Motif family
Trickster and Boundary Crosser
The figure who violates boundaries, steals from the gods, deceives authority, and operates at the edges between order and chaos. Often a culture hero who brings gifts through transgression.
101 traditions
5,547 occurrences
654 mapped motifs
14 sub-families
- aboriginal australian
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- armenian
- arthurian
- australian aboriginal
- basque
- bavili
- buddhist
- buryat mongol
- caucasian
- celtic
- celtic irish
- celtic welsh
- chaco amerindian
- christian apocrypha
- comparative
- daoist
- egyptian
- ekoi
- estonian
- ethiopian christian
- fijian
- filipino
- finnic
- finnish karelian
- fjort
- ganda
- georgian
- germanic
- gnostic
- greek
- greek roman
- guiana amerindian
- hausa
- hawaiian
- hermetic
- hindu
- hopi
- inca
- indigenous australian
- inuit
- islamic
- islamicate folklore
- japanese
- jewish christian
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- khoekhoe
- khoisan south african
- kikuyu
- kimbundu
- korean
- malagasy
- malay
- mangaian
- maori
- maya
- maya quiche
- melanesian
- mesopotamian
- micronesian
- mongol
- nahua
- nahua maya inca
- native american california
- native american great lakes
- native american northeast woodlands
- native american northwest coast
- native american plains
- native american plateau
- native american southeast
- native american southwest
- navajo
- norse
- oceanic
- persian
- roman
- romanian
- samoan
- san
- shan
- shinto
- siberian
- sikh
- slavic
- sufi
- taoist
- temne
- tibetan buddhist
- tongan
- vietnamese
- xhosa
- yoruba
- zulu
- zuni
Conserved neighbors: sacred knowledge · threshold guardian · shapeshifter
Sub-families · the next landing down
Household, Ritual, and Boundary Breaches
7 motifs
- Trickster At The Boundary 4,888 occurrences · 99 traditions
- aboriginal australian
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- +91 more
- destructive servant subverts assigned tasks 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- disorderly intrusion into ritualized feast 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- expelled divine troublemaker causing human discord 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Messenger as boundary-crosser between worlds 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- mischievous nocturnal visit to human households 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Proper function and boundary maintenance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Theft, Stolen Goods, and Pursuit
12 motifs
- alarm, pursuit, and defeat after theft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Animal companions steal and divide goods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- animal possessor loses magic object to human trickery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- contested game animal taken by force and recovered by deception 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- Deceitful dispossession through gaming 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Food theft by feigned helpfulness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- reciprocal false claim exposes theft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- stolen goods taken from the thief by a stronger figure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- supernatural or anomalous crop theft by animal host 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Theft concealed by substitution of similar contents 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- theft from a guarded or tended store 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- vanishing adversary with stolen horse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
Identity Disguises and Concealed Status
13 motifs
- Animal disguised as a more fearsome animal is exposed by its voice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Animal disguised by another animal's skin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- deceiver destroyed by his own disguise 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Disguise as wandering calender to evade enemies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Disguise in animal fable 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- disguise or adaptation to gain access to a ruler 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- Disguised avenger destroys intruders 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- disguised imitation followed by condemnation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- disguised noble suitor gains access to princess 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- hero concealed by indirect self-identification 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Heroic disguise to escape recognition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- heroic figures hidden in disguise at public assembly 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Hidden identity in enemy territory 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
Deceptive Speech, Voices, and False Claims
12 motifs
- ambiguous truth used as fatal deception 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- captive woman lured by false celebration 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- deceptive speech delaying divine detection 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- deceptive speech used to isolate victims 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Devil as betrayer of humanity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- enemy war party petrified after animal speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- false bargain with a stronger predator 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- false claim of victory after escape 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- false voice separates protector from protected figure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Imitated voice lures protector away 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Mutual false praise for advantage 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
Staged Deceptions and Feigned Conditions
7 motifs
- feigned madness to avoid unwanted marriage 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- blind elder deceived by simulated weather 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- coerced accomplice in a deceptive plot 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- fear exploited to surrender property 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- feigned reconciliation after attempted revenge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Feigning ignorance to lure the guilty party 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- Truth-telling animal witness deceived by staged illusion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
Baits, Traps, and Predatory Lures
13 motifs
- companion lured into trap 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- baited capture through sweet or desired food 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- baited food leads to capture 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- baited trap catching the unwary 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Hunger leads animal into self-defeating trap 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- magical animal lure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- marvelous animal lure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Predator feigns weakness to lure victims 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- predator gives self-serving advice to lure prey 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- predator invents pretext against weaker victim 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- predator lures prey into enclosed dwelling 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- predator's peace proposal requires removal of protection 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- predator sets a verbal condition for mercy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Predation, Pursuit, and Prey Defenses
13 motifs
- animal pleads usefulness to avoid death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Animal host retaliates against human attackers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- captured animal offers to betray its own kind 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- captured prey pleads for release 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Killing all game so none warn the herd 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- predator defeated by denial of prey 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- predator destroyed by swallowing an indigestible concealed object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Predator loses prey by abandoning proper role 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Predator profits from another’s misfortune 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Predator profits from engineered starvation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- predator pursuit of vulnerable animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- safe elevation preserves prey from predator 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- small harmful creature pleading for mercy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Escapes from Captors and Countertraps
10 motifs
- bound survivor escapes devouring beast by bodily stratagem 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Collective destruction of the deceiving predator 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- feigned death to escape a predator 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Feigning death to escape captivity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Many tricks overcome by one effective trick 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Monster's failed detection of hidden fugitives 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Secret stratagem against a powerful predator 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Spell-bound captors and magical waterborne escape 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- trap reversal through feigned ignorance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- unequal paired boats prepared for a lethal fishing trick 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
Animal Rivalries, Imitation, and Small-over-Large Victories
10 motifs
