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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| G215.1 | Seven-headed witch. Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 268 Nos. 79, 80. |
| D1521.1 | Seven-league boots. Boots with miraculous speed. (Cf. D1065.1.) *Type 328; *Saintyves Perrault 283, 286; *Fb "sko" III 288a, "støvle" III 642a.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bottes"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 10; England: *Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 253; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 177. |
| B15.6.3.3 | Seven-legged beast. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G11.17 | Seven-mouthed cannibal ogre. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T579.3.1 | Seven-year-old boy begets child. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T579.3 | Seven-year-old girl has child. Gaster Exempla 230 No. 247. |
| V211.0.3 | Seventeen marvels at the birth of Christ. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A651.1.8.1 | Seventeen-storied heaven. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 405. |
| N121.4 | Seventh daughter predestined to be magician. (Cf. Z71.5.) Argentina: Jijena Sanchez 54, 64; Spain: ibid. 69; Portugal: ibid. 70. |
| T27.2 | Seventy princesses in love with hero. He loves only the youngest one. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1591 | Seventy tales of a parrot prevent a wife's adultery. The parrot keeps her interested until her husband's return. *Schmidt Cukasaptati (Kiel, 1894, Stuttgart, 1896); Köhler-Bolte I 47, 336, 513; Clouston Tales II 196ff.; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 59 No. *435. |
| D1811.0.1 | Seventy-two kinds of wisdom mastered by Adam. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J182.2 | Seventy-two kinds of wisdom. Jewish: Neuman. |
| P251.6 | Several brothers. |
| T146.1 | Several men marry one woman. Grimm No. 4; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F961.1.3 | Several suns in sky. |
| F961.0.1 | Several suns or moons appearing in sky simultaneously. Hatt Asiatic Influences 73—78. |
| H57.2.1 | Severed finger as sign of crime. Robber bridegroom thus detected. *Type 955. |
| H106.2 | Severed head as proof of killing. Type 507B (H. C. Andersen Rejsekammeraten); Icelandic: *Boberg; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F1096.3 | Severed head bites earth. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1654.14 | Severed head cannot be moved from helmet. (Cf. D992.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1641.7 | Severed head moves from place to place. (Cf. D992.) Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F933.4 | Severed head of impious man in well causes water to become bitter during part of each day. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V229.22 | Severed head of saint speaks so that searchers can find it. (Cf. D1610.5.) England: Baughman. |
| E783.4 | Severed head opens eyes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E783.3 | Severed head reddens and whitens. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E783.2 | Severed head regrows. Penzer III 268 n. 1.—Greek: Fox 81. |
| E613.0.5 | Severed heads of monster become birds. Hindu: Keith 88. |
| E782.4.2 | Severed leg(s) regrow(s). Africa (Somali): Kirk A Grammar of the Somali Language (Cambridge [Eng.], 1905) 162f., (Ishhak): Kirk FL XV 391ff. No. 3, (Saho): Reinisch Die Saho-Sprache I 76ff. No. 3. |
| K407 | Severed limb prevents detection. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.5.2.4 | Severed limbs replaced by Virgin Mary. (Cf. D2161.3.) *Crane Miraculis 89 No. 18; Wells 167 (Vernon Miracles), 169 (The Clerk who would see the Virgin); Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| E788 | Severed pap regrows when woman bears child. Child V 177. |
| K47.1 | Sewing contest won by deception: the long thread. The ogre sews with the whole length of the thread. When he returns from the first stitch, the tailor has his task finished. *Type 1096; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K47 | Sewing contest won by deception. |
| T281.1 | Sex hospitality given to druid. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T281.2 | Sex hospitality given to king (prince). Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| T281 | Sex hospitality. Host gives his wife (daughter) to his guest as bed companion. *Encyc. Religion Ethics s.v. "Adultery"; Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 149, *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 488; English: Wells 60 (Syre Gowene and the Carle of Carelyle); Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| G220.0.2 | Sex of witches. Both men and women are called witches. England: *Baughman. |
