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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| K1056 | Dupe allowed to guard "king's litter": sticks in mud. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K493 | Dupe betrayed by asking him ambiguous questions. They are phrased in such a way that he understands them differently from the way they are intended. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 283. |
| K941.2 | Dupe burns house because trickster reports high price paid for ashes. Spanish: Espinosa III No. 193; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 274. |
| K1111.2 | Dupe caught in crack in ground. Dies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K892 | Dupe crowded into the water: drowns. Type 10**; S. A. Indian (Tembé): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 140. |
| K891.5.2 | Dupe crowded over precipice. Type 10***; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 41. |
| K1177 | Dupe deceived concerning the thunder; finally killed by it. The dupe has asked the trickster to tell him when it thunders. *Type 1148A; Estonian, Finnish, Swedish, Latvian, Lithuanian: *Balys Tautosakos Darbai VI 13—26. Cf. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 327 n. 179. |
| K278 | Dupe denied food until hands are clean. Grass burned around food makes continued washings unavailing. Africa (Zezuru): Posselt Fables of the Veld (London, 1929) 110 (Northern Rhodesia): Worthington The Little Wise One (London, 1930) 25ff., (Nyanja): Rattray Some Folk-Lore Stories ... in Chinyanja (London, 1907) 145f. No. 22, (Namwanga): Dewar Chinamwanga Stories (Livingstonia, 1900) 47, (Fang): Anthropos XXVIII 292 No. 7, (Bulu): Krug JAFL XXV 114, (Mossi, Nioniossee, Samo, Yarse, Silmi-Mossi, Fulah): Tauxier Le Noir du Yatenga (Paris, 1917) 458f. No. 59. |
| K1061 | Dupe digs till he dies of exhaustion. Rabbit entertains the wolf with his antics until the rabbit's wife can change to another hole. The wolf continues to dig. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 31 No. 72A*. |
| K1045.1 | Dupe fed oversalted food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K893 | Dupe forced on to thin ice: drowns himself. Type 10*. |
| K1026 | Dupe imitates trickster's thefts and is caught. *Types 1 (and notes to K371.1.), 66**; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Ibo, Nigeria): Basden 274. |
| K1051.1 | Dupe induced to dive for alleged jewels. Type 1535; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Vai): Klingenheben ZsES XVI 102ff. No. 8, (Madagascar): Renel II 89ff. No. 83. |
| K1044.1 | Dupe induced to drink urine. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K1044 | Dupe induced to eat filth (dung). Irish myth: Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 15; Marquesas: Handy 110; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 442; West Indies: Flowers 533. |
| K1043 | Dupe induced to eat sharp (stinging, bitter) fruit. India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 13; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 376. |
| K1066 | Dupe induced to incriminate himself. Taught incriminating song or persuaded to wear incriminating clothes. Africa (Nigeria): Tremearne FL XXI 489 No. 20; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 69 No. 13, (Virginia): Smiley JAFL XXXII 366; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 235; Bahama: Parsons MAFLS XIII 70 No. 33; West Indies: Flowers 534. |
| K891.5 | Dupe induced to jump over precipice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K832 | Dupe induced to look about: seized and killed. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1116 | Dupe induced to sit on sharp stones (concealed as soft seat). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K982 | Dupe induced to stand under falling tree. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 70, (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 43. |
| K1023.5 | Dupe induced to strike at bee's nest: badly bitten. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K724 | Dupe induced to waste his bullets, then seized. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1525M*; Flemish: Meyer FFC XXXVII No. 1528*. |
