Folklore Database · Browse
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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| Q491.3 | Devil beats wicked man's corpse. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 124 No. 50. |
| G303.8.1.2.1 | Devil becomes an angel. Forced by monk, devil sings a hymn and becomes a white angel as he was before the sin. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 670, Balys Ghosts. |
| G303.3.5.3 | Devil becomes heavier and heavier. Animal taken into cart becomes so heavy that horses are unable to pull cart. If it is brought home it turns to stone or tree-stump. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3301; Legends Nos. 533, 535, 541ff., 545—53, 558. |
| G303.3.5.1 | Devil becomes larger and larger. Wünsche Teufel 40; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 532, 539, 542, 556, 722, 780, 839; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.16.19.9 | Devil becomes powerless when called by name. Wünsche Teufel 119; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 641, 647, 768, 779, 809. |
| G303.3.5.2 | Devil becomes smaller and smaller. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 837f. |
| G303.18.3 | Devil blows skin off man who belongs to him and goes in the skin. Fb I 267a; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3365, Legends Nos. 693—697, 700. |
| G303.8.4.1 | Devil bound with huge chain near northern side of Tamdrup church. Fb I 189a. |
| G303.9.1.13 | Devil builds a building. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.9.1.8 | Devil builds a ditch. Wünsche Teufel 37f.; England: Baughman. |
| G303.9.1.7 | Devil builds a road. Wünsche Teufel 37; England, Scotland: Baughman. |
| G303.9.1.10 | Devil builds an inn for a man in competition with a church being built. Wünsche Teufel 44. |
| G303.14.2 | Devil builds bridge except for one stone. No one dares to add the final stone. England: Baughman. |
| G303.8.3.2 | Devil builds himself a castle and calls it hell. Dh I 145. |
| G303.9.1.11 | Devil builds Mont Saint Michel. French: Sébillot France IV 11. |
| G303.9.2.2 | Devil builds road for farmer in one day. Wünsche Teufel 50f. |
| G303.9.1.9 | Devil builds two islands in a lake. Wünsche Teufel 30. |
| G303.25.13 | Devil buys a woman's hair; the silver coin which he gives in payment is changed to a piece of wood and she dies. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 16 No. 148. |
| V115.3 | Devil buys church bell and demoralizes congregation. They have always come early before since they had no bell to announce the time. Now they wait for the bell. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 92. |
| G303.9.4.5.1 | Devil by trick conjures vision to make idolators of believers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C12.1 | Devil called on for help. When the devil appears man excuses himself.—Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 23; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 123 No. 47; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 41 No. 47; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 42 No. 25; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.2.1 | Devil calls himself "Puss". Fb I 266b. |
| G303.16.19.16 | Devil can be driven away by sacrifice. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Bays. |
| G303.25.18 | Devil can touch man's body, not his soul. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.16.19.12 | Devil can't approach Christian girl. Nouvelles de Sens No. 5. |
| G303.3.6.2 | Devil cannot change into dove. Tobler 46; England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.6.3 | Devil cannot change into lamb. Tobler 46; England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.6.1 | Devil cannot change into pike. Fb I 440a. |
| G303.16.3.2 | Devil cannot endure cross made by straps of knapsack. Type 1166*; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1168; Russian: Andrejev No. 1166*; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV No. 1166*. |
| G303.16.17 | Devil cannot enter a house with horseshoe over door. Fb I 267a; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 650; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| G303.16.19.15 | Devil cannot enter magic circle made to keep him out. (Cf. D1381.11.) Scotland, Wales: *Baughman. |
| G303.16.2.1.1 | Devil cannot enter person who is thinking of God. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.16.19.13 | Devil cannot follow man over running water. (Cf. F383.2, G273.4.) England, Ireland: *Baughman. |
| G303.16.2.1 | Devil cannot take one who has read the Pater Noster. Fb I 266b, 267a. |
| G303.9.5.7 | Devil carries a Jew to hell. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3335, Legends No. 650ff. |