| H105.7 | Sex organs of enemy as proof of slaying. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C101 | Sex tabu broken: child born without bones. Icelandic: Ragnarssaga Loрbrуkar 128; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C190 | Sex tabu—miscellaneous. |
| C114.2 | Sex tabu: man—niece. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 90 No. 50. |
| C100 | Sex tabu. Hebrew: Leviticus ch. 18. |
| F535.4.1 | Sexes of pygmies distinguished. A slight beard on men; long tresses on women. Chinese: Werner 386. |
| X411.3 | Sexton arranges wasp-nest so that parson sits on it. Wasps chase him. *Type 1785C. |
| K1971.8.1 | Sexton behind crucifix tells old maid she will have no husband; she tells Christ Child that he knows nothing about it, she is praying to his mother. Type 1476; BP III 120. |
| K1971.9 | Sexton behind statue tells old maid praying for a husband to raise her foot to her neck. *Type 1476; BP III 120. |
| X411.2 | Sexton puts needle in sacramental bread: parson sticks his hand. *Type 1785B. |
| X411.1 | Sexton's dog steals sausage from parson's pocket: parson flees. *Type 1785A. |
| K1541 | Sexton's own wife brings her offering. The priest grants to the sexton the offerings brought by all women whom the priest has loved. The priest always calls out "Take" when these women offer. The sexton's own wife comes. The priest calls out "Take!" (Cf. Q384.) Wesselski Bebel I 185 No. 40. |
| T8 | Sexual desire as original sin. Jewish; Neuman. |
| B754 | Sexual habits of animals. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A2496 | Sexual intercourse of animals. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T460 | Sexual perversions. |
| G302.7.1 | Sexual relation between man and demons. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F304 | Sexual relations with fairy. |
| F441.6.3 | Sexual relations with wood-spirit fatal. S. A. Indian (Warrau): Kirchoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 880. |
| Q240 | Sexual sins punished. |
| P334 | Shabby hospitality forces guests to leave. Italian Novella: Rotunda (P329). |
| J1790 | Shadow mistaken for substance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1790.2 | Shadow mistaken for thief: is beaten. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F932.8.5 | Shallow river rushes up to drown man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1961.5 | Sham abbot. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1964 | Sham astrologer. *Wesselski Gonnella 106 No. 9; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1961.4 | Sham bishop. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K2165 | Sham blind man throws suspicion on real blind. He admits his deception so that his companion, who is really blind, is punished. *Chauvin V 159 No. 83. |
| K473 | Sham blood and brains. Fox covers his head with milk and says that his brains have been knocked out. Frightens bear. *Type 3; Dh IV 243; Krohn Bar (Wolf) und Fuchs (JSFO VI) 59ff.; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 287; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 21 No. 5, 377 No. 68. |
| K1953 | Sham brave man. |
| K548.3 | Sham calling to helpers frightens robbers away. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1961 | Sham churchman. |
| K1965 | Sham crystal-gazer. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1871.2 | Sham cure by pretended extracting of object from patient's body. *Kittredge Witchcraft 455 n. 77. |
| H248.5 | Sham dead detected by batting eyes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K911.4 | Sham dead king jumps up and kills the nearest slave. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K311.1.1 | Sham dead man brought in sack by confederate. Is killed by his intended victim. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H248.3 | Sham dead tested by pricking. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H248.2 | Sham dead tested by stinging insects down back. Africa (Yaunde): Heepe 253ff. No. 31. |
| K911.1 | Sham death to wound enemies. Trickster lets himself be buried alive and stabs his enemies from the grave when they come to defile his body. *Type 1539; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 198 No. 391; Chauvin VII 151ff. No. 430. |
| K1969.4 | Sham deity. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| K824 | Sham doctor kills his patients. Bødker Exempler 289 No. 42; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 220 No. 98; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 352 n. 271a; Africa (Wute): Sieber ZsES XII 171f.; West Indies: Flowers 529; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 256 No. 38. |
| K824.1 | Sham doctor kills ogre (giant). *BP III 375; **Hackman Polyphemsage; Icelandic: *Boberg; Melanesia, Indonesia: Dixon 188f. nn. 6—8; S. A. Indian (Quiche): Alexander Lat. Am. 169. |