| K1038 | Dupe injures self on fence of thorns surrounding food-plants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2349.1 | Dupe is made to believe horse will fly. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J2348 | Dupe is persuaded that money will grow if he buries it. England: *Baughman. |
| K345.3 | Dupe left to care for child while his goods are stolen. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2351.3 | Dupe loses booty through singing. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 59. |
| K725 | Dupe lured away from protection of friends: captured. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K737.1 | Dupe lured into hole and entrance closed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K816 | Dupe lured to supposed dance and killed. Africa (Fjort): Dennett 82 No. 19. |
| K1032 | Dupe made to sit on hot stone. Chinese: Graham. |
| J2171.1.3 | Dupe makes boat of mud. It melts. (Cf. J2186.) Japanese: Ikeda; American Negro: Harris Friends 69ff. No. 9. |
| K1040 | Dupe otherwise persuaded to voluntary self-injury. |
| J2337 | Dupe persuaded that he is invisible. Boccaccio Decameron VIII No. 3 (Lee 254); Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K843 | Dupe persuaded to be killed in order to go to heaven. India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 276, Dixon 201 n. 38*. |
| K1034 | Dupe persuaded to climb rope for food: rope breaks. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 7 No. 3, 9 No. 4, (Kaffir): Theal 190; American Negro: Harris Nights 45. |
| K1113.1 | Dupe persuaded to climb tall tree. Falls. American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 357 No. 63. |
| K983 | Dupe persuaded to climb tree. Tree felled and dupe killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K721.1 | Dupe persuaded to close eyes and open mouth; then hot stones are thrown down throat. India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 70. |
| J2131.3.2 | Dupe persuaded to cut off part of his own body. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1043.2 | Dupe persuaded to eat stones. Korean: Zong in-Sob 158 No. 69; Africa (Cameroon): Meinhof 77. |
| K1252.1 | Dupe persuaded to fight with alleged gold-dropping bear: trickster meantime steals his clothes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1055 | Dupe persuaded to get into grass in order to learn new dance. Grass set on fire. Korean: Zong in-Sob 158f. No. 69; Africa (Ibo, Nigeria): Thomas 94. |
| K991 | Dupe persuaded to go to dangerous place; killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1045 | Dupe persuaded to oversalt (overpepper) food. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 197. |
| K1023.2 | Dupe persuaded to pick up biting ants. Africa (Angola): Chatelain 161, 163. |
| K844 | Dupe persuaded to play for wedding party. Takes place of trickster, who sets fire and burns him up. Mexico: Boas JAFL XXV 207, 238, Mechling JAFL XXV 202; New Mexico: Espinosa JAFL XXIV 419. Cf. American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 90 No. 17. |
| K827 | Dupe persuaded to relax vigilance; seized. |
| K726 | Dupe persuaded to ride on trickster's back: captured. (Cf. J651.1.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 852. |
| K1045.2 | Dupe persuaded to rub salt on wounds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1046 | Dupe persuaded to scald self with hot water in order to learn languages. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K827.3 | Dupe persuaded to sing (dance) on trickster's body. When he approaches the mouth he is killed. American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 92 No. 19; Bahama: Parsons MAFLS XIII 109 No. 63. |
| K1023.3 | Dupe persuaded to sit on ant hole. Hindquarters eaten. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1022 | Dupe persuaded to steal food: cannot escape. |
