Folklore Database · Browse
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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| L113.4 | Peasant as hero. Africa (Dschagga): Stamberg ZsES XXIII 296ff., (Ganda): Baskerville 1ff. |
| K1961.1.1 | Peasant as priest preaches on the troubles of laymen. *Type 1825AB; *BP II 413. |
| J411.4 | Peasant ashamed of being thrown off by ass. Shameful to be thrown by such a creature. Wienert FFC LVI 73 (ET 378), 120 (ST 299); Halm Aesop No. 3. |
| J955.3.1 | Peasant asks to be knighted. Is told that he can be made rich but not noble. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K2315 | Peasant betrays fox by pointing. The peasant has hidden the fox in a basket and promised not to tell. When the hunters come, he says, "The fox just went over the hill," but points to the basket. **Krohn Mann und Fuchs 61ff.; Wienert FFC LVI 68 (ET 324), 102 (ST 150); Halm Aesop No. 35; *Köhler-Bolte I l; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 35 No. *161, Espinosa Jr. No. 24. |
| H38.2.2 | Peasant boy masking as prince betrays self by his answers. *Köhler-Bolte I 172. |
| U135.3.1 | Peasant girl married to king longs for peasant ways of eating. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L151 | Peasant girl outwits prince. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 3. |
| K2090.1 | Peasant has kind words for daws, but drives them from his seeds. Wienert FFC LVI 68 (ET 323), 102 (ST 151); Halm Aesop No. 99. |
| P411.2 | Peasant is cutting wood in front of his house as guests arrive. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J241.2 | Peasant leaves honey tree standing. Sparrows and crickets ask peasant to leave tree standing. He refuses, but when he finds honey in the tree he consents. Wienert FFC LVI 71 (ET 350), 143 (ST 494); Halm Aesop No. 102. |
| J2212.8 | Peasant no longer wants a horse since the new born foal is so heavy to carry. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2473 | Peasant opens his mouth. He tells his wife about the good things he gets to eat at the rich man's house. The wife says, "Open your mouth for me once so that I may get some too." The peasant gets up after the next large meal and opens his mouth to the astonishment of all present. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 519. |
| J1211.1 | Peasant preaches about bishop's amour. Bishop has instructed him to tell the truth and spare no one when he preaches. *Type 1825A; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 711. |
| P411.1 | Peasant refuses to sell possessions to king. (Miller of Sanssouci.) Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 309 No. 13. |
| R131.6 | Peasant rescues abandoned child. Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 139; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Babylonian: Spence 17, 157; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1742.4 | Peasant surprised that king is not larger than other men. Nouvelles Récréations No. 70. |
| U119.2 | Peasant wishes to exchange places with monks. Thinks they lead a very easy life. One night's experience in the monastery makes him change his mind. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| P411 | Peasant. **Hdwb. d. Märchens I 184a. |
| U135.3.2 | Peasants fed white bread demand the rye bread to which they are accustomed. Pauli (ed. Bolte). No. 570. |
| J1742.3 | Peasants in city inn order whole portion of mustard. Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI No. 1316*. |
| Q559.4 | Peasants punished for working on feast day. They cannot leave the field for several days. (Cf. Q223.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2495.4 | Peasants want a living God. An artist, ordered to make a crucifix, asks peasants if they want a living God. They say yes. "If we don't like him we can kill him ourselves." *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 409. |
| V46 | Pebble put in box each time mass is heard. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 127. |
| F255 | Peculiar limitations of fairies. |
| A1662 | Peculiar smell of body. |
| B41.1 | Pegasus. Winged horse.—Greek: Fox 34, 39, 213. |
| A2262.2 | Pegs driven into backs of baboons become tails. (Cf. A2378.9.2, A2378.1.1.)—Bushman (South of Zambesi): Theal 56. |
| B242.1.4 | Pelican as king of birds. Africa (Duala): Gehr Zs. f. Kolonialspr. VII 25ff. |
| B751.2 | Pelican kills young and revives them with own blood. Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 37ff. (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 57. |
| Q499.6 | Penance for three years and a half for eating horseflesh. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q520.5 | Penance in wilderness as punishment for men who left holy orders to marry. (Cf. Q226.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| V27 | Penance magically concluded by confession. Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 136ff. |
| K218.6 | Penance of priest saves him from devil. The priest, who sold his soul to the devil, orders his servant to cut him (alive) up into pieces, to crucify him on a tree (and the like), thus saves his soul from the devils. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3267, Legends Nos. 405—409. |
| Q521.7 | Penance to be done until seven spires of Benares are reduced to powder and rebuilt. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q537.1 | Penance: adulteress masks as monk and lives chastely in monastery. (Cf. Q241.) Toldo Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 52 (St. Theodora). |
