Aarne-Thompson-Uther (ATU) - Types of Folktales

1807: The Equivocal Confession

ATU > 1200-1999: ANECDOTES AND JOKES > 1725-1849: Jokes about Clergymen and Religious Figures > 1800-1849: Other Jokes about Religious Figures > 1807: The Equivocal Confession

Description

A man makes an equivocal confession to the priest he has robbed, e.g., says that he has saved a man from a bear, (meaning that he stole the priest's furs); asks his confessor for guidance. The priest, misunderstanding the confession, even praises the…

Variants

1807A. "Owner has Refused to Accept it."

A rascal steals a priest's watch. He tells the priest that he has stolen a watch and offers it to him as a payment for a past favor. The priest refuses to accept stolen goods. Commands the thief to return the watch to the owner. »But the owner has…

1807B. Sleeping with God's Daughters

Literal penance: the boy outwits the pope. For three years not to drink wine, not to lie in bed, nor sleep with a prostitute. He goes to a convent, sleeps on eiderdown, and sleeps with the nuns (God's daughters). When the pope condemns him he says he…

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External Examples

Story	ATU	Origin	Author	Year	Source
It haloazje	1807A	Netherlands		1976	Nederlandse VolksverhalenBank

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