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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| Z312.1 | Person can be killed only by red-hot spits being thrust through soles of his feet. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z139 | Personifications—miscellaneous. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| Z110 | Personifications. |
| Z31.1 | Pif Paf Poltrie. The suitor sent from one relation to the other for consent to the wedding. *Type 2019; *BP III 71; *Taylor JAFL XLVI 81 No. 2019; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z117 | Poetry personified. (Cf. A465.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z133.1 | Poverty personified as diseased beggar woman. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z133 | Poverty personified. |
| Z153 | Princess crushes lotus-flower to show that she will be submissive. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z64.1 | Proverb: one man for worship, two men for cultivation of a field, three men for a journey. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z62 | Proverbial simile. |
| Z41.8 | Pulling the needle out of the seamstress's hand. Final formula: That was just what the cat was waiting for—it sprang to devour the mouse, the mouse to tear the spider's web, the spider to entangle the dog, the dog to eat the goat, the goat to gnaw the rushes, the rushes to grow in the stream, the stream to quench the fire, the fire to burn the stone, the stone to beat the axe, the axe soon pulled out the needle that was stuck in the seamstress's hand. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2005*. |
| Z49.9 | Pulling up the turnip. Final formula: The mouse holds onto the cat, the cat holds onto Mary, Mary holds onto Annie, Annie holds onto grandmother, grandmother holds onto grandfather, grandfather holds onto the turnip—they all pull and pull it out. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2008*; Russian: Andrejev No. 1960G*. |
| Z147.1 | Purple is symbol of royalty. Society Islands: Henry Ancient Tahiti (Honolulu, 1928) 384. |
| Z65.1.1 | Red as blood, white as snow, (and black as a raven). Usually applied to the cheeks, skin, and hair of a girl's lover. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z65.1 | Red as blood, white as snow. Often from blood on snow as a suggestion, a wish is made for a child (wife) with skin like snow and cheeks like blood, etc. (Sometimes black as a raven.) Types 516, 709, 720; BP I 166, 450, *461, IV 245 n. 1; Rösch FFC LXXVII 100; *Böklen 62ff.; **Cosquin Contes indiens 218ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 9. |
| Z141.3 | Red as symbol of falsity. Hdwb. d. Abergl. VII 802—3; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Z141.2 | Red as symbolic of martyrdom. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z141.1 | Red garment to show anger of king. *Chauvin V 47 No. 18 n. 1. |
| Z293 | Return of the hero. (Cf. L111.1.) Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z151 | Ring broken as token of broken engagement. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 69 n. 3. |
| Z321 | Ring fits only one person. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z118.3 | River personified (Mother Ganges). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z17 | Rounds. Stories which begin over and over again and repeat. Type 2350; Taylor JAFL XLVI 88, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 190; U.S.: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2300; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z111.6.2 | Salt in food given Death's messengers renders them harmless. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z118 | Sea personified. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.2.8 | Sending four messengers with four winds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z39.9 | Series of things acquired by mouse—"You cannot have this but you may have that instead," etc. Clod—fish—cakes—kid—goat—drum—girl. Girl kills mouse accidentally. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z47.1 | Series of trick exchanges: razor—pot—bride—drum by tricky fox. Fox sings formula of exchanges. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z47 | Series of trick exchanges. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z65.2 | Series: white cock, red cock, black cock. These crow at dawn and scatter ghosts. (Cf. E452.) Köhler-Bolte III 581. |
| Z72.3 | Seven (three) years between feasts. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.5.6 | Seven as a number in religious and social records. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.1 | Seven brothers and one sister. Type 451; *Gummere Kittredge Anniversary Volume 17; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 565 No. 116. |