| Q544 | Penance: being locked in cellar (well) with key thrown into water. *Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 127, 248. |
| Q521.2 | Penance: carrying bag of stones (one for each murder) on the back until it falls off. (Cf. Q211.) *Type 756C; *Andrejev FFC LIV 35. |
| Q521.3 | Penance: carrying iron hoop on head until it falls off. *Types 756C; *Andrejev FFC LIV 35. |
| Q521.1.2 | Penance: carrying water in mouth from a distance and watering dry staff until it blooms. *Types 756BC; **Andrejev FFC LIV 34, LXIX 133; *BP III 471 n. 1. |
| Q521.1.1 | Penance: crawling on knees and watering a dry staff until it blooms. Types 756BC; **Andrejev FFC LIV 34, LXIX 132; *BP III 471 n. 1; Scala Celi 136a No. 755; Alphabet No. 568. |
| Q523.1.1 | Penance: crawling to grave on knees. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 48. |
| Q523.1 | Penance: crawling to Rome on knees. *Andrejev FFC LXIX 127. |
| Q522.3 | Penance: creeping naked through thorns. *Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 127; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 202a; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 44, Beal XXI 316; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q523.3 | Penance: eating food offered to dogs. *Dickson 257 n. 80; English: Wells 136 (Sir Gowther); Irish: Beal XXI 330; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 86 No. 756B. |
| Q523.10 | Penance: fasting in sackcloth and ashes. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| Q521.5 | Penance: ferryman setting people over a stream until relieved by another. *Types 460, 461; *Aarne FFC XXIII 138. |
| Q542 | Penance: giving all earnings to poor. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 86 No. 756B. |
| Q541.3 | Penance: Gregory on the stone. Standing on a stone (pillar) as penance for incest. (Cf. Q242, T415.) *Type 933; Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 173 to Gonzenbach No. 85; *Baum PMLA XXXI 562 n. 59; *Toldo II 89. |
| Q522.6 | Penance: hanging for a thousand years head downward over a fire of chaff. Hindu: Keith 168. |
| Q521.6 | Penance: holding midnight mass until someone will make responses. *Sébillot RTP X 584, XIII 179, XV 621; Ireland: Baughman, O'Suilleabhain 27, Beal XXI 308; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 70f. |
| Q527 | Penance: inviting one Brahmin for dinner every Wednesday. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q522.5 | Penance: iron band forged round a man's waist. Child I 172. |
| Q541.4 | Penance: keeping self suspended on two iron hooks placed under armpits. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q522.2 | Penance: killing oneself with wooden knife. *Andrejev FFC LXIX 156. |
| Q523.9 | Penance: king to take off crown and lick spittle from ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q535.2 | Penance: lioness foregoes meat. Her two cubs are killed. The jackal tells her that he has had the same experience. She gives up eating meat and lives on grass. Chauvin II 105 No. 68; Bødker Exempler 302 No. 71; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q523.4 | Penance: living under stairs as mendicant. *Dickson 255 n. 77; Alphabet No. 600 (Alexius). |
| Q524.2 | Penance: lying the first night with every corpse brought to certain church. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q522.8 | Penance: man wears huge serpent coiled around him in lieu of clothing. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q535.1 | Penance: not to speak. *Krappe Balor 181ff.; *Toldo II 91; *Dickson 255 nn. 76, 77; English: Wells 136 (Sir Gowther); Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 86 No. 756B, Keller. |
| Q521.4 | Penance: pasturing black sheep until they become white. *Types 756C; *Andrejev FFC LIV 35. |
| Q523.8 | Penance: performing all services asked for by anyone. Klapper Erzählungen des Mittelalters 112 No. 101. |
| Q522.4 | Penance: pilgrimage with hands and loins weighted with iron. Child II 128. |
| Q523.5 | Penance: planting garden and offering free hospitality to all. (Cf. Q481.) *Type 756C; *Andrejev FFC LIV. |
| Q537 | Penance: resisting temptation. (Cf. T330.) |
| Q523.7 | Penance: seven years' service for seven days' neglect of religious duty. (Cf. Q223.) Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 179f., 374. |
| Q541.1 | Penance: sitting in water. *Dickson 91f. nn. 57—69; *Toldo II 94f.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q523.6 | Penance: slain cats, dogs, etc. to be hung up and covered with grain by man who has killed them. Köhler-Bolte I 261. |
| Q524.1 | Penance: spending lonely night in cave. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q541.2 | Penance: standing in water for forty days. Dh I 228ff.; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 49, Beal XXI 318. |
| Q541.5 | Penance: staying for ten months rooted to one spot, with eyes closed, while birds build nests in one's hair. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q525.1 | Penance: staying on rock in dashing sea. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q523.2 | Penance: walking on all-fours like beast. Herbert III 131, 339, 465, 571; *Williams 10; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q522.7 | Penance: wearing friar's cord about bare skin. Heptameron No. 41. |
| Q520 | Penances. *Types 756ABC; *BP III 463; **Andrejev FFC LIV, LXIX 126ff., 234ff.; *Toldo II 87; Irish: Beal XXI 316, *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F547.3.6 | Penis cuts down trees. N. A. Indian (Klikitat): Jacobs U Wash II 29. |