| K2368.3 | Sham doctor prescribes medicine for king's army; they fall ill; invading army, seeing multitudes being carried away in litters, flee, thinking there is a plague. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1771.8 | Sham dream prophesying shipwreck makes people leave ship so that there is room enough for man who wants to go. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1791 | Sham duel in order to bring about recognition. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1656 | Sham dumb man wins suit. The trickster meets a man in a narrow place in the road and calls out to him to make room. The man refuses and the trickster turns over the cart. In court the trickster plays dumb. The plaintiff says, "He is not dumb; he called out to me several times to get out of the way." Damages are assessed against the plaintiff for negligence. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 210 No. 425. |
| N384.7 | Sham execution proves fatal. Jester condemned to die on block. Pail of water used instead of axe. He dies. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1961.1.5 | Sham holy man. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1963.4 | Sham magician belches fire to frighten dupes. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N384.6 | Sham magician causes simpleton's death. Is frightened to death by the impersonation of demons. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1574.1 | Sham magician has paramour fall in a trap. Has trained bird to cling to him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1963.6 | Sham magician makes wife believe that he (she) can be transported by demons. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1963.2 | Sham magician promises to induce love by magic. Dupe is frightened (to death, robbed, or otherwise discomfited) by magician or confederate. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1963 | Sham magician. Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 329 n. 189. |
| K1975.3 | Sham miracle: may the food turn raw. Lazy wife takes uncooked food to husband in field. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1975 | Sham miracle: may the grass grow up! Tricksters who have done no mowing say to their master when he angers them, "May the grass grow up again!" He finds it is full height. *Type 1736; Fb "[ö]nske" III 1178b. |
| K1975.2 | Sham miracle: rupees turn to ashes. Cheat tells man rupees carried by horse in sack will turn to ashes if man's tired wife rides on its back. Man promises to pay him back if that should happen. Ashes fall from under saddle when woman does and cheat collects. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1975.1 | Sham miracle: wallet (bee-hive) changes to wasps. Tricksters put a wasp nest in the wallet (bee-hive). When the master claims it they give it to him with the curse, "May it turn to wasps!" It does. *Type 1736; Fb "bi" IV 36b. |
| K1972.2 | Sham miracle. Priest makes congregation believe the painting of the Virgin weeps real tears. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1970 | Sham miracles. |
| K522.7 | Sham murder: trickster attacked by angry mother causes her to spear ox guts and believe she has murdered him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K931 | Sham nurse kills enemy's children. *Type 37; *Dh IV 247; Krohn Bär (Wolf) und Fuchs (JSFO VI) 93ff.; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1144; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 19ff.; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 23; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 300 n. 97; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 179; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 44 No. 5, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 388 No. 14, (Zulu): Callaway 24, (Kaffir): Theal 111, (Benga): Nassau 125 No. 12; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 344 No. 60. |
| K1961.1 | Sham parson (priest). *Fb "smedepræst"; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1961.1.2 | Sham parson repeats same expression over and over or says a few words of Latin. *Type 1825B; *BP III 116. |
| K1961.1.3 | Sham parson: the sawed pulpit. He has sawed the pulpit almost through. He predicts a miracle. The pulpit falls down. *Type 1825C; *BP II 413. |
| K1955.1 | Sham physician cures people by threatening them with death. *Bédier Fabliaux 476; *Basset 1001 Contes I 382; *Crane Vitry 241 No. 254; Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXVI 89 n. 1; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1955.8 | Sham physician gives relative a medical degree. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1955.9.1 | Sham physician hands out prescriptions haphazard. Pierre Faifeu No. 20. |
| K1955.3 | Sham physician predicts the sex of the unborn child. "From one side it looks like a boy, from the other a girl." The woman bears twins and the husband pays the doctor. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 663; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1955.2 | Sham physician pretends to diagnose entirely from urinalysis. Really from observation and inference from trifles. *Chauvin VIII 106 No. 81; Pierre Faifeu No. 20; Nouvelles Récréations No. 59; Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles Nos. 20, 21. |
