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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A2621 | Plants from tread of holy person. Dh II 7.—Japanese: Anesaki 240. |
| F979.17 | Plants grow without being sown. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2620 | Plants originate from experience of holy person. |
| N2.0.1 | Play for unnamed stakes. Irish myth: *Cross; Scottish: Campbell-McKay Nos. 1, 17. |
| F399.4 | Playful or troublesome fairies. England: *Baughman. |
| E599.10 | Playful revenant. England: Baughman. |
| E577.2.1 | Playing cards with a dead man (ghost). Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 678ff. |
| N4.2 | Playing game of chance (or skill) with uncanny being. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K372 | Playing godfather. By pretending that he has been invited to be godfather, the trickster makes an opportunity to steal the provisions stored by him and the dupe for the winter. When he returns on successive occasions he reports the name of the child as "Just Begun," "Half Done," etc. *Type 15; BP I 9; Dh IV 241; *Krohn Bar (Wolf) und Fuchs (JSFO VI) 74ff.; *Fb "ræv" III 113b, "bjørn" IV 43b; *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 238.—Lappish: Qvigstad Lappiske Eventyr III No. 3; French: Sébillot France III 63f.; Missouri French: Carrière; Louisiana Creole: Fortier MAFLS II 19; New Mexican Spanish: Rael Hispania XX 231—4; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 437; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis III 13, (Fjort): Dennett 90 No. 23; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 80 No. 17, Jones Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast (Cambridge, Mass., 1888) No. 24, (Virginia): Parsons JAFL XXXV 253—55, (North Carolina): Parsons JAFL XXX 192f., (South Carolina): Parsons MAFLS XVI 7—12, JAFL XXXII 394, XXXIV 3; Bahama: Parsons MAFLS XIII 1; Bermuda: Parsons JAFL XXXVIII 240. |
| D1337.1.11 | Playing of magic flute beautifies. (Cf. D1223.1.)—Chinese: Graham. |
| J1162 | Plea by admitting accusation and discomfiting accuser. |
| J1166 | Plea by shifting blame to another. |
| J1165 | Plea by showing great temptation to crime. |
| J1279.1 | Plea for a good father. Mother of twelve on deathbed explains to family that not all her children are legitimate. Gives the paternity of each child. Youngest leaves his food to say: "Please, mother, give me a good father!" (Cf. J325.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J1163 | Pleading for accused by means of parable. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F169.9 | Pleasant fragrance in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M175 | Pledge to say but a single phrase. In carrying out this agreement the men innocently confess a crime. *Types 360, 1697; BP II 561ff.; Wesselski Mönchslatein 37 No. 44; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| P557.2 | Pledge with enemy to be kept. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A773.1 | Pleiades a princess and six suitors among whom she could not choose. *Köhler-Bolte I 439f. |
| A773.6 | Pleiades as swarm of bees. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 483. |
| A773.5 | Pleiades from hunters marooned in sky after felling world-tree. S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 25, BBAE CXLIII (1) 366. |
| A773.3 | Pleiades girls who died of grief. Greek: Fox 248. |
| A773.4 | Pleiades seven illegitimate children. *Fb "pige" II 816b. |
| A773.2 | Pleiades six repudiated wives. They have been cast out for apparent infidelity.—Hindu: Keith 140. |
| Q141.2 | Plentiful game animals (fish) as reward. Africa (Wakweli): Bender 37; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 27f. |
| Q53.2.1 | Plenty of fishes as reward for rescue. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J2513 | Plenty of holy water. A fool hearing of the effectiveness of holy water for the forgiveness of sins pours the whole supply over himself. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 714. |
| K1166 | Plot to induce king to commit a crime. His line thus will forfeit succession. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1620.2.7 | Plough of gold and yoke of gold and pair of bullocks used by hero tills as much land as lies within a village boundary in one day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V1.9.1 | Plow worship. (Cf. A432.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J2465.12 | Plowing above the tree. Told to plow above a certain tree (on the hillside), numskulls haul oxen and plow into tree and destroy them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K41.1 | Plowing contest won by deception: hare exchanged for horse. God and the devil contest in plowing. The devil plows with a horse, God with a hare. While the devil is asleep, God takes the devil's horse and plows the field. When he wakes, the devil thinks the hare has plowed so much and gladly trades his horse for the hare. Dh I 192f. |
| K41 | Plowing contest. |
