The Mythology and Folklore Database
M29A - Trickster - Raven (a)
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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
See the motives in square brackets.Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 9, Identification of protagonists of the stories with particular animals or persons with particular qualities
M29 has 45 other sub-motifsM29. trickster is defined as a protagonist in the following characteristic episodes. M29a. See the motives in square brackets. M29a1. In three or more different episodes related to deception, absurd, obscene or anti-social behavior the protagonist is raven (crow) M29b. Fox (a), Jackal, Coyote (or Wolf when, apparently, we mean a steppenwolf, i.e. the same coyote). See the motives in square brackets. M29b1. As a result of his stupidity or antisocial behavior, the wolf dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29b2. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the bear dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29b3. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the fox (jackal) dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. If it is not specified that a “jackal”, then the protagonist is a fox. M29c. See the motives in square brackets. M29d. See the motives in square brackets. M29E. See the motives in square brackets. M29f. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the wolverine dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29g. See the motives in square brackets. They include traditions in which the hare/rabbit appears only as a trickster, and another trickster (usually a fox or jackal) often occurs. M29g1. In episodes involving deception, ridiculous, obscene, or antisocial behavior, the hare or rabbit is the main trickster. Traditions in which 1) a hare or rabbit occurs only once as a trickster, and another trickster (usually a fox/jackal/coyote) is typical; 2) Mesoamerican traditions in which a small rabbit is associated with a small a set of episodes and a high probability of recent African influences. See the motives in square brackets. M29g2. Cancer (crab) defeats or deceives strong opponents by cunning. M29gg. hedgehog defeats or deceives strong opponents by cunning. M29h. See the motives in square brackets. M29i. See the motives in square brackets. M29j. See the motives in square brackets. M29k. A turtle (toad, frog) defeats strong opponents by cunning or perseverance. See the motives in square brackets. The character is named if it is a toad or frog; otherwise, a turtle. M29k1. A turtle (toad, frog) gets into unpleasant situations due to its own stupidity or carelessness. See the motives in square brackets. The character is named if it is a toad or frog; otherwise, a turtle. M29l. See the motives in square brackets. M29m. See the motives in square brackets. M29n. See the motives in square brackets. M29nn. See the motives in square brackets. M29o. See the motives in square brackets. M29o1. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the monkey dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29p. See the motives in square brackets. M29q. See the motives in square brackets. M29qq. See the motives in square brackets. M29r. See the motives in square brackets. M29S. See the motives in square brackets. M29T. See the motives in square brackets. M29v. The character defeats or deceives strong opponents using cunning. The protagonists are dwarf ungulates, usually duker or deer - taxonomically distant from each other, but similar in appearance. In some publications on African traditions, it is difficult to determine which animal we are talking about, but it is certain that these are small cloven-hoofed animals, usually (always?) dukers. See the motives in square brackets. M29w. As a result of their stupidity or antisocial behavior, a jaguar (puma, ocelot) dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. The character is named if it is a puma or ocelot; otherwise, a jaguar. M29w1. As a result of their stupidity or antisocial behavior, the leopard (panther, leopard) dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29w2. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the tiger dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29w3. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the lion dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29x. As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the hyena dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. M29x1. See the motives in square brackets. M29X2. See the motives in square brackets. M29y. See the motives in square brackets. M29z. hero of the story is a character named “Beardless” or Aldar-Kose (Aldar is a “deceiver”, a braid is “beardless”). M29z1. purely anthropomorphic character, or a character who bears the name of an animal or plant but does not act zoomorphic in the course of his adventures. See the motives in square brackets. {Data not fully entered} M29z2. Being smart and witty, the Gipsy overcomes strong adversaries M29z3. The Gipsy (more often a female than a male) is an enemy overcome by the hero (heroine) or (rare) a weak failure M29z4. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of M29's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| K53 | 94.79% | A character temporarily transforms into an animal or bird of a certain species by putting on its skin, or skins taken along with them come to life and serve the hero. |
| M17 | 94.31% | A wife, mother or grandmother directs the arrow of a blind man or boy at game, lies that he missed, cooks and eats the meat herself. See motif M16 (man is blind, K333.1). |
| A13A1 | 93.95% | The raven rescues or obtains the hidden or stolen sun (daylight). |
| M46B | 93.84% | The character turns into a tiny object or creature, swallowing or touching which a woman (usually a virgin) becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy. He steals valuables or gets along with a woman. See M46 motif. |
| L102 | 93.25% | A girl or woman (for various reasons, jokingly or seriously) calls an animal or animal remains her husband, or steps on bones and addresses them. The animal (comes to life and) carries her away. Her human husband, parents or brother come for her, and they flee; usually the animal husband pursues them, but stops the chase or dies. |
| M20 | 92.99% | The character does something unacceptable, is caught, and his beak or jaw is damaged. Usually (except for the Koryaks), people keep the torn-off beak (jaw) in their homes, and the character comes and takes it back. |
| M46D | 92.97% | A small child cries and calms down only after being given a valuable item hidden in the house to play with. After receiving an item, a child or an associated character takes it away. |
| M123D | 92.69% | A bird from the corvid family is rejected after its mate or relatives discover that it eats carrion or filth. |
| K51B | 92.69% | The bodies of the slain are left in such a position that it seems as if they are rejoicing – smiling, laughing, dancing. |
| M29A1 | 92.51% | In three or more different episodes related to deception, absurd, obscene or anti-social behavior the protagonist is raven (crow) |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 56 traditions: Northern Luzon: Apayao, Bontoc, Nabaloi (Ibaloi), Ifugao, Igorot (highland people, not specified), Ilocan, Ilongot, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanay, Tingian (Tinggian, Bilongan Itneg); Ibanag, Kasiguran Agta, Keley-i Kallahan, Khmer, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Hui (Dungan) of Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan (Dungan texts from Southern and Eastern China are clustered with the Chinese ones), Eastern Khanty (Ostyaks), Forest Nenets, Nenets, Evens (Lamuts), Ainu, Japanese folklore outside of Ryukyu, Udeghe, Oroch, Negidal, Kerek, Forest (Upper Kolyma) Yukaghir, Chuvans, Russian-speaking Creols of Markovo, Chukchi, Aleuts, Nunivak Island, Chugach, Chipewyan, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Tutchone, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Tahltan, Athna, Koyukon, Tanana, Gwich'in (Kuchin, Loucheux), Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Mackenzie Delta, Copper, Netsilik, Caribou, Polar Inuit, East Greenland (Angmassalik, Kulusuk), Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Blackfoot, Arapaho, Plains Cree, Chilkotin, Comox, Pentlatch, Sechelt (incl Sisiatl), Squamish, Halcomelem, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Nez Perce, Tillamook, Oregon Athabaskans: Lower Umpqua, Tututni (incl Joshua), Upper Coquille, Galice, Tolowa, Kodiak, Greenland