ATU 2042. Chain of Accidents


At this site:
Fansler. The Pugu's Case
Fleeson. Right and Might
Malto. The Tus Bird and the Kash Grass
Stack. Story of a Frog
Lewin. Consequences
Hutton/Shaw. Dao-Sharpening
Baskerville. Chief Kasuju

ATU 2042. Chain of accidents. This miscellaneous type consists of various chain tales in which a minor incident (insect sting, snakebite) causes a series of other events leading to someone's death (loss of valuable property).

ATU 2042A Trial among the animals. This miscellaneous type consists of various chain tales in which an animal is injured by another animal (accidentally or on purpose). The injury causes a series of accidents in which other animals are injured. At the end, a high-ranking animal (person) investigates the matter and discovers all that has happened.

Z49.6.1. Birds fight and cause series of accidents to other animals and people.

Z49.6.2. Bite (prick) causes series of accidents.

additional information
India: Thompson-Balys.
Lushai Shakespear Folk-Lore XX 389 [PDF]

Z49.6.3. Man sharpening his doa is bitten by a prawn. He cuts down a big bamboo; a fruit falls from bamboo and strikes a bird on the nape of the nake; the bird scratches up an ant's nest with his feet; the ant bites a wild boar in the eye; and the boar bears down upon a plantain tree where a bat dwells under a leaf; the bat seeks refused in the ear of an elephant, and the elephant kicks down the house of an old woman. She rushes out and falls into a well.

Z49.6 Trial among the animals. Deer steps on kitten: cat investigates. Deer has been frightened by bird, this bird by another bird... by crab's pointed claw, crab by mouse in his hold. Cat eats mouse. (Frog croaks because turtle carries his house on his head; turtle carries house because firefly is bringing fire; firefly brings fire because mosquito tries to bite him, etc.)

additional information:
Indonesian, Malaya: Dixon 202 (online at Internet Archive) - also Skeat: Who Killed the Otter's Babies (online) and see Fleeson-Laos: Might and Right (online)
India: NQ II No. 480 (online at Hathi: story is not a good match)

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