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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| T481 | Adultery. *Encyc. Religion Ethics s.v. "adultery"; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 223, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 87. |
| N773 | Adventure from following animal to cave (lower world). *Type 301; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 66 No. 508 A*, Espinosa Jr. No. 67; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 163; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 74. |
| N773.1 | Adventure from following ogre to cave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N774.1 | Adventure from pursuing thieving birds. Type 610; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N773.2 | Adventure from returning for forgotten comb. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1784.2 | Adventurer on otherworld island sees great hornless oxen guarded by giant: tries to frighten them. "Why dost thou frighten the stilly calves?" says the huge herdsman. "Where are the dams of these calves?" asks the adventurer. "They are on the other side of yonder mountain," said he. So he went thence. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K1952.4.1 | Adventurer poses as son of dead king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N777.1 | Adventures encountered in running after cotton being blown away by wind. Type 480; *Roberts 130; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N776.3 | Adventures from having slept beneath tree. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N774.3 | Adventures from pursuing animal (not magic). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N774 | Adventures from pursuing enchanted animal (hind, boar, bird). (Guiding Beast.) Types 710 (Grimm No. 3), 425; *Tegethoff 14; **Pschmadt Die Sage von der verfolgten Hinde (Greifswald, 1911); Dickson 53f.; Clouston Tales I 215; *Fb "hjort" I 625a; Hibbard 244 (Chevalere Assigne). — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Lagerholm 25—26, Sveinsson FFC LXXXIII xxxiii, *Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 9, *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; New Britain: Dixon 140. |
| N791 | Adventures from pursuing object carried off by river. Type 480; Roberts 129. |
| N792 | Adventures from pursuing objects carried off by bird. Type 480; Roberts 130. |
| N774.2 | Adventures from seeking (lost) domestic beast (bull). Type 511; Icelandic: Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N785 | Adventures from seeking water. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N776.2 | Adventures from trying to strangle oneself in tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P15 | Adventures of kings. |
| F535.1.1 | Adventures of thumbling. See Type 700 for detailed adventures. |
| F942.2.1 | Adversary pushed into ground. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z135 | Adversity personified. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| P427.3 | Advice (instruction) from druid. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J756 | Advice after the event valueless. |
| E323.4 | Advice from dead mother. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Hausa): Equilbecq III 291ff. |
| J152.2 | Advice from dervish. Malone PMLA XLIII 400. |
| D1814.2 | Advice from dream. (Cf. D1810.8.) Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1814.3 | Advice from God (or gods). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1814.1 | Advice from magician (fortune-teller, etc.). (Cf. D1711, D1810.0.2, D1817.) Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 39 (Nennius Historia Britonum); Greek: Grote I 249. |
| J647.2 | Advice not to rob women while they are alone, for fear of returning husbands' revenge. Icelandic: örvar-Odds saga 24—27, Boberg. |
| T137.1 | Advice to a parting bride. Dickson 165 n. 10. |
| D1711.6.2 | Aesculapius as magician. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J1303 | Aesop with the lantern. Aesop goes for fire to a neighbor's in the daytime and lights a lantern so as to bring the fire back. Fool asks him what he is hunting for with the lantern in the daytime. "I seek a man" (not a busybody). *Wienert FFC LVI 38, 40; Italian Novella: Rotunda (J1442.11). |
| J553.1 | Aesop with the unbent bow. Upbraided when found playing with children, he unstrings a bow and shows how good relaxation is. Wienert FFC LVI 40; Phaedrus III No. 14; Thiele Hermes XLI 585; Alphabet Nos. 6, 671. |
| T157 | Affianced wife of chieftain falls in love with another man at betrothal feast, drugs the company with sleeping potion, and forces man of her choice to elope with her. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E767 | Affinity of person and object. |
| J2617 | Afraid of his knees. A man awakes with his knees in the air. He thinks the knees are a lion and splits them with his axe. Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 407 No. 5. |
| V229.20.1 | After birth of son holy person loses miraculous power. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1420.5 | After Fall first parents fed and clothed from one palm-tree. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z73.1 | After four days—another two days—another day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P18.1 | After highly mourned wife's death the king marries another who turns out to be an evil witch. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J1071.1 | After laboring to make a brazen head, artist loses labor in moment of procrastination. Dickson 211 n. 137. |
