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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| H79.6 | Recognition by large breasts that woman in bed is not husband's wife. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 35. |
| H11.1.3 | Recognition by life history sung. (Cf. H12.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H35.5 | Recognition by manner of throwing cakes of different weights into faces of old uncles. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H12.2.1 | Recognition by matching a couplet together. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H61.3 | Recognition by means of ring enclosed in wound. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 104. |
| H94.8 | Recognition by medallion (plaque). Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H184 | Recognition by miraculous sight of seer (saint). Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 119 (Cassandra). |
| H57.2 | Recognition by missing finger. *Hartland Perseus III 207ff.; Dickson 42 n. 42; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "doigt"; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. 120, 121. |
| H75.6 | Recognition by missing hair. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 187, 189, Thalbitzer 7. |
| H57 | Recognition by missing member. *Hartland Perseus III 208f.; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 150, 168, 171. |
| H57.3 | Recognition by missing toe. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H14 | Recognition by observing emotional reactions of another to object of common experience. |
| H35.4.1 | Recognition by ogam carving on withe (rod, tree). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H61 | Recognition by ornaments under skin. |
| H13 | Recognition by overheard conversation (usually with animals or objects). Person not daring to reveal self directly thus attracts attention and recognition. *Types 313, 533, 706, 870; *BP I 19, III 445ff.; *Fb "hest" I 598b, "ovn" II 774a; **Liungman Jordkulan passim; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 62, 69 Nos. 445*B, 515*; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Thonga): Junod 231. |
| H13.1 | Recognition by overheard conversation with animal. |
| H13.2.1 | Recognition by overheard conversation with bridge. Bridge which will trip up bridal party if king is not marrying an equal. Disguised princess praises bridge for its recognition of her equality with the king. *Type 870. |
| H13.2.4 | Recognition by overheard conversation with churchdoor. *Type 870. |
| H13.1.3 | Recognition by overheard conversation with cow. Chinese: Graham. |
| H13.2.5 | Recognition by overheard conversation with cups (or other utensils). *Type 710; *BP I 19 n. 2. |
| H13.1.2 | Recognition by overheard conversation with dog. Type 533; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 307b. |
| H13.2.6 | Recognition by overheard conversation with flax. By comparing her fate with that of the flax the heroine is able to reveal herself. *Type 710; BP I 19 n. 2; *Köhler-Bolte I 131. |
| H13.1.1 | Recognition by overheard conversation with horse. *Type 870; **Liungman Jordkulan passim; *BP III 444ff.; Fb "hest" I 598b. |
| H13.2 | Recognition by overheard conversation with objects. *Type 870; *BP III 444ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 8; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H13.2.3 | Recognition by overheard conversation with plant. *Type 870. |
| H13.2.2 | Recognition by overheard conversation with stone. *Types 710 870; BP I 19 n. 2; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 62 No. 445B*, Espinosa Jr. No. 114. |
| H13.2.7 | Recognition by overheard conversation with stove. *Type 533; *BP II 275; *Fb "ovn" II 774a; K. Ranke Festschrift f. W.-E. Peuckert, Berl. 1955, 46. |
| H18 | Recognition by password. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 236 No. 40. |
| H44 | Recognition by perfume. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H79 | Recognition by physical attributes—miscellaneous. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H15.2 | Recognition by recalling common experiences. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H17 | Recognition by reminders of what has been said. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 3; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H20 | Recognition by resemblance. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "reconnaissance"; Greek: Homer Odyssey IV 144, 150. |
| H94.7 | Recognition by ring springing off finger. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 9. |
| H51 | Recognition by scar. (Cf. H56.) *Type 314; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 9, *Rotunda; Greek: Odyssey, books XIX, XXIV; Arabian: Burton Nights I 248; Jewish: *Neuman; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 158; Chinese: Werner 281; N. A. Indian (Ponka): Dorsey CNAE VI 606, (Blackfoot): Wissler and Duvall PaAM II 109, (Eastern Cree): Skinner PaAM IX 92. |
