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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.
Tales of Magic 300–559
| ATU | Title | Summary ▲ | Arne Thompson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | The Giant Without A Heart, | The youth who can turn himself into a lion, ant, etc. Sometimes the ogre's heart in the egg appears alone. Cf. Type 665. Sometimes introduced as in Type 400, or 425. I. Magic Help. The hero receives magie help (a) from grateful animals for whom he… | , 302, 302B | B393., B500., B571.1.1., D152.2.2., D182.2.2., D1834., E710., E711.10.10., K975.2.2., R11.1.1., T11.2.2. |
| 360 | The Three Apprentices and the Devil | They receive money in return for the devil's power over them [M211]. The host of the inn kills a man and the boys are accused. They have pledged themselves always to say the same words: »we three,» »for gold» »that was right» [C495.2.1, M175].… | , 360 | C495.2.2., K217. |
| 431 | The Waldhaus | Three maidens one after the other sent into the wood. Kind and unkind. Animals disenchanted. (Cf. Type 480.) Their clue of grain (lentils) is eaten by birds [R135, R135.1]. They come to a house where they find an old man [D1890], a cock [D166.1.1], a… | , 431 | D1890., L162., L54., Q2. |
| 505 | Grateful dead | Through the assistance of the dead man the hero wins the princess and the castle [E341.1]. (For detailed relationship see Types 506-508. Cf. also Types 513-514, and 545A and B.) | , 505, 506, 508 | , 503, E341., H972., M241., M241.1. |
| 303 | The Twin Brothers, | Two boys, horses, and dogs are born (from the eating of a magic fish, or in other magic fashion; cf. Type 705). One frees princesses from a dragon; cf. Type 300. A witch turns him into stone. The second brother sleeps with his brother's wife and… | , 303, 303A, 581 | B512., D1081., D231., E715.1.1., E761., K1311.1.1., N342.3.3., R111.1.3.1.3., R155.1.1., T351., T511.5.1.5.1., T589.7.1.7.1., T69.1.1. |
| 326 | The Youth Who Wanted to Learn What Fear Is | Various episodes: in the church tower, under the gallows, etc. Cf. Types 1159, 1160.
|
, 326, 326A*, 326B* | H1376.2.2., H1411., H1441., K335.1.10.1.10. |
| 517 | The Boy and the Bird-language | Vaticinium. The learning of the speech of birds; cf. Types 670, 671. The princess who has destroyed her child; Cf. Type 781. A boy understands the language of birds. The birds prophesy that the parents shall humble themselves before him. On… | , 517 | B143.1., B215.1., M312., M373., N682. |
| 334 | In the Household of the Witch | Visit to house of a witch (or other horrible creature). Many gruesome and marvelous happenings. Lucky escape. Cf. Type 327G. | 334 | G11.3.3. |
| 545 | The Cat as Helper | Visit to the castle. Disenchantment. I. The Helpful Cat. (a) A boy or (b) girl inherits nothing but a cat (or fox). II. The Cat at the Palace. (a) The cat takes the girl (boy) to the palace. (b) He tells the king that the boy (girl) is a dispossessed… | , 545A, 545B, 545D* | , B211.1.8., B422., B580., B582.1.1., D711., F771.4.1., G510., K1917.3., K1952.1.1., N411.1.1. |
| 432 | The Bird Lover | Visits to the princess. The wicked stepmother. The wound on the window ledge. I. The Bird Lover. (a) A prince in the form of a bird flies to a beautiful maiden. (b) When in her presence he becomes a man. II. The Lover Wounded. The cruel stepmother… | , 432 | D641.1., H1385.5., K1837., K2212.1., L221., N452., S181. |
| 336 | Death washes his feet | When death visits a house the youngest daughter is sent by her mother and her elder sisters for light to make a fire. On her way she meets a ghost. When she returns home, Death is washing his feet. The daughter asks about Death's strange looking… |
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