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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| D1610.9.2 | Speaking arrow. (Cf. D1092.) Hawaii: Dixon 75. |
| B211.1.3.1 | Speaking ass. Type 534*.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "âne"; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.14.2 | Speaking axe. (Cf. D1206.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.28 | Speaking ball of thread. (Cf. D1256.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.10.2 | Speaking bananas. (Cf. D981.13.) Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 375. |
| D1610.3.2 | Speaking bean. (Cf. D983.1.) Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "fève". |
| D1619.1 | Speaking beans rebuke wife for misdeed. (Cf. D983.1.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 124 No. 1374A. |
| B211.2.3 | Speaking bear. German: Grimm Nos. 60, 114, 161; French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.22). |
| B211.2 | Speaking beast—wild. |
| B211.1 | Speaking beasts—domestic. |
| N454.1 | Speaking bed-legs overheard. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.17 | Speaking bed. (Cf. D1154.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.4.2 | Speaking bee. German: Grimm No. 107. |
| D1610.15 | Speaking bell. (Cf. D1213.) |
| N537 | Speaking bird tells where treasure is buried. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman, *bin Gorion Born Judas IV 29, 275; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.3 | Speaking bird. Type 516; *Cox 527—9; Penzer I 48; Dickson Valentine and Orson 51 n. 60; Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 53; *Fb "fugl"; Krappe Hispanic Review I (1933) 67ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "oiseau".—Arabian: Burton III 126n, 129ff., SV 300; Bloomfield On Talking Birds in Hindu Fiction (Festschrift für Ernst Windisch) 349ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Missouri-French: Carrière; Jewish: Neuman; Africa: Bouveignes 109, (Upoto): Einstein 137, (Duala): Lederbogen V 139.—Cf. Type 720 (BP I 412). |
| D1610.16.1 | Speaking blood drops. (Cf. D1003.) German: Grimm Nos. 56, 89. |
| D1318.5.4 | Speaking blood reveals murder. Frazer Old Testament I 101; Fb "blod" IV 47ab; Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Blut". |
| E632.1 | Speaking bones of murdered person reveal murder. India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Ibo [Nigeria]): Thomas 58, 67, (Fang): Tessman 124ff. |
| D1610.31.2 | Speaking bread. (Cf. 1031.1.) German: Grimm No. 24. |
| B211.1.5.2 | Speaking buffalo. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.5.3 | Speaking bullock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.2.2 | Speaking bush. (Cf. D964.) Moreno Esdras. |
| D1610.6.3 | Speaking buttocks. (Cf. D999, D1317.1.) N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 296 n. 83. |
| B211.1.5.5 | Speaking calf. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.1.6 | Speaking camel. Loomis White Magic 61; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.8 | Speaking cat. *Type 545; BP I 329, III 487 (Gr. No. 214).—Danish: Fb "kat" II 108b; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chats"; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Mitford 253, Ikeda; German: Grimm No. 4. |
| B211.3.2.1 | Speaking chicken. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.33 | Speaking cliffs (Cf. D938, D932.8.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.26.1 | Speaking cloak. (Cf. D1053.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1610.26 | Speaking clothes. (Cf. D1050.) |
| B211.3.2 | Speaking cock. Fb "kok" II 248b.; Missouri-French: Carrière; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.1.5 | Speaking cow. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.19); Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *543, 481; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.3.9 | Speaking crow. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.10.1); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.20 | Speaking crozier. (Cf. D1277.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1610.13 | Speaking dish. (Cf. D1172.) English: Child I 126. |
| B211.1.7 | Speaking dog. Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chien"; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa: Stanley 105. |
| B211.3.5 | Speaking dove. Greek: Grote I 355; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 181; Africa (Ba Ronga): Einstein 25. |
| D1318.16 | Speaking earth reveals murder. (Cf. D935, D1610.19.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1610.3.4 | Speaking egg-plant. (Cf. D983.5.) Africa (Luba): DeClerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 226. |
| D1610.29 | Speaking eggs. (Cf. D1024.) India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen Märchen 84. |