| G303.4.8.5 | Devil carries a thorn stick. German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278. |
| G303.9.5.2 | Devil carries away a lord on his back. French: Sébillot France IV 341; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.9.5.4 | Devil carries man through air as swift as wind (thought). Finnish: FFC XXXIII 41 No. 37; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 121 No. |
| R11.2.1.1 | Devil carries off emperor because of his many murders. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q312.2 | Devil carries off fault-finding people. (Cf. R11.2.1.) Scala Celi 54b No. 306. |
| M219.2.4 | Devil carries off hunt-loving priest. (Cf. G303.17.2.4.) England: *Baughman. |
| Q387.1 | Devil carries off jester. (Cf. R11.2.1.) Scala Celi 77b No. 441. |
| Q272.1.1 | Devil carries off rich man at death. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q272.1 | Devil carries off rich man. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 281; Crane Vitry 204 Nos. 170; Scala Celi 60b, 80a Nos. 322, 456. |
| R11.2.1 | Devil carries off wicked people. Scala Celi 6b, 43a, 54b, 77b Nos. 39, 246, 306, 441; Fb "fanden" I 267a; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 55, Beal XXI 322; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 13 Nos. 116, 118; Spanish Exempla: Keller; West Indies: Flowers 571. |
| D2176.3.4 | Devil cast out of man possessed. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3368; Legends Nos. 702—710. |
| G303.6.2.15.1 | Devil causes boy to make noise of wind breaking after he has stolen bushel of corn to pay for shoes. (Cf. D2063.5.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| T451 | Devil causes girl to become prostitute. Destroys the girl's family and begets on her a boy. English: Wells 42 (Arthour and Merlin). |
| G303.9.8.4 | Devil causes salamander to appear in glass of rum, drinks it. U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.9.9.9 | Devil challenges boys to play a disc-game. Can be defeated only with rowan-sticks. (Cf. D950.9.) Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 653—658. |
| G303.3.5 | Devil changes shape. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.16.14.2 | Devil chased by the fumes of burning arsenic. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| R325.1 | Devil chases ghost of wicked man until he puts his head into chapel window. (Cf. E754.) England: *Baughman. |
| N4.0.1 | Devil cheated at card playing. Fb "fanden" I 267b. |
| K212 | Devil cheated by being frightened. *Type 1145—1154; Irish: Beal XXI 311, O'Suilleabhain 33; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K218.1 | Devil cheated by having priest draw a sacred circle about the intended victim. Type 810; Irish: Beal XXI 309, O'Suilleabhain 30; Scotland: Baughman. |
| K211 | Devil cheated by imposing an impossible task. Type 1170—1199; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 636. |
| K215 | Devil cheated by pretended hanging. The man has promised himself to the devil in return for money. He stuffs his clothes with straw and hangs them up. The devil thinks the man has hanged himself and is satisfied. Type 1190*. |
| K218 | Devil cheated by religious or magic means. Missouri French: Carrière. |
| K219.1 | Devil cheated of his promised soul by making the intended victim drunk. The devil may punish the drunk man's body but has no power over his soul. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 522. |
| K219.2 | Devil cheated of his promised soul when the victim sells his to a comrade. The latter says, "The devil can take only one soul from each person. I bought the soul so that when he comes I can give him one and still save my own." Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 279. |
| K210 | Devil cheated of his promised soul. The man saves it through deceit. Irish: Beal XXI 312f., O'Suilleabhain 34, 36; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3390, Legends Nos. 490f., 749f.; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| K218.2 | Devil cheated of his victim by boy having a bible under his arm. *Type 400; U.S.: Baughman. |
| K218.4 | Devil cheated of promised soul by intervention of Virgin Mary. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K218.3 | Devil cheated when his victim becomes a priest. *Type 811*; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 423; Russian: Andrejev No. 811. |
| G303.4.1.6.2 | Devil child born with horns. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.4.8.3 | Devil claims to be 7,777 years old. Dh I 195. |
| G303.9.5.5 | Devil combs Mme. Anna's hair while he takes her away. Fb I 266b. |