| K1411 | Plowing the field: horse and harness destroyed. The youth is told to come home from plowing when the dog does. He beats the dog so that it runs home; then he destroys the horse and harness and goes home. *Types 650, 1003; BP II 285ff.; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 163—7; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A432.0.2 | Plowman god. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B91.2 | Plumed serpent. Hopi, Zuсi: Alexander N. Am. 188. |
| J1581.1 | Poem for poem: all for all. A poet gives the emperor a poem, hoping for a reward The emperor later gives the poet a poem in return. The poet thereupon sends the emperor two pennies, saying that this is all the money he has. The emperor, seeing that he is defeated in the exchange, laughs and becomes the poet's friend. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 506. |
| J1224.2 | Poet (Dante) puts ruler out of countenance. Ruler had instructed jesters to tease him. The poet cleverly answers his questioners pretending to have the impression that the questions are addressed to the ruler. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| P427.4 | Poet (druid) as satirist. (Cf. M402.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| P427.7.7 | Poet as judge. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M301.18 | Poet as prophet. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M414.6 | Poet cursed. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J1675.6 | Poet goes to king to complain of destruction of his dwelling. King requires story. Poet recites list, ending with account of the destruction of his dun. Reparation granted. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J1224.1 | Poet is importuned by admirers. Vaults away from them saying: "You may tell me anything you wish—in your own homes! Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| P524.1 | Poet may not act as security. (Cf. P427.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1224 | Poet puts others out of countenance. |
| P427.7.8 | Poet rewarded for poem. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E371.3 | Poet sings day after his death. (Cf. E342, E546.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J1684 | Poet uses words which student cannot understand and so confounds him. (Cf. J1803.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| P427.7 | Poet. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1449.4.1 | Poet's incantations drive away fish. (Cf. D1275.4.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| P427.7.6 | Poet's rod. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1318.12.1.1 | Poet's spell causes ale vessels to burst when request for ale is refused. (Cf. D1275.4.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z117 | Poetry personified. (Cf. A465.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| P427.7.2.1.1 | Poets and fools closely allied. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P427.7.9 | Poets banished. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1812.3.3.0.2 | Poets interpret dreams. (Cf. P427.7.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q559.6 | Poets lose ability to compose verse as punishment for immoderate request. (Cf. Q338.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F548.0.1 | Pointed leg. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 75f. |
| J1315 | Points of view. Man to friend who drinks very little: "If everyone drank as you do, wine would be cheap." Answer: "On the contrary, it would be expensive because I drink all I want." Spanish: Childers; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| F582 | Poison damsel. Woman nourished on poison is fatal to her husbands. Sometimes the poisoning is from fatal look or breath, sometimes from intercourse. *Penzer X 265 s.v. "Poison Damsel"; **Penzer Poison Damsels 3ff.; Herbert III 211; *Oesterley No. 11; **Hertz Abhandlungen 156ff.; Krappe Mitt. d. schles. Gesell. f. Volkskunde XXVIII (1927) 131ff.; *bin Gorion Born Judas I 360f. |
| H592.2 | Poison in nectar: wife who betrays husband to his enemies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2168.1 | Poison magically separated from drink. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F1041.5 | Poison of hydra corrodes the skin. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 269 n. 2. |
| F717.2 | Poison pool. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F831.3 | Poisoned arrows. (Cf. F833.6.) Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N332.1.1 | Poisoned bath prepared for another accidentally used by hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N659.1 | Poisoned cakes intended for man by his wife eaten by thieves: booty left to man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1516 | Poisoned clothing test. Attempt to kill hero by poisoning clothing. *Type 516; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 124. |
| D1840.1.2.1 | Poisoned drink or food made harmless by saint's blessing. *Loomis White Magic 57. |
| H1515.2 | Poisoned drink test. Attempt to kill saint by giving him poisoned drink. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K527.1 | Poisoned food (drink) fed to animal instead of to intended victim. Animal perishes. *Boje 72ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 365; Africa (Nyang): Ittman 58. |
