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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| K311.8.1 | Thief disguised as owner's wife. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K311.6.3 | Thief disguised as parrot. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K311.6.5 | Thief disguised as pig. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| K311.4.1 | Thief disguised as yogi. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K311.3 | Thief disguises voice and is allowed access to goods (children). Type 123, BP I 37ff.; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 118, (Zulu): Callaway 144, (Basuto): Jacottet 62ff.; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 236ff. Nos. 40, 42, 43; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 116 No. 91. |
| K341.3 | Thief distracts attention by apparently hanging (stabbing) himself. *Type 1525D; *BP III 391 n. 1; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 850; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1525H*; Russian: Andrejev No. 1525CI*; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 129 No. 1525A. |
| K311.0.1 | Thief dressed half white, half black. His father's corpse is guarded by twenty knights in black and twenty in white. By disguising he steals back the corpse. *Type 950; *BP III 395; *Köhler-Bolte I 200; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K317.1 | Thief enters by burning off locks. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K315.1 | Thief enters treasury through passage made by him as architect of the building. *Type 950; *BP III 394; Köhler-Bolte I 200; *Chauvin VIII 186; **Huet RTP XXXIII 1, 109, 253; *Frazer Pausanias V 176ff.; Penzer V 245, *X 285; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K315 | Thief enters treasury through secret passage. |
| K404 | Thief escapes by leaving animal's severed tail and claiming that the animal has escaped and left his tail. *Type 1004. |
| K419 | Thief escapes detection—miscellaneous. |
| K400 | Thief escapes detection. |
| J1213 | Thief exposes owner's unjust claim. |
| K366.0.1 | Thief feeds stolen money in flour to animal, then asks for ass. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K325 | Thief feigns illness to be taken in victim's house. (Cf. K341.2.2.1.) Ransacks it while "recovering." Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1392.1 | Thief followed home. A thief ransacks a man's house and departs. The man gathers together the rest of his belongings and tracks the thief. Comes to the thief's door. Thief: "What do you want with me?" "What, isn't this the house we set out for?" *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 212 No. 32. |
| D884 | Thief forced to vomit up stolen magic object. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K335.0.7 | Thief frightens away guards of his father's corpse by impersonating demons. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K335 | Thief frightens owner from goods. Type 1166**; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 303 n. 109b; Africa (Ibo, Nigeria): Basden 278, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 52 No. 6, (Wakweli): Bender 63; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 98 No. 20, Nights 61 No. 12. |
| K335.0.5.2 | Thief frightens priest as the latter crosses cemetery. Meanwhile a confederate steals his chickens. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K346.1 | Thief guards his pursuer's horse while the latter follows a false trail. Steals the horse. *Type 1540; **Aarne FFC XXII 3-109; *BP II 440; Berber: Basset Contes Berbères (Paris, 1887) I 114; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K407.1 | Thief has his companion cut off his head so that he may escape detection. *Type 950; BP III 395ff.; *Krappe "Trophonios and Agamedes" Archiv für Religionswissenschaft XXX 228-241; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Greek: Grote I 122; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N611.4 | Thief hears owner of house singing "Bore and throw out the earth" and thinks himself detected. Offers owner money to purchase his silence. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K312.1 | Thief hidden in cage that is carried into house. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K439.11 | Thief hides in large bottle to get into room: bottle put into water to boil. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K421.1 | Thief hoping to gain bigger booty, loses smaller. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N275.4 | Thief imagines that group of people in street are talking and laughing at him; he confesses. U.S.: Baughman. |
| K311.8.4 | Thief in clothes of owner. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K311.15 | Thief in disguise as god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K311.8.2 | Thief in disguise as long lost son-in-law. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K311 | Thief in disguise. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 23; Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K311.16.2 | Thief in the clothes of robbed bride kills bridegroom. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K321 | Thief learns location of dupe's food supply by strewing ashes. Fills the dupe's bag with ashes and cuts a hole in the bag. Africa (Benga): Nassau 155, 204 Nos. 19, 32, (Ekoi): Talbot 57, 62, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 51 No. 6, 83 No. 13; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 248 No. 24; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 12ff. No. 2. |