| Z71.5.8 | Seven brothers marry seven sisters. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.5.6.1 | Seven causes of poverty. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.13 | Seven daughters of Humility. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.2 | Seven Deadly Sins. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.3 | Seven ecclesiastical orders. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.12 | Seven fair rivers in Inis Eidheand (Eden) in the East of Africa. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.8 | Seven gifts of God (Holy Spirit). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.4 | Seven grades of wisdom. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.5 | Seven joys of the Virgin Mary. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.6 | Seven masses necessary to free soul from hell. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.7 | Seven orders of poets. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.9 | Seven penitential psalms. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.10 | Seven prayers of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.6.11 | Seven to whom alms should be given. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.5.3 | Seven year's peace with no killing of men. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z72.4 | Seven years as length of course in school. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z72.2 | Seven years, seven months, seven days. Type 451; BP I 431; Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 63. |
| Z112 | Sickness personified. *Fb "sygdom" III 699a; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 175 No. 117. |
| Z175 | Sign language. Message delivered by means of the fingers, etc. *Penzer I 80 n. 1; *Chauvin V 145, VIII 126 No. 112; Benfey Germania IV 482ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 513; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z127.1 | Sin personified as the goddess Venus with her train of nymphs. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z127 | Sin personified. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 616. |
| Z139.1 | Sloth personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z39.8 | Small grain-measure runs away when her husband beats her: succession of suitors. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z116 | Sovereignty personified. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z39.4.2 | Sparrow, where are you going? —To eat seed. —The owner will scold you. — I'll sit on a pine tree, etc. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| Z311.2 | Spot below right ear only vulnerable one. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z42 | Stronger and Strongest. The frost-bitten foot. Mouse perforates wall, wall resists wind, wind dissolves cloud, cloud covers sun, sun thaws frost, frost breaks foot. *Taylor JAFL XLVI 84 No. 2031, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 182ff.; **DeCock Volkssage 22—36; BP I 148 n. 2; Haavio FFC LXXXVIII 20; Köhler-Bolte II 47; Stiefel Zs. f. Vksk. V 448—50; Benfey Panchatantra I 373—78, II 264; Chauvin II 97f.; DeVries Volksverhalen I 1—3 No. 1, 356; Voorhoeve 166 No. 176; Clouston Tales I 309.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 384, (Zanzibar): Bateman 67 No. 5. |
| Z216 | Supernatural origin of hero: magic conception. (Cf. T510.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z314 | Sword which will break in only one peril: this known only to the maker of the sword. Gaster FL II 57; Nutt Holy Grail 11. |
| Z143 | Symbolic color: black. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z144 | Symbolic color: blue. |
| Z146 | Symbolic color: brown. |
| Z145 | Symbolic color: green. |
| Z147 | Symbolic color: purple. |
| Z141 | Symbolic color: red. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z142 | Symbolic color: white. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z183 | Symbolic names. |
| Z182 | Symbolic wounding of king. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z140.3 | Symbolism of colors in mass vestments. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z176 | Symbolism of the mass. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z186 | Symbolism: needle and thread—sexual intercourse. Chinese: Graham. |
| Z161 | Symbolism: not to fight alone. Various figures employed to show it is not good for one warrior alone to fight the battles of a host. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z100 | Symbolism. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| Z184 | Symbols of divinity. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43, 65; Marquesas: Handy 106. |
| Z15 | Tale avoiding all pronouns. Lang English Fairy Tales 118. |
| Z13.1 | Tale-teller frightens listener: yells "Boo" at exciting point. Type 366; Canada, England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| Z16 | Tales ending with a question. *Type 653; *BP III 45; Basset RTP VII 188; Cosquin Revue d'Ethnographie et des Traditions Populaires I 62, II 41; Africa: Werner African 359. |