| J977 | After one day of schooling children are ordered by their father to cease associating with the unlearned. Wesselski Bebel I 170 No. 5. |
| F975.2 | After persecuted queen has been driven away from palace, trees do not bear fruits, flowers cease to bloom, and birds do not sing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1582.1 | After seducing priest's wife, peasant demands earrings as price of silence. He thus avenges himself on priest who has cheated peasant's wife of her earrings. Russian: Andrejev No. 1726**. |
| A625.2.5 | After sky is lifted, plants and shrubs begin to grow. Maori: Clark 15. |
| A719.2 | After world catastrophe, new sun reappears and starts new epoch. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 154ff. |
| A1006.9 | After world-fire life recreated from tree. Africa (Fang): Trilles 132f. |
| T584.6 | After-birth (placenta) becomes a demon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1285 | Against his will. A thief condemned to the gallows tells the king, "I do what you do and it is against my will." King: "You shall also be hanged against your will." *Basset 1001 Contes I 507. |
| T91.4 | Age and youth in love. |
| J1352.2 | Age is relative. Young rival derides old one for his age. Oldster: "An ass of twenty is older than a man of seventy." Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| F531.6.4 | Age of giants. |
| G76 | Aged person eaten. Icelandic: Boberg; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 168. |
| B841.2 | Ages of animals (birds, fish) compared with age of human beings. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K263 | Agreement not to scratch. In talking the trickster makes gestures and scratches without detection. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 310 n. 2; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 701; India: Thompson-Balys; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 214 No. 37, (South Carolina): Parsons JAFL XXXVIII 218; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 36 No. 29; West Indies: Flowers 502. |
| K231.13 | Agreement to leave sum of money on coffin of friend. One puts on his share in cash; other makes out a check for the total amount and takes cash left by the other. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N333 | Aiming at fly has fatal results. |
| V238.4 | Air above grave of converted druid full of angels. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V211.1.1 | Air fragrant at Nativity. (Cf. V222.4.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1599.2 | Air made fragrant with odors of flowers by spell. (Cf. D1273.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2061 | Air-castle shattered by lack of forethought. |
| J2061.1.2 | Air-castle: basket of eggs to be sold. In her excitement she breaks all the eggs. *BP III 265; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 520; *Fb "æg" III 1141b; *Gerould MLN XIX 226; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2061.1.1 | Air-castle: basket of glassware to be sold. In his excitement he breaks the glassware. BP III 264. |
| J2061.1.4 | Air-castle: jar of oil to be sold. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2061.2 | Air-castle: pail of milk to be sold. Proud milkmaid tosses her head (or kicks the pail in her sleep) and spills the milk. *BP III 264; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 520; *Crane Vitry 154f. No. 51; **Gerould MLN XIX 225; Jacobs Aesop 219 No. 77; Nouvelles Récréations No. 12; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 55, 277. |
| J2061.1 | Air-castle: the jar of honey to be sold. In his excitement he breaks the jar. *BP III 261f.; *Chauvin II 101 No. 60; *Gerould MLN XIX 229; B[ö]dker Exempler 300 No. 65; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella; *Rotunda; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 55, 277; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2061.3 | Air-castle: to sell hide of sleeping deer. In his excitement he wakes the deer, who runs off. *BP III 265. |
| J2061.2.1 | Air-castles: pail of milk to be sold. Old woman thinks about the horse she is finally to get from the sale. In her imagination she spurs it and spills the milk. *Gerould MLN XIX 225. |
| B45 | Air-going elephant. Hindu: Tawney I 328, II 540; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2199.1 | Alarm sounded foolishly. |
| G11.11.1 | Albino twins with cannibal appetite. Tonga: Gifford 192. |
| K1966.2 | Alchemist secures payment for his "secret". Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1966.1 | Alchemist steals money from corpse and claims he has made the silver. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1966 | Alchemist. |
| V229.6.2 | Ale poisoned by druid miraculously purified by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1601.23 | Ale serves itself. (Cf. D1045.1.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| B552.1 | Alexander carried by two birds with meat held in front of them. Jewish: Neuman; Gaster Exempla 186 No. 5. |