| G303.22.9 | Devil comes and works with man who continues to work after night. French: Sébillot France I 160. |
| Q267.1 | Devil comes for hypocrite. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q273.1 | Devil comes for usurer. (Cf. R11.2.1.) Scala Celi 168a Nos. 953, 954; Alphabet No. 758; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| G303.7.4 | Devil comes in a cart. Fb I 266b; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 776. |
| G303.6.3.2 | Devil comes in the whirlwind. French: Sébillot France I 113. |
| G303.16.19.7 | Devil comes out of man when monk recognizes devil's voice in man. Scala Celi 25b No. 168; Alphabet No. 123. |
| K1317.10 | Devil comes to rendezvous instead of woman's lover. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.6.1.2 | Devil comes when called upon. Fb I 267a, IV 99a; Wünsche Teufel 54, 99; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 34, 59, Beal XXI 312, 323; English: Hunt 232, 241; England, Wales: Baughman; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 12 No. 106; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 601—604. |
| G303.9.5.3 | Devil compels two miners to follow him. English: Hunt Popular Romances 218. |
| Q271.2 | Devil condemns rich man who does not repent until ready to die. Scala Celi 57b No. 322; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.25.4 | Devil cooks folk in kettle. Fb I 267a. |
| S113.2.1 | Devil cuts off hand of woman and suffocates her. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 289; Scala Celi 57b No. 321. |
| G303.10.4.1 | Devil dances with a maid until she dies. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 10 No. 81; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3251, Legends Nos. 347, 353f. |
| G303.10.4.5 | Devil dances with maid and puts his claws through her hands. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| J829.2 | Devil decides to leave of own accord. It is decided to drive the devil out of a man who is possessed. Devil sees the inevitable and flees so that they cannot say that he has been driven off. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 159. |
| G303.14.1.1 | Devil destroys Adam's work by night. Dh I 238. |
| G303.24.4 | Devil destroys church steeple. England: Baughman. |
| G303.20.2 | Devil destroys hunting party with terrible wind. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 301f. |
| G303.4.5.3.1 | Devil detected by his hoofs. While playing cards the devil drops a card on the floor and his partners notice his monstrous feet. England, Wales, U.S.: Baughman; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 41 No. 34; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 120 No. 34; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3350, Legends Nos. 676, 793. |
| G303.17.2.1 | Devil detected, goes up chimney in smoke. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 292. |
| G303.17.1.3 | Devil disappears after erection of Tabernacle. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.17.2.7 | Devil disappears amid terrible rattle. Zs. f. Vksk. IV 294. |
| G303.17.2.8 | Devil disappears amid terrible stench. (Cf. G303.4.8.1.) Wünsche Teufel 49f., 51f., 61f. |
| G303.16.19.17 | Devil disappears because he is frightened. |
| G303.17.2.6 | Devil disappears in a puddle. Wünsche Teufel 60. |
| G303.17.2.2 | Devil disappears in a whirlpool. Wünsche Teufel 31f. |
| G303.17.2.9 | Devil disappears in carriage drawn by four black horses. Wünsche Teufel 60. |
| G303.17.1.1 | Devil disappears when cock crows. (Cf. G303.16.19.4.) Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 294 U.S.: Baughman; German: Grimm No. 121, 195, Penzer I 77, IX 143; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 3252, Legends Nos. 344ff., 353—357, 359f., 363, 493, 495, 593, 690, 696ff., 737f., 759, 761, 763, 772, 812, 822, 829, 856; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.16.5.2 | Devil disappears when offered host. Scala Celi 64b No. 353; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1986 | Devil disguised as candidate for confirmation. Fb "fanden" I 266b. |
| K1987 | Devil disguised as man goes to church. Dh. I 175; Nouvelles de Sens No. 5. |
| G303.9.7.4 | Devil disguised as man tells of trip to heaven and hell. Heaven is full of wretches who weep, fast, and pray. Hell is full of wealth, power, and good living. Nouvelles de Sens No. 5. |
| K1961.3 | Devil disguised as monk. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 448. |
| G303.24.1.7.1 | Devil disturbs people in the church. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 440, 447. |
| G303.5.4 | Devil dressed in blue clothes. Fb I 266a; U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.5.5 | Devil dressed in hunting clothes. Wünsche Teufel 65f. |