| Z19.2 | Tales filled with contradictions. West Indies: Flowers 587. |
| Z71.16.2.1 | Ten plagues. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z78 | Testament willing rewards and punishments. Conventional ending of a story. Child V 497 s.v. "testament". |
| Z53 | The animals with queer names: as hen (henny-penny), cock (cocky-locky), goose (goosey-poosey). (First ed. Z21.3.1.) (Cf. Z32.2.1.) *Wesselski Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXXII 55; *Taylor JAFL XLVI 80 No. 2010 IA; Jacobs English Fairy Tales 118; *T. Norlind Svenska Allmogens Liv (Stockholm, 1925) 612; Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 182 Nos. 431—32.—Antigua (British West Indies): Johnson JAFL XXXIV 68 No. 24. |
| Z49.3 | The bird indifferent to pain. A man catches a mango-bird eating mangoes and strikes it against the roots of a mango-tree. The bird cannot be made to say it suffers from the blow. In turn, he puts it in water, strikes it on the ground, a stile, a door-frame, singes its feathers, cuts it up, cooks it, and eats it. The bird always expresses indifference in a cumulative rhyme. At last the bird asks him to look out of the window, whereupon it flies out of his nose and the man dies. (First ed. Z41.11.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 87 No. 2041. |
| Z46 | The climax of horrors. The magpie is dead. Overate on horseflesh. —Horses dead?—Overworked at fire.—House burned down? —etc. (First ed. Z41.10.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 87 No. 2040; Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 203; Wesselski Mönchslatein 25 No. 20; **Zachariae Kleine Schriften 191ff.; *Crane Vitry 216ff. No. 205; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VII 99 n. 5. —Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2040*; Russian: Andrejev No. 2014 I*; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z43.2 | The cock strikes out the hen's eye with a nut. The cock blames the hazel bush for tearing its knickers, the hazel bush the goat for gnawing at it, the goat the shepherd-boy for not tending it, the boy his mistress for not baking him a bun, the mistress the pig for eating up the dough, the pig the wolf for killing its young. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2030G; Livonian: Looritz FFC LXVI No. 241@1; Russian: Andrejev No. 241 II*. |
| Z43 | The cock's whiskers. A mouse throws a nut down and hits the cock on the head. He also steals the cock's whiskers. The cock goes to get an old woman to cure him. The final formula is: Fountain give up water for forest, forest give up wood for baker, baker give up bread for dog, dog give up hairs to cure the cock. (Variant: mouse loses tail.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 85 No. 2032; *BP II 107; Norlind Svenska Allmogens Liv (Stockholm, 1925) 613 "Tupen och hänen"; Haavio FFC LXXXVIII 89 n. 1; RTP XV 220.—Russian: Andrejev No. 241 I; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Cushing 411. |
| Z39.3 | The crow on the tarred bridge. His beak and tail alternately stick. (Endless.) (First ed. Z31.4.3.) (Cf. Z11.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 81 No. 2017, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 190a; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2017. |
| Z32.1.1 | The death of the cock. (Der Tod des Hühnchens.) The cock chokes and the hen seeks aid of objects and persons (stream, tree, pig, miller, baker, etc.). *Taylor JAFL XLVI 82 No. 2021A; BP II 146; **Haavio FFC XCIX; **Wesselski Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXXII 2ff. |
| Z32.2.1 | The death of the little hen described with unusual words. Each act of mourning described by a neologism: the table untables itself. (First ed. Z31.2.2.1.) (Cf. X1506.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 82 No. 2022A, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 177a; Tegethoff Französische Märchen II 78 No. 18; Rolland Rimes et jeux d'enfance (1881) 119f.; Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 98ff. No. 171ff. |
| Z32.2 | The death of the little hen. She is characteristically mourned by objects and animals; e.g., flea, door, broom, cart, ashes, tree, girl. (First ed. Z31.2.2.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 82 No. 2022A; *BP I 293; Parsons JAFL XXXIII 37; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z42.1 | The Esdras chain: stronger and strongest, wine, king, woman, truth. *Taylor JAFL XLVI 85 No. 2031A, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 184b; DeCock Volkssage 35f.; Oesterley No. 258; Köhler-Bolte II 55. —Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z33.2 | The fat cat. While the mistress is away, the cat eats the porridge, the bowl, and the ladle. When the mistress returns she says, "How fat you are!" The cat: "I ate the porridge, the bowl, and the ladle, and I will eat you." The cat meets other animals and eats them after the same conversation. Finally eats too many. (First ed. Z31.3.2.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 83 No. 2027; *Fb "kat" IV 255b; Danish: Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 59ff. Nos. 119—130. |
