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Stith Thompson Motif Index
About this index and how to read it
Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.
The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.
All
A
Mythological Motifs
B
Animal Motifs
C
Motifs of Tabu
D
Magic
E
The Dead
F
Marvels
G
Ogres
H
Tests
J
The Wise and the Foolish
K
Deceptions
L
Reversals of Fortune
M
Ordaining the Future
N
Chance and Fate
P
Society
Q
Rewards and Punishments
R
Captives and Fugitives
S
Unnatural Cruelty
T
Sex
U
The Nature of Life
V
Religion
W
Traits of Character
X
Humor
Z
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Thompson reference ▲ | Description |
|---|---|
| R131.10 | Hermit rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N843, R169.2.) English: Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne); Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.10.1 | Woman disguised as hermit rescues abandoned child. (Cf. K1837.3.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R131.11 | Exalted person rescues abandoned child. Dickson 170. |
| R131.11.1 | Princess rescues abandoned child. Sparnaay 33; Dickson 37, 170; Jewish: *Neuman; China: Eberhard FFC CXX 99ff. No. 58, FFC CXXVIII 76f. No. 34. |
| R131.11.2 | King rescues abandoned child. Dickson 170 n. 24; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.11.3 | Prince rescues abandoned child. Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8. |
| R131.11.4 | Deity rescues abandoned child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.11.5 | Minister's son recovers prince's lost wife for him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.12 | Fairy rescues abandoned child. (Cf. F311.) Krappe Balor 3; Irish myth: Cross. |
| R131.13 | Palmer rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N846.1.) English: Wells 118 *(Octovian). |
| R131.14 | Sailors rescue abandoned child. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2. |
| R131.15 | Children abandoned in a boat survive storm and are rescued. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R131.16 | Angel rescues abandoned child. Jewish: Neuman. |
| R131.17 | Coyote rescues abandoned child(ren). N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 89. |
| R131.18 | Pious woman rescues abandoned child. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R131.19 | Bard (poet) rescues abandoned child. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R131.20 | Indians rescue abandoned children. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| R133 | Vanished wife rescued. |
| R133.1 | Hero finds his vanished wife and disenchants her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R133.2 | Lost wife restored by conjurer. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 246. |
| R135 | Abandoned children (wife, etc.) find way back by clue (bread-crumb, grain, pebble, etc.). They have dropped the objects while being led away. *Types 327, 431, 620, 955; *BP I 115ff., 124, 370; Köhler-Bolte I 134; *Penzer III 104 n. 2; Fb "ært" III 1153b, "gryn" IV 187a; *Saintyves Perrault 310. — Irish myth: Cross; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: *Dixon 227 n. 35, DeVries's list No. 147; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 442; Lkuсgen: Hill-Tout JAI XXXVII 334; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 145; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 120. |
| R135.0.1 | Stolen wife makes trail of speaking spittle for husband. Spittle speaks and directs him. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 263 No. 67. |
| R135.0.2 | Trail of grain (seeds). (Cf. R267.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.0.2.1 | Trail of rice husks. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.0.3 | Trail of jewels. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.0.4 | Trail of shreds of dress. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.0.5 | Trail of thread. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.0.6 | Trail of ashes. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.0.7 | Trail of flowers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.1 | Crumb (grain) trail eaten by birds. Lost persons cannot find way back. *Types 327, 431; Missouri French: Carrière; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R135.1.1 | Feathers left to mark trail blown away by wind. S. A. Indian (Warrau): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 145. |
| R137 | Mermaid rescues heroine who has been thrown overboard. (Cf. B81.) Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 7; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R138 | Rescue from shipwreck. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R138.1 | Mermaid rescues hero (boy) from shipwreck. Icelandic: Lagerholm 164f., Boberg. |
| R138.2 | Gam rescues hero as boy from shipwreck. Icelandic: Lagerholm 163—164. |
| R141 | Rescue from well. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R142 | Exposed children swallowed by earth; vomited up when grown. (Cf. F900.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| R143 | Abandoned man befriended by a Centaur. (Cf. B21.) Greek: Grote I 109. |
| R150 | Rescuers. Missouri French: Carrière. |