| K1955.7 | Sham physician refuses to take his own medicine: unmasked. Wienert FFC LVI 82 (ET 482), 118 (ST 285). |
| K1955.5 | Sham physician: making the girl grow up. A king wants his daughter to grow up quickly. The physician says that he must send away for the medicine; meantime she must be shut up. After several years they show her to the king. She has grown. Clouston Noodles 102; *Penzer V 91 n. 1. |
| K1955.4 | Sham physician: using the flea powder. Catch the flea, open its mouth, and place the powder inside. Pierre Faifeu No. 18; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 133 No. 1550A*; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1955 | Sham physician. Chauvin II 93 No. 39; BP III 369ff.; B[ö]dker Exempler 289 No. 42; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 126; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 352 n. 271a; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 17. |
| K1961.1.4 | Sham priest dupes man into believing he can discover treasure. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1952 | Sham prince (nobleman). Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1968 | Sham prowess in hunting (fishing). |
| K1969 | Sham prowess—miscellaneous. |
| K1950 | Sham prowess. |
| V142.1 | Sham relics perform miracles if faith is great. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2311.3 | Sham revenant. A man takes refuge from robbers in an open grave. Robbers see him and ask what he is doing. "It is my grave. I went out to get a breath of air." Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 206 No. 6. |
| K1954 | Sham rich man. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1958 | Sham teacher. Pretends to read a document brought him as a letter. It is a tax receipt. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 282 No. 332. |
| K1771.7 | Sham threat of war holds ships back so that there suddenly are enough men to man defending ship. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1771.1 | Sham threat: "In earnest or in jest?" A man asks another who has brushed against him: "Did you do that in earnest or in jest?"—"In earnest."—"I am glad, for I don't like that kind of jesting." *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 219 No. 450. |
| K1771.2 | Sham threat: either .... or. "Either you give me the road or I (will give it to you, or the like)." *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 21ff. No. 450; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1564*. |
| K1771.5 | Sham threat: if I were not a philosopher I should break your head for you. Nouvelles Récréations No. 68. |
| K1771.3 | Sham threat: something he has never done before. Beggar says, "If you do not give me alms I shall have to do something I have never done before." The alms are given and he is asked what he would have had to do. "Work." *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 217 No. 450. |
| K1771.4 | Sham threat: the faked duel. Two who had challenged each other agree to hold a sham duel. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1969.1 | Sham traveler. Boasts falsely of voyage and receives canoes which he appropriates. Marquesas: Handy 119. |
| K1951 | Sham warrior. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1956.6 | Sham wise man (girl's confederate) interprets pretended dream for girl. Insists she be allowed to marry man of her own choice. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1956.9 | Sham wise man accidentally predicts weather correctly. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1956.8 | Sham wise man burns house where he pretends to keep his marvelous books, and is free from being called again. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1956.1.1 | Sham wise man claims to find stolen goods by incantation. He has really forced thieves to show them to him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1956.3 | Sham wise man declares who committed the theft: robbers. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 134 No. 1550B*, Espinosa II No. 55; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| K1956.4 | Sham wise man does not know where his own house is. Unmasked. Wienert FFC LVI 82 (ET 484), 137 (ST 427); Halm Aesop No. 286. |
| K1956.1 | Sham wise man gives a purgative and helps find a lost horse. His pills get the credit. *Type 1641; BP II 401ff.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 791; Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 79; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1956.2 | Sham wise man hides something and is rewarded for finding it. *Type 1641; BP II 401ff., 413; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 302; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 284 No. 117. |
