Stith Thompson motif index · Motif
Thompson H900 — Tasks imposed
Description
MotifTasks imposed. A person's prowess is tested by assigning him certain tasks (usually impossible or extremely difficult) to be performed either to escape punishment or to receive a valuable reward. *Penzer X 330 s.v. "tests"; *Chauvin VI 200 No. 372.—Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "épreuves"; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 184 n. 1 (Hercules), Fox 80ff. (Hercules), ibid. 98 (Theseus); N. A. Indian: **Lowie The Test Theme in North American Mythology (JAFL XXI 97ff.).
Associated ATU tale types
ConcordanceNo ATU tale type in the current concordance points to this Thompson motif.
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