| R151 | Husband rescues wife. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R151.1 | Husband rescues stolen wife. (Cf. H1385.3, R11.1.) Krappe Revue Celtique XLVIII (1931) 94—123; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 46 No. 316; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 342 n. 235; Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 399 No. 1. |
| R151.1.1 | Husband frees wife who has sold herself into slavery in order to ransom him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R151.2 | Husband rescues wife from burning at stake. (Cf. R175.) *Dickson 78. |
| R151.3 | Husband rescues wife from cannibal. (Cf. G10.) Chinese: Graham. |
| R152 | Wife rescues husband. Type 316; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Grote I 462f.; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R152.1 | Disguised wife helps husband escape from prison. (Cf. R121.) *Types 880, 888, 890; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda; West Indies: Flowers 521. |
| R152.2 | Woman disguised as man sells herself into slavery in order to ransom (free) her husband (lover). (Cf. K1837.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| R152.3 | Wives change clothes with their imprisoned husbands when allowed to visit them. Husbands escape. Greek: Grote I 463. |
| R152.4 | Wife gets back her husband from land of serpents by charming him with her beautiful dance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R152.5 | Transformed wife takes husband out of captivity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R153 | Parents rescues child. (Cf. S351.) |
| R153.1 | Parents rescue son. |
| R153.1.1 | Parents rescue son from lower world on rope. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 86 No. 13. |
| R153.2 | Father rescues children. |
| R153.2.1 | Father hides children from murderous mother. After many years they come forth and she dies of fright. *Type 765. |
| R153.3 | Father rescues son(s). Icelandic: Lagerholm 170ff., *Boberg. |
| R153.3.1 | Father rescues son captured by enemy. Type 899*; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| R153.3.2 | Father rescues son stolen by animals. Africa (Bushmen, South of Zambesi): Theal 56. |
| R153.3.3 | Old robber frees his three sons: relates frightful adventures. In order to free them he must relate three adventures, each more frightful than the last. *Type 953; *BP III 369; Wesselski Märchen 217 No. 29. |
| R153.3.4 | Father rescues son from prison. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R153.3.5 | Fathers thrust sons above water even as they themselves drown. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| R153.3.6 | Father hides son from Satan. Jewish: Neuman. |
| R153.4 | Mother rescues son. |
| R153.4.1 | Mother rescues fettered son. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R153.4.2 | Mother hides twin (triplet) sons to keep them from death. (Cf. S314.) Africa (Fang): Tessman 90, Einstein 56. |
| R153.5 | Father rescues daughter. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Lagerholm 134ff., *Boberg; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 85, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 584, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 164. |
| R154 | Children rescue parents. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R154.0.1 | Children rescue mother from lion's den. Dickson 57 n. 75. |
| R154.1 | Son rescues mother. Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 207. |
| R154.1.1 | Son rescues mother from burning at stake. (Cf. R175.) *Dickson 128ff. nn. 98, 99. |
| R154.2 | Son rescues father. Type 301C*; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R154.2.1 | Son frees father by bringing riddle the king cannot solve. (Cf. H542.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 112 No. 927*B. |
| R154.2.2 | Son recovers father's bones. Hawaii: Beckwith myth 259, 263, 346f.; Tahiti: ibid. 266; Maori: ibid. *249. |
| R154.2.3 | Sons rescue father. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R154.3 | Daughter rescues father. Rumania: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 879*; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R155 | Brothers rescue brothers. Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R155.1 | Youngest brother rescues his elder brothers. (Cf. L31.) *Types 303, 303*, 327**, 471, 551; MacCulloch Childhood 353; *BP I 503ff., 528ff.— Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Arabian: Burton Nights S V 249; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 182; N. A. Indian (Arapaho): Dorsey and Kroeber FM V 23ff. Nos. 10, 11, (Dakota): Wissler JAFL XX 199, (Chinook): Boas BBAE XXV 9ff. Nos. 1, 2, (Quinault): Farrand JE II 114 No. 10, (Caddo): Dorsey CI XLI 58ff. Nos. 32, 33, (Klikitat): Jacobs U Wash II 7; Africa (Thonga): Junod 229, (Fjort): Dennett 64 No. 12. |
| R155.2 | Elder brother rescues younger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R156 | Brother rescues sister(s). (Cf. G551.1.) Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa II No. 18; Greek: Grote I 156; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| R157 | Sisters rescue sisters. (Cf. G551.2.) |
| R157.1 | Youngest sister rescues elder. (Cf. L50.) *Type 311; *BP I 398ff.; *Roberts 219. |
| R158 | Sister rescues brother(s). *Type 707; Icelandic: *Boberg; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVII No. 879*; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R161 | Lover rescues his lady. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; West Indies: Flowers 571. |