| K842 | Dupe persuaded to take prisoner's place in a sack: killed. The bag is to be thrown into the sea. The trickster keeps shouting that he does not want to go to heaven (or marry the princess); the dupe gladly substitutes for him. (Cf. K714.2.1.) *Types 1525A, 1535, 1737; *BP II 10ff., III 188, 192, 393; *Fb "sæk" III 720b; *Cosquin études 392; *Chauvin V 247 No. 147 n. 1. — Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1535A*; Russian: Andrejev No. 1535B*; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 23; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 163-7, 172-4; New Mexican Spanish: Espinosa JAFL XXIV 419ff.; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 104 No. 56; Indonesia: Dixon 191 n. 14, De Vries's list No. 276, Coster-Wijsman 26 No. 5; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 196, 438, 444; N. A. Indian: *Thompson CColl II 419ff.; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis II 220ff., VIII 54f., 61f., 175ff.; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 111 No. 23, 140 No. 29, Nights 177 No. 31, 185, No. 32, (Alabama): Work JAFL XXXII 400; Bahama: Parsons MAFLS XIII 82 No. 39, Edwards MAFLS III 63, Finlay JAFL XXXVIII 293; Antigua, British West Indies: Johnson JAFL XXXIV 54. |
| K842.2 | Dupe persuaded to take prisoner's place in pit. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K842.1 | Dupe persuaded to take prisoner's place suspended in air. Type 1535; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1141 | Dupe persuaded to throw away his knife. Later must go hungry because he has no knife to cut the meat. Africa (Benga): Nassau 86 No. 4, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 381 No. 6, (Kaffir): Theal 106, (Thonga): Junod 220; West Indies: Flowers 535. |
| K1062 | Dupe persuaded to transform self into animal. Cannot change back. Chinese: Graham. |
| K1111 | Dupe puts hand (paws) into cleft of tree (wedge, vise). *Type 38; *BP I 68, II 99 n. 1; Chauvin II 86 No. 20, III 77; Dh IV 231ff.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 18, 250; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 64; New Britain: Dixon 195 n. 30; N. A. Indian (Tepoztlan): Boas JAFL XXV 247 No. 2; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 33 No. 7. |
| K1078 | Dupe sleeps on the "king's bed": falls into well beneath and dies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1036.1 | Dupe told he can get meat by putting hand up animal's anus: animal drags him. (Cf. K952.1, K1022.1.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1171 | Dupe tricked in race into falling into a pit. *Type 30. |
| K1076 | Dupe tricked into breaking tabu by lying. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K714.3 | Dupe tricked into entering hollow tree. India: Thompson-Balys; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 74 No. 14; West Indies: Flowers 524. |
| K891.4 | Dupe tricked into jumping on supposed funeral pyre of beloved. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K891 | Dupe tricked into jumping to his death. |
| K890 | Dupe tricked into killing himself. Missouri French: Carrière. |
| K898 | Dupe tricked into measuring boar whose bristles are poisoned. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K1074 | Dupe tricked into sitting on hot iron. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K834.1 | Dupe tricked into sleeping. Killed. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K735.5 | Dupe tricked into well: left there. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K897 | Dupe tricked on to slippery road lined with knives. He kills himself. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 36 No. 3. |
| K1125 | Dupe tries to dig up alleged treasure buried in ant hill: bitten by snake and killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2066.7 | Dupe waits for rear wheels of wagon to overtake front wheels. Is told that money is thus made. England, U.S.: Baughman; American Negro: Harris Friends 122 No. 16. |
| K1111.0.1 | Dupe wishing to learn to play fiddle has finger caught in cleft of tree. *Type 151, 1159; *BP I 68; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1147A*. |
| K1111.0.1.1 | Dupe wishing to learn to play flute puts tongue in split bamboo. Java: Dixon 188 n. 4. |