| K2369.12 | Poisoned food sent to enemy camp. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1515 | Poisoned food test. Attempt to kill hero by feeding him poisoned food. Type 516; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 123; Hertz Gesammelte Abhandlungen "Die Sage vom Giftmädchen"; BP I 42ff.; Herrmann Saxo II 139; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 314 n. 140. |
| P553.1 | Poisoned weapons. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1613 | Poisoner poisoned with his own poison. |
| K1613.3 | Poisoner's own son takes the beverage intended for step-brother. Spanish: Childers; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| D2061.1.3 | Poisoning by magic. *Kittredge Witchcraft 136ff., 457f. nn. 1—29 passim; Irish myth: *Cross; England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.9 | Poisonous snakes in certain region have no venom. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q557.1 | Poisonous toad sits on food of undutiful children. (Cf. Q281.1.) Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 25. |
| A63.7.1 | Poisonous water created by the devil. Irish myth: Cross (A63.7). |
| F555.7 | Poisonous white hair in eyebrow that causes death to the first person who sees it each day. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J810 | Policy in dealing with the great. |
| Q41 | Politeness rewarded. *Roberts 173; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "politesse"; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III No. 152, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 117, 130, 183; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV Nos. 7, 8. |
| F473.2 | Poltergeist causes objects to behave contrary to their nature. |
| F473.5 | Poltergeist makes noises. England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.4 | Poltergeist mistreats animals. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F473.3 | Poltergeist mistreats people. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.1 | Poltergeist throws objects. England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473 | Poltergeist. Invisible spirit (sometimes identified as ghost or witch) responsible for all sorts of mischief in or around a household. |
| A164.5 | Polyandry among the gods. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T146 | Polyandry. Woman with two husbands. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B731.6.0.1 | Polychromatic dogs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T145.6 | Polygamist must love all his wives. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T145 | Polygamous marriages. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen Märchen 82, (Fang): Trilles Legends 263f. |
| A164.3 | Polygamy among the gods. Irish myth: Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 186. |
| T145.8 | Polygamy so that head wife may be quickly replaced for wrongdoing. Africa (Konnoh): Willans 139. |
| T145.0.1 | Polygyny. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J466.1 | Pomegranate and apple tree dispute as to which is worth most. Blackberry reproves them for useless jangling. Wienert FFC LVI 43 (ET 11), 74 (ET 390), 92 (ST 47); Halm Aesop No. 385. |
| F713.5 | Pond always clear because deity uses it for his bath. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2151.5.2 | Pond magically dried up. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/499). |
| F713.1 | Pond of ambrosia. Japanese: Anesaki 242. |
| F713.4 | Pond of milk. (Cf. F711.2.1, F715.2.3.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F717.1 | Pool paved with gold. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "or". |
| N597.1 | Pools of underground oil discovered through dreams. (Cf. N531.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| N534.5 | Poor boy accidentally finds deserted city with treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1952.1.1 | Poor boy said by helpful animal to be dispossessed prince (wealthy man) who has lost clothes while swimming (in shipwreck). Type 545; *BP III 487f.; India: Thompson-Balys; East Africa: Rochemonteix Quelques Contes Nubiens (Cairo, 1888) 55ff. No. 5, (Swahili): Steere 13ff. |
| K1952.1 | Poor boy said by helpful cat to be dispossessed prince. This is believed. *Types 545AB; BP I 325ff., III 487; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 4; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| L216 | Poor game proves rich. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 83. |
| L143.1 | Poor girl chosen as wife in preference to rich. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L213 | Poor girl chosen rather than the rich. Treasure follows. Chauvin III 103 No. 13; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K1825.1.2 | Poor girl masks as doctor and is made court physician. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 68 No. 515*. |
| J1525 | Poor girl outwits prince in fright-contest. He frightens her and later mocks her with her words of fright. She plays the same trick on him. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No 3. |
