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Aarne–Thompson–Uther index

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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.

Tales of Magic 300–559

111 tale types

Sorted by summary, ascending

Showing 1–50 of 111 · Page 1 of 3

ATU Title Summary ▲ Arne Thompson Thompson
327 The Children and the Ogre
  • I. Arrival at Ogre's House. (a) Children are abandoned by poor parents in a wood (b) but they find their way back by cloth shreds or pebbles that they have dropped; (c) the third time birds eat their breadcrumbs, or grain clue and (d) they wander until they come to a gingerbread house which belongs to a witch; or (e) a very small hero (thumbling) and his brothers stay at night at the ogre's house; or (f) the ogre carries the child home in a sack; (g) the child substitutes a stone in the sack twice but is finally captured.
  • II. The Ogre Deceived. The ogre smells human flesh and has the children imprisoned and fattened. (b) When his finger is to be cut to test his fatness the hero sticks out a bone or piece of wood. (c) The exchange of caps, (d) the ogre's wife or child burned in his own oven (Type 1121), or (e) the hero by singing induces the ogre to free them, or (f) the hero to be hanged feigns ignorance and has ogre show him how, or (g) hero feigns inability to sleep until ogre brings certain objects and escapes while ogre hunts the object.
  • III. Escape. (a) The children are carried across the water by ducks (or angels), or (b) they throw back magic objects which become obstacles in the ogre's path, or (c) they transform themselves, or (d) the ogre (ogress) tries to drink the pond empty and bursts, or (e) the ogre is misdirected and loses them.
    		•  , 3227C, 327, 327A, 327B, 327F, 327G , G412.1.1., G512.3.2.1.3.2.1., G512.3.2.3.2., G526., G61., G82., G82.1.1.1.1., K1611., K1832., K335.1.2.1.1.2.1., R135., R135.1.1., S321.
    411 The King and the Lamia
  • I. The Snake-Wife. A king sees, falls in love with, and marries a lovely girl who is actually a snake-woman [B29.1].
  • II. Overcoming her Power. (a) His health deteriorates. (b) A fakir tells him to feed her salty food and to stay at night and watch her. (c) She assumes her snake form and goes for water.
  • III. The Ashes. (a) An oven is heated red-hot and she is pushed in. (b) Among the ashes is found a pebble capable of turning anything it touches into gold [D1469.10.1].
    		•
    321 Won Back the Eyes from the Witch A boy takes service with a blind couple. Warned not to let goats (sheep) wander beyond certain point, he does so and there defeats the witch who has stolen the blind couple's eyes. He restores the eyes. [D2161.3.1.1]. 321 D2161.3.1.1.3.1.1.
    441 In Enchanted Skin A childless woman gives birth to a hedgehog [C758.1, T554]. The king unwittingly promises the hedgehog his daughter when the latter shows him the way out of the forest [S226]. The hedgehog takes the bride [B641.5]. His hedgehog's skin is burnt, and… , 441 B641.5., C758.1., D721.3., S226., T554.
    409 The Girl in the Form of a Wolf A childless woman wants a child even if it be an animal: she bears a goat-child (jackdaw). When she sends the goat-child to get water for its father, the goat lays off goat-skin and plays. A prince sees her and sends wooers to her house. The prince… , 409, 409A D113.1., D721., Q261., T554.
    428 The Wolf A maiden in the service of a witch. Assigned seemingly impossible tasks, among others to deliver to another witch a letter with instructions to kill the maiden. A wolf helps her to escape. The wolf is thereby disenchanted and becomes a prince who…
    407 The Flower Girl A maiden is transformed into a flower [D212]. A man breaks a stalk of the flower and she becomes human again [D711.4]. He takes her as his wife [T101]. Cf. Type 652. , 407, 407A, 407B , D212., D711.4., T100.