| K335.0.4.1 | Dupe, made to believe that trickster becomes a wolf when he yawns three times, flees and leaves his clothes behind him. *Wesselski Gonnella 103 No. 5; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1440 | Dupe's animals destroyed or maimed. Type 1007; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K401.1 | Dupe's food eaten and then blame fastened on him. Trickster eats the common food supply and then by smearing the mouth of the sleeping dupe with the food escapes the blame. *Type 15; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 21; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 173, 177, 179, (Zulu): Callaway 164, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 366 No. 17, (Hottentot): Bleek 18 No. 9, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 48 No. 5, (Basuto): Jacottet 10 No. 1, (Benga): Nassau 93 No. 4, (Kaffir): Theal 95, 96, 114, Kidd The Essential Kaffir (London, 1904) 384, (Fang): Tessman 57; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 80 No. 17, Friends 147 No. 20, (South Carolina): Parsons JAFL XXXVIII 222; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 238. See all references to K372. |
| K1410 | Dupe's goods destroyed. West Indies: Flowers 539. |
| K812.1 | Dupe's house set afire so that he is burned in trying to put out fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1400 | Dupe's property destroyed. Type 1002. |
| K891.5.4 | Dupes deceived into falling over precipice. U.S.: Baughman (K894.4, K894.5); India: Thompson-Balys (K894.4); Tonga: Gifford 101. |
| K983.2 | Dupes lured onto tree-trunk bridge; fall to death. S. A. Indian (Kaigang): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 148. |
| K843.1 | Dupes persuaded to be burned, thinking they will be sent back with gifts. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K891.5.3 | Dupes persuaded to be thrown over precipice. (Cf. K842.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| V284 | During a flood the Virgin descends into the streets to save her image from the flood waters. U.S.: Baughman. |
| A753.3.3 | During day moon stays with his mother under the earth. S. Am. Indian (Ipurina): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| Q585.3 | During rainy spring, farmer wishes that Lord would sleep till harvest time. Farmer himself sleeps until all neighbors have finished harvesting. When he wakes, he finds his crops ruined. (Cf. Q235.) England: *Baughman. |
| F451.2.0.5 | During the day dwarfs appear in form of toads or other vermin. German: Haas Greifswald. 36 No. 39, 38 No. 40. |
| J1264.4 | During the silent period. Nun asked why she did not call for help when raped. She says, "It was during the silent period." *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 716. |
| G271.2.6 | Dust from communion table breaks spell. England: Baughman. |
| H411.18 | Dust of Tabernacle as chastity test. (Cf. D935.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| P13.0.2 | Duties of under-king's retainers. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P271.3 | Dwarf as foster father. (Cf. F451.5.1.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 267, *Boberg. |
| F451.5.1.1 | Dwarf as godfather. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 308 No. 4. |
| N574 | Dwarf as guardian of treasure. *Winter 58. |
| F451.3.3 | Dwarf as magician. Dickson 219 n. 8; Icelandic: *Boberg; German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 137 II. |
| F451.1.5.1 | Dwarf as reincarnation of rat. Korean: Zong in-Sob 64. |
| F451.1.5 | Dwarf as reincarnation. |
| D49.1 | Dwarf assumes human form. German: Grimm No. 64. |
| F451.3.4.5 | Dwarf bakes bread. *Boberg DF XLVI; Hoffman-Krayer Zs. f. Vksk. XXV 119 n. 4; German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.5.10.3.1 | Dwarf borrows sledge. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 587—590. |
| F451.3.13.3 | Dwarf breaks wind so hard he capsizes canoes. Marquesas: Handy 126. |
| F451.3.2.4 | Dwarf can be killed only with snowball. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 248. |
| F451.3.4.11 | Dwarf can draw entrails out of elephant. Africa (Fang): Tessman 139. |
| F451.3.3.0.1 | Dwarf can take what shape he wants. Icelandic: Völsunga saga ch. 14 (Andvari), Zs. f. d. Phil. XXVI 12—13, Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 307ff., Boberg. |
| F451.6.13 | Dwarf carries his knocked-off leg on his shoulder. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.3.8.1 | Dwarf carries mortal down from Hibichenstein. German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 137 III. |
| F451.6.1 | Dwarf caught by beard in cleft of tree. (Cf. F451.2.3.1.) *Type 426; BP III 260; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nain". |
| F451.4.3.1 | Dwarf cave closed by iron doors. German: Karstens-Goslar 135. |
| F451.4.3.3 | Dwarf cave has ceiling of mineral white as snow. German: Eckart 22. |