| K439.4 | Thief leaves food untouched when owner pretends to be poisoned by it. (Playing poison.) American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 54 No. 7, Nights 297 No. 50; Bahama: *Parsons MAFLS XIII 122; West Indies: Flowers 511. |
| K331.7 | Thief lies down in the space between the king's and the queen's bed and steals jewelry from both. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.6.1 | Thief lives alone with 20 cats that help him keep intruders away. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| K439 | Thief loses his goods or is detected—miscellaneous. |
| K420 | Thief loses his goods or is detected. |
| J1391 | Thief makes a lame excuse. India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian Coster-Wijsman Uilspiegel Verhalen 35ff. Nos. 17—22. |
| K401.4 | Thief makes believe that he has been robbed of money entrusted to him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1161.11 | Thief makes it fall out that he has but taken what has been given him (he has followed literal instructions). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K532.2 | Thief makes magic storm in order to escape. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 61; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K152 | Thief masked as devil bought off by frightened owner. Type 1525; Scotch: Campbell-McKay No. 11; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3442, Legends Nos. 859f. |
| J1758.4 | Thief mistakes leopard for calf (ass). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2136.5.3 | Thief of deer cuts it up and keeps counting pieces. Rescued by wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K359.2.1 | Thief of sweetmeats says his name is Fly. Child shouts to father, "Fly is eating," etc. "Never mind the fly, guard against the cow." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2527 | Thief out of habit robs from his own purse. Nouvelles Récréations No. 46. |
| T251.1.6 | Thief overhears and oversees quarrel of two jealous wives. Arraigned before judge, he asks any punishment be given him rather than that of having two wives. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K419.5 | Thief paints horse black on one side and leaves other side white. Hoodwinked guardians make conflicting report of theft. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| J1141.1.9 | Thief persuaded detective can read thoughts: confesses. (Cf. N275.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K341.4 | Thief persuades owner of goods to dive for treasure. Meantime robs him. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Mpongwe): Nassau 18ff. No. 2; West Indies: Flowers 504. |
| K341.9.1 | Thief persuades owner to take his place so he can go and catch thief: really steals owner's horse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K335.0.5.1 | Thief places candles on crabs (bugs). When they are turned loose in the churchyard the parson and the sexton think that they are the souls of the dead. Meanwhile the thief steals from them. *Type 1740; *BP III 388; Italian Novella: *Rotunda (K2334). |
| J1149.7 | Thief posing as corpse detected by pricking soles of his feet. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K411 | Thief presents alibi. Plays all night for dance while confederate commits actual theft. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 244 No. 21. |
| K311.8.3 | Thief pretends to be girl's bridegroom and calls for her. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K416.1 | Thief pretends to have recovered stolen horse. Returns it to owner after using it all he desires. Nouvelles Récréations No. 24. |
| K341.8.2 | Thief pretends to horse dealer that he wishes to buy a horse. Dealer allows him to climb on horse to see how he rides; thief runs off with horse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K323 | Thief pretends to return grass that has stuck to his clothes to ground where it belongs. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| K341.8 | Thief pretends to show how horse can be stolen; rides it off. *Type 1525B; U.S.: Baughman; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| J1861 | Thief punishes the escaped ox. An ox strays on the rascal's land but escapes from him. The next week he sees the ox yoked up and gives him a beating. The master is astonished. The rascal: "Let me alone; he knows well enough what he has done." Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 210 No. 20. |
| K422 | Thief rendered helpless by magic. *Type 952; *BP III 453; *Fb "stjæle" III 575a; *Kittredge Witchcraft 200f. nn. 95—101; Alphabet No. 669; England, U.S.: Baughman; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 10. |
| Q551.2.3 | Thief rendered unable to remove burden of stolen goods from his back. (Cf. Q212.) *Loomis White Magic 55, 98. |
| K2096.2 | Thief robs blind miser of his hoard and gives a tenth away in charity in form of a banquet to the poor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K337.1 | Thief sends owner for water in leaky basket. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 87. |