| R161.0.1 | Hero rescued by his lady. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R161.1 | Lover rescues his lady from abductor. Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 80 (Sir Tristrem); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R161.2 | Princess rescued by blind man restores his sight and marries him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R161.3 | Lover rescues his lady from drowning. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R161.4 | Lover rescues his lady from the gallows. England, U.S.: *Baughman, Child No. 95. |
| R162 | Rescue by captor's daughter (wife, mother). Types 516, 975**; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 102; *Loomis White Magic 117; Basset RTP XVI 614; Irish myth: Cross; English: Wells 85 (The Sowdone of Babylone); Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus II 135 n. 3 (Ariadne); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R163 | Rescue by grateful dead man. (Cf. E341.) *Types 505—508; **Liljeblad passim; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R164 | Rescue by giant. (Cf. G100.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R164.1 | Giant rescues maiden. Dickson 154. |
| R164.2 | Giant rescues woman from burning at stake. (Cf. R175.) *Dickson 130 n. 102. |
| R165 | Rescue by saint (holy man). (Cf. R121.6.) Alphabet No. 560; *Loomis White Magic 93; Irish: Plummer cxlix, *Cross. |
| R165.1 | Rescue of poor girl by St. Nicholas. Saint keeps her from being sold into slavery. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| R165.2 | Innocently hanged person saved by saint. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R165.3 | Abducted wife brought back by fakir. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R166 | Brothers having extraordinary skill rescue princess. *Type 653; BP III 45ff.; *Köhler-Bolte I 198, 439; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 7; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R167 | Master rescues disciple. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R168 | Angels as rescuers. Irish myth: Cross (R169.12); Jewish: *Neuman. |
| R169 | Other rescuers. |
| R169.1 | Hero in disguise of foolish knight, then of black knight, rescues lady. (Cf. R222.) English: Wells 147 (Ipomadon). |
| R169.2 | Boys rescued from beasts by hermit. (Cf. N843, R131.10.) Dickson 105. |
| R169.3 | Boy saved by werwolf. (Cf. D113.1.1.) English: Wells 19 (William of Palerne). |
| R169.4 | Hero rescued by servant. (Cf. P361, R53.4.) *Type 519, 851; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.4.1 | Rescue of bride from mysterious perils by hidden faithful servant. Type 516; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 128; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.4.2 | Rescue of king's children by faithful servant. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R169.5 | Hero rescued by friend. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R169.5.1 | Hero's wife rescued by his faithful friend. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.6 | Youth saved from death sentence by father's friend. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R169.7 | Royal minister rescues abandoned queen(s). (Cf. P110.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.8 | Predestined rescuer. South Africa: Bourhill and Drake 237ff. No. 20. |
| R169.9 | Boy rescued by childless woman. Africa (Fang): Tessman 91. |
| R169.10 | Unpromising hero as rescuer. (Cf. L100.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.10.1 | Fool rescues girl and wins her for his wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.11 | Unknown helper(s) emerge(s) in the last moment and turn(s) out later to be well known. (Cf. R222.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R169.12 | Hero rescued by sailors. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| R169.13 | Child rescued by nurse. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R169.14 | Wounded hero restored in peasant's house. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R169.15 | Rescue by stranger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.16 | Death as rescuer. (Cf. R185.) Africa (Dahomé): Einstein 27. |
| R170 | Rescue—miscellaneous motifs. |
| R175 | Rescue at the stake. (Cf. R151.2, R154.1.1, R164.2, R215.) *Dickson 78 n. 40; *Boje 116ff.; English: Wells 97 (Chevalere Assigne); Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 572. |
| R175.1 | Escape from sacrificial altar on ram with golden fleece. Greek: Grote I 117. |
| R176 | Executioner miraculously blinded: condemned man saved. Jewish: *bin Gorion Born Judas I 39, 361, Neuman. |
| R181 | Demon enclosed in bottle released. *Type 331; *BP II 414ff., IV 321; Jewish: Neuman, **Levi Revue des études Juives LXXXV 137; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R181.1 | Demon imprisoned in tree released. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R182 | True rescuer hidden by girl when he arrives to claim her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R185 | Mortal fights with "Death". (Cf. R169.16.) *BP III 293; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 92 n. 3, Fox 38, 107 (Alcestis, Sisyphus); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R185.1 | Mortal deceives Angel of Death. (Cf. V233.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| R187 | Horn of Roncevalles. Hero calls aid of waiting soldiers on horn. *Thien Motive 32; Old French: Chanson de Roland. |