| A1704 | All animals created in couples. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J1293.5 | All appurtenances included. Butcher buyer demands saddle and ornaments along with camel (or the like). Seller later buys all heads in butcher shop: demands heads of butcher's family. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J755 | All aspects of a plan must be foreseen. |
| P32.1 | All children born in realm on same day as chief's son are brought to palace to be the boy's companions. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 441. |
| A1031.4.1 | All countries burned while the wife of sun god pours fire from a small bowl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1502 | All customs for the year established. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V69.1 | All dead are buried after battle. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| X438.1 | All devout women in hell. Devout woman and a priest retell their dreams. The priest has dreamed that all the devout women are to be found in hell. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1847*. |
| D2161.6.1 | All diseases healed at birth of Christ. (Cf. V211.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1395.8 | All fetters loosed on the night of Christ's Nativity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M341.0.2 | All forty of man's sons to die at once. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F166.0.1 | All furniture and objects in otherworld of gold. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| T172.0.1 | All husbands have perished on bridal night. See references to F547.1.1, F582, F582.1. *Types 506—08; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B212.0.1 | All kinds of animals understand the language of heaven. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1724.3 | All living things from Jesus' spattered blood. Laguna, Zuсi: Parsons JAFL XXXI 257. |
| T582.2 | All locks in house to be shot during childbirth. English: Child II 498. |
| D2088.0.1 | All locks opened on the night of Christ's Nativity. (Cf. D1557.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F565.1.2 | All male children killed by Amazons. Greek: Fox 85; S. A. Indian (Aspinayé, Carajá, Taulipang, Tupinamba): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 516. |
| M375.1 | All male children killed for fear that they will overcome parent. Africa (Zulu): Callaway 41. |
| R111.0.1 | All man's property offered to rescuer of stolen daughter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F900.2 | All miracles created by God at creation. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D1731.2.2 | All nature composed of food in vision. (Cf. V514, X1503.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| S302.1 | All new-born male children slaughtered. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F577.5 | All people in certain place identical in appearance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2201 | All qualities of animals appear with their creation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C495.3 | All questions to be answered "Thanks". Youth is so advised by old woman helper. Type 593. |
| C495.1 | All questions to be answered, "I don't know". A youth is so advised by his horse. *Type 532. |
| J1743.1 | All sins since the birth of Christ. A stupid man at confession says, "I confess myself guilty of all sins that I have committed since Christ's birth." "Are you so old?" "Yes, and I have a brother who is three years older than I." Wesselski Bebel II 106 No. 17; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 295. |
| Z355 | All snakes but one placated by music. In snake den prisoner fails to placate one snake and loses his life. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 437a. |
| J1813.9 | All the beans cooked for one meal. They fill the room. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| A1425.1 | All the kinds of seed in a bamboo that culture hero cuts down. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A610.1 | All things created in pairs (heaven and earth, etc.). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1191 | All things receive names. Chinese: Graham; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z352 | All trees except aspen refuse to make Christ's cross. Dh II 209; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 635. |
| F834.4 | All-conquering spear. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 395. |
| A102.2 | All-seeing god. Jewish: Neuman; Greek: Aeschylus Suppliants line 138. |
| F911.6 | All-swallowing monster. Has whole towns of people and buildings, etc. inside. Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8 (fish); Africa: Werner African 198, (Zulu): Callaway 55, 78ff., 85ff., 192, 325, 332, (Kaffir): Theal 84, 139f., 176, (Mpongwe): Nassau 34, 46 Nos. 4, 6, (Basuto): Jacottet 70 No. 11, 76 No. 12, 122 No. 17, 214 No. 31, (Ibo Nigeria): Thomas 115, 203 No. 1. |
| F162.1.3.1 | All-yielding tree in otherworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K119.1 | Alleged automatic object sold. U.S.: Baughman. |
| K111.2 | Alleged bill-paying hat sold. *Type 1539; BP II 10; *Fb "hat" IV 202b; India: Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 196, 443. |
| K111.1 | Alleged gold-dropping animal sold. *Type 1539; BP II 10ff.; Penzer V 5—13; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: Coster-Wijsman 26 No. 5. |