| Z33.4 | The fat troll (wolf). A troll eats the watcher's five horses and finally the watcher himself. The master goes to investigate. The troll: "I ate the five horses, I ate the watcher, and I will eat you." Does so. Likewise the wife, servant, daughter, son, and dog. The cat scratches the troll open and rescues all. (First ed. Z31.3.4.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 83 No. 2028; *Fb "ulv" III 970b, "æde" III 1139b, "bjørn" IV 43b; Danish: Kristensen Dyrefabler 68ff. Nos. 131—144; Swedish: T. Norlind Svenska Allmogens Liv (Stockholm, 1925) 613; Russian: Andrejev No. 333B*. |
| Z71.16.11.2 | The fifteen Oes. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z33.1 | The fleeing pancake. A woman makes a pancake, which flees. Various animals try in vain to stop it. Finally the fox eats it up. (First ed. Z31.3.1.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 82 No. 2025; *Dh III 272; Fb "pandekage" II 782b; Danish: Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 58f. Nos. 113—18; Norwegian: Christensen Norske Eventyr 149; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2025; Russian: Andrejev Nos. 295, 296*. |
| Z24 | The forgetful man counts the days of the week. On Monday they go to mill, etc. (First ed. Z21.4.) He thus discovers that it is Sunday. *Taylor JAFL XLVI 80 No. 2012, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 174b. |
| Z71.2.2 | The four elements. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.2.3 | The four humors. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z122.4 | The four seasons personified. Roberts 122. |
| Z32.1 | The funeral procession of the hen. Animals one by one join the procession. The funeral carriage breaks down or the procession drowns. *Type 2021; *BP II 147 n. 1; *Wesselski Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXXII 2ff.; *Taylor JAFL XLVI 82 No. 2021. |
| Z39.1 | The goat who would not go home. One animal after another tries in vain to persuade the goat to go home. Finally a wolf (bee) bites him and drives him home. (First ed. Z31.4.1.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 81 No. 2015; *BP I 348 n. 1, II 100, 104; Fb "gjed" IV 178a; Swedish: T. Norlind Svenska Allmogens Liv (Stockholm, 1925) 613. |
| Z39.1.1 | The goat who would not leave the hazel bush. Final formula: The devil goes to strangle the Jew, the Jew to kill the ox, the ox to drink the water, the water to quench the fire, the fire to burn the stone, the stone to blunt the axe, the axe to cut the rope, the rope to tie the hunter, the hunter to shoot the goat—the goat leaves the hazel bush, the wee goat leaves the hazel bush. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2030. |
| Z39.5 | The hen lays an egg, the mouse breaks it. Sorrowing over this mishap, all show extraordinary behavior; the master puts an end to it. Final formula: hen strips off feathers, rubbish heap catches fire, oak falls to ground, hare drowns self, magpie twists leg, ox breaks horns, river flows blood, maid breaks pails, housewife scatters dough. Master locks up wife and maid, goes to seek people more foolish. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2022*; Russian: Andrejev No. 241 III*; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 1963*. |
| Z45 | The Horseshoe Nail. For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for the want of a horse the rider was lost .... and all for the want of a horseshoe nail. (First ed. Z41.9.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 87 No. 2039; *BP III 335—37. |
| Z51.1 | The house is burned down.—That is too bad.—That is not bad at all, my wife burned it down.—That is good.—That is not good, etc. (First ed. Z23.1.) Type 2014; *Taylor JAFL XLVI 81 No. 2014; Nouvelles Récréations No. 75. |
| Z44 | The house that Jack built. Final formula: This is the farmer that sowed the corn that fed the cock that crowed in the morn, that waked the priest all shaven and shorn, that married the man all tattered and torn, that kissed the maiden all forlorn, that milked the cow with a crumpled horn, that tossed the dog, that worried the cat, that caught the rat, that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. *Taylor JAFL XLVI 86 No. 2035; *BP II 108; Köhler-Bolte I 517f.; Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 132ff. Nos 272, 295; *Fb "hus" I 687a, IV 229.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Fang): Nassau 245ff. No. 11, (Zulu): Callaway 38. |