| F547.3.4 | Penis tatooed with name of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F547.3.2 | Penis that eats and drinks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V29.6 | Penitent brings manuscript of sins to confession. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| U11.1.1.2 | Penitent in confession worries about little sins and belittles the big ones. *Wesselski Arlotto I 191 No. 17; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1911.5 | Penniless bride pretends to wealth. Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 120f.; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1917 | Penniless bridegroom pretends to wealth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L123.1 | Penniless hero. Loved by a courtesan, he proves later to be a great man. M. Bloomfield in Penzer VII xxiii. |
| K1917.3 | Penniless wooer: helpful animal reports master wealthy and thus wins girl for him. *Type 545B; BP I 325, III 487; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1917.2 | Penniless wooer: money in hand. An uncle gives the boy a coin and food to hold while he woos for him. He tells the girl's father that the boy has a piece of money in hand and plenty to eat. Wins the girl. *BP II 203. |
| K1917.1 | Penniless wooer: patch of land. After marriage he takes the bride to look at his land. He puts on soiled clothes. She looks at the land; he points to the patch on his clothes. "That patch is mine." *BP II 203. |
| K1917.4 | Penniless wooer. "House of my father with one hundred fifty lights and goat pen." When the servant in bed so remarks the master marries his daughter to him. Arrived at the hut, he explains that the lights are the stars whose beams enter through the cracks in the roof. One goat is tied to the tree. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 104 No. 859*. |
| F171.3 | People and things that strike one another in otherworld. Type 470. |
| D2178.5 | People created by magic. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G36.2.1 | People fear that boy who eats raw birds will eat them when he grows older. Chinese: Graham. |
| Q557.8 | People given charm to dispel flies grumble: flies return a thousandfold. (Cf. Q312.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F108.1 | People in lower world tall as a broom. Chinese: Graham. |
| F171.6.2 | People in otherworld pour water into tub full of holes. *Type 801; BP III 297ff., 303. |
| F167.4.1 | People in otherworld stand on their heads and pound yams with their heads. Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 245 No. 1. |
| F171.6.6 | People in otherworld thatch house with birds' wings. Thatch blows away while they go for more. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167.4 | People in otherworld walk on their heads. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F171.6.4 | People in otherworld with horses both before and behind wagon. They pull against each other. *Type 801; BP III 303. |
| F725.5 | People live under sea. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2162.4 | People living on mountain dedicated to angel free from plague. *Loomis White Magic 106. |
| D2069.2 | People magically compelled to bend arm. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 501. |
| D2184 | People magically continue hurting themselves. Try to drive ox but drive themselves; to stab it but stab themselves; etc. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 76 No. 12. |
| D2184.1 | People magically made to strike selves blows aimed at another. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1711.10 | People of certain place as magicians. |
| D1711.10.2 | People of Gestrikland (Sweden) as magicians. Icelandic: Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 240. |
| F108.2 | People of lower world come out in the evenings to drink and dance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1711.10.4 | People of Palmyra as magicians. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F561 | People of unusual diet. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F562 | People of unusual residence. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2195 | People pelt each other with food. Koryak: *Jochelson JE VI 375; Penzer V 72f. |
| F455.6.10 | People possessed by trolls. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D2031.1.2 | People swim in imaginary rising river. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| C53.1 | People taught by God to work: claim they learned by own efforts. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3057. (Cf. A1403.) |
| G303.6.2 | People to whom the devil appears. |
| E431.15 | People touch corpse before burial to avoid seeing ghost of dead person after burial. England: *Baughman. |
| P617 | People weep when child is born. They sing and laugh at burials. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E419.11 | People who bury metal cannot rest in grave. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| D1711.12 | People who come on ship with sickness accused as magicians. Icelandic: Flateyjarbуk III 435, Boberg. |
| G55 | People who eat child become supernatural. Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 258, (Greenland): Rink 466. |
| G23 | People who eat their parents when they die, saying: they carried us in their bodies when we were born; now we shall do the same for them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F513.3 | People who leave lower jaws at home when they go to market to prevent quarrels. Africa: Weeks 126ff. |
| F561.3 | People who live on coconuts. Chauvin VII 22 No. 373 E n. 2. |