| K345.2 | Thief sent into well by trickster. A weeping boy tells a passing thief that he has lost a silver cup in a well. The thief takes off his clothes and goes after the cup, intending to keep it. He finds nothing. When he comes up, his clothes have been stolen. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 346a n. 126; BP III 392f.; Wienert FFC LVI 84 (ET 502), 106 (ST 183); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1289.15 | Thief serves king buffaloes he has killed in hunt and lost; thus reproaches king's wastefulness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K341.2 | Thief shams death and steals. Types 1, 1*; India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Apapocúva-Guarani); Métraux MAFLS XL 112. |
| K411.1 | Thief shams illness as alibi. Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 271 No. 6, (Nago): Basset Contes populaires d'Afrique 217ff. No. 90. |
| K341.2.2 | Thief shams sickness and steals. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Fang): Tessman 41. |
| K341.8.3 | Thief shows knife-maker use of purse-cutting knife: cuts his purse and robs him. Nouvelles Récréations No. 81. |
| K341.14 | Thief steals belongings of his wife's paramour while the latter is calling on her. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K341.15.1 | Thief steals pastries while confederate makes a purchase. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2136.5.1 | Thief stops to admire beautiful things before stealing them. Caught. Scala Celi 58a No. 324; **Zachariae Studien zur vgl. Litg. IX 284ff.; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K401.5 | Thief successfully accuses owner of having stolen property he covets. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K405 | Thief successfully claims that stolen goods are his own. |
| K405.3 | Thief successfully claims that stolen image has been given him by the saint himself. Wesselski Erlesenes 64ff. |
| J1141.7 | Thief suspected of crawling through hole must take off clothes. He is full of scratches and confesses. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 99, 280. |
| K417 | Thief swallows stolen goods to escape detection. |
| K311.6 | Thief takes form of animal. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K346.6 | Thief takes mistress's ornaments across river on pretense of keeping them safe, and then deserts her. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 884. |
| K341.9 | Thief tells his pursuer that the thief has gone to heaven by way of a tree. While the man lies on the ground and looks up, the thief steals his horse. *Type 1540; **Aarne FFC XXII 3—109, especially 93ff. |
| J1758.5.1 | Thief thinks lion is horse. Rides him. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K338 | Thief ties owner's hair while he escapes with goods. Japanese: Anesaki 229, Ikeda. |
| K439.3 | Thief tricked into robbing himself. He has placed a coat on the goods to be stolen. His associate changes the place of the coat. Chauvin II 83 No. 7; Bødker Exempler 273 No. 5; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K2062 | Thief tries to feed watchdog and stop his mouth: dog detects plan. Wienert FFC LVI 69 (ET 330), 96 (ST 103); Halm Aesop No. 164; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K346 | Thief trusted to guard goods. Bødker Exempler 279 No. 21; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Wute): Sieber 191; West Indies: Flowers 505. |
| K346.4 | Thief trusted to guard shawls during prayers. Steals them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2091 | Thief warned what not to steal. The numskull tells the thief where his door-key, his cakes, and his roasts are and warns him not to steal them. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. IX 87. |
| K1605 | Thief-catcher caught by his own magic club. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K407.2.1 | Thief's confederate cuts off own arm to furnish alibi for family's grief. (Previously he had severed father's or brother's head to escape detection.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J1142.4 | Thief's corpse carried through street to see who will weep for him. *Type 950; *BP III 395ff. |
| J1391.1 | Thief's excuse: the big wind. Vegetable thief is caught in a garden. Owner: How did you get into the garden? A wind blew me in. How were the vegetables uprooted? If the wind is strong enough to blow me in, it can uproot them. How did they get into your bag? That is what I was just wondering. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 207 No. 7, cf. II 214 No. 441. |
| J1141.6 | Thief's money scales borrowed. A man buries gold and a thief steals it. The owner detects the criminal. He takes some money to the thief and borrows money scales "to weigh so as to bury with the other". The thief decides that he is detected and hastens to return the stolen money. *Wesselski Morlini 294 No. 43. |
| M359.10 | Thievery a predestined lot. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K341.17.1 | Thieves ask nurse maid to dance while they steal prince. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| K307 | Thieves betray each other. *BP III 393. |