| Z44.1 | The house the old man was to build. The woman for whom he is to build the house has some beans for him. The goat eats these up. Cumulative search. Final formula: Smith give me my iron, iron which belongs to the man, man who ate up my fish, fish which belongs to the sea .... sea—shirt—washerwoman—soap—woman—wood — press — grease — herder — cheese-frame — fig-tree —horn—goat—beans. *Taylor JAFL XLVI 86 No. 2035A; *Parsons JAFL XXV 219, XXVII 222, XXXIII 40, MAFLS XV (1) 207 n. 1. |
| Z41.9 | The lazy servant and the grain. "Lentils, lentils, get into my sack!" Final formula: the hungry hawk attacks the hens, the hens the worms, the worms the stick, the stick the ox, the ox runs to the water, the water attacks the fire, the fire the hunters, the hunters the wolf, the wolf the goat, the goat the willow, the willow the cat, the cat the mice, the mice the lentils, the lentils go whoosh whoosh into the sack. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2011*. |
| Z49.14 | The little old lady who swallowed a fly. She swallows a spider to eat up the fly, a bird to eat up the spider, a dog to eat the bird, a cow to eat the dog. "The little old lady swallowed a horse—she died, of course." U.S.: *Baughman. |
| Z41.4 | The mouse regains its tail. The cat bites off the mouse's tail and will return it in exchange for milk. The mouse goes to the cow for milk, the farmer for hay, the butcher for meat, the baker for bread. Other persons mentioned are the locksmith and the miner. *Taylor JAFL XLVI 86 No. 2034, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 185b; *Wesselski Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXXII 28; *Newell JAFL XVIII (1905) 34 n. 1; BP II 107—8; Basset Contes Berbères No. 45, Nouveaux Contes Berbères No. 168.—England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| Z62.1 | The old and the new keys. Hero marries his first sweetheart according to the proverb that the old key is better than the new. (Cf. L214.) *Type 313; *BP II 59, 246, 335, 516ff., III 40; *Fb "nøgle" II 511b; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 906*. |
| Z41 | The old woman and her pig. Her pig will not jump over the stile so that she can go home. She appeals in vain for help until the cow gives her milk. The final formula is: cow give milk for cat; cat kill rat; rat gnaw rope; rope hang butcher; butcher kill ox; ox drink water; water quench fire; fire burn stick; stick beat dog; dog bite pig; pig jump over stile. (Various introductions.) (First ed. Z41.1.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 84 No. 2030; *BP II 104, 108; **Goebel Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Birnli" I 256ff.; *Emeneau JAFL LVI 272; Clouston Tales I 289; Köhler-Bolte I 136; Parsons JAFL XXXIII 34; Montet RTP VI 102; *Fb "and" IV 12;—Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 155 Nos. 2030A, B, C, D; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries Volksverhalen I 364 No. 21; Africa (Benga): Nassau 200 No. 30, (Hottentot): Bleek 33 No. 17, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 177 No. 35, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 392 No. 17, (Thonga): Junod 223; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 286 No. 138. |
| Z33.4.2 | The singing wolf. By his singing the wolf compels the old man to surrender his cattle, his children and grandchildren, and finally his wife. The old woman goes in the wolf's service. She returns home bringing butter, etc. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 162*; Russian: Andrejev No. 162*. |
| Z22.1 | The Twelve Days (Gifts) of Christmas: 1 partridge, 2 turtle-doves, 3 French hens, 4 colly birds, 5 gold rings, 6 geese, 7 swans, 8 maids, 9 drummers, 10 pipers, 11 ladies, 12 lords. **Taylor JAFL XLVI 79 No. 2010A, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 172b; Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 146—60 Nos. 337—348; Fb "Juledagsgave" I 54, IV 248; T. Norlind Svenska Allmogens Liv 612. |
| Z22.2 | The Twelve kinds of Food: 1 partridge, 2 turtledoves, 3 woodpigeons, 4 ducks, 5 rabbits, 6 hares, 7 hounds, 8 sheep, 9 oxen, 10 turkeys, 11 hams, 12 cheeses. **Taylor JAFL XLVI 80 No. 2010B, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 172b; Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 150—54 Nos. 351—370. |
| Z49.5.2 | The wolf who wanted to make bread. The farmer explained to him how bread is made. He keeps on asking: "Shall I then be able to eat?" Decides he will not have enough patience to make bread. (Cf. K555.1.2.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 164*. |
| Z41.7 | The wormwood does not want to rock the sparrow. Final formula: the worms begin to gnaw the rods, the rods to beat the oxen, the oxen to drink the water, the water to quench the fire, the fire to burn the hunters, the hunters to shoot the wolves, the wolves to kill the goats, the goats to gnaw the wormwood, the wormwood to rock me —it rocked and rocked me to sleep. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2003*. |