| H14.1 | Recognition by seeing husband shed tears on sight of bird (main character in a former experience common to both husband and wife). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H187 | Recognition by servant: saves master from death. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H36.1.1 | Recognition by shoes with which the father had once beaten his son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H93.0.1 | Recognition by smell of jewels worn about neck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H79.4 | Recognition by smile. Sultan frees prisoner when he recognizes him as a former aid. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H12 | Recognition by song (music). Person is recognized because the song is sung only by him or because he is the only one besides the listener who knows it. Thien Motive 9; Norse: De la Saussaye 137; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *452f.; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chanson"; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 3 and the legend of Richard Coeur de Leon and Blondel; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 359; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 530, 539; New Zealand: Dixon 83; West Indies: Flowers 455. |
| H192 | Recognition by supernatural manifestation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H55.3 | Recognition by tatoo. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 370. |
| H151.14.1 | Recognition by tear falling from tree where girl has been abandoned. India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 77. |
| H14.2 | Recognition by tears at recital of own exploits. Greek: Homer Odyssey VIII 94. |
| H11.1 | Recognition by telling life history. *Type 506; Köhler-Bolte II 351ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 19; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H147 | Recognition by tobacco-pipe. Chinese: Graham (H107). |
| H142 | Recognition by token—mouth-harp left by bed. Chinese: Graham. |
| H88 | Recognition by tokens left as trail. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H11.1.4 | Recognition by tracing ancestry. Greek: Homer Iliad VI 215, Aeschylus Suppliants 290. |
| H135.1 | Recognition by trimmed leaf thrown from tree hiding place. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Africa (Nyanja): Rattray Some Folk-Lore Stories (London, 1907) 149ff. No. 24, (Chaga): Stamberg ZsES XXIII 296ff. |
| H31.2 | Recognition by unique ability to bend bow. Greek: Fox 139; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H31.6 | Recognition by unique ability to break iron apple with first stone cast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.5 | Recognition by unique ability to cut (carve) tree, etc. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H31.1 | Recognition by unique ability to dislodge sword. Sword is stuck in a stone or tree. English: Wells 43 (Arthour and Merlin); Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Volsunga saga 7; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H31.9 | Recognition by unique ability to handle easily a heavy stone. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.7 | Recognition by unique ability to perform magic act. German: Grimm Nos. 76, 89; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Kordofan): Frobenius Atlantis IV 134ff. No. 13. |
| H31.10 | Recognition by unique ability to play chess. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.11 | Recognition by unique ability to read inscription. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.8 | Recognition by unique ability to shoot, swim, and drink. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H31.3 | Recognition by unique ability to swing spear. Greek: Roscher Lexikon "Achilleus" I 12. |
| H31 | Recognition by unique ability. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35.2 | Recognition by unique cookery. Only one person could have prepared the food in this way. *Chauvin VI 105 No. 270 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H35.4 | Recognition by unique manner of carving chips. These sent down stream for recognition. (Cf. H135.) *Schoepperle II 301ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35 | Recognition by unique manner of performing an act. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35.1.2 | Recognition by unique manner of playing flute. German: Grimm No. 181; Chinese: Graham. |
| H35.1.1 | Recognition by unique manner of playing harp. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35.1 | Recognition by unique manner of playing lute. Chauvin V 152 No. 75; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H35.3 | Recognition by unique needle-work. *Type 506; von der Hagen I cxxxix; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H181 | Recognition by unmasking. *Type 900; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H12.2 | Recognition by verse of song. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H79.3 | Recognition by voice. Icelandic: Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H56 | Recognition by wound. (Cf. H51.) *Types 314, 502; *Cosquin études 447ff.; Dickson 42 n. 41; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 169, 170; India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 417. |