| D1389.2.2 | Thieves cannot cross a river because the water suddenly becomes too hot for them. *Loomis White Magic 98. |
| U138.2 | Thieves cannot quit plundering. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1517 | Thieves deceived by prearranged conversation which they overhear. (Cf. K420.) |
| K2316 | Thieves dig field and drain tank when miser says gold is hidden there. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K421.2 | Thieves directed to a hornet's nest as supposed money hiding place. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K311.9 | Thieves disguised as fine gentlemen steal provost's purse. Are admitted to court without question. Nouvelles Récréations No. 80. |
| K311.7 | Thieves disguised as interior decorators. Steal hangings in palace. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K311.11 | Thieves disguised as musicians. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| J2136.5.8 | Thieves disposed of one at a time. They will not help each other since the fewer thieves there are the more there is to share. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K315.3 | Thieves enter palace through hole in wall and abduct new bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K419.8 | Thieves escape detection by carrying woman on bier and drowning her outcries with wailing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K335.1.12 | Thieves frightened by ghosts who tie fruits to their hair, which they think are missiles thrown at them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K312 | Thieves hidden in oil casks. In one cask is oil; in the others the robbers are hidden. The girl kills them. *Type 954; *Penzer I 133 n. 1; *Fb "kiste" II 134; Chauvin V 83 n. 3; *Basset 1001 Contes II 302; *Wesselski Archiv Orientální II 432; Missouri French: Carrière; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 391. |
| W151.8 | Thieves quarrel over booty: owner comes. (Cf. J2136.5.2.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1952.7 | Thieves set up poor weaver as prince and thus get possession of tribute and gifts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K335.1.6.1 | Thieves steal chest containing hidden paramour. Are frightened away by his outcry. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K375 | Thieves steal chickens and have mock funeral to cover theft. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K306 | Thieves steal from each other. (Cf. K305.2.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 446. |
| K335.0.2.1 | Thieves steal pig and make it impersonate person with plague. Owner and family flee. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K413 | Thieves stretch chain across road and evade pursuers. Type 965**; Fb "kjæde" II 145, "reb" III 26a, *"røver" III 131b. |
| J1165.1 | Thieves tell judge walls of houses were so weak they could not resist temptation of breaking in. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q222.5.4 | Thieves who attempt to steal from churches or shrines are miraculously rendered powerless to get out, and walk in a circle. *Loomis White Magic 97f., 98. |
| J1394 | Thieves' nocturnal habits. |
| K366.3 | Thieving ant. Africa (Fjort): Dennett 126. |
| K366.2 | Thieving bird. *Wesselski Märchen 231; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 374. |
| K366.7 | Thieving butterflies. Cook Islands: Clark 146. |
| K305.1 | Thieving contest: first steals eggs from under bird; second meantime steals first's breeches. BP III 393 n. 1. |
| K366.1 | Thieving cow. |
| K366.4 | Thieving dog. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| F480.3 | Thieving household-spirit. Steals things for its master. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 172; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 3468, 3472. |
| K581.6 | Thieving insect put in closely woven basket asks to be put in a loosely woven one so he cannot see. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| U129.1 | Thieving nature of the fox will show itself. Nouvelles Récréations No. 29. |
| J2136.5.7 | Thieving numskull beats drum (blows trumpet, etc.) he finds in outhouse. Caught. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K366.8 | Thieving octopus. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 374. |
| F419.2 | Thieving spirit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| X221.2 | Thieving tailor can hide stolen cloth even in needle-and-thread tube. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K366.6 | Thieving turtle. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 373. |
| J2136.5.9 | Thieving wolf persuaded to sing. Caught. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1022.7 | Thieving wolf persuaded to stick head through handle of jar of wine so as to be able to carry it off and also sing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q556.12.1 | Thievish abbot to be eaten by wolves: curse by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| X221.1 | Thievish tailor cuts a piece of his own coat. Type 2005**; Nouvelles Récréations No. 46. |
| F967.4 | Thin cloud in form of rainbow. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1783 | Thing thought to be corpse. |
| N331 | Things accidentally fall and kill person. |