| P336.1 | Poor host and his wife kill themselves because they are unable to entertain expected guests. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L427 | Poor man aspires to high office: made a cook. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N426 | Poor man carries unwittingly in his water jar a large scorpion which brings him fortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J883 | Poor man consoles self by thinking of misfortunes of rich. |
| K890.1 | Poor man deceives rich man, plays tricks on him, causes his death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2416 | Poor man foolishly imitates rich. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2432*; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N347.5 | Poor man presented rich robe by emperor is locked up as a thief. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1085.4 | Poor man returns to the emperor all save enough for comfort: wealth would take happiness from his simple life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L143 | Poor man surpasses rich. *Types 676, 1535; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 187b; Irish: Beal XXI 336, O'Suilleabhain 122; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 181, 201; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 256f. |
| J2216 | Poor man thinks idol in temple is poorer than he since it is naked. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P336.3 | Poor peasant closes the eyes in order not to see guest eat: later suicide. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H152.1 | Poor people given alms: one of them recognized. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| P336 | Poor person makes great effort to entertain guests. |
| L311.3 | Poor prince overcomes king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2157.5 | Poor soil transformed into lovely garden overnight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L143.2 | Poor suitor makes good husband; rich suitor cruel. Africa: Weeks Jungle 443f. |
| J1561.3.1 | Poor suitor served good supper prepared for rich one. Recites a satirical rhymed grace. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 702. |
| L113.3 | Poor weaver as hero. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| T550.7 | Poor woman gives birth to child who has no body (merely head or skull). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L311.2 | Poorly-armed hero overcomes well-armed by strategy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1816.2 | Pope disguised as caulker. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "calfat". |
| K546 | Pope escapes captivity and death by dressing in full regalia and overawing captor. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| V466.1 | Pope guilty of simony. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H171.6 | Pope selected by chair moving toward candidate. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 27 (b). |
| H1557.4 | Pope tests women's disobedience: not to look into box. (Cf. H1554.1.) They do so and are not allowed to hear confession. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 398. |
| Q147.2 | Pope who has warred on wicked nobles refused burial in church. Magic wind blows doors open to show he has right to be buried there. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| A2721.2.1.2 | Poplar cursed for serving as cross. (Cf. A2762.2.)—U.S.: Baughman. |
| A2681.3 | Poplars from weeping maidens transformed by god. *Frazer Pausanias II 72. |
| A2733 | Poppy characteristics from series of reincarnations. Opium produces each of the appropriate qualities. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P720 | Population. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2144.1.1 | Porcupine as controller of cold. (Cf. K896.1.) N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 302 nn. 106—7. |
| K335.0.4.2 | Porcupine, made to believe that rabbit's ears are horns, flees and leaves food behind. Africa (Nuba): McDiarmid Sudan Notes and Records X 229f. |
| A2432.4 | Porcupine's dwelling. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 246. |
| H1233.6.3 | Porpoise as helper on quest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2167 | Porridge eaten in different rooms. The porridge in one, the milk in another. Type 1263. |
| J1938 | Porridge in the ice hole. They put meal in the boiling current of the ice hole and then, one after another, they jump in to taste the porridge. Type 1260; Clouston Noodles 44; Field Pent Cuckoo 17; Christensen DF XLVII 178; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 255. |
| R131.9 | Porter rescues abandoned child. English: Wells 126 (Lai Le Freine). |
| F167.14.1 | Portion of otherworld for women. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| V263 | Portrait of the Virgin appears to devotee. *Ward II 611 Nos. 26, 27; *Crane Miraculis Nos. 21, 44. |
| V128.2 | Portraits exude oil. *Loomis White Magic 124. |
| D1821.8 | Possession by spirit of dead person gives second sight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1085.2 | Possession of gold turns humble servant into arrogant one. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1735.4 | Possession of magic knowledge and witchcraft from having eaten of father-of-man's corpse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1719 | Possession of magic powers—miscellaneous. |