| H16.2 | Recognition by wounds on lip and finger received at common adventure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H24 | Recognition from dream. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H13.3 | Recognition from overheard conversation of two sons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H13.4 | Recognition from overheard conversation with flower-woman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H154 | Recognition of abandoned child when parent comes to him for relief from famine. Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H16.3 | Recognition of brothers brought about by bouquet of flowers tied as father's gardener used to do. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G556 | Recognition of captive's voice brings about rescue from ogre. Usually captive sings in the bag. Africa (Kaffir): Theal 64, 134, (Zulu): Callaway 75; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 273 No. 85. |
| H45 | Recognition of deity. Tonga: Gifford 56. |
| H61.2 | Recognition of disenchanted person by ornaments under his skin. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 348 n. 249b. |
| H64 | Recognition of disenchanted person by physical attributes. |
| H64.1 | Recognition of disenchanted person by thread in his teeth. As werwolf he has torn woman's apron and caught thread in teeth. *Fb "varulv" III 1015a. |
| H162 | Recognition of disguised princess by bee lighting on her. Fb "bi" IV 36b; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H162.3 | Recognition of disguised princess by bull. Africa (Madagascar): Renel I 144ff. No. 26, 148ff. No. 27. |
| H35.3.1 | Recognition of false bride by inability to finish true bride's weaving. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1582.1 | Recognition of good health by hearing voice. Chauvin V 45 No. 18. |
| H1582.2 | Recognition of good health by smoke rising from chimney. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H38.2.3 | Recognition of maidservant substitute bride by her habitual conversation. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H192.1 | Recognition of man acceptable to God: knife leaps into his hand. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H62.0.1 | Recognition of man transformed to horse. Chinese: Graham. |
| H79.7 | Recognition of monk by his large organ. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 15. |
| H57.2.2 | Recognition of murdered person by severed fingernail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H75.7 | Recognition of murderers by their short hair. Tonga: Gifford 34. |
| H63 | Recognition of other transformed persons. |
| H163 | Recognition of own cow in herd of twenty thousand. Hornet helper. Africa: Werner African 154. |
| H161.0.1 | Recognition of person among identical companions. Irish myth: *Cross; Chinese: Graham. |
| H62.1 | Recognition of person transformed to animal. *Type 325; *BP II 60. |
| H19.1.1 | Recognition of reincarnated person by ability to identify former weapons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H57.0.1 | Recognition of resuscitated person by missing member. *Type 313; French: Cosquin Lorraine II 11. |
| H41 | Recognition of royalty by personal characteristics or traits. (Cf. H36.2, H71.) Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H175.1 | Recognition of son by gushing up of milk in mother's breasts. *Cosquin études 199ff., 238; *Chauvin V 13 No. 8; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H105.5.1 | Recognition of tiger-slayer by tips of ears, nose, and tail of tiger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H62 | Recognition of transformed person (animal). (Cf. H48.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H161 | Recognition of transformed person among identical companions. Prearranged signals. *Type 313, 325; *BP II 29, 516ff.; *Fb "hest" I 598b; *Köhler to Gonzenbach II 246.—Missouri French: Carrière; Hindu: Keith 142; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 340 n. 224. |
| H61.1 | Recognition of twins by golden chain under their skin. Köhler-Bolte I 119. |
| H94.0.1 | Recognition of wife's ring in friend's possession informs husband of her unfaithfulness. Heptameron No. 8. |
| G250 | Recognition of witches. |
| H152 | Recognition through accidental encounter. |
| H94.6 | Recognition through arm-ring. Africa (Angola): Chatelain 227 No. 40. |
| H134 | Recognition through books. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H55.1 | Recognition through branding with hoof-marks. *Types 314, 502; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "marque", "mule". |
| H55 | Recognition through branding. *Types 314, 502, 883B; Dickson 41; Chauvin V 152; Tawney I 37, 92; Burton Nights VII 89 n.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H19 | Recognition through common knowledge—miscellaneous. |
| H10 | Recognition through common knowledge. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H91.1 | Recognition through gold found in eagle's nest. English: Wells 114 (Sir Isumbras). |
| H94.10 | Recognition through gold ring with owner's name engraved on it. (Cf. H88.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H22 | Recognition through image. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H30 | Recognition through personal peculiarities |
| H49 | Recognition through personal peculiarities—miscellaneous. |
| H21 | Recognition through picture. Picture is publicly displayed and brings about recognition of lost person. *Type 881; *BP II 505; Köhler-Bolte I 528; *Chauvin V 92 No. 196, 94 No. 30; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 223. |
| H91 | Recognition through precious metal. |
