The Boy in the Hollow Tree. A young man plunges into (hides in) a hole in a tree. Woodcutters come to take the tree down. The young man speaks from inside the tree. This frightens them so that they run away, leaving their equipment (bread, horse)…
The Successful Hunter (previously Releasing the Rabbit). A hunter shoots a captured rabbit tied to a pole. He hits the string and breaks it. The rabbit escapes.
The Boy on the Bear’s (Wolf’s) Tail. A boy (man, girl, woman) becomes lost (has run away from home or from his master, etc.). (In the forest,) he meets robbers (thieves, Gypsies, Indians) who put him into a cask. A wolf (fox, dog, bear) comes to eat…
Other Anecdotes about Diogenes. This miscellaneous type consists of various anecdotes about the philosopher Diogenes [J1442.1.1, J1442.2, J1442.3, J1442.4, J1442.4.1, J1442.5, J1442.6, J1442.8, J1442.10]. Examples: (1) When Diogenes sees children…
Diogenes and the Lantern. Diogenes carries a lantern through the marketplace in broad daylight. When he is asked what he is doing, he replies, “Looking for an honest man.” [J1303].
The Cynic and the Bald-headed Man. A bald man insults a philosopher. The philosopher replies, “I envy (praise) your hair. It left you a long time ago.” [J1442.9].
The Cynic Wants Sunlight. The king asks the cynic (Diogenes) what he can do for him. The philosopher asks him to move his shadow and get out of his light. He says, “Don’t take away from me what you can’t give me.” [J1442.1].
King Cannot Destroy the City. A king wants to destroy a city. A philosopher from the city comes and asks for mercy. The king says that he always does the opposite of what people ask him to do. The philosopher asks him to destroy the city and thus…
Star Gazer Falls into Well. A philosopher (Thales) always looks up in order to observe the stars. He falls into a well. An old woman asks him why he wants to learn about the stars, when he cannot even walk on earth without stumbling [J2133.8].
Anecdotes about Hanging (Gallows Humor). This miscellaneous type consists of various anecdotes consisting of humorous dialogs between a criminal and the hangman, or in which the hanging cannot take place because the gallows falls apart. Cf. Types…
Anecdotes about Foreigners. This miscellaneous type consists of various anecdotes about foreigners (people from a neighboring country or town). Often the people are stereotyped, e.g. as thieves, as lazy, or as malicious. Some of the anecdotes refer…
What Is Good for One Is Not Good for All. A sick smith comes to a quack doctor who prescribes that he should eat bacon pancakes (cauliflower with bacon) three times a day. Three days later the doctor sees the smith working hard and thinks that his…
The Most Common Profession. A court jester wants to show the king that the most common profession in the kingdom is that of doctoring. He ties a cloth around his head and pretends that he has a toothache. Everyone who comes by offers advice about…
The Constipated Cow. A veterinarian (charlatan) is called to treat a sick cow. He tells the farmer (farmhand) to hold the animal’s mouth open and look in. The veterinarian holds up the cow’s tail and holds a lantern under it. The farmer looking into…
Diagnosis by Observation (previously Imitation of Diagnosis by Observation: Ass’s Flesh). A doctor diagnoses that a sick man has eaten too much chicken (fruit). The doctor’s son asks how he knew this. The doctor answers that he looked through the…
Sham Physician: Using the Flea Powder. A huckster sells powder that he guarantees will kill fleas. When someone asks how to use it, he replies that one has to catch the flea, hold its mouth open, and put a grain of powder in it [K1955.4].
Anecdotes about Doctors (Physicians). This miscellaneous type consists of various anecdotes about doctors. In many cases, the doctor does not know how to treat a patient (and the patient dies). In others, the patient takes the doctor’s instructions…
“Keep your Seats!” A proud woman (mayor’s wife, male student) arrives late in church (appears before an academic assembly) just as the congregation (audience) is standing up to pray. She thinks they have stood up on her account, so she bids them sit…