| G303.9.9.14 | Devil drinks church well dry at one draught. England: Baughman. |
| G303.8.1 | Devil driven from heaven. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3002, Legends Nos. 5f.; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.7.3.2 | Devil drives carriage drawn by horses whose nostrils shoot fire. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 9 No. 69; French: Sébillot France I 428. |
| G303.7.3 | Devil drives horse and wagon. Fb I 266b; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 9 No. 69. |
| G303.7.5 | Devil drives several teams of oxen. English: Hunt Popular Romances 230. |
| G303.7.7 | Devil drives six he-goats. Wünsche Teufel 41. |
| A977.3 | Devil drops stones. England: *Baughman. |
| V31.5 | Devil eats unblessed bread. Scala Celi 64b No. 353. |
| G303.9.8.5 | Devil engages in drinking contest with man for purse of gold. Gold causes man to become miser. England: Baughman. |
| G303.9.9.12 | Devil engages in horse race with man. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.18 | Devil enters body of another. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.18.1 | Devil enters body of dead boy. Scala Celi 67a No. 369; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.16.19.14 | Devil escaped by injuring him with silver bullet. (Cf. D1384.5.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.22.5 | Devil exhibits benevolence to impious people (to people who make an alliance with him: gives them riches, helps them in need). (Cf. M212.) U.S.: Baughman; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 12 No. 96. |
| G303.9.7.2 | Devil exhorts youth to enjoy himself and not to think of God. When the youth has grown old the devil says, "It is now too late to think of God." Type 823*. |
| G303.16.19.10 | Devil exorcised at time of Christ's Nativity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V254.4 | Devil exorcised by "Ave". Ward II 686 Nos. 74, 75, 77. |
| G303.16.14.2.1 | Devil exorcised by burning wood. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 39. |
| M219.2 | Devil fetches man contracted to him. |
| G303.9.6.1 | Devil fights with man. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 121 No. 35. |
| M219.2.2 | Devil flays corpse of person contracted to him. (Cf. Q457.2.) England: Baughman. |
| Q457.2 | Devil flays impious person. (Cf. G303, Q220.) Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 42 No. 50**; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 12 No. 108. |
| G303.16.2.3.2 | Devil flees at pope's blessing. Dh I 175. |
| T251.1.1.1 | Devil flees shrewish wife and enters body of a duke. Exorcised by telling him that they are sending for his wife. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| G303.9.9.13 | Devil flies away with sentry box. England: Baughman. |
| G303.7.9 | Devil flies like bird. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.25.8.1 | Devil follows corpse of a procurator. Fb I 267a. |
| G303.25.8 | Devil follows corpse when a lawyer is buried. Fb I 267a. |
| G303.16.19.17.1 | Devil frightened by a woman. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K2325 | Devil frightened by threatening to bring mother-in-law. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 51 No. 340*. |
| G303.16.19.11 | Devil frustrated by charity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K219.7 | Devil gets a flea instead of man's soul. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 751. |
| K219.6 | Devil gets an animal in place of a human being. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3285, Legends Nos. 472, 489. |
| K217 | Devil gets another soul instead of one bargained for. The devil bargains with a man for his soul, but the man fulfills his contract and escapes. In envy two persons commit suicide. The devil rejoices that though he lost one he has gained two. *Types 361, 362*; Russian: Andrejev No. 362. |
| G303.23.1 | Devil gets into the ark by hiding in shadow of Noah's wife. Dh I 268. |
| G303.9.4.1 | Devil gives Eve two grains of corn. One is for her and one for Adam. Dh I 212. |
| A2286.2.2 | Devil gives horse four eyes; God reduces them to two. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 144 No. 33. |
| G303.10.7 | Devil gives luck with fishing and hunting. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 11 No. 91. |
| D1720.1.1 | Devil gives man power of wishing. England: *Baughman. |
| G303.17.2.3 | Devil goes out through stove with great noise. Finnish: FFC XXXIII 41 No. 45; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 123 No. 45. |
| G303.16.19.2 | Devil goes with one if one spits on old castaway brooms. Fb I 267b. |
| G303.4.5.2 | Devil has a broken foot. He limps. Type 756B; Andrejev FFC LXIX 62, *231 n.; German: Henne-Am Rhyn 277. |