| D480.0.1 | Things miraculously stretched or shortened if needed by a saint. *Loomis White Magic 89. |
| J1511.14 | Things on highway belong to the public. Man reproves another for picking his cherries that overhang the highway. He is told that things on the public highway belong to no one in particular. He invites the man to climb the tree for better cherries, drives off with his horse and buggy, giving the same answer about things in the public highway. U.S.: Baughman. |
| J1789 | Things thought at night to be other frightful object. |
| J1780 | Things thought to be devils, ghosts, etc. Indonesian: Coster-Wijsman 57 No. 83. |
| J1782 | Things thought to be ghosts. |
| J1784 | Things thought to be spirits. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3446, Legends Nos. 875-885. |
| J2516.1 | Think thrice before you speak. The youth obeys literally the precept even when he sees the master's coat on fire. *Type 1562; Chauvin VIII 170 No. 187; cf. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 387. |
| A651.1.1.1 | Third sky above prevents earth being burned by sun. S. Am. Indian (Witoto): Métraux MAFLS XL 25. |
| V205.1 | Third son of king possesses sacred power. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 130. |
| D2033 | Thirst magically caused to disappear. (Cf. D1349.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| B266.1 | Thirsty cattle fight over well. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E545.6.1 | Thirsty when hanged, corpse asks for water on Hallowe'en. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1273.1.6 | Thirteen as magic number. Jewish: Neuman; England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N135.1 | Thirteen as unlucky number. **Böklen Die "unglückezahl" Dreizehn (Leipzig, 1913); Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Zahlen" B 13; *Fb "tretten"; **Kyriakiodos To Dysoionon tou Arithmou 13 (Athens, 1953). |
| F162.2.7 | Thirteen rivers of balm in otherworld. Gaster Exempla 219 No. 154 (153). |
| T151.2 | Thirty days' respite from unwelcome marriage. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1218 | Thirty years old for twelve years. Man claims to be thirty; has been doing so for the last twelve years. Spanish, Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| T27.1 | Thirty young girls fall in love with a young man. *Loomis White Magic 82. |
| F451.4.4.2 | Thirty-Years War destroys home of dwarfs. German: Eckart 22, Pröhle Harz. No. 137 III. |
| A2711.4.2 | Thistle serves as milk-cup for Virgin Mary: white spots on leaves. England: Baughman. |
| G303.10.13 | Thistles and nettles are the devil's vegetables. Dh I 187. |
| A1082.3 | Thor battles Midgard serpent at end of world. *Olrik Ragnarök 481 s.v. "Midgardschlange". |
| F531.3.1.3 | Thor carries giant in basket across icy stream. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Skaldsk XVII, Boberg. |
| K235.2 | Thor is to give his hammer in return for Freyja as wife. He masks as a woman and kills the giant who is to receive the hammer. *DeVries Tijdschrift voor Nederlandsche Taal- en Letterkunde XLVII 293ff.; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| P271.8 | Thor slays his foster father and takes himself the realm of Thrace. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Prol. III, MacCulloch Eddic. 314. |
| N647 | Thorn accidentally removed from cobra's throat by woman's finger. Grateful cobra. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F971.3 | Thorn growing in wound becomes tree. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "épine". |
| B381 | Thorn removed from lion's paw (Androcles and the Lion). In gratitude the lion later rewards the man.—*Type 156; *BP III 1 n. 2; Cf. Type 74*; Jacobs Aesop 205 No. 23; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 345), 127 (ST 357); *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 29; **Brodeur (A.G.) "The Grateful Lion" PMLA XXXIX 485; Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 210; Penzer V 162 n. 1, IX 47 n. 1; Alphabet No. 451; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 278.—*Loomis White Magic 58—61.—Spanish Exempla: Keller.—India: *Thompson-Balys.—Chinese: Graham.—N. A. Indian (Wyandot): Barbeau GSCan XI 106 No. 29. |
| B381.2 | Thorn removed from monkey's tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R311.1.1 | Thorn-brake as refuge. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J656.1 | Thornbush blamed by fox for wounding him. He should have known better than to lay hold of something whose nature is to lay hold of others. Wienert FFC LVI 73 (ET 386), 122 (ST 310); Halm Aesop No. 32. |
| F546.4 | Thorns around nipples. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2752 | Thorns on plants. (See A2736).—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K959.5 | Thorns planted so that birds are killed when they light on field. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q581.3 | Those planning to drown others drowned. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J1179.11 | Those who furnish equal number of animals for plow share equally in crop (in spite of amount of work done by each). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1321.2 | Though old woman is made to believe she is in hell she calls for drinking companions. *Wesselski Bebel I 230 No. 142. |
