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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 |
|---|---|
| Z71.16.13 | Formulistic number: twenty-one. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.16.14 | Formulistic number: twenty-two. |
| Z71.16.14.1 | Twenty-two rooms and twenty-two doors built by skillful carpenter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.16.15 | Formulistic number: fifty-three. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.16.16 | Formulistic number: fifty-six. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z72 | Formulas based on the year. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z72.1 | A year and a day. (Cf. Z71.0.2.) *Fb "еr" III 1195b; A Gobbe-Duval Essais de folklore juridique (Paris, 1920) 178ff.; Schröder und v. Künssberg Lehrbuch d. dt. Rechtsgeschichte@6 (1922) 789 n.; Liebermann Herrig's Archiv (1916) 401f.; Köhler-Bolte I 6. —Irish myth: Cross; English: Malory X 36, 39 and passim; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "an", "congé"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18, 24. |
| Z72.2 | Seven years, seven months, seven days. Type 451; BP I 431; Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 63. |
| Z72.3 | Seven (three) years between feasts. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z72.4 | Seven years as length of course in school. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z72.5 | Every third year as period of tribute. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z72.6 | Three hundred and sixty-five. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z72.7 | Twelve years and thirteen days. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z73 | A day and a night. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z73.1 | After four days—another two days—another day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z75 | Formula: as many children as holes in a sieve. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "enfants". |
| Z76 | Formulistic exaggerations. |
| Z76.1 | Three-fourths of men of Ireland die in one night. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z78 | Testament willing rewards and punishments. Conventional ending of a story. Child V 497 s.v. "testament". |
| Z80 | Formulistic rimes. |
| Z81 | Blowing the house in. I'll huff and I'll puff till I blow your house in. Type 124; *Taylor JAFL XLVI 78; BP I 40f.; Jacobs English Fairy Tales 251 No. 14. |
| Z90 | Miscellaneous formulas. |
| Z91 | Formula for other world: "Where no man goes and no crow flies." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z92 | Formulas of distance. |
| Z92.1 | "A tree on island beyond the seven seas and the sixteen rivers." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z100 | Symbolism. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| Z100.1 | Names of giants (Fomorians) with sinister significance. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z110 | Personifications. |
| Z111 | Death personified. Hartland Science 192, 199; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3491; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 47, 50 No. 332, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 86—90; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 611; Africa (Togo): Einstein 16f. |
| Z111.1 | Death enclosed in a bottle. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bouteille"; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z111.1.1 | Death imprisoned by a soldier in a magic knapsack, bottle or nutshell. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 330C*; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 531f.; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| Z111.2 | Death magically bound to tree. While he is bound no one can die. Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 301. Cf. Type 330; BP II 188. |
| Z111.2.1 | Death stuck to tree. Mason JAFL XXXV 55. |
| Z111.2.2 | Death (demons) glued to chair. Espinosa JAFL XXVII 119—29. |
| Z111.3 | Death as eight-headed monster. Africa: Werner African 177. |
| Z111.3.1 | Death allegorically personified as an animal made up of several different animals. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z111.4 | Death excluded from sacred grove. Penzer VI 92 n. 2. |
| Z111.5 | Death (fate) assumes various forms to destroy men. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z111.6 | Death's messengers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z111.6.1 | Death's messengers bribed with food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z111.6.2 | Salt in food given Death's messengers renders them harmless. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z112 | Sickness personified. *Fb "sygdom" III 699a; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 175 No. 117. |
| Z112.1 | Fever personified. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z113 | Life personified: old woman carrying healing potions and salves. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| Z114 | Old age personified. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Z115 | Wind personified. *Fb "vind" III 1059a; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3902; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 521; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z115.1 | Man takes case against wind for damages. Wanting to have nothing to do with a court, the wind generously makes good the damages, and punishes the judge guilty of bribery. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3901. |
| Z116 | Sovereignty personified. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z116.1 | Empire personified. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z117 | Poetry personified. (Cf. A465.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z118 | Sea personified. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z118.1 | Waves as tresses of sea-god's wife. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z118.2 | Waves as sea-god's horses. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z118.3 | River personified (Mother Ganges). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z121 | Truth personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| 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. |
| Z122 | Time personified. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z122.1 | "Time" overpowered when weight is taken from his clock. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8. |
| Z122.2 | Mother of Time personified. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8. |
| Z122.3 | Twelve months as youths seated about fire. *Roberts 122, 219; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 2. |
| Z122.4 | The four seasons personified. Roberts 122. |