| G303.10.15 | Devil has a hound. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.4.1.4.1 | Devil has a long nose. German: Henne-Am Rhyn (1874) 277. |
| G303.4.1.3.1 | Devil has a red beard. Dh I 239; German: Henne-Am Rhyn (1874) 278. |
| G303.10.16 | Devil has a servant. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.4.4.2 | Devil has claws on his feet. One can tell a devil by claws protruding through his shoes. Fb II 184, 204b. |
| G303.4.4 | Devil has claws. Wünsche Teufel 42f., 83f. |
| G303.4.5.8 | Devil has club foot. England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.4.5.9 | Devil has cock's feet. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.4.4.1 | Devil has five claws. Wünsche Teufel 84. |
| G303.4.3.1 | Devil has glowing thumb. Wünsche Teufel 44. |
| G303.4.1.6 | Devil has horns. Scotland: Baughman; German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 70. |
| G303.4.5.3 | Devil has horse's foot. Type 756B; Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 226; Andrejev FFC LXIX 62; Fb I 601b; Wünsche Teufel 52.—Scotch Campbell Superstitions 290; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 8 No. 66; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 137. |
| G303.4.1.1 | Devil has ninety-nine heads. Dh I 135. |
| G303.4.1.2.6 | Devil has no eyebrows. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.4.5.7 | Devil has no heels. Bitten off by wolf who was created by devil. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 139f., 142. |
| G303.17.3.4 | Devil has not been seen since he created the bramble. Dh I 170. |
| G303.4.5.1.1 | Devil has only one foot. The wolf which he made has eaten the other. Dh I 148. |
| G303.4.1.4.2 | Devil has only one nostril or is without nostrils at all. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 349, 351, 395, 654f., 657f., 776, 785f., 799, 803, 814. |
| G303.4.1.2.5 | Devil has passionate look in eyes. Wünsche Teufel 59. |
| G303.4.5.5 | Devil has pig's foot. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 290. |
| G303.4.1.2.4 | Devil has saucer eyes. English: Hunt 224. |
| G303.4.1.5.1 | Devil has shining teeth. Girl wishes to marry man whose teeth shine. Such a man appears and they marry. When he removes his hat she finds he is the devil. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 52 No. 340a, Espinosa Jr. No. 93. |
| G303.4.8.1 | Devil has sulphurous odor. (Cf. G303.6.3.4, G303.17.2.8.) England, U.S.: Baughman; German: Henne-Am Rhyn (1874) 271; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.4.1.8.2 | Devil has three golden hairs. *Type 461. |
| G303.4.1.6.1 | Devil has two horns. Wünsche Teufel 40. |
| G303.15.3 | Devil haunts a house. Finally is exorcised. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 711—718. |
| G303.10.4.0.1 | Devil haunts dance halls. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| G303.15.1 | Devil haunts premises about to be visited by calamity. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 292. |
| H543.1 | Devil held off from person by answering his riddles. St. Andrew the Bishop, and the Devil. The Devil, in form of beautiful maiden visits a holy bishop. St. Andrew appears as a pilgrim, answers the questions through which the devil seeks to keep him at a distance and discomfits the devil. (Cf. B302.22.3.) Anderson FFC LXII 353; Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 45; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.9.1.12 | Devil helps build Halberstadt Cathedral thinking a tavern is being built. Wünsche Teufel 44. |
| G303.22.8 | Devil helps journeyman win wager with master. Wünsche Teufel 36. |
| G303.22.4 | Devil helps man place cart wheel when it becomes unfastened. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 11 No. 93. |
| G303.22.6 | Devil helps person to steal. When thief blesses himself he is forsaken by the devil. (Cf. K365.) Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 12 No. 98. |
| G303.22.7 | Devil helps ugly man win wife. Wünsche Teufel 104f. |
| G303.8.15 | Devil hidden in a corpse. *Loomis White Magic 74. |
| G303.6.2.12 | Devil hides in clothes of people running from storm. See references to G303.6.3.1.1. Balys Tautosakos Darbai VI 87—100. |
| G303.9.3.1 | Devil hires out to a farmer. Wünsche Teufel 71f.; Irish: Beal XXI 314, O'Suilleabhain 38; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 329ff., Legends Nos. 505—524. |
| G303.4.8.2.1 | Devil holds fire in his hands. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 38. |
| G303.4.8.2 | Devil holds molten coin in mouth. Fb I 267a. |