| H11 | Recognition through story-telling. Telling of a story known to both persons concerned brings about recognition. Icelandic: *Boberg; Arabian: Burton Nights III 96ff., S V 155, 164, S VI 34f., 476; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 224. |
| H151.3 | Recognition when parents come to son (priest, pope) to be confessed. *Type 933; *Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 173 (to Gonzenbach No. 85); *Baum PMLA XXXI 562 n. 59; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H11.1.2 | Recognition: life story painted on wall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F455.10 | Recognizing trolls. |
| T298 | Reconciliation of separated couple. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D882.2 | Recovered magic articles dropped by rescuing animals into the sea. Köhler-Bolte I 437; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F302.6.2 | Recovery of fairy mistress. |
| D881.1 | Recovery of magic object by use of magic apples. These apples cause horns to grow. (Cf. D895.) *Type 566; BP I 470ff; Aarne MSFO XXV 85—97. |
| D881.2 | Recovery of magic object by use of magic cudgel. (Cf. D1094.) —*Types 563, 564; BP I 349ff.; *Aarne JSFO XXVII 1—96—India: *Thompson-Balys; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 248 No. 25. |
| D880.0.1 | Recovery of magic object cures madness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D880 | Recovery of magic object. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XVIII 452 n. 3; *Aarne MSFO XXV 3ff.—Chinese: Werner 348; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G328 | Rectum snakes. Snakes which creep into living man and devour him. *Fb "snog" III 436b; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 322 n. 161. |
| A162.1.0.1 | Recurrent battle (everlasting fight). (cf. A165.7.). Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q552.10.1 | Recurrent plague during reign of wicked king. (Cf. Q552.3.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1812.5.1.11 | Red (gray, etc.). clouds as evil omens. (Cf. D1812.5.0.10.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B731.8 | Red (green) swine. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K621.1 | Red ants' nest broken and thrown down on ogre's head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| D1293.1 | Red as magic color. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 6; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Gaster Oldest Stories 69; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F178.1 | Red as otherworld color. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| 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. |
| A2411.1.6.3 | Red color of bush-buck. From blood. (Cf. A2219.1.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 366 No. 17. |
| D1385.26 | Red color protects against demons. (Cf. D1293.1.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| F233.3 | Red fairy. Irish myth: *Cross; England, Wales: Baughman. |
| A2215.4 | Red fruit thrown at rail's (bird's) head: hence red lump on head. (Cf. A2321.8.)—Banks Is: Dixon 144. |
| Z141.1 | Red garment to show anger of king. *Chauvin V 47 No. 18 n. 1. |
| D1841.3.2.3 | Red hot iron carried with the bare hands without harm to the saint. *Loomis White Magic 34. |
| F527.1.1 | Red knight. Types 300, 303; *Ranke FFC CXIV 236; Fb "Ridder Rod"; Hartland Perseus III 207ff.—Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 73 (Sir Percyvelle of Galles); Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1812.5.1.5.2 | Red or pale moon an evil omen. Chinese: Werner 176. |
| X11 | Red pepper for the slow ass: man tries it on himself. When, on the advice of a friend, he gives the ass red pepper, the ass runs away. Then he tries it on himself. He runs so fast that he passes the ass. Arriving at home, he says to his wife, "Unload the ass when he comes. I must run through the village a couple of times more." Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 224 No. 64. |
| F527.1 | Red person. Africa (Fang): Einstein 179. |
| E631.0.3.1 | Red plant from blood of slain person. *Fb "blod" IV 49a; BP II 532 n. 2. |
| F715.9 | Red river. India: Thompson-Balys; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 8, 48. |
| A165.1.3 | Red sea-bird god's pet. Tahiti: Henry 180. |
| F711.3.2 | Red sea. Tonga: Gifford 141, Beckwith Myth 287. |
| H71.9 | Red teeth as sign of royalty. Africa (Thonga): Junod 231. |
| E12.1 | Red thread on neck of person who has been decapitated and resuscitated. *BP III 19; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 866. |
| D1381.15 | Red wards off danger. (Cf. D1293.1.) Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 6. |
| K286 | Reduced prices but false weights. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1191.5 | Reductio ad absurdum of accusation: object-birth slander. (Later children tell toy animals to drink. No harder than for woman to bear objects.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1191 | Reductio ad absurdum of judgment. *Chauvin VI 63, 231; *Zachariae Zs f. Vksk. XXX—XXXII 50 n. 2; *Wesselski Arlotto II 215 No. 73; India: Thompson-Balys; Oceanic: *Dixon 199 n. 37; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 197 No. 26. |
| J1293 | Reductio ad absurdum of proposal. |
| J1290 | Reductio ad absurdum of question or proposal. |