| Z39.2 | There was a wee wee woman who had a wee wee cow, etc. (First ed. Z31.4.2.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 81 No. 2016, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 176a; Jacobs English Fairy Tales 57; Danish: Kristensen Danske Dyrefabler 122ff. Nos. 230—37; Russian: Andrejev No. 2015 I*. |
| Z49.4 | There was once a woman; the woman had a son; the son had red breeches; etc.—At last: "Shall I tell it again?" (First ed. Z41.12.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 81 No. 2013. |
| Z49.11.2 | Thief breaks foot climbing wall to rob. Suit against owner for dangerous wall. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.1.18 | Three bad stories of the saints of Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.2 | Three chairs in heaven for three saints. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.1.17 | Three cries of the world. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z64 | Three explanations. When explanation of phenomenon is asked, three explanations are offered of which the last is always the true one. (Cf. Z71.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z72.6 | Three hundred and sixty-five. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.5 | Three innocent children: Ananias, Zacharias, Misael. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.6 | Three Lents. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.7 | Three Maries. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.1.8 | Three orders of Irish saints. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.13 | Three persons who spoke immediately after birth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.16 | Three reasons why men should condemn wealth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.9 | Three seas surrounding the earth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.10 | Three sods that none may escape: "The sod of his birth, the sod of his death, the sod of his burying." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.1.12 | Three spiritual gifts of God. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.1.3 | Three strains of (fairy) music. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.4 | Three things that lead to hell (heaven). Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.6.1 | Three times nine. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z183.1 | Three trees called "Grief," "Dark," and "Dumb-Mouthless Oak." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z71.1.14 | Three weak things that are the strongest. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.11 | Three whom Christ raised from the dead. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.15 | Three worst things in Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z76.1 | Three-fourths of men of Ireland die in one night. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z122 | Time personified. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z39.4.1 | Titmouse, what are you eating?—A large turnip—etc. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| Z43.1 | Toad asks magpie in tree to throw down a chestnut. Magpie refuses, saying it might break its beak. Toad promises, if that happens, to get a horsehair to tie it up again. Magpie throws chestnut and breaks beak. Toad asks ass for hair, but ass first demands grass; mower demands sheep; shepherd, pup; mother dog, bread; baker, stumps. Toad cuts the stumps and gets the hair. *Wesselski Hessische Blätter f. Vksk XXXII 24; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 156 No. 2032A*. |
| Z10.3 | Transition formulas. Hdwb. d. Märchens II 162; BP IV 20ff. |
| Z71.1.0.1 | Triads. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Z49.6 | Trial among the animals. Deer steps on kitten: cat investigates. Deer has been frightened by bird, this bird by another bird .... by crab's pointed claw, crab by mouse in his hole. Cat eats mouse. (Frog croaks because turtle carries his house on his head; turtle carries house because firefly is bringing fire; firefly brings fire because mosquito tries to bite him, etc.) (First ed. Z41.14.) India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia, Malaya: Dixon 202; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 390. |
| Z121.1 | Truth leaves city because there is no place left for her. Wienert FFC LVI *81 (ET 471), 104 (ST 169); Halm Aesop No. 314. |
| Z121 | Truth personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.8.2 | Twelve abuses of the world. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.8.1 | Twelve articles of faith. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z122.3 | Twelve months as youths seated about fire. *Roberts 122, 219; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 2. |
| Z72.7 | Twelve years and thirteen days. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.16.14.1 | Twenty-two rooms and twenty-two doors built by skillful carpenter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z12 | Unfinished tales. Just as the interest is aroused the narrator quits. "If the bowl had been stronger my tale had been longer." *Types 2250, 2260; BP II 210, III 455; Taylor Hdwb. d. Märchens II 189b; Köhler-Bolte I 269. |
