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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 Thompson references, ascending

Showing 51–100 of 111 · Page 2 of 3

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
470 Friends in Life and Death The deceased friend followed into the other world. Cf. Type 471. I. The Visit to the Other World. (a) Two friends pledge themselves never to part. One of them dies. (b) The living friend invites the dead to visit him on Christmas and goes with him… , 470, 470*, 470A C13., D2011., E238., F116., F171.1., F171.2., M253.
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.
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.
500 Rumpelstiltskin No examples in the Database yet , 500 C432.1., D2183., H1021.8., H521., H914., N475., S222.1.
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.
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.
  • I. The Forbidden Chamber. (a) Two sisters, one after the other, fall into an ogre's power, and are taken into a subterranean castle. (b) They are forbidden entrance into one room or (b1) to see souls in torment or (b2) to eat a human bone. (c) They disobey and an egg or key becomes bloody.
  • II. Punishment. The ogre kills them for disobedience.
  • III. Rescue by youngest sister. (a) The youngest sister finds the bodies and (b) resuscitates them by putting their members together or (c) otherwise, and hides them.
  • VI. Carrying the Sacks. (a) The girls are put into sacks and the ogre is persuaded to carry the sacks home without looking into them.
  • V. Disguise as Bird (a) The youngest sister leaves a skull dressed as a bride to deceive the ogre. (b) She smears herself with honey and feathers and escapes as a strange bird.
  • VI. Punishment of the Murderer. 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.
    361 Bearskin No examples in the Database yet , 361 C721., C723.1.1., L54.1.1., M211.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    450 Brother and Sister The boy is turned into a roe by the cruel stepmother. Lives with his sister in the forest. The king marries the sister. Her stepmother usurps her place as wife. Disclosure, punishment, and reunion. Cf. Types 403, 480, 533. I. Cruel Stepmother. A… , 450 D114.1.1., D150., D555., D688., H13., K1911.1.2., N711.1., P253.2., S31.
    449 The Tsar's Dog – Sidi Numan No examples in the Database yet , 449 D132.1., D141., D700.
    518 Big Fight over Magic Things No examples in the Database yet , 518 D1361.12., D1520.19., D1521.1., D832.
    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.
    403 The White and the Black Bride Strawberries under the snow, etc. The real daughter bride of the king. A child born. The stepmother throws the child into the water, etc. , 403 D1454.2., D161.2., D1860., D1870., H1023.3., K1911., M431.2., Q261., S31., S432.
    519 Brunhilde The helper in the suitor test. Cf. Type 513A. I. The Suitor. A prince with his extraordinary companion woos a bride who is beautiful, strong, and warlike, and who will have as husband no man who is not her equal in strength. II. Suitor Tests. (a) The… , 519 D1500.1.18., H345., H345.1., H345.2., K1844.1., Q451.2., R169.4., T173.1., T58.
    305 Dragon Blood as Cure No examples in the Database yet 305 D1500.1.7.3.3.1.7.3.3.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    471 The Bridge to Another World The youngest of three brothers crosses into the other world and sees extraordinary things which are later explained. I. The Quest. Three brothers one after the other set out to search for their lost sister. (b) On the way they are appointed to herd… , 471, 471A D2011.1., E481.2.1., F171., F171.0.1., F171.3., F171.5., H1251., H1385.6., R155.1.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    426 Snow White and Rose Red The girls let the bear into the hut. They rescue an ungrateful dwarf from death. The bear kills the dwarf. The bear changes into a prince who has been enchanted by the dwarf. , 426 D763., F451.5.2.1.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.

    Showing 51–100 of 111 · Page 2 of 3





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