| Q331.2.1.1 | Devil impersonates woman's maid at her toilette. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| G303.5.1.1 | Devil in a black cloak. German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278. |
| G303.8.11 | Devil in a stone. Irish myth: *Cross; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 9 No. 70. |
| G303.4.8.11 | Devil in animal form cannot be hit by bullets. Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.24.1.5 | Devil in church fills his sack with dissolute songs. Scala Celi 25a No. 165; Alphabet No. 122. |
| G303.7.3.3 | Devil in coach drawn by headless horses. English: Hunt Popular Romances 224ff. |
| E752.1.1 | Devil in disguise hunts souls. (Cf. G303.7.1.3.) French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 13; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 91 No. *773A. |
| G303.8.10 | Devil in dragon's head on a shield. Is expelled by a knight (Percival). Dickson 197 No. 84. |
| G303.8.4.2 | Devil in each stone of church built with ill-gotten wealth. Scala Celi 84a No. 481; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.8.9.1 | Devil in fold of knight's cloak. (Cf. G303.6.2.12.) Knight permits him to lodge there and accompany him to a tournament on condition that he leave him without harm upon request. Pauli (ed. Bolte) 93. |
| G303.3.3.1.2 | Devil in form of a cat. *Loomis White Magic 74; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 40, Beal XXI 315; Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 306; U.S.: Baughman; Finnish-Swedish: Danielsson I 99; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 454, 538ff.; French: Sébillot France III 124; Tobler 46. |
| G303.3.3.2.10 | Devil in form of a terrifying elephant. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 436. |
| G303.3.3.7 | Devil in form of amphibian. |
| G303.3.3.3 | Devil in form of bird. *Loomis White Magic 74; Irish myth: Cross; England: Baughman; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.3.3 | Devil in form of black bird. Tobler 45. |
| G303.3.3.3.5 | Devil in form of cock. Fb IV 272b. |
| G303.3.3.1.4 | Devil in form of cow (bull, ox). Tobler 46; Fb I 266b; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 616. |
| G303.3.3.3.2 | Devil in form of crow. Scala Celi 168a No. 954; England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.2.8 | Devil in form of deer. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.1.1 | Devil in form of dog. Wünsche Teufel 83f.; Fb I 189a, 266b, 676a, II 636b, 891b, IV 227a; Tobler 46; Wessman 9 No. 67; Grunwald Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXX—XXXI 317; *Loomis White Magic 74. Irish: Beal XXI 321, 327, O'Suilleabhain 54, 75; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Danielsson I 86; Spanish Exempla: Keller; South America (Colombia, Argentina, Brazil): Jijena Sanchez 90, 103, 106. |
| G303.3.3.1 | Devil in form of domestic beast. |
| B11.1.4 | Devil in form of dragon. German: Grimm No. 125. |
| G303.3.2.4 | Devil in form of dragons and monsters of various sorts. *Loomis White Magic 74. |
| G303.3.3.5 | Devil in form of fish. |
| G303.3.3.4.4 | Devil in form of fly. *Loomis White Magic 74; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 404. |
| G303.3.3.2.2 | Devil in form of fox. Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 180. |
| G303.3.3.4.1 | Devil in form of gnat. Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 45. |
| G303.3.3.1.6 | Devil in form of goat. Irish myth: Cross; Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 290; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3300, Legends Nos. 529—36f., 541, 545, 550f., 554, 777ff., 832; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.2.3 | Devil in form of hare. Fb I 266b; England, U.S.: Baughman; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 124 No. 51; Finnish: FFC XXXIII 42 No. 51. |
| G303.3.4.9 | Devil in form of house. Wales: Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.2.9 | Devil in form of hyena. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.4 | Devil in form of inanimate objects. |
| G303.3.3.4 | Devil in form of insect. |
| G303.3.3.2.5 | Devil in form of lion. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.3.2.7 | Devil in form of monkey. Scala Celi 62b No. 340; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 89. |
| G303.3.3.2.4 | Devil in form of mouse. Tobler 45; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 192, 194f. |
| G303.3.3.3.6 | Devil in form of owl. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.3.1.9 | Devil in form of pilgrim. Scala Celi 153a No. 844; Alphabet No. 620. |
| G303.3.1.8 | Devil in form of priest. Scala Celi 45a, 45b Nos. 254, 257; Crane Vitry 246 No. 263; *Loomis White Magic 74; England: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3330, Legends Nos. 419—422, 424. |