| D1710 | Possession of magic powers. (Cf. D800.) Hdwb. d. Märchens II "Gegenzauber"; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1410.4 | Possession of mermaid's belt gives power over her. (Cf. D1057.) *Fb "bælte" IV 84a. |
| N135.2 | Possession of money brings luck. Nothing escapes a mouse as long as she has in her hole a purse of money Chauvin II 94 No. 45; Bødker Exempler 291 No. 49. |
| V141 | Possession of relic brings prosperity, its loss sickness. Wesselski Mönchslatein 113 No. 96. |
| J180 | Possession of wisdom. |
| E433.2 | Possessions buried with dead. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F482.4 | Possessions of brownies. |
| F451.7 | Possessions of dwarfs. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F240 | Possessions of fairies. |
| G110 | Possessions of giant ogres. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.25.16 | Possessions of the devil. |
| F455.4 | Possessions of trolls. |
| E766.3 | Post falls when owners lose estate. England: Baughman. |
| K959.6 | Post-hole murder: people invite boy to enter post-hole and then try to crush him with log. Oceania: *Lessa MS. |
| S312.3 | Posthumous child to be exposed. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K2369.4 | Postponing of payment asked in order to get time to gather reinforcements. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J1063 | Pot calls kettle black. |
| D1654.16 | Pot cannot be lifted. (Cf. D1171.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1293.4 | Pot full of milk as sign that city is full of fakirs; flower on top of milk not disturbing it as sign that one more will not matter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E539.2 | Pot jumps in house to indicate money hidden underneath it. England: Baughman. |
| Q151.12 | Pot of boiling oil thrown at compassionate woman does not harm her. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 362. |
| K143.1 | Pot of cow dung covered with cheese sold as cheese. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2061.1.3 | Pot of flour to be sold: broken. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E499.3 | Pot so heavy with ghosts that girl cannot lift it. (Cf. D1317.10.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G331 | Pot-tilter. Ogre who tilts a pot so that victims are drawn into it. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 321 n. 157. |
| J1772.1.2 | Potatoes mistaken for "irregular eggs", or "eggs of the earth." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K2111 | Potiphar's wife. A woman makes vain overtures to a man and then accuses him of attempting to force her. *Reinhard PMLA XXXVIII 456 n. 102; **Bloomfield Trans. Am. Philos. Assoc. LIV 141; *Penzer II 120, IV 104, 107, V 176; *Dickson 178 n. 44; Boje 76; *Faverty Harvard Studies and Notes in Phil and Lit. XIII 81ff.; Heptameron No. 70; Saintyves Saints Successeurs 213ff. — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 68, 128 Nos. 515*, 1516*, Espinosa III No. 146, Keller; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 6, *Rotunda; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 151 n. 2, II 63 n. 4, 74 n. 2, 106 n. 3, Fox 104; Jewish: *Neuman; Persian: Carnoy 336; India: Cowell J[a]taka I 265, IV 117, *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 264, 529; Chinese: Werner 192; Chinese-Persian: *Coyajee JPASB XXIV 191; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 326 n. 178. |
| A15.4.1 | Potter as creator. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.8.6 | Potter rescues abandoned child(ren). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1161.2 | Pound of flesh. (Fleischpfand.) Literal pleading frees man from pound of flesh contract. Contract does not give the right to shed blood. Impossible, therefore, to carry out. *Type 890; Köhler-Bolte I 211f.; Wesselski Mönchslatein 172 No. 138; *Wesselski Märchen 252 No. 61; *Chauvin VIII 200ff. No. 245; *Taylor Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Fleischpfand"; Oesterley No. 195; Dunlop-Liebrecht 262; JEGPh. XXX (1931) 348—60; Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J1176.1 | Pouring water into the inkwell. Soldier accused of stealing slavegirl from author. Girl told to pour water into an inkwell. She does it so skillfully that she must have learned it from the author. *Zachariae Zs. f. Vksk. XXXIII—XXXIV 72. |
| G272.8 | Pouring water on fire from new cup protects from witch. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 653. |
| V461.8 | Poverty as saintly virtue. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z133.1 | Poverty personified as diseased beggar woman. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Z133 | Poverty personified. |
| V135.1 | Poverty-stricken couple wrap newly-born child in altar-coverings. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1331.3.2 | Powder causes magic sight and blindness. (Cf. D1246, D1323.13.) Type 726*. |
| D1335.11 | Powder gives magic strength. (Cf. D1246.)—Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 142 No. 20. |
