Q in the Motif Index stands for Rewards and Punishments. You encounter some fairly common folktale elements in it such as "Q112. - Half of kingdom as reward", or "Q45. - Hospitality rewarded." This section also lists all kinds of horrible executions and punishments (which are also a folklore staple), including:
Q551.1. Undutiful son punished by toad clinging to face
This very popular medieval anecdote, known from French, German, and English sources, tells of a son who is too gluttonous and stingy to share his meal with his own mother or father.
According to the story, the son of a wealth family inherits all his money and properties from his parents - and yet when one of them pays him a visit, the young man hides the meat / roast chicken / other delicacies away in a box, and lies to them, saying he does not have any food to share. After driving the parent away, the son returns to the meal - only to find a toad (or sometimes two toads) sitting on it. The toad launches itself at the son's face and latches on, impossible to remove (and, in some cases, blocking his mouth so he cannot eat). The sinner then goes to the bishop /archbishop / other church person for penance, and is paraded around as a cautionary tale against gluttony and for the importance of filial duties.
TOAD IN THE FACE!
Bring this up to your kids next time they don't want to share the Halloween candy.
Q42.6. Reward for tearing out eye when demanded
Q57.1. Reward for shielding Mary in childbirth from gaze of onlookers
Q88.1. Fra Lippo Lippi is freed by Moors because of his greatness as a painter
Q115.2. King promises daughter she may marry anyone she desires
Q151.2. Death passes by man who fed his stepmother
Q211.7. Punishment for splitting head and eating man‘s brains
Q265.2.1. Blotches on face of satirist (judge) as punishment for wrongful satire (judgment)
Q281.3. Woman eats flesh and leaves cat only bones of fish cat has caught for them. Cursed by cat
Q291.1. St. Peter’s mother dropped from heaven because of hardheartedness
Q415.2. Mice devour hard-hearted man
Q451.0.3. Strong girl breaks impudent suitor‘s right hand and left foot
Q497.1. Moustache pulled out as punishment
Q499.8. Humiliating penance: king to rub nose five times on red hot griddle
Q551.1.1. Betel-nut grows upon a person‘s knee as a punishment
Q551.8.4. Man’s eye bursts forth when he urges saint to marry
Q589.2. Man goes forth naked: cursed with nakedness throughout life
Posts
It's like Alien, Medieval style.
ReplyDeleteA to Z 2017: Magical and Medicinal Herbs
That's humiliating, but some of the runners-up sound nightmarish!
ReplyDeleteSounds brutal but effective. I can imagine parents cautioning their kids against toad -on-the-face. It's worse than egg on the face. Maui Jungalow
ReplyDeleteWe've been reading Harry Potter to the kids and I was immediately reminded of Dudley Dursley. Except he was attacked by a snake instead of a toad.
ReplyDeleteQ - Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nations Band
A gory list of runner-ups today.
ReplyDeleteQ is for questions to a Blogger
I suppose the only thing worse than this story of having a toad stuck to your face would be the version that involves two toads...
ReplyDeleteEw. Kind of gives a new meaning to the recipe "toad in a hole" doesn't it? :-)
ReplyDeleteNever heard this about the toad on the food but it could also relate to the prodigal son story in the Bible. Fascinating.
ReplyDeleteA I recently helped a toad across a path that is not something I want latched onto my face, though maybe they'll think kindly of me. As for the runner ups, anyone that doesn't share their fish with their cat deserves to be cursed.
ReplyDeletePamela @ Highlands Days of Fun
That is too disgusting, but no more than a greedy adult child deserves.
ReplyDeleteFinding Eliza
I love frogs and toads. My bed companion is a giant stuffed frog named Simon, who takes up half the bed and is almost as big as I am. I'd love to have some pet frogs and toads someday, particularly the giant Pacman frog. My character Claire has pet frogs and toads, including a Pacman named Popcorn.
ReplyDeleteToad in the face! XD I wonder how he inherited his wealth from his parents as they were clearly still alive? Or maybe they were zombies, and that's why he didn't want to feed them! (Unexpected plot twist hehe.)
ReplyDeleteHere's my "Q" post :) http://nataliewestgate.com/2017/04/quiet-secret-diary-of-a-serial-killer