| F561.1 | People who prefer raw flesh. Maori: Dixon 78 n. 77. |
| F516.2.2 | People with four arms. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F516.2 | People with many arms. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F529.2.1 | People without anuses make them by sitting on pegs. Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 364; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 79, 204, Holm 89, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 171, 538, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 89. |
| F529.2 | People without anuses. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1955.2.1 | Pepper as universal remedy of sham doctor: accidentally works. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1014 | Pepper given as ointment for burns. (Cf. K1045.) Japanese: Ikeda; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 69ff. No. 9. |
| A2611.4 | Pepper plant from body of slain person. (Cf. A2686.3.)—Zuсi: Cushing 183. |
| K1014.2 | Pepper rubbed on injured skin. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1014.1 | Pepper up noses as remedy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A102.12 | Perfect God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F718.2 | Perfectly round well contains vari-colored water. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H990 | Performance of tasks—miscellaneous. |
| V224.4 | Performing fox accidentally killed miraculously replaced for saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q512.0.1 | Performing impossible task as punishment for murder. (Cf. Q211.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F698.2 | Performing on spear points. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F759.4 | Perfumed mountain. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 369. |
| F846.1 | Perilous bed. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F776.2 | Perilous falling gate. Cuts horse in two as rider goes through it. Brown Iwain 14 and passim; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F151.1.4 | Perilous ford on way to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151.1.3 | Perilous forest on way to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151.1.2 | Perilous glen on way to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F756.5.2 | Perilous glen. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E750.2 | Perilous path for soul to world of dead. (Cf. F151.1.) Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 484. |
| F95.3 | Perilous path to hell. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F151.1 | Perilous path to otherworld. Patch Other World 382 s.v. "path"; Irish myth: *Cross; N. A. Indian: Alexander N. Am. 147, 164, 273 n. 8, (California): Gayton and Newman 101; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 78, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 586. |
| H1236 | Perilous path traversed on quest. English: Wells 55 (Gawayne and the Grene Knight); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F156.3 | Perilous revolving wheel at entrance to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F141.1.1 | Perilous river as barrier to otherworld. (Cf. F767.1.) *Patch PMLA XXXIII 630, 638ff.; Alphabet No. 603.—Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 78, III 165; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 140; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 245 No. 1. |
| F162.2.11 | Perilous river in otherworld. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 918. |
| F842.2.1 | Perilous trap bridge. High in center. One end rises when one steps on it and throws him backwards. Type 516; Rosch FFC LXXVII 125; *Brown Iwain 75; *Ogle MLN XXXV 129ff.; Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 143, *Cross. |
| F842.2.1.1 | Perilous trap-gate. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E750.2.2 | Perilous valley in (on way to) land of dead. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F151.1.1 | Perilous valley. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E750 | Perils of the soul. *Frazer Golden Bough III 26ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Hultkrantz 464—480. |
| A2480 | Periodic habits of animals. |
| E155 | Periodic resuscitation. (Cf. D620.) Return to life at regular intervals. *Cosquin Contes indiens 18ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| S262 | Periodic sacrifices to a monster. *Schoepperle II 326ff.; *Panzer Beowulf 276ff.; *Frazer Pausanias V 143; Brown Iwain 17 and passim; *Freytag Am Urquell I (1890) 179ff., 197ff.; *Fb "glarbjærg" I 459, "jomfru" II 43; Chauvin VI 110 No. 274.—Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 139, 151, 157; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 207 n. 2, II 119 n. 2, 134 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 189, II 573, 1188; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 154 No. 22, (Fang): Trilles 166. |
| D620 | Periodic transformation. A person or thing is transformed at definite intervals. *Types 432, 652; *BP II 125; R. M. Meyer Zs. f. Vksk. XXI 4.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Völsunga saga ch. 8—9, Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Dixon 219f.; N. A. Indian (Menomini): Skinner and Satterlee PaAM XIII 317; S. A. Indian (Surinam): Alexander Lat. Am. 274, (Guaporé): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 379.—Africa (Angola): Chatelain 145 No. 15, (Mpongwe): Nassau 68 No. 15. |
| F215.2 | Peris in sky-world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E411.3 | Perjurer cannot rest in grave. *Fb "sværge" III 692b, 693a. |