| D1500.1.7.1 | Powdered skull as remedy. (Cf. D992.) Kittredge Witchcraft 142, 460 nn. 14, 15; England: Baughman. |
| H1573.3 | Power of Christianity tested. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F451.3.1 | Power of dwarf in his belt. *Fb "bælte" IV 84a. |
| D2135.1 | Power of flying from eating children's hearts. Child V 482 s.v. "hearts". |
| U139 | Power of habit—miscellaneous. |
| D1903 | Power of inducing love given by animals. (Cf. B500.) India: Thompson-Balys; Pawnee: Dorsey CI LIX 301 No. 83. |
| H1573.4.1 | Power of Judaism tested. Jewish: Neuman. |
| U240 | Power of mind over body. |
| D1796.1 | Power of nudity in magic. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1573.4 | Power of other religions tested. |
| D1812.1 | Power of prophecy a gift. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 313 n. 3. |
| D1812.2.3 | Power of prophecy from accidental drinking of water from magic fountain. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1812.1.1 | Power of prophecy from fairy. (Cf. D1723.) Hartland Science 203. |
| D1812.1.2 | Power of prophecy from God. (Cf. D1726.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1812.2.2 | Power of prophecy induced by conjuring. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1812.2.1 | Power of prophecy induced by crawling backward around grave. (Cf. D1791.) *Fb "grav" I 478. |
| D1812.2 | Power of prophecy induced. |
| D1812.6.1 | Power of prophecy lost by spitting. When possessor of power on request spits into mouth of man who has taught him, he loses the power. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 313 n. 3. |
| D1812.6 | Power of prophecy lost. (Cf. D1741.) |
| V315.1 | Power of repentance. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B161.4 | Power of seeing whether the dead go to heaven or hell is gained from serpent. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D630.2 | Power of self-transformation received from a god. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 84 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D630.2.1 | Power of self-transformation received from an angel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D630.1.1 | Power of self-transformation received from demon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D630.3 | Power of self-transformation received from fairy parent. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D630.1 | Power of self-transformation received from wood spirit. *Type 677. |
| B161.1 | Power of soothsaying from serpents' licking ears. (Cf. B165.1.1., B176.) Frazer Apollodorus II 48 n. 2. |
| E501.17.4.2 | Power of wild hunt evaded by formula. (Cf. D1273.) Schweda 32. |
| E501.17.4.1 | Power of wild hunt evaded by prayer. Schweda 31; Plischke 79. |
| E501.17.4.3 | Power of wild hunt evaded by sacrificing to huntsman's dogs. Fb "kvie" II 338. |
| E501.17.4.4 | Power of wild hunt evaded by silence. Schweda 31; England: Baughman. |
| F491.3.2 | Power of Will-o'-the-Wisp over person neutralized if person sticks his knife into the ground. England: *Baughman. |
| D1783.4 | Power over monster (wizard, king) obtained by reversing orders. Hero does exact opposite of the command. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 2. |
| D2121.12 | Power to go through closed doors. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1923 | Power to hit whatever one aims at. Fb "friskytte" I 373; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 2; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V11 | Power to which sacrifice is made. |
| B11.5 | Powers of dragon. |
| A165.2.4 | Powers of nature (sun, moon, etc.) as God's messengers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J671 | Practical and impractical defences. |
| N334.3 | Practical joker asks doctor to castrate him. Doctor insists on the operation. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J251 | Practical knowledge more vital than theoretical. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J1580 | Practical retorts connected with almsgiving. |
| J1600 | Practical retorts—miscellaneous. |
| J1550 | Practical retorts: borrowers and lenders. |
| J1560 | Practical retorts: hosts and guests. |
| S466 | Practice of one's religion forbidden. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| U42 | Praise what your master likes and scorn what he dislikes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.9.9 | Pranks played by the devil. |
| V58 | Prayer as ceremony. |
| V52.7 | Prayer at saint's flagstone averts trouble. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V52.3 | Prayer before battle brings victory. Scala Celi 151b No. 833; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| V52.8 | Prayer brings death to enemy. Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 105, 345. |
| V57.1 | Prayer for good harvest. India: Thompson-Balys; Maori: Clark 32. |
| V52.9 | Prayer for protection on journey to land of dead. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V57.2 | Prayer for shower of gold. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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