| R187.1 | Dord fían. A call used by members of a fían (warrior band) for summoning aid. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R188 | Rescued person horrifies rescuers: e.g., they swoon on seeing him. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 2. and note. |
| R191 | King (prince) returns home (from exile) and rescues his native country. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R200 | Escapes and pursuits. |
| R210 | Escapes. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R211 | Escape from prison. Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| R211.1 | Giant breaks from tower prison. Dickson 130 n. 102; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R211.2 | Captive bores way out of prison. Icelandic: *Boberg; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 313 No. 98; Korean: Zong in-Sob 174 No. 75. |
| R211.3 | Escape through underground passage. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 7. |
| R211.4 | Escape from slavery (pirates). (Cf. R61.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| R211.5 | Captive hews through iron prison with sword. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R211.6 | Captive knocks prison roof off. (Cf. F627.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R211.7 | Escape from pit of snakes by means of rope. (Cf. Q465, R41.3.1.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R211.8 | Rescue from prison by beheading giant keeper. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| R211.9 | Escape from prison because of bribed guards. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 355. |
| R212 | Escape from grave. |
| R212.1 | Man buried alive with king escapes from the tomb. Follows noise made by sea animal and finds way out to sea. Chauvin VII 19 No. 373D n. 3. |
| R212.1.1 | Man buried alive escapes from tomb when thief tries to rob it. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R212.1.2 | Captive buried alive to his neck fastens his teeth on jackal that comes to eat him and companions. Rest flee when they hear him howl. In struggles to get free jackal loosens earth around captive, who manages to free himself. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 570. |
| R212.2 | Man buried alive with beloved escapes, as thieves break open the tomb. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R213 | Escape from home. |
| R213.1 | Prince escapes from home in order to see world. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R214 | Animal eludes bird watchman and escapes from his hole. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 112. |
| R215 | Escape from execution. |
| R215.1 | Escape from execution pyre by means of wings. *Type 575. |
| R215.1.2 | Escape from execution pyre through underground passage. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 600b. nn. 17—18. |
| R215.2 | Escape from death by boiling oil. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R215.3 | Escape from execution on flying wooden horse. (Cf. D1626.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 839. |
| R216 | Escape from ship while captors quarrel. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R216.1 | Escape from ship by jumping into the sea. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R217 | Inscription accidentally seen tells hero how to escape captivity. Africa (Swahili): Steere 331ff. |
| R218 | Escape from fairyland. (Cf. F210.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R219 | Escapes—miscellaneous. |
| R219.1 | Man carried off on bed escapes by grasping tree limbs as he passes under tree. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R219.2 | Man and wife escape from land of dead upon a vine. (Cf. E481.) Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 185. |
| R220 | Flights. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R221 | Heroine's three-fold flight from ball. Cinderella (Cap o' Rushes) after meeting the prince at a ball (church) flees before identification is possible. Repeated three times. *Type 510; **Cox 1—121, 437—446 passim; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 123f.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 6; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R222 | Unknown knight. (Three days' tournament.) For three days in succession an unknown knight in different armor wins a tournament and escapes without recognition. Finally identified by tokens. **Weston The Three Days Tournament; *Types 314, 502; *BP III 111; *Child V 44ff.; *Webster Kittredge Memorial Volume 227; Bruce MLN XXIV 257; *Hibbard 226 n. 2; *Fb "hest" I 598a; Zs. f. Vksk. IV 98; RTP VIII 82. — English: Wells 48 (Lancelot of the Laik), 147 (Ipomadon); Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson CColl II 349ff., 407, (Wichita): Dorsey JAFL XVI 160, (Skidi Pawnee): Dorsey MAFLS VIII Nos. 40, 41. |
| R224 | Girl flees to escape incestuous brother. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R225 | Elopement. *Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 106; *Thien Motive 27; *Boje 110ff.; *Krappe Revue Hispanique LXXVIII (1930) 489—543. — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus II 174 n. 1 (Helen); India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 860. |