| K1956.7 | Sham wise man pretends knowledge from dream: really overheard conversation. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1956.2.1 | Sham wise man sees jewel hidden and is rewarded for finding it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1956.5 | Sham wise man stays alone feigning study. Is really killing flies. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 167. |
| K1956 | Sham wise man. *Type 1641; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: Coster-Wijsman 29ff., 40 Nos. 6, 7, 31. |
| K607.3.2 | Sham-dead deceived into moving by absurd action. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K607.3 | Sham-dead man deceived into making gesture. Obeys suggestion as to how dead man should act and betrays himself. U.S.: Baughman; India: *Thompson-Balys; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 53 No. 11; West Indies: Flowers 517—9. |
| J2311.6 | Sham-dead man punished. A numskull lies in an old grave to see the Day of Judgment. He hears bells and thinks that the Last Day has come. He is beaten by mule-drivers when he tells them that he is a dead man. He returns home and tells his wife that he returns from the dead. "How goes it in heaven?" "For one thing, avoid mule-drivers." *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 216 No. 46. |
| H248.1 | Sham-dead person tested by hot lead poured on hand. *Wesselski Märchen 197. |
| K607.3.1 | Sham-dead tiger betrayed by his live penis. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1951.3.1 | Sham-warrior boasts and is employed at palace. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1951.3 | Sham-warrior intimidates soldiers with his boasting. *Type 1640; *BP I 148ff. |
| D2140.2 | Shaman's wife controls weather. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 84. |
| F1041.23 | Shame causes smoke to rise from saint's head and sweat to stream from his brow. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1383.1 | Shame for nakedness appears to first woman. (Leaves for clothes). —Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Baluba): Einstein 19. |
| K2369.7 | Shammed discussing of peace while getting reinforcements. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| A2332.4 | Shape and position of animal's eyes. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 281. |
| A2371.2 | Shape of animal's legs. |
| A2300.1 | Shape of bee's body. Dh I 129. |
| A2761 | Shape of leaves of plant. |
| J1621 | Sharing his wounds. Two men on parting agree to share everything they receive. One returns with much money. His friend reminds him of the pact. He replies that he has also received many wounds. The friend is willing to forego dividing. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 169; Mensa Philosophica No. 35. |
| J1541.1.1 | Sharing joy and sorrow. Man pledged to do so with his wife follows instructions literally. Beats her—a joy to him and a sorrow to her. BP III 277f. |
| B243.1.3 | Shark as king of fishes. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth. |
| G308.5 | Shark-man ogre, eater of children swimming. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 191; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/346). |
| Q567.1 | Sharp icy hoods (cowls) worn by sinners in hell. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K1818.3.3 | Sharp man pretends to be stupid so as to be included in plans and conversation of plotters. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G341 | Sharp-elbowed women. Kill with their elbows. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 327 n. 181. |
| P16.5 | Shavings of spear which killed king cast into cataract. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2342.3 | She knows best: woman denies accusation of adultery. Husband dismisses the truthful accusers saying that she knows her shortcomings better than anyone else, and she denies it. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1911.1.6 | She-bear as false bride. Compels true bride to exchange places. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.2.0.1 | She-dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B535.0.9 | She-wolf as nurse for child. *Loomis White Magic 60; Roman myth: Fox 307. |
| B535.0.11 | She-wolf cares for baby exposed in the forest. *Loomis White Magic 60. |
| T579.1 | Sheath and knife as analogy for mother and unborn child. Child V 486 s.v. "knife"; Eskimo: Rink No. 2. |
| V12.4.6 | Sheep (ram) as sacrifice. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Jewish: Neuman. |
| J229.2 | Sheep and ignorant shearer. Had rather die than suffer longer from him. Wienert FFC LVI 72 (ET 366), 115 (ST 251); Halm Aesop No. 382. |
| B535.0.10 | Sheep and oxen protect exposed child. Chinese: Coyajee JPASB XXIV 188. |
| T465.1 | Sheep born with human head as a result of bestiality. Wienert FFC LVI 38f. |