| K115.1.1 | Alleged healing letter (charm) sold: to aid in childbirth. Actually works. When opened it contains nonsense. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K115.1 | Alleged healing letter sold. Woman sold a letter to wear around her neck which will prevent eye trouble. It helps only so long as she believes in it. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 153. |
| K115.2 | Alleged healing stone sold. A sailor boy sells a seasick Jew "Babylon stones" as a cure. They are pieces of coal. Type 1532*. |
| K1971.13 | Alleged idol promises teacher certain payment for his book when finished. Dupe overhears and pays him bargain price for what he is later to receive. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K117.1 | Alleged inexhaustible bottle sold. *Wesselski Bebel I 224 No. 128. |
| K117 | Alleged inexhaustible vessel sold. |
| J2326.4 | Alleged messenger from relatives in distress given goods to deliver. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K114.2 | Alleged oracular bird-skin sold. *Type 1535; *BP II 18. |
| K114.1 | Alleged oracular cow-hide sold. *Type 1535; *BP II 18. |
| K114.1.1 | Alleged oracular horse-hide sold. Type 1535. |
| K114.3 | Alleged oracular pill sold. |
| K116 | Alleged rejuvenating object sold. (Cf. D1338.) |
| K116.2 | Alleged rejuvenating stick sold. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K113.1 | Alleged resuscitating bone sold. (Cf. D1013.) Nubian: Sébillot RTP III 394. |
| K113.3 | Alleged resuscitating book sold. (Cf. D1266.) Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 137. |
| K113.8 | Alleged resuscitating bugle sold. Korean: Zong in-Sob 179f. No. 77. |
| K113.5 | Alleged resuscitating fiddle sold. (Cf. D1233.) *BP II 10; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| K113.7 | Alleged resuscitating horn sold. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K113.6 | Alleged resuscitating knife sold. (Cf. D1083.) *BP II 10, Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K113.4 | Alleged resuscitating wand sold. (Cf. D1254.1.) *BP II 10; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K113.2 | Alleged resuscitating whistle sold. (Cf. D1225). *BP II 10; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 99; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 196; N. A. Indian: *Thompson CColl II 422ff. |
| J2411.5 | Alleged return from land of dead with bags of gold persuades dupe to try to imitate. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K112.1 | Alleged self-cooking kettle sold. *Type 1539; BP II 10; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| U121.4 | Alleged son of king proved to be bastard when he displays habits of his true father. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K112.2.1 | Alleged soup-making pot sold. It already has the ingredients in it. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 242 No. 16. |
| K137 | Alleged speaking animal sold. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K131.1.1 | Alleged speaking hare sold as messenger. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1569.7 | Alleged speaking privates. Husband pretends that his wife's privates tell him of her adultery. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1812.3.3.5.1 | Allegorical dream: ripe and unripe ears, fat and lean kine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z178 | Allegorical game. Witch, aided by dragon (lion) is vanquished by maiden, aided by lamb (ram). Witch is devil; maiden, church of Christ. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1376 | Allegorical quests. |
| H767 | Allegorical riddles. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V515.2 | Allegorical visions—political. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V515.1 | Allegorical visions—religious. |
| V515 | Allegorical visions. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B267.4 | Alliance of cock and seafowl. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B267.1 | Alliance of dog and wolf. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B267.3 | Alliance of raven and crow. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B267.2 | Alliance of sheep and dog. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J681 | Alliances which make both parties more vulnerable. |
| J685 | Alliances with the intelligent. |
| J684 | Alliances with the strong. |
| G303.10 | Allies and possessions of the devil. |
| F471.1.1.1 | Alp rides horse sweaty at night. *Fb "mare" II 551b, 552a; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 60; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 127 No. 60; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 3683f. |
| D1819.4.2 | Alphabet written on cake learned by eating it. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F471.1.1.2 | Alps dance. *Fb "danse" IV 93a. |
| V31.4 | Altar casts away host with louse baked in it. Alphabet No. 690. |
| F962.12.2 | Altar cloths descend from heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V135 | Altar cloths. (Cf. F962.12.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F1083.0.1.1 | Altar floats in air. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F166.5 | Altar in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F1009.3 | Altar shakes when unworthy man is elected. (Cf. D1169.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| V116 | Altars. (Cf. V135.) *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 18a; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| K1355 | Altered letter of execution gives princess to hero. On his way robbers steal the letter and change it so that instead of being killed he is married to the princess. *Type 930; **Aarne FFC XXIII; *BP I 276ff.; *Chauvin VIII 145 No. 145ABC; Alphabet No. 593; Herrmann Saxo II 287; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 116. |