| G631.1 | Thousand year old ogre. Korean: Zong in-Sob 99, 169. |
| B15.1.2.10.3 | Thousand-headed serpent. Hindu: Penzer VI 61 n. 1, VI 176. |
| V12.6 | Thrall as sacrifice. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M455.3 | Thrall cursed to sit on chest and yell and never have rest. Icelandic: Lagerholm 99—100, *Boberg. |
| J1179.6 | Thread awarded to disputant who knows what it was wound on. Zachariae Kleine Schriften 84; Alphabet No. 533. |
| D1400.1.18 | Thread from jogi's garment when pulled makes fort fall to ground. (Cf. D1052.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2031.2 | Thread made to appear as a large log carried by a cock. *BP III 203. |
| F954.1 | Thread under dumb man's tongue cut. This permits him to speak. Dickson 217. |
| Q413.0.1 | Threat of hanging. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K1781 | Threat to build a church in hell. When the man makes this threat, he is let out of hell. Type 804*; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 811A*; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV No. 804*; Russian: Andrejev No. 804*. |
| Q451.0.2 | Threat to cut off hand or foot. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K1271.1 | Threat to tell of amorous intrigue used as blackmail. |
| F321.1.1.6 | Threat to throw on fire causes changeling to cry out and betray his nature. *BP I 369. |
| K547.9 | Threatening tiger challenged to strength contest. Beguiled into holding wood for plow and is injured. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V211.1.7 | Three (seven) druids come to adore infant Jesus. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V331.0.2 | Three (two) Irishmen who believed in Christianity before the coming of St. Patrick. (Cf. A1546.3.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1273.1.1 | Three as magic number. *Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Drei"; Irish myth: *Cross; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 8f.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z71.1.18 | Three bad stories of the saints of Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R112.1 | Three blasts on horn before sunrise to rescue prisoner from mound. *Fb "höj" I 740b. |
| J2037.2 | Three brothers buy cow for common use; each brother pays the farmer full price. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H507.3.1 | Three brothers contest in wishing. Third wishes for all that the other brothers have wished for. Type 1951*. |
| T69.1.1 | Three brothers married to three sisters. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J1914.2 | Three brothers take turns using mule. None of them feeds him, supposing that the others have. The mule dies. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 575. |
| P251.6.1 | Three brothers. Types 654, 655; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H511.1 | Three caskets. Princess offered to man who chooses correctly from three caskets. Alphabet No. 412; Scala Celi 20b No. 127; Oesterley No. 251; Dunlop-Liebrecht 462 n. 74; *Wesselski Märchen 213 No. 18; India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Carib): Alexander Lat. Am. 264; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 121 No. 10, (Benga): Nassau 219 No. 33. |
| Z71.1.2 | Three chairs in heaven for three saints. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A2.1 | Three creators.—Icel.: Boberg, MacCulloch Eddic 327.—Oceanic: Dixon 24; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 42. |
| K551.3.3 | Three cries allowed maiden about to be murdered. Rescue arrives. Child I 32ff., 41f., 47, 487b, V 207. |
| Z71.1.17 | Three cries of the world. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2011.1.2 | Three days and three nights seem one hour as saint preaches. (Cf. Z71.1.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| M233 | Three deformed witches invited to wedding in exchange for help. *Type 501; BP I 109; **Von Sydow Tvе Spinnsagor. |
| W161.1 | Three envoys debate as to which of them should be received with the greatest honor. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Z64 | Three explanations. When explanation of phenomenon is asked, three explanations are offered of which the last is always the true one. (Cf. Z71.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F312.3 | Three fairies sent to queen about to give birth to child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A463.1.2 | Three fates in house in woods allot destiny to people. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *936. |
| M301.12 | Three fates, "norns", prophesy at child's birth. Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 131, FFC LXXIII xxxvii, *Boberg. |
| J2071 | Three foolish wishes. Three wishes will be granted: used up foolishly. *Bédier Fabliaux 212ff., 471; Type 750; *Bolte Zs. f. vgl. Litgsch. VII 453; *BP II 212; *Fb "[ö]nske" III 1179a. — Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "souhaits"; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 213, Coster-Wijsman 46 No. 56. |
| G121.1 | Three giants with one eye. They pass it around. Type 328*. |
| J2033 | Three girls distressed by seemingly impossible task of going and returning together — one in half month, other in fifteen days, other in seven plus eight days. Chinese: Graham. |