| F451.4.3.2 | Dwarf cave has large square room with little doors leading to all sides. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.3.5.3 | Dwarf children are hungry. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.2.7.9 | Dwarf clad in black. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 266, 268. |
| F451.2.7.8 | Dwarf clad in brown. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 266. |
| F451.2.7.2 | Dwarf clad in green. (Cf. F420.1.6.6.3.) English: Wells 134 (Sir Degare); Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 6ff., (1928) 11ff. |
| F451.5.1.14 | Dwarf conducts shepherd to hell to collect debt from nobleman. German: Sieber 100. |
| D55.2.1 | Dwarf contracts self to enter nostrils of cannibals. Africa (Zulu): Callaway 154. |
| F451.6.3.4 | Dwarf dances. *Fb "danse" IV 93a; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 193ff., (1928) 137ff.; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 58 No. 92; German: Sieber 62. |
| F451.3.4.9 | Dwarf expert at making palm wine. Africa (Upoto): Einstein 133. |
| F451.5.8.1 | Dwarf follows countess around like a little dog. German: Bindewald 83. |
| A134 | Dwarf god. Japanese: Anesaki 229; Hindu: Penzer I 144 n. 2. |
| F451.3.9.1 | Dwarf groans while carrying an ear of corn. German: Schöppner I 264 No. 271. |
| K1672 | Dwarf himself falls in love with girl he has seduced by magic love, and loses her as he is forced to remove his magic. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F451.4.3.4 | Dwarf home has chandelier of crystals and gems. (Cf. F420.2.1.) German: Eckart 22. |
| F451.4.1.5 | Dwarf home is underground, beneath cow stable. (Cf. F451.4.4.3.) Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 46 No. 387; German: Findeisen No. 5. |
| F451.3.6.1 | Dwarf is insulted when scolded. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 55 No. 64; German: Schöppner I 264 No. 271. |
| U15.0.1 | Dwarf king (fairy) laughs at the absurdities he sees about him. (1) Sees man who is to die that day complain that his shoes are too thin. (Cf. J2174.) (2) Sees women adorn their heads when they are immoral below. (Cf. J2050.) (3) Sees man remove from his wife's garment dust gathered while she lay with another man. (Cf. J2301.3.) (4) Sees persons making plans while forgetting to say, "If God wills." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| X142.1 | Dwarf king falls into porridge-pot at court of human king. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F451.7.4 | Dwarf king has silver miner's torch bright as the sun. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 137 II. |
| F451.6.12 | Dwarf king Hibich comes to surface every 500 years. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 137 II. |
| F451.4.2.5 | Dwarf king lives in a mill. German: Pröhle Unterharz. 145 No. 368. |
| F451.5.1.16 | Dwarf king prevents a father from shooting his son. Pröhle Harz. No. 137 III. |
| F451.5.1.5.1 | Dwarf king turns mill which produces gold. Krappe Revue Archéologique (1931) 142ff. |
| F451.2.7.7 | Dwarf king wears costly crown. German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 137 II. |
| F451.5.18 | Dwarf loves mortal girl. (Cf. F420.6.1. and cross references F451.5.15.3.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 270, 272, Boberg; Swiss Jegerlehner Oberwallis 322 No. 86; German: Haas Greifswald. 36 No. 39, 38 No. 44. |
| F451.5.15.2 | Dwarf makes return of child dependent upon guessing of riddle. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 220 I. |
| F451.5.1.12 | Dwarf moves mortal's castle from one mountain to another. German: Kahlo Harz. 55 No. 92. |
| F451.6.3.3.1 | Dwarf musician (poet). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F451.3.2.1.2 | Dwarf otherwise caught and thus forced to procure what hero demands. Icelandic: Völsunga saga ch. 14, Þiðriks saga I 34—38, Boberg. |
| K553.2.1 | Dwarf persuaded to wait for ram. Lamb and ewe escape. Ram butts dwarf into river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| X142.2 | Dwarf poet forced to swim in drinking-horn of human being. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F451.3.2.1.1 | Dwarf prevented from getting into his stone before sunrise till he promises to do what hero demands (especially forge weapons). (Cf. D451.3.4.2, D451.4.1.12, F451.5.2.13.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F451.5.18.1 | Dwarf promises money and property to mortal father for hand of daughter. German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 41. |