    440 The Frog King A maiden promises herself to a frog in a spring. The frog comes to the door, the table, the bed. Turns into a prince. I. Promise to Marry the Frog. (a) To the youngest of three sisters a frog in a spring gives clear water (a ball thrown into the… , 440 B211.7.1., C41.2., D789., F875., S215.1.
    329 Miss the Magic Mirror A man hides himself three times (in the belly of the fish, etc.). (Sometimes combined with Types 301 or 313.) I. The Task. (a) A princess (devil) assigns her suitors the task of hiding themselves. (b) She has magic windows that give her magic sight.… , 329 D641., H321.
    366 The Golden Arm A man steals the heart, (liver, stomach, clothing) of one who has been hanged [E235.4, E236.1]. Gives it to his wife to eat. The ghost comes to claim his property and carries off the man. 366 E235.4.4.
    405 Jorinde and Joringel A witch turns the girl into a bird. The youth with the help of a magic object changes her back into her former shape. , 405 D683.2., D771.
    317 The Princess and the Sky-tree A youth climbs on a magic stretching tree into the upper world [F54]. There he rescues a princess from an ogre. Cf. Type 328A. , 317, 468 B11.11., B11.11.11., F54.1., F54.1.1.
    413 Marriage by Stealing Clothing A youth comes upon a holy man (old woman) in the forest [N825]. He is told not to go in a certain direction but does so [Z211] and sees three lovely maidens bathing. The holy man agrees to help him, turns him into a bird, tells him to steal the… , 413 C311., E121.5., K1335., Z211.
    554 The Grateful Animals A youth earns the thanks of several animals (ants, fish, etc.) and with their help wins the princess by performing three tasks imposed upon him (brings a ring from the bottom of the sea, etc.). I. The Animals' Gratitude. The hero, (a) the youngest of… , 553 B571., B582.2., H982., NA
    553 The Bird as a Helper A youth shoots a raven; saving of the princess from a sea-monster. Cf. Type 300. I. The Raven-feather. (a) With a feather of the raven the youth gets magic objects and treasure from the raven's sister. II. Rescue of Princess. See Type 300: IV (rescue…
    468 The Towering Tree Ascent on a tree which reaches the sky. On its branches lives a princess.
    475 The Man as Heater of Hell's Kettle Bargain with the devil: seven years service without washing or combing. In the kettle in hell are his former masters. In payment he receives the sweepings which change into gold. The host at the inn robs him of his gold, but with the devil's help he… , 475 C325., C721.1., D475.1., D861.1., D885., M210.
    318 The Batamärchen Batu: the Egyptian >>Two Brothers>> Tale. Plots with paramour against life of her husband. Cf. Types 303, 315, 590, 590A. I. Rescue of a Princess from a Dragon. [R111.1.3]. II. Treacherous Wife. The hero marries the princess, but she falls in love… 318 K2111.
    425 The Search for the Lost Husband Cf. also Types 430, 432, and 441. I. The Monster as Husband. (a) A monster is born because of a hasty wish of the parents. (b) He is a man at night. (c) A girl promises herself as bride to the monster, (c1) to recover stolen clothes or jewels, (c2)… , 425A, 425C, 425D, 425F, 425G, 425J, 425L, 425N , C32.1., C611., C757.1., C761.2., C932., D150., D2006.1.4., D735.1., D753., H11.1.1., H1232., H1385.4., L221., NA, Q482.1., S241.
    511 One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes Cf. Type 302 I*. I. The Ox Helper. A stepbrother of One-Eye, Two-Eyes and Three-Eyes is cruelly treated by his stepmother and stepsisters. He is assisted by a magic ox which furnishes him food from his removable horn. II. Spying on the Ox. The… , 511, 511A , B100.1., B535.0.1., D1470.2.1., D830.1., F512.1., F512.2.1.1., H31.12., L162., S31.