| D621.5 | Sheep by day; dog by night. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A2221.10 | Sheep helpful to the Lord: get wool. Irish: Beal V 271. |
| W181.1 | Sheep jealous of dog because he does nothing. Do not consider that he guards the flock. Wienert FFC LVI *58 (ET 197), 132 (ST 386); Halm Aesop No. 317. |
| F989.5.1 | Sheep kill wolves. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J2137.5 | Sheep killed by the butcher, who they are persuaded will spare them. Wienert FFC LVI 64 (ET 282), 118 (ST 286). |
| J1909.5 | Sheep licking her lamb is envied by the wolf. He says, "Such is bad conduct. If I were to do that they would say that I was eating it." Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 587; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 33 No. 129*. Cf. Wienert FFC LVI *69 (ET 335), 94f. (ST 81); Halm Aesop Nos. 282, 330. |
| K1178 | Sheep makes fox believe that the hunter is a priest, the dog his servant, etc. Lithuanian: Balys Index 140*. |
| F989.5 | Sheep never harmed by wild beasts. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D2087.3 | Sheep or cattle disappear every night. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K561.2 | Sheep persuade the wolf to sing. Dogs are summoned. *Type 122C; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. IX 87; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B782 | Sheep sleeps if anyone ties shoe to its ear. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N275.5.1 | Sheep thief confesses when preacher says, "All we like sheep have gone astray." U.S.: Baughman. |
| K439.5 | Sheep thief pretends to buy wethers from the ram, names the price himself. Owner overhears, takes the ram to the thief to collect. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B19.4.3 | Sheep with fiery collar. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1652.14 | Sheep with inexhaustible wool. (Cf. B184.6, B412.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| J624.2 | Sheep-dogs stop quarreling to hunt wolf who has raided the flock. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1813.8 | Sheep's head has eaten dumplings. Small boy is at home to watch the dinner. Runs into church, calls out to his mother that the sheep's head has eaten all the dumplings (or butted them out of the pot). England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N841 | Shepherd as helper. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 54 No. 405A*, Espinosa Jr. No. 215; Chinese: Graham. |
| P412.1 | Shepherd as hero. *Type 300. |
| L113.1.4 | Shepherd as hero. Type 922; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| U135.2 | Shepherd in king's palace sickens for country air. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.3.1 | Shepherd rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N841.) *Type 930; Hartland Perseus III 3 ff.; *Aarne FFC XXIII 56ff.; Dickson 101, 170; *Nutt FLR IV 1ff. — Roman: Fox 307 (Romulus and Remus); Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Longus Daphnis and Chloe, Fox 43 (Zethos and Amphion), 48 (Oedipus), 118 (Paris). |
| J2172.2 | Shepherd shuts up the lion in the yard with the live-stock. He hopes to capture the lion, but loses all his beasts. Wienert FFC LVI 67 (ET 317), 136 (ST 414); Halm Aesop No. 250. |
| J1765.1 | Shepherd taken to be she-ass. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.8 | Shepherd threatened by tiger says he will report matter to ass: tiger flees. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2261.1 | Shepherd transformed to bird still calls sheep: explanation of bird cries. Usually told of hoopoe and bittern. (Cf. A1952, A1965.2, A2275.3, A2425, A2426.2.3, A2426.2.4.)—*Dh III 392—396; BP III 285 (Gr. No. 173).—Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 123 No. 83, 127. |
| A453 | Shepherd-god. Greek: Grote I 57; Babylonian: Spence 126ff. (Tammuz); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P412 | Shepherd. |
| D1446.3 | Shepherd's consecrated staff keeps cow from straying. (Cf. D1254.) Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 302 No. 6. |
| T542.1 | Shepherdess born of red and blue egg. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F839.2.1.1 | Shield concealing one hundred men. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F150.3.1 | Shield hung on pole in front of otherworld palace as signal that adventurer must fight with owner. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F995 | Shield shrieks in battle. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F224 | Shining bower on a pillar for fée in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V211.1.3 | Shining cloud marks place of Nativity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1521.2.1 | Ship as swift as a bird. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1361.21 | Ship becomes invisible. (Cf. D1123.)—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "navire". |
