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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.

Religious Tales 750–849

52 tale types

Sorted by title, ascending

Showing 1–50 of 52 · Page 1 of 2

ATU Title ▲ Summary Arne Thompson Thompson
769 A Child Returns from the Dead Frequently to stop weeping. [E324]. , 769 E324., E361.
753 Christ and the smith Christ takes off the horse's foot in order to shoe him and rejuvenates an old woman by putting her in the fire. The smith tries disastrously to do the same. , 753 A1861.2., D1886., E121.2., E782.4., F663.0.1., J2411.1., K1811.
846 Devil Always Blamed Devil blamed when cow is in ditch (Who the devil did that?). When she is saved (Thank God!). , 846 K1811., N111.4.1.
826 Devil writes down names of men on hide in church No examples in the Database yet 826 G303.24.1.3.
779 Divine rewards and punishments No examples in the Database yet
767 Food for the Crucifix A boy offers bread to a statue of Christ or the Virgin [Q172.1]. 767 Q172.1.
756 Forgiveness and Redemption The hard penance and the green twigs on the dry branch. , 756A, 756B, 756C F771.1.9., F81.2., F971.1., H1235., H1273.1., J172., L435.1., N843., Q172.3., Q211.1., Q222.1., Q520.1., Q520.2., Q521.1., Q521.1.1., Q521.1.2., Q521.2., Q521.4., Q523.5., Q545., Q553.2., Q561., S211., V29.1.
759 God's Justice Vindicated – The Angel and the Hermit People will not take sacrament from him. Another priest (God) shows that even this priest is according to God's will. [V39.3]. Cf. Type 756E*. , 759 C411.1., C491., J225.0.1., J225.0.2., J225.3., J225.4., J225.5., U21.3.
837 How the Wicked Lord was Punished He puts poison into the beggar's bread. As the beggar is spending the night at an inn a traveler arrives. Since no other bread is convenient the beggar gives the stranger his bread. The traveler, who is the lord's son, dies of the poison [N332.1]. 837 N332.1.
774 Jests About Christ and Peter Peter made ridiculous.
805 Joseph and Mary Threatens to Leave Heaven... No examples in the Database yet 805 V254.6.
801 Master Pfriem The cobbler who was never satisfied is expelled from heaven [Q312.1]. He is admitted by St. Peter, [A661.0.1.2] but warned against fault-finding [F13]. He sees men carrying a beam crosswise [F171.6.3]. But when he sees the horses hitched in front and… , 801 A661.0.1.2., F13., F171.6.3., F171.6.4., H1023.2., Q312.1.
828 Men, Animals, and the Span of Life No examples in the Database yet
782 Midas His secret discovered by his barber. Or he whispers the secret to a reed which repeats it. , 782 D1316.5., F511.2.2., N465.
841 One Beggar Trusts God, the Other the King The king gives them each a loaf of bread, but the loaf of the second beggar is filled with gold. The beggars not knowing the nature of the loaves exchange them. [N351]. 841 N351.
839 One Vice Carries Other With It A man is permitted to choose one of the following vices: theft, incontinence, drink. He chooses the last, which seemed to him least harmful. All the other vices follow in the train of the first. [J485]. 839 J485.
804 Peter's Mother Falls from Heaven It is permitted to the son in heaven [A661.0.1.2] to pull his mother out of hell on a stalk [F51.1.3]. When the other dead catch her feet, she kicks them and falls back into hell [Q291.1]. , 804 A661.0.1.2., F51.1.3., Q291.1.St.
836 Pride is Punished The rich man boasts that God has not the power to make him poor [C454]. While the man is at church, his property burns and he returns home a poor man [L412]. Cf. Types 736A, 830. , 836F* D1323.5., D1331.3.1.
830 Refusal to Ask God's Blessing The man shoots a stag but denies that God has given it to him and insists that he shot it himself. [J151.4]. The wounded stag jumps up and flees. 830C C454.
755 Sin and grace The rose from the stone table. The preacher's wife magically prevents the birth of her children. Since she throws no shadow, her husband casts her forth as a sinner until a rose shall grow from a stone table. A churchman takes the woman at night into…
803 Solomon Binds the Devil in Chains in Hell Asks the devil to try on the chains meant for Solomon. Variant: Christ and the Smith in hell. [A1071.1].
768 St Christopher and the Christ child The saintly ferryman. He carries the child across the stream. The child becomes heavier with each step, but the saint still carries him. The child reveals himself as Christ. [Q25]. 768 Q25.
838 The Bad Rearing Son on gallows bites his mother's (father's) nose off: punishment for neglect in youth. [Q586]. Cf. Type 756B. 838 Q586.
815 The Deceased Rich Man and the Devils in the Church The rich man's money is buried in his skin in the grave. The devil comes to see the money. The cobbler draws a circle about him [D1381.11] to keep the devil off; takes the money and nails the devil fast. , 815, 815* C12.2., D1381.11., G303.22.11., K210., K218.1., Q45.2.
821 The Devil as Advocate A man is accused of theft. The devil carries the judge from the court room and thus repays the hospitality of the accused. 821B J1191.2.
825 The Devil in Noah's Ark The devil wants to know what Noah is doing when he is building the ark. He persuades Noah's wife to give him a drink. Noah forbids the wife to go into ark until the devil has also been invited. [K485]. I. Secret Building of Ark and its Destruction by… , 825 A1015., A1021., A1853.1., A2001., A2031.2., A2145.2., A2214.3., A2232.4., C12.5.1., F531.5.9., G303.14.1.1., K2213.4.2.