| D1610.6.4 | Speaking excrements. (Cf. D1022, D1026.) S. A. Indian (Mataco, Amazon, Guiana, Tembé): Métraux MAFLS XL 122; Africa (Nigeria): Herskovits JAFL XLIV 466 No. 7. See also many references to D1611. |
| D1610.10.3 | Speaking fig. (Cf. D981.5.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.5 | Speaking fish. *Type 303. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "poisson"; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Missouri-French: Carrière; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen VI 92. |
| D1318.7.0.1 | Speaking flesh reveals murder. Molucca: Dixon 230. |
| D1610.4 | Speaking flower. (Cf. D975.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.34.2 | Speaking flute. (Cf. D1223.1.) Philippine: Cole 152. |
| D1610.31 | Speaking food. (Cf. D1030.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F812.4 | Speaking forest. (Cf. D1610.2.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| B211.2.5 | Speaking fox. German: Grimm Nos. 8, 57, 60, 191; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.7.1 | Speaking frog. Cf. Type 440; BP I 1 (Gr. No. 1); Fb "frø"; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 171; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.10 | Speaking fruit. (Cf. D981.) |
| K366.5 | Speaking goat swallows gold coins in temple and voids for master. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.1.2 | Speaking goat. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chèvre"; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 55 No. 2. |
| B211.3.3 | Speaking goose. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.3.1 | Speaking gourd. (Cf. D965.2.) Africa (Benga): Nassau 213 No. 33. |
| D1610.10.1 | Speaking grapes. (Cf. D981.8.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1312.3 | Speaking grass gives advice. (Cf. D965.12.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.14.3 | Speaking hammer. (Cf. D1209.4.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.2.6 | Speaking hare (rabbit). Irish myth: Cross; German: Grimm Nos. 8, 60, 66. |
| D1610.26.2 | Speaking hat. (Cf. D1067.1.) Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 48. |
| D1610.5 | Speaking head. (Cf. D992.) *Kittredge Gawain 177ff.; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "tête"; Icelandic: *Boberg (Mimir); Irish myth: *Cross; German: Grimm No. 42; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.14.1 | Speaking hoe. (Cf. D1204.) Africa (Zulu): Callaway 363. |
| B211.1.4 | Speaking hog. Irish myth: Cross; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Benga): Nassau 81 No. 1. |
| B133.3 | Speaking horse-head. The helpful magic horse (B181) is killed (B330). The head is preserved and placed on the wall. It speaks and reveals the treachery practiced against the heroine.—*Type 533; **W. Ljungman Tvе Folkminnesundersökningar (Göteborg 1925) 41ff; *BP II 273 (Gr. No. 89) 274 n. 1.—Hindu: Keith 122. |
| B211.1.3 | Speaking horse. *Types 531, 532; BP II 274f., III 18; Penzer II 57; Fb "hest" I 598b; *Loomis White Magic 61; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Malten Jahrb. d. Kaiserl. deutschen archäologischen Inst. XXIX (1914) 203f.—Russian: v. Löwis of Menar Russische Märchen 313 No. 53, Rambaud La Russie épique 79; Lithuanian: Leskien-Brugmann Nos. 5, 9; Modern Greek: Hahn Griechische und alban. Märchen Nos. 6, 37; Bulgarian: Strauss Bulgarische Volksdichtungen 212, 309; Turkish: Giese Türkische Märchen 37; Hungarian: Ipolyi Zs. f. deutsche Mythologie II 270; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.30.1 | Speaking house-post. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/276). |
| D1610.21.2 | Speaking idol. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.21 | Speaking image. (Cf. D1266.) |
| D1610.14 | Speaking implement. |
| B211.4 | Speaking insects. |
| D1610.19.1 | Speaking island. (Cf. D936.) Marquesas: Handy 128. |
| B211.2.2.2 | Speaking jaguar. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155. |
| D1610.13.2 | Speaking jar. (Cf. D1171.7.) Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 192. |
| D1610.34.3 | Speaking Jew's harp. (Cf. D1239.) Philippine: Cole 163. |
| D1610.27 | Speaking jewel. (Cf. D1071.) |
| D1610.13.1 | Speaking kettle. (Cf. D1171.3.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 75. |
| D1381.29 | Speaking lamp prevents king from killing queen. (Cf. D1162.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.2.2 | Speaking lion. *Loomis White Magic 59; German: Grimm No. 60, 67, 88; French-Canadian: Gautier, Sister Marie Ursule (B211.20); Moreno: Esdras (B211.15). |
| D1610.7 | Speaking loin of goat meat. (Cf. D1032.) Africa (Benga): Nassau 227 No. 34. |
| D1610.4.1 | Speaking lotus flower. (Cf. D975.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.2.10 | Speaking monkey. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 42. |
| F755.1 | Speaking mountain. Icelandic: Boberg; N. A. Indian (Northern Paiute): Lowie JAFL XXXVII 234 No. 13. |