| R225.1 | Elopement on winged horse. Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 110. |
| R225.2 | Lovers elope to prevent girl's marriage to undesired fiancé. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 98. |
| R227 | Wife flees from husband. (Cf. P210, T200.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R227.1 | Wife flees from animal husband. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R227.2 | Flight from hated husband. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R227.3 | Supernatural wife finds garment stolen from her by husband and leaves him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R228 | Children leave home because their parents refuse them food. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R231 | Obstacle flight—Atalanta type. Objects are thrown back which the pursuer stops to pick up while the fugitive escapes. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 526; Köhler-Bolte I 430; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 122—25; Greek: Roscher Lexikon s.v. "Absyrtos"; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 860; Japanese: Anesaki 224; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 342 n. 232; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 74; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 99 No. 18, 125 No. 22, (Zulu): Callaway 145, (Angola): Chatelain 101 No. 6, (Kaffir): Theal 46 No. 2, (Yoruba): Ellis 269 No. 4. |
| R231.1 | Ogre tries to retain fugitive by tempting him with gold ring; but he takes ring by cutting off the hand. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R231.2 | Fugitive cuts tail of camel caught by pursuer and it turns into grass. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R231.2.1 | Helpful animal's tail cut off so pursuers who hang onto tail are shaken off into river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R233 | Fugitive kills pursuer and takes his extraordinary horse to continue flight. Boje 96ff. |
| R235 | Fugitives cut support of bridge so that pursuer falls. Indonesia: Dixon 229. |
| R236 | Pursuers aided by magic weather phenomenon. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| R236.1 | Fugitive aided by magic mist. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| R236.2 | Sun sets at high noon to hide fugitive. (Cf. F965.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| R236.3 | Earthquake saves fugitive. Jewish: Neuman. |
| R236.4 | Fugitive has magic wind against him, pursuer with him (caused by goddess). Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R241 | Flight on skis; two on one pair. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R242 | Flight carrying friend (girl) on back. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R243 | Fugitives aided by helpful animal. (Cf. B520.) |
| R243.1 | Pursuer misdirected by animal to help fugitive. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R244 | Ships burned to prevent flight. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R245 | Whale-boat. A man is carried across the water on a whale (fish). (He usually deceives the whale as to the nearness of the land or as to hearing thunder. As a consequence the whale runs into the shore or is killed by lightning.) *Loomis White Magic 91; cf. Aarne FFC XXIII 137; Maori: Dixon 8; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 327 n. 179; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 256f. Nos. 38, 39, 275 No. 86; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 310 n. 1. |
| R245.1 | Crocodile-boat. Trickster props his jaws apart and leaves him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R245.2 | Snake king takes fleeing captives across river. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 785. |
| R246 | Crane-bridge. Fugitives are helped across a stream by a crane who lets them cross on his leg. The pursuer is either refused assistance or drowned by the crane. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 340 n. 227. |
| R246.1 | Stone bridge appears for fugitives. Disappears and drowns pursuers. Loomis White Magic 130. |
| R251 | Flight on a tree, which ogre tries to cut down. **Parsons Zs. f. Ethnologie LIV 1-29; Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXXIII—XXXIV 38; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 9 No. 3; Africa (Togo): Einstein 12f.; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 121 n. 3, 125, 131f.; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 91 No. 12. Cf. Thompson Tales 341 n. 230. Most African references in B421. |
| R252 | Flight by vaulting on stick. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 92. |
| R253 | Escape from nest of giant bird by seizing two young birds and jumping. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 201. |
| R255 | Formula for girl fleeing: behind me night, etc. "Behind me night and before me day that no one shall see where I go." *Type 510B; *BP II 46; Ainu: Ikeda (Type 175). |
| R257 | Fugitives sustain selves on apples. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 90b no. 3. |
| R260 | Pursuits. Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R261 | Pursuit by rolling object. |
| R261.1 | Pursuit by rolling head. *Kittredge Gawain and the Green Knight 189 n. 1; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 343 nn. 238, 238a, *Alexander N. A. Myth. 290 n. 37; cf. JAFL II 69; (California): Gayton and Newman 79; S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684, (Chaco, Warrau, Shipaya): Lowie ibid. 54f., (Tenetehara): Wagley-Galvao ibid. 148; Africa (Congo): Weeks 207 n. 4. |
