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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

111 tale types

Sorted by title, ascending

Showing 51–100 of 111 · Page 2 of 3

ATU Title ▲ Summary Arne Thompson Thompson
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
550 The Golden Bird Quest for the wonderful bird. With the help of an animal (wolf fox) the youngest brother succeeds. On his return he saves his brothers, who betray him. See analysis below: I a, b; II; III a, b; IV; V. ANALYSIS Types 550 and 551. I. Object of the… , 550 B184.1., B313., B435.1., B560., H1242., H1331.1., K1932., L13., L161., N711.3., W154.12.3.
314 The Golden-Haired The Magic Flight. From the ogre's house. The fugitives throw magic objects behind them which become mountains, wood, or sea; or they change themselves into various animals or objects. , 314 B316., C495.1.1., C912., H56., H75.4.4., K1816.1.1., L113.1.0.1.1.0.1., T55.1.1., T91.6.4.6.4.
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
480 The Kind and the Unkind Girls The real daughter and the stepdaughter by the spring, or the rolling cake. Cf. Types 403, 510A. I. Kind and Unkind Girls. (a) A real daughter and a stepdaughter or two sisters or (c) other girls, one kind and one unkind, go from home, the kind girl… , 480 D1860., H934.3., H935., L211., N791., Q2., Q41., Q41.2., S31.
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].
    		•
    313 The Magic Flight The Magic Flight. From the ogre's house. The fugitives throw magic objects behind them which become mountains, wood, or sea; or they change themselves into various animals or objects. , 313 D1611., D2003., D2006.1.1., D2006.1.4.1.4., D671., D672., H335.0.1.0.1.
    325 The Magician and his Apprentice, The father put to a test recognizes his son. The son as horse, ring, etc. rescues himself from the power of his master. I. Learning Magic. (a) A father gives his son to a magician to teach, (b) but must be able to recognize him in his animal form at… , 325, 325* D1711.0.1.0.1., H161., L142.2.2.
    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
    459 The Make-Believe Son (Daughter) The king turns out his eldest queen because she is childless. The maidservant informs the king that the queen has borne (a) a son or (b) a daughter but that the king must not see it. The queen is supplied a house and food. After some years the king…
    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.
    316 The Mermaid in the Pond The youth promised to the nix is pulled into the water by her. I. Promise to the Water-Nix. A boy is unwittingly promised to a waternix. II. Grateful Animals. A youth receives from grateful animals the power of transforming himself into their… , 316 F420.1.2.1.2., F420.5.2.2.5.2.2., R152., S240.
    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.
    451 The Nurse looking for her Brothers, The twelve brothers are changed into ravens. Cf. The Speechless Princess, Types 705, 710. I. The Brothers and their Sister. (a) Seven (twelve) brothers have a younger sister. (b) The parents have promised the death of the brothers if a daughter is… , 451  D161.1., D753.1., D758., K2116.1.1., P253.0.5., P253.2.
    442 The Old Woman in the Wood The maiden disenchants [D700] a prince whom an evil woman [G263] has transformed into a tree [D215]. She gets the magic ring [D1076] from the old woman's house. Marriage [L162]. , 442 D1076., D431.2., L162.
    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.
    516 The Petrified Friend The picture of the princess. She is carried off on a ship. The conversation of the ravens. The true servant transformed to stone. Brought back to life. I. The Prince Falls in Love. (a) A prince becomes enamored of a faraway princess by seeing her… , 516, 516C B211.3., C423.4., C961.2., D766.2., H1515., K1332., N342.1., N451., P361., S268., T11.3., T172.2.
    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.
    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.
    401 The Princess Transformed into a Deer The prince a-hunting. Disenchants princess by spending three nights in a deserted castle. Quest for departed wife, as in Type 400. Cf. Type 400 (I e, II b, c, III i, V, VI).
    559 The Princess’ Laugh The princess made to laugh. Making an absurd parade. Later forcing the noble suitor out of his bridal bed. Cf. Types 571-574, 621. I. Making Princess Laugh. (a) A princess has been offered to the man who can make her laugh. (b) The hero accomplishes… , 559 B571., B582.2., F591., H341., H982., L161., T171., T68.