| B211.2.8 | Speaking mouse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.23 | Speaking muirlan (ball). (Cf. D1256.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| B211.1.3.2 | Speaking mule. Africa (Kordofan): Frobenius Atlantis IV 53ff. No. 6. |
| D1610.34 | Speaking musical instrument. (Cf. D1210.) |
| D1610.27.1 | Speaking necklace. (Cf. D1073.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.22 | Speaking nut. (Cf. D985.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.2.1 | Speaking oak. (Cf. D950.2.) Greek: Fox 109 (oak at Dodona). |
| B211.1.5.1 | Speaking ox. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 812. |
| D1610.3 | Speaking plant. (Cf. D965, F815.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.31.1 | Speaking porridge. (Cf. D1033.) Chinese: Graham. |
| D1610.3.3 | Speaking pouka-herb. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.6 | Speaking privates. Man given advice by his private parts. (Cf. D998.) N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 296 n. 83a, (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 84. |
| B211.1.1.1 | Speaking ram. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Grote I 117; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "belier". |
| B211.2.9 | Speaking rat. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.3.6 | Speaking raven. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.6 | Speaking reptile. |
| D1610.8 | Speaking ring. (Cf. D1076.) Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bague"; English Romance: Bevis of Hampton, line 2320. |
| F932.12 | Speaking river (brook). (Cf. D1614.4, F930.6, F931.11.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.35 | Speaking river. (Cf. D915.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.18 | Speaking rock (stone). (Cf. D931.) Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| B211.2.7 | Speaking sea-beast. Irish myth: Cross (B211.17). |
| F931.11 | Speaking sea. (Cf. D1610, F932.12.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B211.2.7.1 | Speaking seal. Irish myth: Cross (B211.17.1). |
| B211.1.1 | Speaking sheep. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "mouton"; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| D1610.11 | Speaking ship. (Cf. D1123.) Fb "skib" III 243a; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 109 n. 4; English: Child IV 376—80, V 275f.; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 33, Beal XXI 311. |
| D1610.1 | Speaking sink-hole. (Cf. D933.) Fb "grøft". |
| E261.1.2 | Speaking skull tells about previous life, reveals future events, etc. Krappe Moyen Age XXVII (1926); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B211.6.1 | Speaking snake (serpent). Loomis White Magic 63; Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 55. Cf. Satan in the Garden of Eden.—Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Missouri-French: Carrière (B211.14). |
| B211.3.7 | Speaking sparrow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1610.9.3 | Speaking spear. (Cf. D1084.) Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 102. |
| D1316.3 | Speaking spittle reveals truth. (Cf. D1001.) Africa (Zulu): Callaway 64. |
| B211.2.1 | Speaking stag. Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cerf" |
| F961.2.5 | Speaking star. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G 3/191). |
| A769.4 | Speaking stars. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1620.1.7 | Speaking statue of man. (Cf. D1610.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.12 | Speaking stove. (Cf. D1161.) Fb "ovn" II 774a. |
| D1610.9.1 | Speaking sword. (Cf. D1081.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| C498.1 | Speaking tabu: the one forbidden expression—"Sorrow is not eternal".—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C498 | Speaking tabu: the one forbidden expression. |
| C400 | Speaking tabu. *Fb "stum"; *Type 451, 705, 710; Frazer Golden Bough XII 461 s.v. "silence", Wuttke Volksaberglaube 161, 323; Wimberly Folklore in Ballads 281; Rantasalo FFC XXXII 69ff.; F. L. Grundtvig Dania VI 184ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Herrmann Saxo II 586ff., MacCulloch Eddic 321f., Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Parsons JAFL XXIX 393; (Navaho): Alexander N. Am. 174, (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 90 No. 4. |
| B211.2.2.1 | Speaking tiger. French-Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule (B211.21); India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 41; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155, 166. |
| D1610.30 | Speaking timber. (Cf. D956.) Greek: Grote I 214, 229; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.7.2 | Speaking toad. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "crapaud"; Missouri-French: Carrière (B211.13). |