810 The devil loses a soul that was promised him The priest permits the man who is promised to the devil to spend the night in the church, and draws a ring around him. The devil cannot tempt him outside the ring. , 810, 810A* D1381.11., G303.16.19.15., G303.16.19.4., G303.9.1.6., K218.1., S211.
764 The Devil's Son as a Priest A youth (a) encounters the devil or (b) takes liberties with the corpse of a hanged man. With this companion he goes to certain houses, some of which because they are properly ordered the companion may not enter. The Devil (dead man) is able to enter…
832 The Disappointed Fisher The fisher, his wife, and his child always get three fishes. From greed they kill the child in order to have more fish for themselves. But they catch from then on only two fishes. [Q553.5]. 832 Q553.5.
831 The Dishonest Priest In order to get hold of money found by a poor man, the priest goes with the skin of a he-goat on his back (as Devil) to the man to frighten him [Q551.2]. But when he gets home he cannot get the skin off [Q551.2]. 831 Q551.2.
751 The Greedy Peasant Woman Christ and Peter ask entertainment from a peasant woman [K1811]. Although the cake magically grows larger [D1652.1.2], she gives them but a morsel. She is punished [Q1.1]. , 751A, 751C* D153.1., D1652.1.2., K1811., K1811.1., Q292.1.
822 The lazy boy and the industrious girl The Lord and St. Peter come across a very lazy boy and a very industrious girl. Our Lord decrees, much to St. Peter's astonishment, that these two are to be married. [T125].
844 The Luck-bringing Shirt The king becomes lucky when he puts on the shirt of a lucky man. The only man who says he is lucky has no shirt. [N135.3]. 844  N135.3.
811 The man promised to the devil becomes a priest No examples in the Database yet
842 The Man Who Kicked Aside Riches A man practices austerities for many years. He asks the god for wealth as a reward and the god signifies that his request is granted. On the way home, the man decides to close his eyes to feel how a blind man feels when he walks. He stumbles against…
788 The Man Who Was Burned Up and Lived Again No examples in the Database yet
812 The Mystery of the Devil The man is saved by solving the riddle propounded by the devil. The solution discovered in the forest. I. Devil's Contract. (a) A man (three men) promises himself to the devil at the end of a certain time if he cannot solve three (seven) riddles… , 812 H523., H671., H672., H673., M211.
770 The Nun Who Saw the World The nun leaves the convent with her lover. The Virgin takes her place in the convent during the years of her absence. The nun returns repentant. [K1841.1]. 770A* V238.
845 The Old Man and Death Weary old man wishes for death. When Death appears at the summons he asks for help with the load. [C11]. 845 C11.
802 The Peasant in Heaven On the arrival of the rich man there is song and dance, because of the rarity of such an event. [E758, W245]. 802 E758.
840 The Punishments of Men When a man and his son are passing the night in a house the son is unable to sleep. He sees wonderful things happening all about: a snake creeps from the sleeping man's mouth into the wife's mouth; an axe penetrates the man's head, etc. In the…
791 The Saviour and Peter in night-lodgings Peter is twice beaten. Peter and Christ are sleeping in the same bed. The drunken host returns home and beats Peter. Peter changes places with Christ. The host then comes in to beat the other lodger. Peter again receives the blows. [K1132]. In French… 791 K1132.
766 The seven sleepers No examples in the Database yet 766 D1960.1.
780 The Singing Bone The brother kills his brother (sister) and buries him in the earth. From the bones a shepherd makes a flute which brings the secret to light. In different versions the murder is revealed in several different ways [N271]: (a) an instrument (harp,… , 780 D1610.34., E632., N271.
800 The Tailor in Heaven In God's absence, Peter lets an unworthy tailor into heaven. The tailor throws Gods footstool at an old woman thief on earth. He si expelled from heaven. , 800 A661.0.1.2., F1037.1., L435.3., P441.1.
760 The Unquiet Grave The man burns his three wives. Finds no rest in the grave. A maiden takes the dead man to a priest and secures his pardon for the murder of his wives. , 760 E411.0.2., E411.1., Q211.3.
758 The various children of Eve Eve has so many children that she is ashamed when God pays her a visit. She hides some of them and they fail to receive the blessing that God gives those in sight. Thus arises the differences in classes and peoples. [A1650.1]. 758 A1650.1.
777 The wandering Jew No examples in the Database yet , 777, 777* E511., E511.1.1., E511.1.2., E511.1.3., Q502.1.
778 To Sacrifice a Giant Candle Refusal to make sacrifice after need is past. In distress a person promises a sacrifice to a god (saint) but disregards the promise when the danger passes. [K231.3, K231.3.1].
763 Treasure Finders Murder One Another Two hunters are shown a treasure. One of them puts poison in the other's wine, but the other kills him, drinks the wine and dies. [K1685]. 763 K1685.

Showing 1–50 of 52 · Page 1 of 2