| R262 | Magic eel pursues man over land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R265 | Pursuer (witch, giant) pulls out tail of fugitive's horse. Fb "hale" IV 197b; cf. Burns "Tam O' Shanter"; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R267 | Fugitives trailed by mustard seeds (ashes) dropped from bag. (Cf. R135.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 127ff. |
| R268 | Dew in footprints reveals man's way. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R271 | Pursuit by fire. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 82. |
| R272 | Pursuer follows successive night campfires (each brighter than last). Chinese: Graham. |
| R300 | Refuges and recapture. |
| R310 | Refuges. *Encyc. Rel. & Ethics s.v. "Asylum". |
| R311 | Tree refuge. Type 162*; *Fb "træ" III 865a; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 199a; BP I 429, II 195f.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "arbres"; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 341 n. 230; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 62; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 145, 346. |
| R311.1 | Trees magically hide a fugitive. Dh II 40ff.; N. A. Indian: Kroeber JAFL XXI 225. |
| R311.1.1 | Thorn-brake as refuge. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R311.2 | King escapes pursuers through hollow tree in his hall. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R311.3 | Stolen child found in hollow tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R311.4 | Stretching tree refuge for fugitive. (Cf. D482.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R312 | Forest as refuge. |
| R312.1 | Forest as refuge of eloping lovers. (Cf. R225.) Schoepperle 391ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R313 | Princess hides in straw. *Fb "halmstrе" I 540. |
| R314 | Negro takes refuge under princess's throne. Malone PMLA XLIII 407. |
| R315 | Cave as refuge. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo, (Greenland): Rasmussen I 150. |
| R315.1 | Cave as eloping lovers' refuge. (Cf. R225, T35.) Schoepperle 391ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| R315.2 | Christians crushed in cave where they take refuge from heathen. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R316 | Refuge on rock in sea. Finnish: Kalevala rune 4. |
| R316.1 | Refuge on island. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R317 | Well (spring) as refuge. Fb "kilde" II 118b; Irish myth: Cross; Africa (Benga): Nassau 225 No. 33, (Kaffir): Theal 129, (Basuto): Jacottet 160 No. 23. |
| R318 | Girl hidden in skin of her dead mother. Köhler-Bolte I 346. |
| R318.1 | Boy hidden under skin in order not to be seen and prophesied about. Icelandic: örvar-Odds saga 12—13. |
| R321 | Escape to the stars. Fugitives rise in the air and become stars. (Cf. R324.) Greek: Fox 250; Hindu: Keith 76; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 218 No. 98; Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 360; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 291f. nn. 71, 71a; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158, 164, (Jivaro): ibid. 149. |
| R321.1 | Sister escapes to the stars to avoid marrying brother. He is the thunder and her face is Lightning. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R321.2 | Escape to moon. Pursued hero escapes to moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R322 | Eagle's nest as refuge. Scottish: Campbell-McKay 1 n., 25; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 95. |
| R323 | Refuge in upper world. |
| R323.1 | Murderer escapes to sky on sky rope. (Cf. F51.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R323.2 | Murderer escapes to sky in magic chariot. Greek: Euripides' Medea. |
| R324 | Refuge in air. Fugitive supernaturally rises in air to escape. (Cf. R321.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R324.1 | Escape from battle by flying in air. Irish myth: *Cross; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 81, 86, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 315, 541f., (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 151, (Greenland): Rasmussen III 99f., Rink 320, 455, 460. |
| R325 | Church (altar) as refuge. Fb "kirke" II 125b; Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 276 n. 4; Jewish: *Neuman; Gaster Thespis 303f.; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R325.1 | Devil chases ghost of wicked man until he puts his head into chapel window. (Cf. E754.) England: *Baughman. |
| R325.2 | Idol cracks open to grant refuge to fugitive in answer to prayer; then closes again. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R325.3 | Saint offers murderer refuge. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R326 | Escape to fairyland. (Cf. F210.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R327 | Earth opens to rescue fugitive. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R331 | Hero takes refuge at king's court. *Dickson 143 nn. 140—42; Deutschbein 34; *Boje 74ff. |
| R335 | Roof as refuge for pursued animals. West Indies: *Flowers 573 —75, Parsons MAFLS XVIII (3) 26 No. 6. |
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