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Aarne–Thompson–Uther index

About this index and how to read it

The ATU index classifies international folktales by type. Each row gives the type number, its title and summary, followed by the references it inherits: Arne Thompson is the earlier Aarne–Thompson type number, and Thompson lists the motif references from Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature associated with that type.

Cross-references inside a summary open the relevant tale-type or motif record. Thompson motif references in the final column are linked directly to the corresponding entry in the Stith Thompson Motif Index when that reference exists in the database. Any column heading can be clicked to sort by it, and clicking again reverses the order. Following a type number opens that type on its own page.

Animal Tales 1–299

153 tale types

Sorted by Thompson references, ascending

Showing 1–50 of 153 · Page 1 of 4

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
39 The Bear Pulls Mountain Ashes apart so that the Fox's Old Mother can Get Berries The fox eats the berries himself.
58 The Crocodile Carries the Jackal The jackal, who wants to eat fruit or carrion on the other bank, persuades a crocodile to carry him across the river by saying he will find a bride for the crocodile. He makes a dummy and, safe back on shore, sends the crocodile to that.
64 Tailless Fox Tries in Vain to Get Foxes to Cut off Tails No examples in the Database yet
81 Too cold for hare to build house in winter Too cold for hare to build house in winter, not necessary in summer: must go without a house. Cf. Types 43, 1238.
90 The Needle, the Glove, and the Squirrel The needle at first has little success; receives blows from the others. Finally it slips into an elk's stomach andkills the elk.
96 When the hare was married No examples in the Database yet
104 The Cowardly Duelers War between the domestic and wild animals. The cat raises her tail; the wild animals think it is a gun and flee. Cf. Type 222.
107 Dog Leader Fears Defeat Because his Forces are of Different Breeds. Dog leader fears defeat because his forces are of different breeds. Wolves are all of one kind.
114 Chanticleer Believes that his Crowing Makes the Sun Rise Chanticleer believes that his crowing makes the sun rise. Disappointed when it rises without his aid.
115 The Hungry Fox Waits in Vain for the Horse's Lips (Scrotum) to Fall Off The hungry fox waits in vain for the horse's lips (scrotum) to fall off .
116 The Bear on the Hay-Wagon The bear on the hay-wagon (or on the horse) is mistaken for the preacher .
118 The Lion Frightened by the Horse The horse strikes sparks with his hooves. The wolf (bear) boasts of having eaten horses. The lion thereupon picks up the wolf to show him the horse and squeezes him to death.
158 The wild animals on the sleigh The sleigh comes in two. The animals get satisfactory material for repairs from the forest. [B831]. While the owner goes for good material they eat the horse.
165 The wolf in the company of saints Promises to give up slaying animals. After wringing the gander's neck, excuses himself, saying: »He should not have hissed at the saint.« [K2055.1].
168 The musician in the wolf-trap There he encounters a wolf already trapped, and saves himself by playing music. [B848.1]. Cf. Types 160A, 1652.
171 The Three Bears No examples in the Database yet
176 The farmer tricks the jackals I. Farmer vs. jackal. (a) A jackal forces a woman carrying food to her husband to give him food. (b) The husband disguises as a woman carrying food and beats the jackal, etc. (c) The jackal threatens to defecate on the man's plow. The man affixes…
180 The rebounding bow A hunter kills several animals but is in turn bitten by a snake. A jackal comes by, nibbles at the hunter's bow, and is killed when the bow rebounds.
182 The helpful animal and the snake The helpful animal sees a snake bite his master. He catches the crow, who is the snake's confederate, and forces the snake to revive his master by sucking out the poison.
217 The Cat and the Candle A man has a cat trained to hold up lighted candles on its head. The king has a mouse let loose. The cat drops the candle and chases the mouse. (Often used as a method of cheating in a game [N7].)
220 The Council of Birds The eagle as judge assigns each his place and work.
223 The Bird and the Jackal
