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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.

Anecdotes and Jokes 1200–1999

281 tale types

Sorted by earlier references, ascending

Showing 251–281 of 281 · Page 6 of 6

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson ▲ Thompson
1600 The fool as murderer The brothers put a he-goat in place of the body and thus save their brother. [H472.1, K661.1]. Cf. Type 1381B, C, E. 1600 NA
1610 To Divide Presents and Strokes The boy (peasant) promises the soldier what the king has promised to give him. The soldier receives a beating in place of the boy. [K187]. Cf. Types 1642, 1689. 1610 K187.
1611 Contest in Climbing the Mast The boy falls from the mast and lodges in the rigging: »You do the same thing!» The sailors are persuaded that he is an expert sailor. [K1762]. 1611 K1762.
1612 The Contest in Swimming The swimmer takes a knapsack of provisions on his back. His rival is afraid and gives up. [K1761]. 1612 K1761.
1613 "Playing-Cards are my Calendar and Prayerbook." A soldier reproved for playing cards during church service answers thus and shows so cleverly the symbolic meanings of each of the cards that he receives a reward. [H603]. 1613 H603.
1626 Dream Bread The most wonderful dream. Three pilgrims agree that the one who has the most wonderful dream shall eat the last loaf. One eats it. He declares he dreamed the others were dead and would not need it. [K444]. 1626 K444.
1628 The learned son and the forgotten language Having left the seminary, a son speaks only Latin, pretending to have forgotten his own language. When a rake strikes him in the forehead, he screams in his own tongue »Devilish rake!» [J1511.11]. Cf. Type 1641 C. 1628* J1511.11.
1635 Eulenspiegel's tricks No examples in the Database yet 1635 K300.
1643 The Broken Image The fool sells his cow to a crucifix [J1853.1.1]. He knocks it to pieces because it will not pay him. He finds a treasure inside [N510]. 1643 J1853.1.1.
1678 The boy who had never seen a woman When he sees a girl and asks his father what it is, the father tells him it is Satan. Asked what he most likes, he says »The Satans». [T371]. 1678 T371.
1682 The groom teaches his horse to live without food It dies. [J1914]. 1682 J1914.
1687 The forgotten word No examples in the Database yet 1687 D2004.5.
1689 Thank God They Weren't Peaches The man plans to take peaches as a present to the king. He is persuaded rather to take figs. They are green and the king has them thrown in his face. He is thankful that they weren't peaches. [J2563]. 1689, 1689A J2415.1., J2563.
1693 The Literal Fool - the Burning of Lanka Pots broken; fire set. A fool (or trickster) follows instructions literally and disastrously. He is taken before a judge or rajah, but is freed. (a) An oil seller tells a fool (or a trickster), who has spilled a little oil, that spilt oil brings good… 1693 J2450.
1697 "We Three; For Money" Three travelers in a foreign land know only three expressions in the foreign language. By the use of these they get themselves accused of murder. [C495.2.2] Cf. Type 360. 1697 C495.2.2.
1700 "I don't Know." The man thinks that »I don't know» is a person's name [J2496]. 1700 J2496.
1705 Talking Horse and Dog A person is frightened by animals successively replying to his remarks. Example: The man riding the horse and followed by the dog tells the horse to jump over a hole. Horse says, »I will not.» Man turns to dog and says, »Isn't that strange, a… 1705 B210.1.
1875 The Boy on the Wolf's Tail He hides himself in the mill and frightens the robbers from their treasure; cf. Type 1653. Is hidden in a barrel. Holds fast to the wolf's tail through a hole in the barrel. [X1133.3]. Cf. Types 169H*, 1229, 1900. 1875 X1133.3.
1882 The Man who Fell out of a Balloon Buried in the earth, he goes to get a spade to dig himself out. 1882 X1731.2.1., X1757.
1890 The lucky shot Discharge of gun kills the heath-cock, which falls on the sprouts on the tree, which kills the bear, etc. [X1124.3]. 1890, 1890D, 1890E, 1890F X1122.2., X1122.3., X1124.3.
1891 The Great Rabbit-Catch The rabbits freeze their feet fast to the ice at night [X1115.1]. 1891B*, 1893A* NA, X1114.1.
1894 The man shoots a ramrod full of ducks No examples in the Database yet 1894 X1111.
1895 A man wading in water catching many fish in his boots No examples in the Database yet 1895 X1112.
1896 Hunting the wolves with rod and line No examples in the Database yet 1896 X1132.1.
1911 Cart as Legs Small cart serves as back legs for crippled sow. Pigs have also these carts. (Similar stories about other animals.) [X1202.1]. 1911A X1721.1.
1916 The Breathing Tree A hunter cuts down a tree packed so full of animal that a crack opens as the animals inhale, closes when they exhale. 1916 X1116.
1927 The Cold May Night A very cold night comes in May. Hearing of a much colder night long ago, a man sets out to find about it. In his travels he comes to (a) an otter lying in a deep hole on top of a rock: he has been so long lying there that the rock has been worn… 1927 X1620.
1940 The Extraordinary Names The place where animals and things have extraordinary names. 1940 X1506.
1951 Is Wood Split? A lazy man asks if wood is split before he accepts it as a gift [W111.5.12]. Sometimes, if rice is cooked. 1951 W111.5.10.
1965 Lying tales No examples in the Database yet 1965 X1791.
1317 Blind Man and Elephant Four blind men feel an elephant's leg, tail, ear, and body respectively, and conclude it is like a log, a rope, a fan, and something without beginning or end. [J1761.10]. NA J1761.10.

Showing 251–281 of 281 · Page 6 of 6





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