| G303.3.3.1.7 | Devil in form of ram. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 537, 542ff., 546ff., 780. |
| G303.3.3.3.1 | Devil in form of raven. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 295; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 400ff., 405ff., 411; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 314 No. 110. |
| G303.3.3.6 | Devil in form of reptile. |
| G303.3.4.8 | Devil in form of round bowl. Wales: Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.6.1 | Devil in form of snake. Sneaks into the ark. *Loomis White Magic 74; Dh I 268; U.S., England: Baughman; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.4.2 | Devil in form of spider. Hangs from the clouds. Dh I 135; Scotland, Wales, U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.2.6 | Devil in form of squirrel. Tobler 46. |
| G303.3.3.1.5 | Devil in form of swine. Fb I 266b; Scala Celi 120b No. 659; Tobler 46; *Loomis White Magic 74; U.S.: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 558, 705. |
| G303.3.3.7.1 | Devil in form of toad. Fb III 888b; Kittredge Witchcraft 181 n. 72; England: *Baughman. |
| G303.3.4.10 | Devil in form of ungainly bundle. U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.4.3 | Devil in form of wasp. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.3.4.1 | Devil in form of wheel on wagon. Fb I 266b. |
| G303.3.3.2 | Devil in form of wild beast. |
| G303.3.3.2.1 | Devil in form of wolf. Fb I 189; *Loomis White Magic 74; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 594ff.; French: Sébillot France III 34, IV 118. |
| G303.3.1.12.1 | Devil in form of woman lures and punishes women. Introduces men disguised as women to seduce impious nuns. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| G303.3.1.12 | Devil in form of woman. Lures man. *Loomis White Magic 75; Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 554ff., 762, 801, 834ff.; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.3.3.4 | Devil in form of woodcock. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 42 No. 51; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 124 No. 51. |
| A1293 | Devil in God's absence puts sickness in Adam's body. Dh I 98ff. |
| G303.5.2.1 | Devil in green clothing with hat. Wünsche Teufel 34f. |
| G303.12.6 | Devil in guise of woman woos man. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.3.0.1 | Devil in hideous form. (Cf. G303.3.1.4.) Irish myth: *Cross India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.8.5 | Devil in interior of earth. Banished there by God as punishment for trying to usurp God's rule of the world. Dh I 208. |
| G303.10.6 | Devil in league with a freemason. *Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 32; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 13 No. 117; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3422, Legends Nos. 821ff. |
| G303.18.2 | Devil in place of dead man in shroud (in dead man's skin). Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 42 No. 49**. |
| Q554.2 | Devil in roof of church into which he thrusts voices of loud singers. (Cf. Q223.) Alphabet No. 123. |
| A63.6 | Devil in serpent form tempts first woman (Satan and Eve). Jewish: Neuman.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
If you wish to get access to data for projects and research, then please contact us, we do our best to help
How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
Please cite the relevant sources, catalogues, and classification systems, including the Folklore Database, Berezkin-Duvakin Catalogue, ATU, Thompson, alongside the page accessed and the last time accessed. Please respect copyright and licenses.
Editorial annotations and database enhancements © Jonathan Fielder-White licensed under CC BY 4.0. Berezkin-Duvakin derived narrative and metadata licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Full rights information can be found here.
All rights are reserved in the database structure, selection, arrangement, metadata, classifications, software, interface design, and original editorial content.
Important: The Folklore Database expressly reserves all rights in relation to text and data mining, automated extraction, scraping, machine learning, dataset creation, and the training, development, validation, or improvement of artificial intelligence technologies or systems. No part of this website or database may be scraped, copied, reproduced, harvested, downloaded in bulk, or otherwise used for AI training or commercial data extraction without prior written permission.
Designed and Developed by Jonathan Fielder-White.
© 2024–2026 Crecganford / Jonathan Fielder-White. All rights reserved.