The Mythology and Folklore Database
M8 - A destroyed obstacle
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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
Some characters (not humans) are struggling to break a strong barrier that prevents access to the desired location or to a high-value object. See also M8A - M8D motifs; they are included in the M8 motif in the correlation tables.Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part group 10, Adventures
M8 has 4 other sub-motifsM8. Some characters (not humans) are struggling to break a strong barrier that prevents access to the desired location or to a high-value object. See also M8A - M8D motifs; they are included in the M8 motif in the correlation tables. M8a. Animals, and more often birds, find it difficult to break through a rock from the outside or inside, make a hole in the tree, in the body of an absorber creature, tear fetters, etc., to help a character or get out of the confined space by yourself. The list includes groups whose texts deal with the exit of the first ancestors to earth from a confined space. M8b. Animals, and often birds, struggle to break through the rock to get water or honey hidden inside it. M8c. Birds pierce through a layer of clay, wax, resin, etc., that covers the character's eyes or anus. M8d. Birds break through the hard cover on the character's body to reach his entrails. Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of M8's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| J29 | 97.76% | Murdered parents themselves inform their children about the circumstances of their death. |
| C13 | 97.59% | During or before the onset of a global catastrophe (flood, darkness) or (surui) at night, household items and/or stones, trees, domestic animals, and cultivated plants turn into wild birds and animals or come to life. |
| J8 | 97.16% | A woman or girl sets out in search of a husband (fiancé, etc.). Bird feathers left on the trail, at a crossroads or near a dwelling mark the right or wrong path. See motif J7. |
| J50 | 96.81% | The father or mother of twin heroes dies or is killed. An attempt to revive the deceased fails. |
| F34B | 96.49% | A girl, woman or group of women voluntarily take as their lover a penis that exists as a special creature, snake, moray eel, lizard, worm, crab, large aquatic animal or aquatic monster, or large terrestrial mammal. People kill or maim the lover, the woman and/or her offspring, or she herself loses her human nature. The woman's behaviour is condemned. |
| K6 | 96.47% | A vine or rope emerges from tears, snot, urine, saliva, and chewed substance. See motif K1A. |
| G26 | 95.97% | After swallowing or hiding food in their mouth, the character brings it to earth (passes it on to people). |
| M76 | 95.87% | A woman cuts off a man's leg when he climbs a tree; a man cuts off a woman's leg when she climbs a tree. See K13A motif. |
| M2 | 95.58% | The hero descends from a tree or rock on the back of an animal or on the backs of animals. |
| L3 | 95.42% | The demon takes on human form and comes to his wife (less often to another woman). Usually, the woman (alone or with a child) runs away and/or kills the monster, either by herself or with someone's help. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 40 traditions: Trans-New Guinea and unclassified Papuan groups of Irian Jaya: Mejprat, Arandai-Bintuni, Inanwatan-Berau, Papua of Gelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Kamoró, Marind Anim, Sawi, Mafore; Korowai; Kwerba; Momina, Eipo, Yale, Awyu, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: Abor (incl Minyong, Shimong, Padam, Pasi, Panggi), Apa Tani (Apatani), Bori, Bugun, Dafla (=Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing, incl Tagin), Gallong (=Galo, Adi), Mishmi, Li , Lahu, Kucong, Nosu, Nisu, Nusu, Sani, Jino, Chukchi, Yana, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Pipil, Tequistlatec, Tzotzil, Kekchi; Mopan, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Bari, Yupa (Yukpa), Sicuani, Cuiva, Guayabero, Yaruro, Makiritare (Yecuana), Piaroa, Sanema, Yanomamo (Yanoama): Yanomam, Yanomami, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Akawai, Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Waorani, Kofan, Chayahuita , Wanana, Tucano proper, Pira-Tapuya, Arapaso, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Cubeo, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Andoque, Yagua, Caraja