| Z123 | Fury personified. (Cf. A486.) Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z123.1 | Fury personified as demon which enters man's heart and counsels evil. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z124 | Valor personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z124.1 | Valor personified as bird which flutters over champion's head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z125 | Virtue personified. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z126 | Energy (strength) personified. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z127 | Sin personified. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 616. |
| Z127.1 | Sin personified as the goddess Venus with her train of nymphs. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z127.2 | Lust personified. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 615. |
| Z128 | Wisdom personified. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Wakweli): Bender 99f. |
| Z128.1 | Intelligence personified. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z131 | Falsehood personified. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman |
| Z132 | War personified. (Cf. A485.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z132.0.1 | Battle carnage personified. Irish myth: Cross. (Z129.2.0.1.). |
| Z132.1 | Victory personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z132.2 | Defeat personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z133 | Poverty personified. |
| Z133.1 | Poverty personified as diseased beggar woman. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z134 | Fortune personified. (Cf. N111.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z134.1 | Fortune personified as a matron in fine clothing. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z135 | Adversity personified. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z136 | Civilization personified. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z139 | Personifications—miscellaneous. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| Z139.1 | Sloth personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z139.2 | Crime personified. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z139.3 | Wine personified. |
| Z139.3.1 | Wine personified in person of the god Bacchus. (Cf. A481.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z139.4 | Cold personified. |
| Z139.4.1 | Cold depreciated and praised. Depreciated, takes revenge by becoming colder; praised, makes reward, gives clothing. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3904. |
| Z139.5 | Worry personified. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z139.6 | Modesty personified. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z139.7 | Ladder as symbol of upward progress. |
| Z139.7.1 | Ladder to heaven as symbol of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z139.8 | Virginity, Wisdom, and Prophecy personified as three beautiful maidens. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z140 | Color symbolism. Hdwb. d. Märchens II 51a s.v. "Farben im Märchen". |
| Z140.1 | Color of flag (sails) on ship as message of good or bad news. *Fb "sort" III 467; *Frazer Apollodorus II 134 n. 2, *Frazer Pausanias II 161; *Schoepperle 437f.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z140.2 | Colors corresponding to the four world quarters. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 347; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 317 n. 148. |
| Z140.2.1 | Color symbolism of the cardinal points. Dixon JAFL XII 10—16. |
| Z140.3 | Symbolism of colors in mass vestments. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z140.4 | Bridegroom inadvertently buys for bride cloth suitable only for widows. She supposes he has died. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z141 | Symbolic color: red. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z141.1 | Red garment to show anger of king. *Chauvin V 47 No. 18 n. 1. |
| Z141.2 | Red as symbolic of martyrdom. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z141.2.1 | Martyrs called "red wheat"; saints, "Dei triticum" (God's wheat). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z141.2.2 | Mill in which two men are slain said to grind "red wheat". Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z141.3 | Red as symbol of falsity. Hdwb. d. Abergl. VII 802—3; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Z142 | Symbolic color: white. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z142.1 | White rose the symbol of death. BP III 460. |
| Z142.2 | White as symbolic of martyrdom. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z143 | Symbolic color: black. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z143.1 | Black as symbol of grief. *Fb "sort" III 407a; *Dickson 94 n. 75. |
| Z144 | Symbolic color: blue. |
| Z144.1 | Blue as symbolic of martyrdom. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z145 | Symbolic color: green. |
| Z145.1 | Green as symbolic of martyrdom. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z146 | Symbolic color: brown. |
| Z146.1 | Brown hair as sign child is descended from goddess. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 285. |
| Z147 | Symbolic color: purple. |
| Z147.1 | Purple is symbol of royalty. Society Islands: Henry Ancient Tahiti (Honolulu, 1928) 384. |
| Z148 | Yellow a lucky color. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z150 | Other symbols. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| Z151 | Ring broken as token of broken engagement. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 69 n. 3. |
| Z153 | Princess crushes lotus-flower to show that she will be submissive. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z155 | Gray hair the symbol of departed usefulness. *Penzer I 121; *Bloomfield JAOS XXXVI 57. |
| Z156 | Cloud (mist) as symbol of misfortune. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z157 | Olive branch symbol of peace. English: Malory XX 14. |
| 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. |
| Z162 | Arthur's Round Table symbolic of round earth. English: Malory XIV 2. |
| Z174 | Message or orders given symbolic action. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z174.1 | Inverted shoes at doors to indicate banishment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z174.1.1 | Black dummy to indicate banishment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| Z175.1 | Language of flowers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z175.2 | Lovers' assignation by symbolic messages. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z176 | Symbolism of the mass. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z177 | Lamb as symbol of Christ. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z178 | Allegorical game. Witch, aided by dragon (lion) is vanquished by maiden, aided by lamb (ram). Witch is devil; maiden, church of Christ. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z181 | Nudity as sign of anger. Penzer Pentamerone I 12; Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z181.1 | Nudity as sign of madness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z182 | Symbolic wounding of king. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z183 | Symbolic names. |