| A671.3.3 | Alternate heat and cold in hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H588.11 | Always eat bread with "honey". (Working diligently, your bread will be as sweet as honey.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 915A*. |
| D1711.10.6 | Amalekites as magicians. Jewish: Neuman. |
| P11.4.2 | Amasser of largest fortune to be king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K778.2 | Amazonian woman disguised as leper seduces and binds enemies one by one. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F565.1.1 | Amazons cut off left breast of daughters so that they can handle bow. Greek: Fox 85. |
| F565.1 | Amazons. Women warriors. **Klein Die Antiken Amazonensagen in der deutschen Literatur (Leipzig, 1919); *Chauvin VIII 55 No. 22; *Gaster Exempla 186f. No. 5A.—Irish myth: *Cross; MacCulloch Celtic 144; English: Wells 105 (The Prose Alexander) Malory Morte Darthur X 39; Icelandic: Olrik Sakses Oldhistorie I (1892) 52ff., *Boberg; Greek: Fox 85, *Frazer Apollodorus I 98 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys, Tawney II 589 n.; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 411 s.v. "Amazonen"; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 68; N. A. Indian: Hatt Asiatic Influences 70ff.; S. A. Indian: *Chamberlain JAFL XXIV 16, Alexander Lat. Am. 19 n. 5, 281f., (Tropical Forests): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (3) 55. |
| F826.2 | Ambergris made from bitumen eaten by fish. *Chauvin VII 25 No. 373F n. 1. |
| M305 | Ambiguous oracle. Dickson 132 n. 108; Frazer Apollodorus I 285 n. 4; Gaster Oldest Stories 205; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| T597 | Ambitions of father transferred to child at moment of conception. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J956 | Ambitious branch chosen king of trees. Vine and fig tree have refused. Scala Celi 8b No. 55; Judges 9: 8. |
| K1641 | Ambushed trickster killed by intended victim. *Penzer V 59 n. 2; Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 69; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 247 No. 23. |
| K2378.4 | Ammunition saved till enemy has used his. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J263 | Among many vain words may be found some of wisdom. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1711.10.5 | Amonites as magicians. Jewish: Neuman. |
| K1271.3 | Amorous intrigue exposed and faithless husband humiliated. Heptameron No. 38. |
| K1271 | Amorous intrigue observed and exposed. Irish myth: *Cross; West Indies: Flowers 536. |
| H252.2 | Amount of blood in spittle as test of complete subjection. Incomplete till all is blood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T52.4.1 | Amount of dowry fixed by custom in bride's family. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B126 | Amphibian with magic knowledge. |
| G346.3 | Amphibious monster. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G346.3.1 | Amphibious tree-destroying monsters. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E541.4.1 | Amputated head asks for drink. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1501.6 | Amulet assists in childbearing. (Cf. D1070.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1504.2 | Amulet cures nosebleed. (Cf. D1070.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D489.2 | Amulet enlarged to become cloak. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1342.5 | Amulet guarantees health. (Cf. D1070.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 424. |
| D1385.24 | Amulet guards against sorcery. (Cf. D1070.) India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 54, Rink 151, (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 511. |
| D1548.0.1 | Amulet has control over weather. (Cf. D1070.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 459. Rasmussen II 175. |
| D1387.1 | Amulet preserves chastity. (Cf. D1070.) Dickson 53 n. 62. |
| D1344.3 | Amulet renders invulnerable. (Cf. D1070.)—De Cock Studien 156. |
| D1392.1 | Amulet saves one from death. (Cf. D1070.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 187, III 114, 211, 216, Rink 168. |
| T136.3 | Amusements at wedding. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F460.3 | Amusements of mountain-folk. |
| G303.10.9 | An all-red, all-black, or all-white calf the property of the devil. Dh I 188. |
| V128.1 | An apple is offered to a statue of the Virgin and her child. The infant reaches out and takes the fruit. *Loomis White Magic 124. |
| J1631 | An expensive joke. A shoemaker's apprentice greases boots as he would grease a fowl. The owner in anger returns and breaks a window. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 642. |
| J1458 | An oath to break oaths. Village called on to join in war deliberates in meeting. A man says, "We have taken oaths not to go to war. We must now take an oath to break all the oaths we have taken." Wesselski Bebel I 205 No. 88. |