| F451.5.15.1 | Dwarf promises mortal much money if he will guess his name. German: Haas Greifswald. 40 No. 44. |
| C905.1 | Dwarf punishes for breach of tabu. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 322. |
| F451.3.2 | Dwarf rendered powerless. |
| F451.6.2.1 | Dwarf rides on a hare. Köhler-Bolte I 545. |
| F451.6.2.2 | Dwarf rides through air on wooden horse. Dickson 217. |
| F451.6.2 | Dwarf rides. |
| F451.5.9.5 | Dwarf seeks to enter church. *Fb "dværg" I 220. |
| F451.5.1.8 | Dwarf serves king sleeping in mountain (Kyffhäuser). Bechstein II 1, 6, 8, 9, Förstner Kyffhäuser 7, 9, 16f., 21f., Kahlo Harz. 51 No. 86, 71 No. 112. |
| F451.3.4.4 | Dwarf sews. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nain"; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F451.3.4.10 | Dwarf splits wood using penis as wedge. Africa (Fang): Tessman 136. |
| F451.5.19.1 | Dwarf stays away from house after maid tries to catch and kiss him. German: Hohaus 123. |
| F451.5.15.3 | Dwarf suitor desists when unwilling maiden guesses his name. (Cf. C432.1.) German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 41. |
| F451.5.2.12 | Dwarf takes back gifts he gave. German: Schöppner I 264 No. 271. |
| F451.3.3.2 | Dwarf turns gold into lead. German: Förstner Kyffhäusersagen 22. |
| F451.5.7.1 | Dwarf wants to warm self at fire. German: Sieber 61; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nain". |
| F451.5.1.13 | Dwarf washes, combs, and braids hair for sleeping maids. German: Hohaus 123. |
| F451.4.4.3.1 | Dwarf wishes death to mortal who throws water on his dunghill home. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 254. |
| F451.2.2.2 | Dwarf with bird feet. (Cf. F401.3.5. and cross-references.) *Gaster Germania XXV 290ff.; Tobler 60; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 271. |
| F451.2.1.2 | Dwarf with body like tailless hen. Tobler 59. |
| F451.2.1.3 | Dwarf with small body and large head. *Fb "dværg" I 220b; Zs. f. d. Phil. XXVI 12f. |
| F451.3.5.5 | Dwarf women bear children. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 74, (1928) 63. |
| F451.3.4.0.1 | Dwarf workmen heard at night. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 55 No. 61. |
| K2382.2 | Dwarf-deer pastes other animal's eyes shut and pretends that hunters are coming. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 36. |
| F610.2 | Dwarf-hero of superhuman strength. Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 24; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| F451 | Dwarf.1 (Underground spirit.) The dwarf, especially in Northern Europe, is considered an underground spirit. He is to be distinguished from the other conception of dwarf, viz., a very small person, pigmy, or thumbling (F535). Types 480, 403B; *Roberts 123; **Lutjens Der Zwerg in der deutschen Heldendichtung des Mittelalters (Breslau, 1911); *Wehrhan 67; *Thien 42; *Gould Scandinavian Studies and Notes IX 190; *De Boor Der Zwerg in Skandinavien (Mogk Festschrift 536); *Ritchie Zwerge in Geschichte u. überlieferung (Globus LXXXII 101); *Tegethoff Schweiz. Archiv f. Vksk. XXIV 147; Jensen Zs. f. Vksk. II 407; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 1008—1120. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 264ff., 287; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892, new series 1928); Norwegian: Solheim Register 18; French: F. Wolgemuth Riesen u. Zwerge in der altfranzösischen erzählenden Dichtung (Tübingen, 1906); Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 326; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 356 n. 287a. See also F200—F399 (Fairies and Elves), F420 (Water-spirits), and F460 (Mountain-spirits) for many common motifs. |
| F451.2.2.1 | Dwarf's feet twisted backward. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 322 No. 86. |
| A18.3 | Dwarfish creator. Chinese: Werner 76. |
| F451.3.6.4 | Dwarfs accept as gift goose but not gander. German: Kapff 45. |
| F451.5.10.1 | Dwarfs accept remuneration. German: Karstens-Goslar 135, 155, Sieber 283, Eckart 67, Pröhle Harz. No. 229, Kapff 45. |