| Z183.1 | Three trees called "Grief," "Dark," and "Dumb-Mouthless Oak." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z184 | Symbols of divinity. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43, 65; Marquesas: Handy 106. |
| Z185 | Mill turned by the water of the grace of God as symbol of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z186 | Symbolism: needle and thread—sexual intercourse. Chinese: Graham. |
| Z200 | Heroes. *Boggs "The Hero in the Folktales of Spain, Germany, and Russia" JAFL XLIV 27ff.; Dorson American Scholar X 389ff. |
| Z210 | Brothers as heroes. Type 303; **A. Christensen "Trebrødre- og Tobrødre-Stamsagn" Danske Studier (1916) 45ff.—Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 158; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Alexander N. A. Myth 295 n. 44. |
| Z210.0.1 | Warriors identically equipped (brothers). Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z210.1 | Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away as joint adventurers. Of brothers (sometimes twins taken from body of slain mother) one is abandoned and becomes wild. Later he joins his brother. *Dickson passim; Krappe MLN XLVII 493ff.; Oceanic: Dixon 138 n. 12; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 319 n. 152, (California): Gayton and Newman 91, 95; S. A. Indian (Bakuiri): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 145. |
| Z211 | Dreadnaughts. Brothers deliberately seek dangers they have been warned against. Triumph. Greek: Fox 98; India: *Thompson-Balys; Oceanic: Dixon 131, 132 n. 2, 133; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1332; T-G. 3/818; z-G. 3/1122; z-G. 13/221); Marquesas: Handy 105; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 320 n. 156, (California): Gayton and Newman 69. |
| Z215 | Hero "son of seven mothers". Seven mothers each with a child imprisoned. Six eat their children to keep from starving. Seventh does not. He rescues all the mothers and becomes hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z216 | Supernatural origin of hero: magic conception. (Cf. T510.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z221 | Eldest brother as hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z230 | Extraordinary exploits of hero. |
| Z231 | Boyish exploits of hero. Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Z235 | Hero with extraordinary animal companions (cock, goat, cow, horse). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z251 | Boy hero. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z252 | Hero at first nameless. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z253 | Fool as hero. (Cf. L121.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z254 | Destined hero. (Cf. M311, T22.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z255 | Hero born out of wedlock. (Cf. L111.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z257 | Beardless hero. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z261 | Giant heroes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z292 | Death of hero. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z293 | Return of the hero. (Cf. L111.1.) Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z300 | Unique exceptions. |
| Z310 | Unique vulnerability. Chinese: Graham. |
| Z311 | Achilles heel. Invulnerability except in one spot. **DeCock Studien 153ff. —Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 97; Icelandic: *Boberg; Norse: De la Saussaye 144, Von Sydow Fеvne 27ff.; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 11; Greek: *Basset RTP XXV 124 n. 1, Frazer Apollodorus II 60 n. 2, 214 n. 1; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Keith 125, Penzer I 127; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 389; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 67; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 345 n. 246; Africa: Werner African 236, (Fang): Trilles 202. |
| Z311.1 | Left eye only vulnerable spot. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z311.2 | Spot below right ear only vulnerable one. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z311.3 | Leprosy cured by holy water except on thumb. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z311.4 | Man can be injured only in armpits. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| Z312.1 | Person can be killed only by red-hot spits being thrust through soles of his feet. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z312.2 | Giant ogre can be killed only with iron club he carries (with own sword). Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Z312.3 | Unique source of weakness. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 204. |
| Z312.4 | Unique bait for fish. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 216. |
| Z313 | Vulnerability only by one person. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Keith 153. |
| Z313.1 | Only one person can overtake hero. Maori: Beckwith Myth 231. |
| 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. |
| Z315 | Ogre vulnerable only when his face is turned away when he is struck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z316 | Only one way to besiege certain city. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z320 | Object will fit only one thing (or person). Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z321 | Ring fits only one person. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z322 | Only one ferule fits certain staff. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z323 | Vessel from which nothing can be drunk save through certain tube. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z350 | Other unique exceptions. |
| Z351 | Only one person refuses to weep at hero's death. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Z352 | All trees except aspen refuse to make Christ's cross. Dh II 209; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 635. |
| Z355 | All snakes but one placated by music. In snake den prisoner fails to placate one snake and loses his life. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 437a. |
| 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. |
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