| Q558.2 | Perjurer stricken dead. (Cf. Q263.) Icelandic: Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 19 No. 177. |
| C910 | Permanent sign of disobedience for breaking tabu. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 11. |
| W155.5 | Permission refused to drink from water tank. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F173.3 | Perpetual feasts in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F161.1 | Perpetual summer in otherworld. No storms. Patch PMLA XXXIII 606; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q471.1 | Persecuted queen meanly clothed and set where all are commanded to spit on her. Köhler-Bolte I 571. |
| S471 | Persecuted sons of co-wife. (Cf. K2222.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| S410 | Persecuted wife. *Types 450, 705, 706, 707, 708, 712, 872*; *BP II 236, 284; *Schlauch Constance and Accused Queens (New York, 1927); *Hibbard 29, 35ff.; *Wehrhan 51; *Krappe Anglia XLIX 361ff. —Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Keller, Espinosa II No. 105; India: *Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 365, III 104, Rink 441, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 198. |
| N250.3 | Persecution by a god so that will of deity can be followed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N250.2 | Persecution by bad luck. Wishing to escape it, the luckless couple build themselves a new home. Scarcely do they establish themselves in the new home, when bad luck addresses them from the hearth: "I have already waited for you here three days." Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 735B*. |
| N250 | Persistent bad luck. *Fb "ulykke" III 973a; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1331 | Persistent beggar invited upstairs. A beggar will not come in but insists on the man coming down to the door. When he asks alms the man bids him come upstairs. Then he says he has nothing for him. "You made me come down for nothing; I make you come up for nothing." *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 238 No. 113. |
| B557.11 | Person (animal) carried by elephant. |
| F911 | Person (animal) swallowed without killing. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F525.4 | Person (Antichrist) with flat body. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T55.6 | Person (man, woman) exhibits figure. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F535.2.7 | Person (poet, child) only "fist high." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F682.0.1 | Person (warrior) uses only one leg, one hand, one eye. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2065.6 | Person abducted by Echo crazed and dumb. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N762 | Person accidentally met unexpectedly knows the other's name. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| G411 | Person aids ogre and is captured. Africa (Zulu): Callaway 75, (Basuto): Jacottet 236 No. 34. |
| K2378.1 | Person allowed to win first game so that he will play for higher stakes. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2031.18 | Person appears to be in several places at once. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 141. |
| G462 | Person as servant in ogre's house. Types 314, 428; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1369.4 | Person asks: "Whose fool are you?" Answer: "I am the Bishop of Durham's fool; whose fool are you?" England: *Baughman. |
| P427.0.2 | Person assailed by druid loses treasure. Irish myth: Cross. |
| S73.2 | Person banishes brother (sister). Irish myth: Cross. |
| C982 | Person beaten by whips for breaking tabu. Roberts Type 480, p. 216; Jewish: Neuman; African (Benga): Nassau 113 No. 11. |
| G30 | Person becomes cannibal. MacCulloch Childhood 297.—Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 197; Maori: Clark 152; Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 295, 302; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 128, 258, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 260; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 357 n. 287c. |
| D486 | Person becomes larger. |
| D55.1 | Person becomes magically larger. Tobler 90.—Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Latin: Virgil Aeneid VI line 50; Africa (Fang) Trilles 184. |
| D55.2 | Person becomes magically smaller. Irish myth: Cross; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| K432 | Person being robbed deceives robbers and calls help. (Cf. K551.5.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| G410 | Person betrayed into ogre's power. India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 76 No. 1. |
| T551.3.4.1 | Person born with cow's ears. (Cf. F511.2.2.) Chinese: Graham. |
| N265 | Person brings bad luck to others. |
| V61.3.0.2 | Person buried in standing position with friends about him. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2144.4.1 | Person burned through magic wishing (curse). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1355.3.8 | Person burns dragonsblood (plant) and says charm to bring lover to spot. England: *Baughman. |
| D1355.3.7 | Person burns salt and says charm to bring lover to spot. England, U. S.: *Baughman. |
| E291.1 | Person burying treasure kills person to supply guardian ghost. U.S.: Baughman. |
| J1352 | Person calls another an ass. |
| Z312.1 | Person can be killed only by red-hot spits being thrust through soles of his feet. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F642.3 | Person can see through opaque objects. |