    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.
    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…
    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.
    515 The Shepherd No examples in the Database yet
    514 The Shift of Sex The sister becomes a soldier in place of her brother. Marries the daughter of the king [K1837, K1322]. She is driven away and rescued by her companions. The change of sex in the ogress' house [D11]. Marriage with the princess [L161]. , 514, 514** D11., F954., K1825.1., K1837., K2111., L162.
    410 The Sleeping Beauty The king's daughter falls into a magic sleep. A prince breaks through the hedge surrounding the castle and disenchants the maiden. I. The Wished-for Child. A frog announces the birth of the much desired daughter of the king. II. The Fairies' Gifts.… , 410 B211.7.1., D1364.17., D1967.1., D1978.5., F361.1.1., G269.4., M341.2.13., M370., N711.2.
    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.
    532 The Speaking Horsehead The helpful horse. The hero is driven from home by his stepmother [S31]. He acquires a helpful horse which advises him [B401] to dress in poor clothing [K1816] and to answer all questions with "I don't know" [C495.1]. He takes service as gardener to… 532* B411.2.
    331 The Spirit in the Bottle The man frees the evil spirit from the bottle and receives in reward a wonderful remedy or the power to turn iron into silver (gold). He tricks the spirit into the bottle again. (Often combined with Types 330 or 332.) , 331 K717., R181.
    434 The Stolen Mirror. The princess as doctor cures the lovesick prince. A youth receives magic power from his teacher. Through its use he goes to a distant land where he steals from a beautiful princess her mirror an her picture. He returns home and takes sick from love.… , 434 D700., H1233.1., H1385.5., T24.1.
    437 The Supplanted Bride (The Needle Prince) The maiden finds a seemingly dead prince whose body is covered with pins and needles and begins to remove them, or she must weep a jug full of tears or spend three sleepless nights by the coffin [D762, D759.7]. As the task is almost completed she…
    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.
    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.
    408 The Three Lemons The quest for the Orange Princess. The false bride. I. The Old Woman's Curse. A young prince insolently throws a stone and breaks an old woman's oil jar. She utters a curse: he is to fall in love with the three oranges (lemons, pomegranates,… , 408 D610., D721.5., J1791., K1911.2.2., K1911.3., S375.
    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.
    468 The Towering Tree Ascent on a tree which reaches the sky. On its branches lives a princess.
    304 The Trained Hunter The magic gun; the rescued princess; the impostor. (Often combined with Types 300, 302, 400, 554, 555, 675 or 950.) I. The Magic Gun. A youth receives a magic gun, (a) from a green clad huntsman or (b) from an old woman. II. Killing of Giants. (a)… , 304 F661.1.1., H81., H81.1.1.1.1., K912., N711.2.2.
    315 The Treacherous Sister The children promised to the water-spirit. The maiden wife of the water-spirit (devil). At his advice she feigns sickness and sends her brother for a remedy (or the like) [K2212.0.2]. Imprisoned animals break loose and save the boy. See analysis… , 315, 315A B524.1.1.1.1., F615., G346., K2212.0.2.0.2., L161., R111.1.1., R251.
    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.
    449 The Tsar's Dog – Sidi Numan No examples in the Database yet , 449 D132.1., D141., D700.
    306 The Twelve Dancing Princesses The princess's nightly visits to the supernatural being. A youth who follows her and wins her hand. Cf. Type 507. I. Princess as Prize. (a) A princess is offered to the man who can find why her shoes are danced to pieces each morning. II. Discovery… , 306 D1980., D2131., F1015.1.1.1.1., H508.2.2., H80., K625.1.1., L161.
    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.
    363 The Vampire The bridegroom eats corpses in three churches [E251.3.1, G20]. He appears to his bride in the form of her father, her mother, etc. [D40, D610] and when she tells about his habit he devours her. 363 G20.

    Showing 51–100 of 111 · Page 2 of 3





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