    462 The Outcast Queens and the Ogress Queen Cf. Type 590. I. The Ogress Queen. (a) Men in a forest are pursued by an ogress who takes on the form of a lovely girl [G264, G369.1.5]. (b) A king hunting in the forest [G405] sees the lovely girl and takes her as his queen. II. The Blinded queens.… , 462 G264., G405., K511., L71., S435., S438.
    534 The Youth Who Tends the Buffalo Herd Cf. Types 181, 510C, 511A. I. The youth and the Wild Buffaloes (Cows). A youth cares for wild buffaloes which he comes upon in the forest and is befriended by them [B395, B396, N832.1, B537]. (a) The youth is lost or abandoned. (b) A tiger carries a…
    530 The Glass Mountain Cf. Types 300, 329, 502, 550. I. Reward for the Vigil. (a) Three brothers one after the other are sent to guard a meadow which is devastated at night by a monster or they must in turns keep vigil for their dead father. (c) The elder brothers are… , 530 B315., B401., H1471., H331.1.1., H80.
    513 The Extraordinary Companions Cf. Types 301B, 571. , 513A, 513B D1533.1.1., D2144.1.2., F601., F601.2., F621., F632., F641., F661.5.3., F681.1., H1127., H1142., H1511., H331., H331.5.1., L161., N825.2.
    335 Death' Messengers Death promises the man to indicate his future. He gives him a blow, blindness, etc. But the man does not understand the signs and lives happily throughout. 335 J1051.
    503 Helpful Elves Dwarfs take hump from hunchback and place it on another man. I. The Dwarfs' Favor. (a) A wanderer takes part in a dance of the witches or people from below the earth (elves, dwarfs) or plays for them; or (b) adds to their song by naming more days of… , 503, 504 , F331.1., F331.3., F344.1.
    307 The Princess in the Shroud Each morning the watchers are found dead. A youth overcomes the enchantment; the dead girl comes out of the shroud. He wins her hand. (Not always a princess). Sometimes combined with Type 506 (I b, V). I. The Parents' Hasty Wish. (a) Barren parents… , 307 C758.1.1., D791.1.7.1.7., E251., N825.2.2.
    365 Specter Bridegrooms He carries her behind on his horse. Says, »The moon shines bright, the dead ride fast,» etc. She is pulled into the grave [E2l5]. 365 E215.
    535 The Boy Adopted by Tigers (Animals) I. A Boy is Adopted by Wild Animals. (a) The boy is abandoned in the forest, (b) and adopted by tigers. (c) He is given a magic bow and arrow, or (d) magic axe. II. The Substitute Bridegroom. (a) The animals arrange a marriage for him. (b) A monkey…
    330 The Smith Outwits the Devil I. Contract with Devil. A smith has made a contract with the devil so that in return for becoming a master-smith he is to belong to the devil after a certain time. II. Receipt of Magic Object. (a) The Lord (St. Peter) visits the smith and teaches… , 330, 330*, 330A, 330B, 330C, 330D D1413.1.3.1.3., J2071., K213., K2371.1.3.1.3., M211., N221., Q115., Q565., Z111.2.2.2.2.
    552 Animals and In-laws I. Marriage to Animals. (a) A bankrupt man promises his daughters in in marriage in return for safety and money to three animals (bear, eagle, whale); or (b) three girls despairing of marriage say that they will marry any one even if it is an animal… , 552 B501., B640., D621.1., S221.1.
    465 Man persecuted for his beautiful wife I. Obtaining the Beautiful Wife. (a) The hero steals the clothing of a bathing girl (swan maiden) and gives them back only if she will marry him [D361.1, K1335], or (b) he receives his wife from God. II. The Tasks. (a) The envious king covets the… , 465, 465A, 465B, 465C , B642., D721.3., H1023.3., H1090., H1233.2.1., H1335., H911., H931.
    506 The Rescued Princess I. The Grateful Dead Man. (a) The hero ransoms a corpse from creditors who refuse its burial. (b) The grateful dead man in the form of an old man, a servant, or a fox later helps the hero on condition that they are to divide all winnings. II. The…
