Resources · Methodology
Heda Jason: Motif, Type & Genre
Heda Jason’s Motif, Type and Genre (2000) is a manual for compiling folklore indexes and a bibliography of indexes and indexing. It offers a methodological companion to the systems brought together on this website.
The practical notes below are editorial guidance for this database. They are not presented as Jason’s own numbered rules or a replacement for her manual.
Keep the units distinct
These working distinctions help explain why the website offers several kinds of reference.
| Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Motif | A recurring element within a narrative, such as an action, being or object. |
| Tale type | A recognisable plot pattern used to compare versions of a tale. |
| Genre | A kind of verbal art, considered in relation to form, use and cultural context. |
| Text or version | The particular telling or document that supplies the evidence for a classification. |
A proposed recording practice
These recommendations are for future cross-referencing on this website.
| Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cite the source and edition | Store the named index, identifier and edition, plus the relevant entry or page. |
| Attach narrative evidence | Identify the text, passage and version that support an association. |
| Attribute the decision | Distinguish a classification supplied by a publication from one proposed by a later analyst. |
| Preserve uncertainty | Allow tentative matches, alternative readings and revisions with an explanation. |
| Verify cross-index relationships | A similar number or heading in two systems is a lead to check, not sufficient evidence of equivalence. |
Using this reference
An index can describe only the corpus and distinctions on which it was built. Record its geographical, linguistic and genre scope before combining its results with another system.
The manual also addresses the practical work of selecting a corpus, presenting indexes and organising supporting registers. Consult it when developing consistent editorial instructions.
Each heading has a stable link for citation and future cross-referencing. Narrative associations will follow later analysis.
Sources and further reading
Jason, Heda. Motif, Type and Genre: A Manual for Compilation of Indices & a Bibliography of Indices and Indexing. FF Communications 273. Helsinki: Academia Scientiarum Fennica, 2000.
- University of Algarve: scholarly review with contents and publication details (PDF)
- Folklore Fellows: author index confirming FFC 273
The explanations are concise editorial summaries. Published identifiers are distinguished from this page’s reference headings and suggested recording practices.
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
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