| D491.7 | Ship becomes small boat. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T—G 3/900). |
| F841.1.6 | Ship brass within, steel without. English: Child III 340, 344, 349, IV 504. |
| J2171.1.1 | Ship built with a wooden saw. The ship has no bottom and is so narrow that nothing can get into it. Type 1274*. |
| D2072.0.3 | Ship held back by magic. (Cf. D1419.3, F302.3.1.2, F402.1.13.) *BP II 265 n. 1, IV 196 n. 1.—Irish myth: *Cross; Italian: Basile I No. 6; U.S.: Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F402.1.13 | Ship held back by otherworld women. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V254.2 | Ship in storm saved because of sailors' "Ave Maria". (Cf. D2141.1.) *Crane Miraculis No. 28; Ward II 626 No. 9, 640 Nos. 12, 14, 15, *677 No. 12. |
| D1982.2 | Ship made invisible. Kittredge Witchcraft 46, 399 n. 176. |
| D2098 | Ship magically sunk. England: Baughman. |
| D2136.8 | Ship moved by sacrifice. Greek: Fox 125; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F841.1.5 | Ship Naglfar. Made of parings of fingernails of the dead. *Gaster Germania XXVI (1881) 204; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 351, Olrik Ragnarök (tr. Ranisch) 72f., 74 n. 1, Boberg. |
| F841.1 | Ship of extraordinary material. |
| F169.3 | Ship of glass in otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 610 n. 30. |
| A676 | Ship of hell. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 340, 343. |
| F841.3.2 | Ship on wheels. (Cf. D1553.1.1.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1318.10.1 | Ship refuses to move with guilty man aboard. *BP IV 196f.; Fb "skib" III 242b.—English: Child V 484 s.v. "Jonah"; U. S.: Baughman. |
| D1654.6 | Ship refuses to move. (Cf. D1123.) Type 425; Tegethoff 13; *Fb "skib" III 242b; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 101 n. 3, 109 n. 4; India: *Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1318.10 | Ship reveals guilt. (Cf. D1123.) |
| X1651.2 | Ship sails on thick fog. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D2074.2.3.2 | Ship summoned by wish. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "navire". |
| N271.10 | Ship will sink if murderer is aboard. England: Baughman. |
| G303.25.9 | Ship with devil aboard sinks. Fb III 243b. |
| F841.1.7 | Ship with gold nails. English: Child IV 379ff., V 276. |
| D1521.2 | Ship with miraculous speed. (Cf. D1123, D1520.15.) Fb "skib" III 243ab; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 192; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F1031 | Ship wrapped with feather-beds and canvass and pitched (so as to save it). English: Child V 496 s.v. "ship". |
| G269.8 | Ship wrecked by witch. (Cf. F420.5.2.7.3.) Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 152; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F485 | Ship-spirit. (Klabautermann, Kabonterken.) Similar to house-spirit. Meyer Altgermanische 110; Zs. f. Vksk. II 409, 416, IV 299f., VIII 14 n. 4, 277, XXI 178, XXIX 68; Anglia Beiblatt VI 144, XVII 73; Frischbier Am Urquell I 134; Mitteilungen d. Schles. Ges. f. Vksk. Heft XII 76; Basset Legends and Superstitions of the Sea (New York, 1885).—Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 32 No. 273, 35 Nos. 295—296, 37, 41; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 44ff., (1928) 32ff. |
| N118.1 | Ship's course left to the winds that it might be carried where fate wills it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V421 | Shipman refuses alms: ship turned to stone. Alphabet No. 608. |
| R244 | Ships burned to prevent flight. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| V64.1 | Shipwrecked each get a piece of the chief's gold ring in order to have gold with them in death. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N399.1 | Shipwrecked man lands on deadly enemy's territory and is attacked. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| B772 | Shipwrecked man repulsed by animals. As he floats to shore animals push him back into water.—Chauvin V 149 No. 73 n. 2. |
| K1831.1 | Shipwrecked men call themselves by false names. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J11 | Shipwrecked shepherd distrusts the sea. He had formerly envied sailors. Wienert FFC LVI 75 (ET 407), 110 (ST 219); Halm Aesop No. 370. |
| H431.1 | Shirt as chastity index. Remains white as long as woman (man) is true (Cf. D1056.) *Type 888; BP III 517ff.; Penzer I 44, 165; Oesterley No. 69; Herbert III 233; English: Child I 268. |
| D1541.1.4 | Shirt laid upon altar raises storm. (Cf. D1056.) Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 531. |
| X242 | Shoemaker drinks more than his portion of "drink of lies", which has been prepared for all to partake of equally. Wienert FFC LVI 39; Halm Aesop No. 136. |
| K1783 | Shoemaker offers to trim the peasant's feet to fit the shoes. The peasant prefers to accept the ill-fitting shoes. *Bolte Frey 217. |