| H572 | Reductio ad absurdum of riddle: stallions of Babylon. "Why is my mare restless when stallions of Babylon neigh?" Hero beats cat for having strangled a cock last night in Babylon (impossible distance away). BP II 372; Chauvin VI 39 No. 207 n. 4. |
| H952 | Reductio ad absurdum of task. When an impossible task is given, the hero responds with a countertask so absurd as to show the manifest absurdity of the original task. (Cf. H1023.3.1, H1024.1.1.1.) *Type 821B; BP II 368 n. 1; Child I 10f., 13; De Vries FFC LXXIII 265, 269 n. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 237; Chinese: Graham. |
| J1191.1 | Reductio ad absurdum: the decision about the colt. A man ties his mare to a second man's wagon. The mare bears a colt which the wagon-owner claims, saying that the wagon has borne a colt. Real owner of the colt shows the absurdity (1) by fishing in the street or (2) by telling that his wife is shooting fish in the garden. Neither of these things are so absurd as the decision. *Type 875; **DeVries FFC LXXIII; India: *Thompson-Balys; Köhler-Bolte I 460; *BP II 349ff., 371; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 212 No. 434; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1313.5.2 | Reed as direction finder. (Cf. D953) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L391.1 | Reed pricks and drives away dog that urinates on it. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J832 | Reeds bend before wind (flood). Save themselves while oak is uprooted. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 174; Wienert FFC LVI 73 (ET 387), 107 (ST 190, 243); Halm Aesop No. 179; **E. Grawi Die Fabel vom Baum und dem Schilfrohr in der Weltliteratur (Rostock Diss., 1911). —India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| K1872.2 | Reeds make ships appear like island. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J1791 | Reflection in water thought to be the original of the thing reflected. |
| Q535.3 | Refraining from sexual intercourse as penance. (Cf. C110.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| R324 | Refuge in air. Fugitive supernaturally rises in air to escape. (Cf. R321.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R323 | Refuge in upper world. |
| R316.1 | Refuge on island. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R316 | Refuge on rock in sea. Finnish: Kalevala rune 4. |
| R336 | Refuge under kettle. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| P322.3 | Refugee entertained in holy place (church, monastery, etc.). Irish myth: Cross. |
| R300 | Refuges and recapture. |
| R310 | Refuges. *Encyc. Rel. & Ethics s.v. "Asylum". |
| Q257 | Refusal of conjugal relations punished. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| P317 | Refusal to believe that a friend has spoken ill of one. Alphabet No. 220; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| P317.1 | Refusal to believe that a friend will harm one. Alexander drinks cup said to have been poisoned by his friend. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| F1041.21.3 | Refusal to eat from excessive grief. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| P205 | Refusal to fight relatives. Hindu: Tawney I 175; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| W215.2 | Refusal to fight wounded enemy. Hero feels it dishonorable to fight with sorely wounded enemy, because it would be said he died of previous wounds rather than the ones hero might inflict. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q287 | Refusal to grant request punished. (Cf. Q499.4.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| K231.3 | Refusal to make sacrifice after need is past. In distress a person promises a sacrifice to a god (saint) but disregards the promise when the danger passes. Wienert FFC LVI 78f. (ET 438, 448), 139 (ST 442); Halm Aesop Nos. 49, 58; *Crane Vitry 177 No. 102; Herbert III 8, 36; Scala Celi 56b. No. 316; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 305; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 501. |
| K231.1 | Refusal to perform part in mutual agreement. |
| P331 | Refusal to receive preferred help until series of stories has been told. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 5. |
| K232 | Refusal to return borrowed goods. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 68, 375, (Hottentot): Bleek 50 No. 24, (Benga): Nassau 198 No. 29; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 349 No. 61. |
| F1041.21.3.1 | Refusal to speak because of grief. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K239 | Refusal to tell about the Rhine treasure, though condition demanded is fulfilled when the only one who knows where it is is killed. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| A651.1.1.2 | Region above the three worlds. Hindu: Penzer II 242. |
| A1131.0.1 | Regulation of rains. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A1172.1 | Regulation of sunshine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1128 | Regulation of winds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1545.1 | Regulations for sacrifices. Hebrew: Leviticus ch. 1-7; Greek: *Grote I 25f., 28; Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 64, 70, 198, 397; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 238. |