| A651.1.1 | Three heavens. Icel.: Snorra Edda Gylf XVII, Boberg.—Hawaii: Thrum 15, Beckwith Myth 42, 74; Maori: Clark 163ff.; S. Am. Indian (Chamacoco): Métraux MAFLS XL 25. |
| A1091.1 | Three horses from dove's egg on last day. *Fb "hest" I 600a. |
| Q560.2.1.1 | Three hours of respite on Sunday for tormented in hell. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z72.6 | Three hundred and sixty-five. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.5 | Three innocent children: Ananias, Zacharias, Misael. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W111.1.1.4 | Three lazy beggars burn alive rather than run away from burning castle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z71.1.6 | Three Lents. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T92.14 | Three lovers mourn for dead girl: one throws himself into her funeral pyre; another gathers together the ashes and vows to spend his life sitting upon them; third resolves to turn fakir. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A651.2.2 | Three lower worlds. Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 77.—S. Am. Indian (Witoto): Métraux MAFLS XL 25. |
| Z71.1.7 | Three Maries. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1273.1.1.4 | Three meditations on death which prevent laughter. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1242.2 | Three men divide a large fish by quoting scripture. Spanish: Childers. |
| J2133.5.3 | Three men in a tree sing song and clap hands: they fall down and die. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1856.2 | Three Nephites are granted quasi-immortal state by Jesus Christ at time of resurrection. (Cf. V294.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| Q45.1.1 | Three Nephites give blessings as reward for hospitality. (Mormon tradition.) **H. Lee, The Three Nephites: the Substance and Significance of the Legend in Folklore (Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1949). |
| D1273.1.1.1 | Three on a match (lighting cigarettes or cigars). England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| Z71.1.8 | Three orders of Irish saints. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.13 | Three persons who spoke immediately after birth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2225 | Three reasons for not giving alms. (1) Student has only one eye: Aristotle says to beware of those whom nature has marked. (2) Student comes from Bremen: no one of consequence comes from there. (3) His name is Nicholas: no one with that name can succeed. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 611; cf. Type 1661. |
| J1552.2 | Three reasons for refusing credit. A man asks for credit, although he has always paid cash before. He is refused on these grounds: either (1) he has never found anyone to trust him, (2) he has never bought anything, or (3) he is rich and does not need an extension of time. *Wesselski Bebel II 121 No. 65. |
| Z71.1.16 | Three reasons why men should condemn wealth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D735.2 | Three redeeming kisses. (Die weisse Frau.) A woman can be disenchanted from animal form if man will kiss her three times, each time when she is in the form of a different terrifying animal.—Tobler 69; **M. Waehler Die weisse Frau (Erfurt 1931); *Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 928.—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 3, 307 No. 24, 314 No. 103, 322 No. 93, 325 No. 3, 329 No. 32; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3592. |
| H432.1.1 | Three roses fall as sign of unfaithfulness. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 12. |
| B72.1 | Three sea-cows: one red, one white, one black. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.1.9 | Three seas surrounding the earth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1717 | Three silly pundits sent to a raja as the two-footed cattle he had demanded. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J485 | Three sins of the hermit. Choice of three sins given him: adultery, murder (theft), drunkenness. He chooses drunkenness; the others follow. (Cf. J21.25.) *Type 839; **Taylor MPh XX 61ff.; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 243; Chauvin VIII 129 No. 118; Herbert III *131; Köhler-Bolte I 583; Nouvelles de Sens No. 25; *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 24; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 159, 282, Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. Cf. Wesselski Mönchslatein 22 No. 17. |
| P252.2 | Three sisters. Types 311—12, 510, 511. |
| Z71.1.10 | Three sods that none may escape: "The sod of his birth, the sod of his death, the sod of his burying." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D759.10 | Three soldiers in the enchanted manor. Curiosity overcoming them they forfeit the power of disenchanting the princesses. Seven seven-year-old boys break the spell and save the princess. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *422B. |
| P17.10 | Three sons each get a kingship, but the youngest the most important in the home country. (Cf. P17.8.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Z71.1.12 | Three spiritual gifts of God. Irish myth: *Cross. |
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