| D1610.2 | Speaking tree. (Cf. D950, D1317.20.) Köhler Aufsätze 19ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1311.4.2 | Speaking trees give prophecy. Jewish: *bin Gorion Born Judas III 140, 307. |
| B211.3.1 | Speaking turkey. Zuсi: Cushing Zuсi Folk Tales 54ff. |
| B211.3.8 | Speaking vulture. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.6.1 | Speaking vulva. Man has power to make vulvas speak. This is used as a chastity test. *Taylor MLN XXXI (1916) 249 n. 2; Von der Hagen III *v, 17; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1610.36 | Speaking water. (Cf. D1242.1.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1610.9 | Speaking weapon. (Cf. D1080.) |
| B211.2.4 | Speaking wolf. Irish myth: Cross (B211.25); German: Grimm Nos. 8, 26, 37, 60; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B211.1.5.4 | Speaking yak. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F615.4 | Spear bends as it strikes hero on chest and he survives ordeal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1651.1.1 | Spear can be wielded by only one person. (Cf. D1084.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1381.17 | Spear in ground pointed toward ferocious animal protects. (Cf. D1084.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D631.3.8 | Spear large or small at will. Icelandic: Sturlaugs saga st. 625—26, Boberg. |
| D2031.10 | Spear made to appear as a reed in order to kill treacherously. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F834.1.1 | Spear of fire (thrown by God). Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1601.4.2.1 | Spear rushes out of joking raja's hand and pierces his visitor's chest; it is hungry for blood and has had no food for twelve years. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F834.2 | Spear so broad that its owner by swinging it puts the light out. Icelandic: PMLA XLVI 1002, Boberg. |
| D1549.3.8 | Spear stuck in river bed stops water. (Cf. D1084.) S. A. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 132. |
| N542 | Special conditions for finding treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 77 Nos. 642—644, 648; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F812.6 | Special flavor of wood from certain forest. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F51.1 | Special kinds of sky-rope. |
| D1718 | Special location of magic powers. |
| P10.1 | Special place where occur births of royalty. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 376. |
| H413.1 | Special power of chaste woman: blowing out candle with one puff and relighting it with another. English: Child I 270. |
| H413.3 | Special power of chaste woman: carrying water in sieve. English: Child I 270; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H413.2 | Special power of chaste woman: making ball of water. English: Child I 270; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H413.4 | Special power of chaste woman: raising fallen elephant. India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 166. |
| H413 | Special powers of chaste woman. |
| A527 | Special powers of culture hero. |
| G304.2.3 | Special powers of troll. |
| D1532.3.1 | Special shoes enable hero to climb a stone pillar. Chinese: Graham. |
| F419.3 | Special spirit for each species of animal to act as its protector. S.A. Indian (Caviсa, Tumupasa): Métraux RBAE CXLIII (3) 448. |
| E538.1 | Spectral coffin. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E421 | Spectral ghosts. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "fantфme"; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 684; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 239. |
| D1812.5.1.17 | Spectre as evil omen. (Cf. D1812.5.1.1.6.) Irish myth: *Cross; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 678f. |
| E585.2 | Spectre rides to castle every seven years. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2025.1 | Speech magically recovered on execution stake. Type 710. |
| D2025.5 | Speech magically recovered on Hallowe'en. (Cf. V70.5.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2025.2 | Speech magically recovered when certain bird is caught. Africa (Kaffir): Theal 80. |
| D2025.3 | Speech magically recovered when third person guesses secret transaction. Tawney I 5. |
| A2426.3.6 | Speech of fireflies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1438.1 | Spell causes spear to pursue and slay man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2061.2.2.2 | Spell chanted over person's shadow brings death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1380.24 | Spell overcomes all danger. (Cf. D1273.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1442.6.1 | Spell tames horse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E218 | Spells to recall dead lover. Boiling dead man's head, bones, or carcass in a pot, or burning a piece of lover's clothing or cat in a hot oven. English: Child V 61. |
