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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 322 | Magnet mountain attracts everything | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 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… | ||
| 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). | ||
| 411 | The King and the Lamia | |||
| 424 | The Youth Wed to a She-Devil | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 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… | ||
| 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… | ||
| 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… | ||
| 463 | The Witch in the Stone Boat | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 466 | A Journey to the Other World | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 468 | The Towering Tree | Ascent on a tree which reaches the sky. On its branches lives a princess. | ||
| 485 | Borma Jarizhka | On instructions of the tsar the hero sets off to Babylon to get the crown. He steals the crown and burns the snakes which were sent after him. He comes to a one-eyed giant, blinds him, and escapes from the cave under the belly of the giant (Cf. Type… | ||
| 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). | ||
| 515 | The Shepherd | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 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… | ||
| 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… | ||
| 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… | ||
| 540 | The Dog in the Sea | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 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… | ||
| 300 | The Dragon-Slayer | The Dragon-Slayer. Rescue of the princess. I. The Hero and his Dogs, II; The Sacrifice, III. The Dragon, IV. The Fight, V. The Tongues, VI. Impostor, VII. Recognition. | , 300 | B11.10.10., B11.11.11., B11.2.3.1.2.3.1., B312.2.2., D1975., D1978.2.2., H105.1.1., H151.2.2., H83., K1932., T68.1.1. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 310 | Rapunzel | Rapunzel. The hair ladder for the witch. The prince is blinded. I. Promise of Child. To appease a witch whom he has offended, a man promises her his child when it is born. II. The Hair Ladder. (a) The girl is imprisoned in a windowless tower which… | , 310 | D642.7.7., F555., F848.1.1., G204., G279.2.2., N455., R41.2.2., S221.1.1. |
| 311 | Rescue by the Sister | Rescue by the Sister, who deceives the ogre into carrying the girls in a sack (chest) back to their home. Cf. Types 312, 1132.
|
, 311 | C611., C913., G561., K525., R11.1.1., R157.1.1. |
| 312 | The Bluebeard | The brother rescues his sisters. See analysis of Type 311 (I a, b, c; II; III a) for introduction.The youngest sister threatened with death for disobedience asks respite for prayer. Her brother with the aid of animals kills the ogre (cf. Type 300)… | , 312, 312D | C611., C920., F611.1.1., G551.1.1., K555., T511.3.3. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 327 | The Children and the Ogre | , 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. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 332 | Godfather Death | The man as doctor. Death at the feet of the sick man (the bed or the sick man turned around). I. Death as Godfather. (a) A poor man chooses death as godfather, (b) since he considers him juster than either God or the Devil. II. Death's Gifts. (a)… | , 332 | D1825.3.1.3.1., J486., K557. |
| 333 | Little Red Riding Hood | The wolf or other monster devours human beings until all of them are rescued alive from his belly. Cf. Types 123, 2027, 2028.<br /> I. Wolf's Feast. (a) By masking as mother or grandmother the wolf deceives and devours (b) a little girl (Red Riding Hood)… | , 333, 333A | F913., J21.5.5., K1044., K2011., Q426., Z18.1.1. |
| 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. |
| 361 | Bearskin | No examples in the Database yet | , 361 | C721., C723.1.1., L54.1.1., M211. |
| 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. |
| 402 | The Animal Bride | The youngest of three brothers succeeds best in the quests set by his father. He brings the best cloth, the most beautiful bride, etc. The mouse (cat) who has helped him changes herself into a beautiful maiden. | , 402, 402A* | D711., D735., H1210.1., H1242., H1301.1. |
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