Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

failed imitation of a successful trick

failed_imitation_of_a_successful_trick

A motif of the Trickster and Boundary Crosser family. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

2 occurrences

2 traditions

ainu (1) · arctic inuit (1)


ainu

  • Aino Folk-Tales INTRODUCTION. / AINO FOLK-LORE. / I.--TALES ACCOUNTING FOR THE ORIGIN OF PHENOMENA. / II.--MORAL TALES.; lines 1391-1474 confidence: high

    Penaumbe asks how Panaumbe killed many foxes and became rich. Panaumbe offers to instruct him, but Penaumbe says he has already heard about it, urinates against the door-sill, and leaves.

    Penaumbe copies Panaumbe's calls and feigned-death method, but the limping fox remembers the earlier trick, warns the others, and Penaumbe catches none.

    read in the book

arctic inuit

  • The People of the Polar North: A Record THE MAN WHO ATE HIS WIVES / THE BABY WHO ATE ITS PARENTS / ASAYUK / THE LIAR; lines 7618-7719 confidence: medium

    After Qasigiaq says he received presents for his mother's body, an envious brother kills all his children and rows to the ship with them, but the people drive him away.

    The envious brother imitates Qasigiaq's body-for-presents pattern by killing his children and rowing to the ship, but is driven away.

    read in the book