| L114.2 | Spendthrift hero. Type 969; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Q42.1 | Spendthrift knight. Divides his last penny. He is later helped by the grateful person. *Types 508, 592, 665; BP II 490ff., Scala Celi 81b No. 467; *Hibbard 73, 79; Alphabet No. 291; Japanese: Anesaki 320. |
| H541.1.1 | Sphinx propounds riddle on pain of death. **Laistner Rätsel der Sphinx; Fb "menneske" II 578a; Gascon: Bladé I 3 No. 1; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 349 n. 1; Persian: Carnoy 335; Hindu: Penzer IX 143. |
| B51 | Sphinx. Has face of woman, body and tail of lion, wings of bird.—**Laistner Rätsel der Sphinx; *Frazer Apollodorus I 349 n. 1; **J. Ilberg Die Sphinx in der griechischen Kunst und Saga (Leipzig, 1896); Köhler-Bolte I 115. |
| D477.0.1.3 | Spiced wine becomes bitter. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A13.3.1 | Spider as creator. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A522.3.1 | Spider as culture hero. Dakota: Dorsey JAFL II 134.—African: Werner African 213. |
| A2211.6 | Spider carries large stone on head and drops it: hence spiders under stones. (Cf. A2433.5.3.)—Gold coast: Barker and Sinclair 84 No. 13. |
| D1812.5.2.11 | Spider dropping on one's front a good omen. (Cf. D1812.5.1.12.3.) Samoa: Clark 117. |
| D1812.5.1.12.3 | Spider dropping on person's back as ill omen. Samoa: Clark 117. |
| A2243.1 | Spider hands box to ant and refuses to take it back: hence ants carry huge loads. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 66 No. 9. |
| B724 | Spider has no blood in body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W152.7 | Spider in stingy woman's house grows thin. Type 286*. |
| K815.2 | Spider invites wasp (fly) to rest on her "white curtain". Eats her. Herbert III 40ff.; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B253.4 | Spider performs penance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F989.21 | Spider spins web across sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2231.6 | Spider steals thread from Christ: has thread in back of body. (Cf. A2356.2.8.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 22 No. 123; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 149 No. 65. |
| J953.9 | Spider thinks that it has held back the wind. Indonesian: DeVries's list No. 138. |
| A2261.2 | Spider transformed for greediness: now occupies dark corners. (Cf. A2433.5.3.)—Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 69 No. 10. |
| A2231.5 | Spider vies with Virgin Mary in spinning: cursed. Dh II 253. |
| B523.1 | Spider-web over hole saves fugitive. (Cf. A2221.5.)—Type 967*; *Dh II 66f.—*Wesselski Theorie 42.—Jewish: Neuman, Bin Gorion; Born Judas III 115ff., Grünbaum Neue Beiträge zur Semitischen Sagenkunde 195; Lappish: Qvigstad Lappiske Eventyr I No. 32, II No. 68.—India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Fang): Trilles 139. |
| F51.1.1 | Spider-web sky-rope. (Cf. F101.7.) Spider makes web on which ascent or descent is accomplished. India: Thompson-Balys; Oceanic (Hawaii, New Zealand, New Hebrides, Caroline Is.): Dixon 59, 66, (Maori): Clark 163f., (Hawaii): Beckwith Myth 254f., 530; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 332 n. 201; Arawak and Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. Myth. 274; Africa: Werner African 132ff., (Baluyi, Basubiya, Congo, Angola): Chatelain 135, (Fjort): Dennett 74 No. 16. |
| A2301.2 | Spider's body made larger. Sinkyone: Kroeber JAFL XXXII 347. |
| K2363 | Spies' false report of enemies' weakness brings on premature attack. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 394. |
| D1285.1 | Spike produced by magic. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q463 | Spiked-cask punishment. Rolling down hill in a cask with spikes on inside. DeCock Volkssage 87; BP I 108; Sébillot France I 302, II 90, 271, IV 293ff.; Fb "spigertønde"; Child II 343, IV 30 n. 32, V 48; *Page JAFL LIX 20ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N131.3 | Spilling salt brings bad luck. |
| D1364.17 | Spindle causes magic sleep. (Cf. D1186.)—*Type 410; *BP I 434ff., 440; *Saintyves Perrault 62. |
| N777.4 | Spindle dropped into well leads to adventures. Type 480; *Roberts 125. |
| H1531 | Spine test. Attempt to kill hero by throwing him on sharp spine or spike. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 324 n. 168. |
| P451 | Spinner. Sébillot Métiers No. 5; *Von Sydow Spinnsagor. |
| F381.8 | Spinning fairies lured away from the house by fire alarm. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3698. |
| C916.4 | Spinning wheel continues spinning because woman has worked at forbidden time. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 18 No. 166. |
| J1881.1.5 | Spinning wheel is sent home by itself. The man asks his wife if it has arrived before him, finds that it has not. "I thought not. I came a shorter way." Scotland: *Baughman. |
