C051. Baer (p. 71). Mr. Fox Figures as an Incendiary

This is Chase051.

Types
Motifs
K1055 Dupe persuaded to get into grass in order to learn new dance. Grass set on fire.
K1055 [PER BAER] Dupe asleep in field of grass finds trouble (devil) when grass is set on fire / Dupe lured into field of grass on various pretexts; grass set on fire
K0844 dupe persuaded to play for wedding party; takes place of trickster who sets fire and burns him up.
K0851 Deceptive game: burning each other
Notes
Baer says it is difficult to agree on motif.
Dorson has Bear Meets Trouble, which he calls K1055

Thompson assigns K0844

There is also K0851 in Klipple who has a Congo tale: "Partridge persuades Fox to go into grass to catch rats, then sets grass on fire. Fox hides in hole and tells partridge he is not burned. When partridge goes into grass, Fox sets it on fire and burns up partridge."

Mofokeng cites Lunda tale: "partridge sets fire around meerkat's village; meerkat escapes, partridge is killed."

In this and also Chase060 about alligator, plus Chase012 fragment with turtle complaining, plus Swanton Creek we find this: "the dupe is lured into a field of grass to find trouble (devil); the trickster then sets the field afire."

Harris knew the Creek version; see The Critic 1882, p. 239.

in Dorson and also Jones "Buh Alligator Nebber Sleep" "rabbit finds the dupe asleep and sets the fire with the intention of teaching him what trouble is"

SEE PIERSEN: African background for American Negro folktales in JAF 84 (1971) which contains a critique of the motif process, but Baer defends motif as a work always in process and expanding

she proposes: K1055 dupe asleep in field of grass finds trouble (devil) when grass is set on fire / Dupe lured into field of grass on various pretexts; grass set on fire

Conclusion: "I would place the source of the tale in Africa with "finding trouble" an Afro-American development"