| S223.3 | An old maid promises the devil her first born. She wishes to get a husband. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 391. |
| U119.4 | An ugly face does not mean an ugly soul. A noble and holy man who is very ugly is proved to be a saintly soul. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| A111.3 | Ancestor of the gods. Tahiti: Henry 336. |
| N786 | Anchor catching in oratory of submarine monastery leads to adventures. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F285 | Anchor falls on fairies. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "ancre". |
| F1047 | Anchor floats on water. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "ancre." |
| D2082.2 | Anchorite consumes tree by one blast of his fiery breath. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K2116.2.1 | Anchorite falsely accused of murder. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| V228.2 | Anchorite immune to magician's powers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M301.5.1 | Anchorite prophesies at childbirth. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| T331.5 | Anchorite saved by a miracle. When he is about to give in to temptation a dove flies out of his mouth. On repenting the dove re-enters his mouth. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| V475.5 | Anchorite tempted by money to return to worldly life. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 807. |
| E379.2 | Anchorite's body rises out of river in favor to disciple. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L111.6 | Anchorite's son as hero. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| T330 | Anchorites under temptation. *Toldo II 304ff.; *Loomis White Magic 187 n. 140; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1357 | Ancient and modern ancestors. To a prince who boasted that he was descended from the Trojans a doctor replies: "My people are of Nurenberg. Everyone knows who they are; but of the Trojans no one knows anything except that Aeneas was a traitor and Romulus a robber." *Wesselski Bebel II 114 No. 46. |
| A2213.1 | Ancient animal squeezed: hence small size. (Cf. A2302.)—Dh III 2—7 (hazel-grouse, squirrel, eagle, wolf, snake's head.) |
| F944.2 | Ancient homeland sinks beneath the waves. Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 75. |
| F130.3 | Ancient Ireland as location of otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A478.6 | Angel (demon) of blindness. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J225.4 | Angel (Jesus) kills man. Done because man is plotting a murder. *Type 759; Wesselski Mönchslatein No. 79; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| V242.2 | Angel abides in church. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J225.0.1 | Angel and hermit. Angel takes hermit with him and does many seemingly unjust things. Later shows why each of these was just. *Type 759; *BP IV 326 No. 3; **DeCock Studien en Essays 178ff.; *Crane Vitry 179 No. 109; Herbert III 8; Fb "uskyldig"; Alphabet Nos. 68, 411; Scala Celi 15a No. 85; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 508b nn. 9—11; *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 32; **O. Rohde Die Erzählung vom Einsiedler und dem Engel (Leipzig, 1894); *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 682. — Irish: Beal XXI 336; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 23, *296, Goebel Jüdische Motive in märchenhaften Erzählungsgut (Gleiwitz, 1932) 116ff., *Neuman. |
| V230.3 | Angel and mortal struggle. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| V235.1 | Angel announces birth of Christ to shepherds. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V243 | Angel answers mortal's prayer. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| V231.5 | Angel appears to woman to warn her not to force girl into marriage. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| A17 | Angel as creator. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N583 | Angel as guardian of treasure. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V232.5 | Angel as guide. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| V232.1 | Angel as helper in battle. English: Wells 76 (Joseph of Aramathie); Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| V232 | Angel as helper. Spanish: Keller, Espinosa Jr. No. 188; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| V246.2 | Angel as saint's teacher. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V241.4 | Angel baptizes saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V235.3 | Angel bars abbot from his cell because abbot has cast out a sinning monk. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| V237 | Angel bars the way to Baalam's ass. Numbers 22: 27; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| V244 | Angel beseeches at unholy grave of redeemed sinner until body is moved to sanctified ground. Irish myth. Cross. |
| V232.7.1 | Angel brings cross as gift to saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V232.2.0.1 | Angel carries boat to water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V232.2 | Angel carries mortal. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2148.1 | Angel causes earth to quake, releasing prisoners for saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
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.