| F451.5.1.2 | Dwarfs adopt girl as sister. *Type 709; BP I 450ff.; *Böcklen Sneewittchenstudien 94ff. |
| F451.5.9 | Dwarfs and Christianity. (Cf. F420.5.3.4. and cross-references there given. Cf. also F451.9.1.6.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 271. |
| F451.5 | Dwarfs and human beings. |
| F451.10 | Dwarfs and other supernatural beings. |
| F451.2.0.4 | Dwarfs appear nodding and anxious to speak. German: Bindewald 84. |
| F451.5.3 | Dwarfs are ancestors of mortals. German: Haas Greifswald 40 No. 43. |
| F451.3.16 | Dwarfs are artful. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 268—69. |
| F451.5.19 | Dwarfs are bashful or timid. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 44ff., (1928) 41ff. |
| F451.3.10 | Dwarfs are droll. German: Winckler 34 No. 24. |
| F451.2.0.2 | Dwarfs are grown over with moss. German: Pröhle 113 No. 298. |
| F451.3.13 | Dwarfs are ill-mannered. |
| F451.3.12 | Dwarfs are intelligent. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F451.3.14 | Dwarfs are numerous. |
| F451.2.0.6 | Dwarfs are pale. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F451.3.7 | Dwarfs are particular as to food. |
| F451.4.5.1 | Dwarfs are ruled by a king. Irish myth: *Cross; German: Eckart 7, 20, 22, Ey 29, Kahlo Harz. 30 No. 51, Pröhle Harz. No. 137 II MacCulloch Eddic 266, 271, 272. |
| F451.3.12.2 | Dwarfs are sensible. German: Pröhle Unterharz. 113 No. 298. |
| F451.3.6 | Dwarfs are sensitive. |
| F451.2.1.1 | Dwarfs are small. (Cf. F239.4.3, F441.5.1.) German: Eckart 20, Bindewald 56, 83f, 87, 188, Findeisen 3 No. 5, 39 No. 43, Pröhle Unterharzische 113 No. 298. |
| F451.3.8 | Dwarfs are strong. |
| F451.3.5 | Dwarfs are subject to laws of nature. |
| F451.3.15.1 | Dwarfs are superstitious about the three sevens in 1777. (Cf. F451.9.1.3.) German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 60. |
| F451.3.15 | Dwarfs are superstitious. |
| F451.6.2.3 | Dwarfs are taken for hussars because they ride little horses. (Cf. F451.7.5.) German: Pröhle Unterharz. 112 No. 294. |
| F451.2.0.1 | Dwarfs are ugly. German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 41. |
| F451.3.9 | Dwarfs are weak. |
| F451.3.12.3 | Dwarfs are wise. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 92, 265, *Boberg. |
| F451.3.4.1 | Dwarfs as artificers. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 123, 265ff., *Boberg. |
| F451.3.4.2 | Dwarfs as smiths. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 23ff., (1928) 26ff.; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 66, 266ff., *Boberg; German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54, Karstens-Goslar 135. |
| F451.3.4 | Dwarfs as workmen. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 54 Nos. 52, 53. |
| F451.5.8 | Dwarfs associate with mortals. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 40ff., 266ff., (1928) 37ff., 179ff.; German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184, Kapff 45; Pröhle Harz. No. 187; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 480, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 167. |
| F451.5.2.11 | Dwarfs attack soldier. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 137, Findeisen 39 No. 43. |
| F451.6.8 | Dwarfs become angry. German: Haas Greifswald 38 No. 41. |
| F451.3.5.2 | Dwarfs become ill. German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 189, Sieber 60. |
| F451.6.11 | Dwarfs betray. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.3.3.5 | Dwarfs bewitch cows to give no milk. German: Karstens-Goslar 103. |
| F451.3.3.5.1 | Dwarfs bewitch people. Icelandic: Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 300, *Boberg. |
| F451.5.10.3 | Dwarfs borrow from mortals. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 116ff., (1928) 90ff., Boberg DF XLVI 38ff.; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 56 No. 68; German: Eckart 78, Schöppner I 186 No. 184, Findeisen 39 No. 43. |
| F451.3.4.1.1 | Dwarfs build tower. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 54 No. 51. |
| F451.5.10.5 | Dwarfs buy peas from mortals and pay more than they are worth. German: Eckart 79, Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.1.3 | Dwarfs came after giants had almost died out. German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54. |