| B557.7 | Person carried by cat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.8 | Person carried by cobra. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.14 | Person carried by frog. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.5 | Person carried by lion. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.9 | Person carried by locust. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.12 | Person carried by peacock.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B557.10 | Person carried by tiger. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.3 | Person carried off by bird. German: Grimm No. 51; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 183, 201; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 79; Africa (Yoruba): Frobenius Atlantis X 222ff. No. 14. |
| C954 | Person carried off to other world for breaking tabu. Type 470; Fb "sol" III 458a; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C950 | Person carried to other world for breaking tabu. |
| F63 | Person carried to upper world by deity (spirit). India: *Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Tapirape): Wagley-Baldao BBAE CXLIII (3) 178; Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 348. |
| D2062.2.3 | Person caused to squint as punishment. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D631.1.1 | Person changes appearance at will. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F1082 | Person changes color. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D631.1 | Person changes size at will. Irish myth: Cross; Marquesas: Handy 106; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 77, 241, Rink 402, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 84; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 154 (see D55.2.1.). |
| D2072.0.2.2.1 | Person charged with keeping birds from the crops confines them in barn (usually roofless) by magic while he goes to town. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| G303.16.11.3 | Person chases the devil away. Devil says, "You also have stolen once." Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 40 No. 30; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 119 No. 30; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 706, 715. |
| E1 | Person comes to life. Alphabet No. 683; Köhler-Bolte II 164; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3506; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Tonga: Gifford 130; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 180 No. 25, (Zulu): Callaway 51. |
| W154.22 | Person compared to nettle, which stings the hand that protects it. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F1034 | Person concealed in another's body. *Penzer VII 114ff. |
| F501 | Person consisting only of head. (Cf. F511.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2125.3 | Person crosses water in chariot. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 96. |
| D2161.4.4 | Person cured by repairing image that has same deformity. *Kittredge Witchcraft 74, 414 n. 13. |
| K924 | Person cuts drawbridge partly through. Giant falls into moat. (Cf. K14, K1431, K1961.1.3.) England: *Baughman. |
| E155.4 | Person dead during day, revived at night. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1661.3 | Person describes approaching bands of warriors without recognizing them. Another (interlocutor) identifies them. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H64.3 | Person disenchanted from animal "unable to hide his tail." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H64.4 | Person disenchanted from animal unable to eat after manner of men. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D700 | Person disenchanted. Types 314, 402, 434*, 442, 502; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 925 s.v. "Erlösung".—Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "métamorphose"; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 285, 356, 364. |
| J2012 | Person does not know himself. Fb "selv"; L. Schmidt Oesterr. Zs f. Vksk. 1954, 129ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F564.3 | Person does not sleep for many months (years). Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1420.1 | Person drawn by magic spell. (Cf. D1273.) Tawney II 571. |
| D1810.8.2.2 | Person dreams of spot where drowned body lies. England: Baughman. |
| B784.1.1 | Person drinking from brook swallows animal eggs (frog or newt). England, Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| Q582.8 | Person drinks poison he prepared for another. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G51 | Person eats own flesh. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 597; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 45; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 232 No. 46. |
| G51.1 | Person eats self up. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 186; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 304 n. 109m, (California): Gayton and Newman 92; Africa (Togo): Einstein 12f. |
| T461 | Person enamored of an object. |
| G241.2.2 | Person enchanted by witch's salve so as to be ridden by witch. *Fb "salve" III 151a. |
| X1723.3 | Person enters animal's body. U.S.: Baughman. |
| C996 | Person falls because of broken tabu. Marquesas: Handy 36; Tonga: Gifford 53; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 127. |
| X1731.1 | Person falls from great height without injury. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| K335.1.1.3 | Person falls from tree on robbers. They flee and leave money. India: *Thompson-Balys. |