The Mythology and Folklore Database
M29Z2 - Gypsy - a cunning winner




27 Myths, Legends and Folktales
27 Unique Narratives for Motif M29Z2
14 Cultures & Traditions where M29Z2 is told
0 Mythemes Indexed
45 Sub-Motifs of Motif M29Z2


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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

Being smart and witty, the Gipsy overcomes strong adversaries

Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part group 11, Tricks and competitions won thanks to deception, absurd and obscene behavior


M29 has 45 other sub-motifs


M29.  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.  

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
B33E199.99%It is said that the cold, which is stronger than anything else, can freeze boiling water, a foetus in the womb, etc.
I11499.99%Describes a ram or sheep with golden wool or the skin of such a ram.
L73A99.99%The fugitives make sure that darkness spreads behind them, hindering their pursuers (while light pours in front of them).
A32D199.97%Cain and Abel are associated with the moon, usually distinguishable (both or only Cain) in the silhouette of lunar spots.
B12299.96%Birds (cranes/storks, geese or crows) carry children away to another world or bring them back from there. See motif H6c3, "The Immortal Stork".
K61A199.96%A dangerous character mistakes two people sleeping (hiding) in a sack or two people lying with their feet towards each other for a single creature.
M39A5A399.94%Realizing that a wife telling the truth will cause trouble for the family, the husband says that the sounds she hears are the screams of her master (official, etc.) who is beaten, dragged to hell, etc. She repeats this to the master (official), who declares her insane.
B87B99.91%The Great Bear – a cart harnessed by a wolf or bear. Usually, the shape of the handle of the dipper is explained by the fact that a wolf or bear attacked an ox harnessed to the cart and took its place. In this case, it is associated with Alcor or the last star of the handle of the dipper – η.
M38E99.91%mushroom (pumpkin) thinks that it is as durable as a tree.
B33D199.90%In narrative folklore, the days of the week (most often Friday and Wednesday) are special (female) characters with a more or less pronounced demonic nature.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 14 traditions: Poles, Czech, Czechs, Slovakians, Slovaks, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Western Ukrainians, Armenians, Kazan (Middle Volga) Tatars, Udmurt, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Bosnians, Russian Federation


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