    508 The Bride Won in a Tournement I. The Grateful Dead Man. See Type 506 (I). II. The Tournament. The hero wins a bride in a tournament [H331.2] by means of a horse or of weapons which he has received from the dead man [H972]. III. The Dividing in Half. See Type 506 (V).
    507 The Mistress of the Monster I. The Grateful Dead Man. See Type 506 I. II. The Monster Husband. The hero woos a princess whose former suitors have all come to misfortune and whose heads have been stuck on poles. With the help of the dead man who has taken the necessary magic… , 507A H322.1., H972., T172.0.1., T172.2.1.
    301 The Three Kidnapped Princesses I. The Hero is of supernatural origin and strength: (a) son of a bear who has stolen his mother; (b) of a dwarf or robber from whom the boy rescues himself and his mother; (c) the son of a man and a she-bear or cow; or (e) engendered by the eating of… , 301, 301A, 301B, 301D* B11.11.11., B322.1.1., B631., F102.1.1., F451.5.2.5.2., F601., F92., F96., H1385.1.1., H80., H94., K1931.2.2., K1933., L161., Q262., R111.2.1.2.1., T68.1.1.
    546 The Clever Parrot I. The Parrot Wins a Princess for the King. (a) The king wins the gratitude of a parrot. (b) The parrot takes the king to a princess. (c) The parrot brings a princess to the king. II. Separation. On the return trip the king and his bride are… 546 B469.9.
    510 Cinderella and Cap o' Rushes I. The Persecuted Heroine. (a) The heroine is abused by her stepmother and stepsisters and (a1) stays on the hearth or in the ashes and, (a2) is dressed in rough clothing - cap of rushes, wooden cloak, etc., (b) flees in disguise from her father who… , 510A, 510B B450., C761.3., D1050.1., F823.2., H151.5., H36.1., H94.2., K1911.3.3.1., K521.1., L55., M255., N711.6., N815., R255., S31., T311.1., T411.1.
    537 The Flight with the Eagle I. The Speaking Eagle. A man aims to shoot an eagle, when suddenly the bird begins to speak like a human being [B211.3]. The man spares him. II. The Grateful Eagle. The bird has a wing broken. The man cares for it for three years and wastes all his…
    501 The Three Spinners Invited to the wedding. I. Spinning Assigned to Girl. (a) Through false boast of a girl's mother, or (b) of the girl herself, or (c) false reports by jealous servants a girl is compelled to spin an impossible amount (cf. Type 500). (d) She is to… , 501 G201.1., G244., H1092., H914.
    328 The Treasures of the Giant Jack and the Beanstalk. The horse, the light, etc. Finally the giant is killed. Sometimes joined with Type 327. Cf also Types 531, 1525. I. Expeditions to the Giant. (a) The hero sets out to steal from a giant in order to get revenge for former… , 328, 328A, 328A* , B103.2.1.2.1., D1601.18.18., F54.2.2., G84., H1151., H1172.
    400 The Quest for a Lost Bride Magic objects or animals as helpers (as introduction frequently the Swan Maiden). I. The Hero. (a) A father unwittingly promises his son to a sea monster (giant, etc.). (b) The boy is adopted by a king. (c) The ogre wants to take the boy but cannot… , 400, 400*, 401, 401A , B652.1., D361.1., D361.1.1., D721.2., D758.1., H1385.3., N681.
    305 Dragon Blood as Cure No examples in the Database yet 305 D1500.1.7.3.3.1.7.3.3.
    322 Magnet mountain attracts everything No examples in the Database yet
    361 Bearskin No examples in the Database yet , 361 C721., C723.1.1., L54.1.1., M211.
    424 The Youth Wed to a She-Devil No examples in the Database yet
    449 The Tsar's Dog – Sidi Numan No examples in the Database yet , 449 D132.1., D141., D700.
    452 The Maiden Who Seeks her Brother No examples in the Database yet
    453 The Maiden Who Seeks her Brother No examples in the Database yet
    463 The Witch in the Stone Boat No examples in the Database yet

    Showing 1–50 of 111 · Page 1 of 3





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