  • I. The jackal asks the bird to obtain food. The bird flies near men carrying baskets of food. They drop them to pursue bird and jackal eats food. See Type 1*.
  • II. The jackal asks the bird to make him laugh. The bird alights on the men's heads so that they strike one another. III. The jackal asks the bird to make him cry. The bird leads men or dogs to his hiding place. IV. The jackal asks the bird to save its life. The bird entices the jackal into power of the crocodile, then strikes crocodile so that jackal escapes.
    		•
    224 Wedding of the Turkey and the Peacock All birds are invited to the wedding except the eagle. This omission starts a great conflict.
    226 The Goose Teaches the Fox to Swim Shakes him off in the water.
    229 The Hawk Frightened at the Snipe's Bill No examples in the Database yet
    230 The Rearing of the Large-headed and Large-eyed Bird When the one rearing the owl learns its great age he kills it.
    238 The Keen Sight of the Dove and the Keen Hearing of the Frog They boast to each other.
    239 The Crow Helps the Deer Escape from the Snare The deer aids the jackal, but when the deer is caught in a snare the jackal refuses to help him. On the advice of the crow the deer feigns death. When the hunter releases him, he bounds away.
    241 The Officious Bird and the Monkey A bird, sitting in its nest during a cold rain, asks shivering monkey why it doesn't build a house since it has hands like a man. The enraged monkey destroys the bird's nest.
    243 The Parrot Pretends to be God Cf. Types 1380, 1422. I. The Tell-tale Parrot. (a) A parrot decides a lawsuit against a woman,or (b) reports a woman's infidelity to her husband. (c) The woman orders the…
    245 Tame Bird and Wild Bird The tame bird advises the wild bird to look about him. The wild bird is shot. Cf. Type 112.
    246 The Hunter Bends the Bow One bird escapes; other remains and is shot. (Told also of fish.)
    252 The Pike and the Snake Race to Land The winner is to remain on land.
    234 The Nightingale and the Blindworm No examples in the Database yet 234, 234A* , A2241.5.
    244 Peacock Plumes No examples in the Database yet 244, 244A*, 244C* , J267.1., J951.2.
    173 Man and animals readjust span of life Cf. 828 AT first, 30 years are given to all animals and to man. For the animals it is too long, for man too short. Man is given a portion of animal's lives. [A1321]. 173 A1321.
    236 Imitating bird sounds, The dove keeps saying >>I know>> and persists in building her small nest. (Imitation of bird's sounds.) Cf. Type 2075. 236, 236* A1952., A2271.1.
    250 Swimming Match of the Fish The perch hangs on to the tail of the salmon and wins. Cf. Types 221, 275. 250A A2231.1.2.
    200 The Dog's Certificate Through the cat's carelessness it is lost. Since then dogs and cats are enemies. 200, 200A, 200B, 200C* A2232.8., A2275.5.5., A2281.1., A2494.4.4.
    55 The Animals Build a Road (Dig Well) The fox as overseer punishes lazy animals. 55 A2233.1.
    235 The Jay Borrows the Cuckoo's Skin No examples in the Database yet 235 A2241.
    280 The Ant Carries a Load as Large as Himself The contest of the raven (or other bird) with the ant. 280, 280A A2251.1., J711.1.
    289 Bat, Diver, and Thornbush Shipwrecked Bat brought money, bush put on clothes, and diver brought leather. All shipwrecked. Diver is looking for his leather. Bush looks for his clothes and holds fast to all passers-by. Bat is abroad only at night to escape creditors. (Cf. A2471.4,… 289 A2275.5.3.
    221 The Election of Bird-King Wren wins by cleverness. 221 B236.1.
    222 The Willow-Wren and the Bear Birds win by cleverness. The fox's lifted tail is to be the signal. The gnats stick him under the tail. He drops it and the quadrupeds flee. Cf. Type 104. It often serves as introduction to Type 313. 222, 222A B261., B261.1.
    103 War between Wild Animals and Domestic Animals The cat shrieks; the bear falls out of the tree and breaks his backbone. 103, 103A, 103A*, 104 B262., B281.9.1., NA
    207 Rebellion of the Work Animals Cock as leader punished. 207, 207A, 207B, 207C B271.3., J2413.1., K1633., NA
    130 Outcast Animals Find a New Home They drive away an intruder. , 130, 130A B296., K1161., K335., NA
    156 Androcles and the Lion In gratitude the lion later rewards the man. 156, 156A B301.8., B381.
    178 The Faithful Animal Rashly Killed See AT 0178A and AT 0178B. 178, 178A B331.2., NA

    Showing 1–50 of 153 · Page 1 of 4





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