- small creature disturbs powerful animal 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- clever figure and failed imitator pair 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- cunning weak figure confounds stronger rival 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- jealous animal imitates a favored animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- powerful creature afraid of something small 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- small creature boasts of advantage over larger laboring creature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- small creature defeats mighty opponent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- tricky or cunning animal figure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- weak creature able to affect strong creature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- weak-seeming animal frightens predator by sound 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Animal-Fable Households, Enmities, and Speaking Creatures
10 motifs
- animal fable figures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- animal fable pairings 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Crow as offended defiler of social space 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- injured plant speaks against animal aggressor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- mock-epic animal war 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Origin of enmity between animal groups 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- paired encounter between human and animal figures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- speaking animal confesses minor transgression 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- Speaking invulnerable animal seizes the heroes' food 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- tree-top dwelling of animal-person household 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
Animal Rescues, Guides, and Provisions
10 motifs
- animal friends rescue one another 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- animal helper brings prosperity to human host 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- animal helper carries heroes to hidden captive 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- grateful animal helper provides for hero 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- helper neutralizes pursuing beast with concealed animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Helpless young animal saved without physical escape 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- hidden provisions discovered by an animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Loyal animal helper guards and aids the hero 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- marked animal guide to hidden food 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- speaking rescued animal returns to the helper 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
Animal Allies and Heroic Animal Identity
4 motifs
- animal or woodland allies in heroic war 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Hero characterized by elemental and animal imagery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Hero recruits animal companions through food reward and command 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- woodland hunter hero with animal attentiveness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Exposure, Judgment, and Punishment
9 motifs
- Animal court investigation identifies the holder of a lost object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- deceptive bargain exposed by counter-stratagem 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Fall from court through stratagem 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Mistaken rescue withdrawn after deception is discovered 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- public exposure and laughter of the gods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Public exposure of divine sexual disgrace 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- recognition and evasion of magical guile 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Transferred blame around a supposed corpse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- trickster punished after gloating 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
Not yet placed in a sub-family
515 motifs, showing the 60 most attested
- Animal race or contest 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- afro caribbean
- zuni
- failed imitation of a successful trick 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- ainu
- arctic inuit
- Accomplice left to take blame for crop theft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- aged faithful animal threatened after loss of usefulness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Ailing spouse demands a monkey heart as food or cure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- Alarm and armed pursuit into prepared trap 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- zuni
- Alarm lure into ambush 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- zuni
- Animal companions frighten robbers from a dwelling 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- animal deception or duping 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- zuni
- animal decoy in human clothing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- inuit
- animal distraction leading to loss of wealth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- khoisan south african
- animal dressed as human decoy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- arctic inuit
- Animal escape leading to fatal pursuit 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- inuit
- animal feigns death or sleep 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american great lakes
- Animal fugitive escapes pursuit through a hole and snare 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- khoisan south african
- animal-head disguise for hunting deception 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- navajo
- animal identity revealed through mimicry 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- amazonian
- animal in lion skin exposed by its own voice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Animal intermediary used to enforce a human scheme 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american plains
- animal made fearsome by wearing another animal’s skin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- animal-marked lure or trap 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animal misinterprets human tools 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- Animal or bird relay of stolen fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- Animal pleads for life and is spared 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Animal pleads for life by citing usefulness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animal pursuers repelled by spilled substance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animal race between swift boaster and slower opponent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american plains
- animal race wager after insult 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- animal race won by direct flight over winding watercourse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southeast
- Animal ruse drawing armed men out 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Animal-skin disguise for ambush among a herd 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animal skin disguise in sheep-theft plot 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- animal-skin disguise used to catch or implicate a sheep-thief 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- animal-skin festival disguise and licensed excess 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- animal-skin infiltration to take an opponent's implement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animal sound imitation mistaken for a hidden animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animal theft followed by retaliatory trapping 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animal theft of a royal ornament 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Animal theft of livelihood substance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- akan
- Animal trait altered through trickery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- australian aboriginal
- Animal-trait etiology through feigned death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southeast
- animal transport by birds with a grasped stick 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Animal wager over unequal abilities 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- Animals understand and misread human speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- answering substitute conceals flight 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
- approach in guise of visitors before attack 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Aquatic skill used to defeat stronger pursuers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- inuit
- Artificial grove as mobile lure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- assassination plot using a dangerous animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Attempted murder by burning house and hidden escape 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- baited concealed trap 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- inuit
- banished predator relocates and repeats predation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hawaiian
- borrowed object theft explains animal attribute loss 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southeast
- borrowed or handsome clothing as deceptive attraction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- buried-alive decoy exposes a supernatural thief 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- arctic inuit
- Bush-hiding devourer of others’ goods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- Cannibal monster lures captives into a cave and serves human remains as food 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- zuni
- cannibal ogress or predator lures victims to animal ambush 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- australian aboriginal
- Cannibal tree-dweller destroyed by concealed fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- Captive animal bargains for release 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
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