| Z312.4 | Unique bait for fish. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 216. |
| Z312 | Unique deadly weapon. Only one thing will kill a certain man. *Dh II 211; *Wesselski Archiv Orientální II 430; Penzer VIII 109 n. 3; R. M. Meyer Archiv f. Religionsgeschichte (1907) 93ff. — Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 151, *Cross; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 154, 156, *Boberg; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 357 n. 287g; Africa (Cameroon): Ittman 77, (Swahili): Steere 441. |
| Z300 | Unique exceptions. |
| Z312.3 | Unique source of weakness. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 204. |
| Z356 | Unique survivor. Only one person left from destruction of his community. India: *Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 135, 443f., 449; Marquesas: Handy 77; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 71; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/203); Tahiti: Henry Ancient Tahiti (Honolulu, 1928) 246. |
| Z310 | Unique vulnerability. Chinese: Graham. |
| Z124.1 | Valor personified as bird which flutters over champion's head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z124 | Valor personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z323 | Vessel from which nothing can be drunk save through certain tube. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z132.1 | Victory personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z139.8 | Virginity, Wisdom, and Prophecy personified as three beautiful maidens. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z125 | Virtue personified. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z313 | Vulnerability only by one person. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Keith 153. |
| Z21.1.1 | Wages: successive harvests from one grain of rice. Master has no fields left. Chinese: Graham. |
| Z49.11.1 | Wall in construction collapses. Finally the king finds out that the sea is guilty. (The chain: mason—cement mixer—beautifully singing woman—pearl necklace—jeweller—diver—sea.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z132 | War personified. (Cf. A485.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z210.0.1 | Warriors identically equipped (brothers). Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z118.2 | Waves as sea-god's horses. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z118.1 | Waves as tresses of sea-god's wife. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z18.1 | What makes your ears so big?—To hear the better, my child, etc. Type 333. |
| Z39.4 | Where have you been, goose?—In the fields.—What have you in your beak?—A knife.—etc. (Tile, water, ox, firewood, old woman, friars, mass, shirt.) (First ed. Z31.4.4.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 80 No. 2011, Hdwb. d. Märchens II 174a; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 154 No. 2018A*. |
| Z49.5 | Where is the warehouse?—The fire burned it down.—Where is the fire?—The water quenched it. (First ed. Z41.13.) Type 2018. |
| Z142.2 | White as symbolic of martyrdom. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z142.1 | White rose the symbol of death. BP III 460. |
| Z49.11 | Who is guilty of the accident. (One person blames another who blames another, etc.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z24.1 | Widower tells of his courtship, his marriage, and the death of his wife, all in a week. (First ed. Z21.4.1.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 80 No. 2012A. |
| Z115 | Wind personified. *Fb "vind" III 1059a; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3902; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 521; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z139.3.1 | Wine personified in person of the god Bacchus. (Cf. A481.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z139.3 | Wine personified. |
| Z128 | Wisdom personified. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Wakweli): Bender 99f. |
| Z41.1 | Woman has meat (liver) stolen by bird. Recovery chain (similar to Z41). *Wesselski Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXXII 25. |
| Z33.3 | Woman meets a pig. "Good morning." "Why are you up so early?" "I am not up so early. I have drunk seven vats of milk and eaten seven plates of porridge and I shall eat you." She ate the pig. (First ed. Z31.3.3.) *Taylor JAFL XLVI 83 No. 2027A; Swedish: Norlander "Barnvisor och barnrim" Svenska Landsmеlen V No. 5 n. 265. |
| Z139.5 | Worry personified. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z148 | Yellow a lucky color. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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