| F405.4 | Spirit (demon) baffled by scolding and getting last word. English: Child I 20—22, 485a, II 496b, 509a, III 496a, IV 440a. |
| F402.1.11.1 | Spirit (devil) sent by druids cause death of Christian king. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F402.1.14 | Spirit and horses. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| F401.3.3 | Spirit as black dog. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 25. |
| F401.3.4 | Spirit as fly going into bottle. Fb "lille" II 428. |
| M301.11 | Spirit as prophet. (Cf. F400.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F403.2.2.6 | Spirit as small black man. German: Grimm No. 116. |
| F402.1.2 | Spirit blocks person's road. Irish myth: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 99, Beal XXI 331; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 12. |
| F414 | Spirit carries people. |
| F402.1.11 | Spirit causes death. |
| A1015.2 | Spirit causes deluge. Jegerlehner Oberwallis 299 No. 10.—S. Am. Indian (Eastern Brazil): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 434, (Guaporé River): Lévi-Strauss ibid. (3) 379. |
| F402.1.6 | Spirit causes weakness. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D493 | Spirit changes to animal. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T—G 3/1001, z-G. 3/1353). |
| F402.1.9 | Spirit delivers false message. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F473.6.9 | Spirit disturbs coffins in burial vault. England: *Baughman. |
| F473.6.4 | Spirit eats food. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F493.0.1.2 | Spirit enters princess' body and she falls ill. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F407.2 | Spirit fades into air. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F402.1.12 | Spirit fights against person. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F411.2 | Spirit floats in air. (Cf. F418.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F403.2.3.6 | Spirit gives counsel. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1721.1.3 | Spirit gives man the power of exorcising him out of anyone he possesses. (Cf. D2176.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F403.2.3.2 | Spirit gives warning. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 22; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 225, Rink 120. |
| F401.4.1 | Spirit has half head. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F473.2.2 | Spirit hides articles in strange places. Canada, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| D1812.5.1.17.1 | Spirit host fighting in air as evil omen. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V112.1 | Spirit huts. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 69; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 112. |
| F401.3 | Spirit in animal form. West Indies: Flowers 433. |
| F401.3.4.2 | Spirit in ant form. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 75. |
| F403.2.2.4 | Spirit in bottle (bag) as helper. Norlind Skattsägner 47ff. |
| F401.3.7 | Spirit in form of a bird. |
| F401.5.1 | Spirit in form of horrible head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F401.3.1 | Spirit in form of horse. Demon horse. *Howey 35ff. |
| F408.2 | Spirit in heart of man (fairy). Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q501.9 | Spirit in hell must bathe people endlessly. (Cf. Q578.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q578 | Spirit in hell remitted from humiliating punishment of bathing people. (Cf. Q501.9.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| F403.2.3.1 | Spirit in hornet form guards a treasure. Tobler 37. |
| F401.6 | Spirit in human form. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F402.1.1 | Spirit leads person astray. *Kittredge Witchcraft 215, 523 nn. 19, 20.—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 313 No. 83; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F405.7 | Spirit leaves when report is made of the death of one of his kind. *Taylor Washington University Studies X (Humanistic Series) 23—60; **Boberg Sagnet om den Store Pans Død (København, 1934).—Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 45 No. 374; Scandinavian: Hartmann Die Trollvorstellungen (Stuttgart, 1936) 73; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 58 No. 101. |
| F412.2 | Spirit made visible by standing on another's foot. Irish: Beal XXI 336; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 297 No. 1, 298 No. 7. |
| F473.6.6 | Spirit makes wheels come off wagon. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F404.1 | Spirit must speak as soon as addressed. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 323 No. 125. |
| N134.1.4 | Spirit of adversity brings bad luck to house. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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