| A1101.1.1 | Reign of peace and justice (under certain king). Icel.: Herrmann Saxo II 377; Irish myth: Cross; Persian: Carnoy 300, 305; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Ferguson 33. |
| E601.2 | Reincarnated benefactor helped by man he has befriended in former life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E696 | Reincarnated person restored to original form. |
| E611.2.4 | Reincarnation as a buffalo. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 592; Chinese: Graham (E612.11). |
| E631.2.1 | Reincarnation as a grass straw. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 115. |
| E615 | Reincarnation as amphibian. |
| E611.2.2 | Reincarnation as an ox. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1124. |
| E629 | Reincarnation as animal—miscellaneous. |
| E610 | Reincarnation as animal. Encyc. Rel. and Ethics I 493b; Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux"; Jewish: bin Gorion VI 110, 310; Africa: Werner African 192. |
| E636.1 | Reincarnation as bag of water. Irish myth: Cross (E636). |
| E637 | Reincarnation as ball (of gold and iron). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E612.8 | Reincarnation as bear. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E616.5 | Reincarnation as bedbug. (Cf. E693.2.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E616.1 | Reincarnation as bee. (Cf. D182.) Fb "sjæl" III 214a. |
| E613 | Reincarnation as bird. Fb "sjæl" III 214a; Gjerdman Nattskärran och nogra andra Spökfеglar (Arv I 27—68); Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 347—363; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 870, II 17; Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 264ff, Graham; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 61. |
| E611.2.1 | Reincarnation as bull. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 166, II 29. |
| E611.2.1.1 | Reincarnation as bullock. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E616.2 | Reincarnation as butterfly. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 266. |
| E611.2.3 | Reincarnation as calf. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 54, 189. |
| E605.7.1 | Reincarnation as child which is within a fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E631.1.4 | Reincarnation as cockscomb. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E694 | Reincarnation as compensation. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E605.9 | Reincarnation as conjurer. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 234, 247, (Greenland): Rasmussen III 130. |
| E611.2 | Reincarnation as cow. (Cf. D133.1.) *Type 510, 511; BP *I 187, III 61ff.; Wesselski Deutsche Märchen vor Grimm (1938) vii ff.; *MacCulloch Childhood 108; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E629.2 | Reincarnation as crab. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 267. |
| E613.9.1 | Reincarnation as crane. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1182. |
| E614.3 | Reincarnation as crocodile. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 365, 479, II 555. |
| E613.5 | Reincarnation as cuckoo. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3134, Legends Nos. 248ff.; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 89 No. 77. |
| E649.5 | Reincarnation as currants. Eyes made into currants. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| E612.5 | Reincarnation as deer. Irish myth: *Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 421, II 27f., 69. |
| E633 | Reincarnation as dish. Bones made into dish. These speak. (Cf. E632.) English: Child I 126; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| E611 | Reincarnation as domestic animal. |
| E611.1.2 | Reincarnation as donkey. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 131. |
| E613.6 | Reincarnation as dove. Italian: Basile Pentamerone V 9. |
| E613.1 | Reincarnation as duck. Tobler 53; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 453*; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 264. |
| E613.3.1 | Reincarnation as eagle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E631.5.3 | Reincarnation as eggplant. Africa (Luba): LeClerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 226f. |
| E612.11 | Reincarnation as elephant. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 157, II 603, 1158. |
| E617 | Reincarnation as fish. (Cf. D170, E713.1.) Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 999, 1148, II 691. |
| E616.3 | Reincarnation as flea. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E649.2 | Reincarnation as flour vat. Stomach made into flour vat. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| E635 | Reincarnation as fountain. Fb "kilde" II 119b; Child V 287a. |
| E612.4 | Reincarnation as fox. (Cf. D113.3.) *Type 506; BP III 494ff.; Fb "sjæl" III 214a. |
| E615.1 | Reincarnation as frog. (Cf. D195.) Tobler 28; Fb "sjæl" III 214a; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1322. |
| E617.2 | Reincarnation as goldfish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E613.10 | Reincarnation as goose. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 267, II 1264. |
| E612.3 | Reincarnation as hare. Fb "sjæl" III 214a; Gaster Exempla 248 No. 349; Eskimo (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 639. |
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