| F451.1.4 | Dwarfs came into the land 1000 years before mortals came. German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54. |
| F451.3.2.3 | Dwarfs cannot harm mortal with circle drawn around him. German: Eckart 69. |
| F451.3.4.8 | Dwarfs carry water. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 47ff., (1928) 42ff. |
| F451.6.3.2 | Dwarfs celebrate weddings and christenings of their own. (Cf. F451.6.5.) Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 62ff., (1928) 54ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 45 Nos. 375—376; German: Pröhle Harz. No. 229, Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 40. |
| D631.4.1 | Dwarfs change size at will. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 248. |
| F451.3.13.2.1 | Dwarfs chatter like geese. German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 229, Sieber 62. |
| F451.3.13.2 | Dwarfs chatter. German: Karstens-Goslar 122. |
| F451.3.4.7 | Dwarfs churn. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 460. |
| F451.2.7.10 | Dwarfs clad in motley. German: Grimm No. 163. |
| F451.2.7.4 | Dwarfs clad in white. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 266; German: Kahlo Harzes 69 No. 109. |
| F451.3.14.1 | Dwarfs come into the land by the hundreds. German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54. |
| F451.5.2.13 | Dwarfs curse weapons and treasures which they are forced to give (or which the receiver does not appreciate). Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 268, *Boberg. |
| F451.3.12.4 | Dwarfs cut runes. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F451.5.2.14 | Dwarfs demand gifts. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 56 No. 69. |
| F451.3.5.1 | Dwarfs die. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 130; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 75ff., 94ff., (1928) 62ff., 76ff.; German: Pröhle Unterharz. 112 No. 292, Sieber 61. |
| F451.6.9 | Dwarfs dig for treasures. German: Findeisen 3 No. 5. |
| F451.5.1.9 | Dwarfs direct mortals to treasure. Kahlo Harz. 54 No. 91, 67 No. 107, 69 No. 109, Karstens-Goslar 122. |
| F451.3.7.2 | Dwarfs dislike bread baked without salt. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.3.7.1 | Dwarfs dislike caraway seed in food. German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 229, Pröhle Unterharz. 145 No. 367, Sieber 61f. |
| F451.5.9.3 | Dwarfs dislike church bells. German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54, Karstens-Goslar 103, 155. |
| F451.5.16 | Dwarfs dislike human vices. German: Sieber 61, Schöppner I 186 No. 184, Pröhle Harz. No. 269, Pröhle Unterharz. 113 No. 298, Karstens-Goslar 135, Förstner Kyffhäuser 22, Winckler 43 No. 36. |
| F451.5.9.2 | Dwarfs dislike singing of hymns. German: Karstens-Goslar 155. |
| F451.3.6.2 | Dwarfs dislike teasing. (Cf. F451.9.1.7.) German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.3.6.3 | Dwarfs dislike tobacco smoke. German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 137 IV. |
| F451.3.4.3 | Dwarfs do farming. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 270; German: Haas Greifswald. 46 No. 54. |
| F451.9.1.6 | Dwarfs emigrate because Christianity offends them. (Cf. F451.5.9.) German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F451.9.1.2 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals are false. German: Pröhle Unterharz. 113 No. 298. |
| F451.9.1.10 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals curse. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.9.1.11 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals desecrate holy day. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.9.1.8 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals object to their stealing. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 269. |
| F451.9.1.1 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals put caraway seeds into bread. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.9.1.7 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals tease them. (Cf. F451.3.6.2.) German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.9.1.4 | Dwarfs emigrate because of industrial development. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
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