them or is illegitimate. The brothers come to an authoritative figure to determine who is the thief or illegitimate child. Usually, the figure tells a story and determines the culprit based on the reaction of those who have come. |
| B46A1 | 96.92% | The stars of the Big Dipper – thieves or robbers. |
| C33 | 96.91% | A strongman-god-fighter is chained to a rock or a pillar for centuries. |
| E41 | 96.79% | A skilled blacksmith, as a special gift, can take iron heated in a furnace with his bare hands, knead it like dough, and shape it as desired. Usually, he breaks a certain taboo and loses his gift. (The motif was identified and the material collected by Ruslan Doutalieyev). |
| J32C | 96.78% | At night, a demonic character comes to the grave of the deceased, intending to harm him. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 16 traditions: Yemen, Algeria Arabs, Dards (Kalash, Kho, Kohistani, Shina, Pashai), Spain, Spaniards, Portuguese, Portugal, Greeks (modern), Balkarians, Macedonians, Balkarians, Albanians, Balkarians, Norwegians, Tajik, Baluch, Persians, Abkhaz, Abkhazians, Armenians, Kara Kalpak, Western Mexico Nahuatl