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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A827 | Earth made by drying up of primeval water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A825 | Earth made by first couple dancing on bit of cloth laid on water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A822 | Earth made by mud shaken from back of primeval boar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A824 | Earth made by transformation of broken ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A821 | Earth made of lac. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2148 | Earth magically caused to quake. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F942.3 | Earth opens at man's command. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F942.3.1 | Earth opens at woman's bidding to enclose her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R327 | Earth opens to rescue fugitive. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A811.1 | Earth originates from fish brought from bottom of sea. The fish is hacked with knives; hence, mountains.—Oceanic (Maori, Hawaiian, Central Polynesian, Tonga, Samoan, New Hebrides, Union Group, Gilbert Is., New Britain): Dixon 43f. |
| Q552.2.0.1.1 | Earth quakes when saint is opposed. (Cf. Q227.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1503.12.1 | Earth receives curative powers from contact with saint. *Loomis White Magic 104f. |
| A1036 | Earth recreated after world-fire. S. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 282. |
| E411.0.6 | Earth rejects buried body. (Cf. V62.1.) Loomis White Magic 44; Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3748; Danish: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A844 | Earth rests on animal's back. *Encyc. Religion and Ethics I 491b. |
| A844.8 | Earth rests on cobra's head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.7 | Earth rests on elephant's back. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A849.2 | Earth rests on God's arm. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A844.11 | Earth rests on leviathan. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A844.5 | Earth rests on the horns of a bull who rests upon a fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.6 | Earth rests on tortoise, serpent, elephant. (Cf. A1145.1.).—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.1 | Earth rests on turtle's back. (Cf. A815.).—Siberian: *Holmberg Siberian 327; India: *Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 31. |
| A816 | Earth rises from sea. *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 279.—Icel: *Olrik Ragnarök 23, MacCulloch Eddic 325.—Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86. |
| F969.2 | Earth rises. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A814.6 | Earth scattered in a circuit in four directions on primeval water. India: Thompson-Balys; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 55. |
| A826 | Earth sets like curds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1061 | Earth sinks into sea at end of world. *Olrik Ragnarök 479 s.v. "Erde". |
| D1610.19 | Earth speaks. (Cf. D935, D1318.16.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F494.3 | Earth spirit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F944.4 | Earth splits and plain sinks to become bottom of lake when tabu is broken. Africa (Congo): Johnson Grenfell 817. |
| A871 | Earth square with four quarters. Irish myth: Cross; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 308. |
| A844.2 | Earth supported by bull. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 311; Armenian: Ananikian 93. |
| A844.3 | Earth supported by fish. *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 281.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian. |
| A844.4 | Earth supported by frog. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 311. |
| A849.3 | Earth supported by prop. S. Am. Indian (Apapocuvá-Guaraní): Métraux MAFLS XL 36. |
| A843.1 | Earth supported on cross of wood. S. Am. Indian (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Apapocuvá): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 136. |
| A844.9 | Earth supported on great boar's tusk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A843 | Earth supported on post. The post has an old woman as guardian. When she is hungry the post shakes, causing earthquakes.—Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 222.—N. A. Indian (Tlingit, Hare): Boas RBAE XXXI 732. |
| A844.10 | Earth supported on vast number of birds' legs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q552.2.3 | Earth swallowings as punishment. (Cf. F940, Q221.4.3.) Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 327, O'Suilleabhain 79; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 3610, 3748, Legends Nos. 467f., 470f; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| Q552.2.3.2.2 | Earth swallows heretical city. (Cf. Q225.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q552.2.3.1.2 | Earth swallows man as punishment for sacrilege (blasphemy, heresy, etc.). (Cf. Q221.3.) *Loomis White Magic 101; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q552.2.3.4 | Earth swallows man intending treachery. (Cf. Q261.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q552.2.3.1.1 | Earth swallows man who opposes saint (holy man). (Cf. Q227.) Loomis White Magic 44; Irish myth: *Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 798, II 1220. |
| Q552.2.3.2.1 | Earth swallows mill in which saint's grain was refused grinding. (Cf. Q227.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q552.2.3.2 | Earth swallows object as punishment. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F948.1.1 | Earth swallows up Temple vessels. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V211.2.3.1 | Earth trembles at Crucifixion. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A653 | Earth under umbrella. Hindu: Penzer II 125 n. 3. |
| A875 | Earth wheel-shaped (flat and round). Greek: Grote I 4, 310; Hindu: Keith 16; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 308. |
| A1060 | Earth-disturbances at end of world. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A878.4 | Earth-tree furnishes health-giving and hunger-satisfying sap. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 350, 353. |
| A878 | Earth-tree. Tree of life or fate.—*Wünsche "Das Wasser des Lebens in den Märchen der Völker" Zs. f. vgl. Litteraturgeschichte XIII 166ff.; **Holmberg Baum; Dh I 6 (five eastern branches given to man, others forbidden); *Albright Am. Jour. Semitic Langs. XXXIX 161.—*Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 150ff., 200.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 331ff. (Yggdrasil); Irish Myth: Cross; Egyptian: Müller 36. |
| J425.1 | Earthen and brazen pots in river. Brazen pot thinks that they should stay together for company. Earthen pot, however, fears approach of brazen pot. Wienert FFC LVI 76 (ET 414), *136 (ST 415); Halm Aesop No. 422; Jacobs Aesop 212 No. 51; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1262.1 | Earthen cups replaced by golden. Emperor: "God is a thief; he threw Adam into a sleep and then stole a rib from him." Emperor's daughter: "Would you call a man a thief who stole two earthen cups from you and replaced them by golden ones?" Jewish: Gaster Exempla 196 No. 55, *Neuman. |
| K144.2 | Earthen pot with rice water on top of which clarified butter had been poured sold as a pot of clarified butter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F132.1.1 | Earthly paradise in air over mountain. Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 76. |
| F132.1 | Earthly paradise on mountain. (Cf. F111.) Patch PMLA XXXIII 618 n. 57. |
| V222.9 | Earthquake accompanies entrance of holy man into palace of heathen emperor. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F960.9 | Earthquake announces victorious return of hero after long absence. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.3.8.5 | Earthquake as giant falls down. Icelandic: Þiðriks saga II 384, Boberg. |
| Q552.25 | Earthquake as punishment. |
| F960.2.5 | Earthquake at death of important person. |
| F960.2.5.3 | Earthquake at dragon's death. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q552.25.1 | Earthquake at dragon's death. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F960.2.5.2 | Earthquake at witch's death. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q552.25.2 | Earthquake at witch's death. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F531.3.8.5.1 | Earthquake by giant's wrestling. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R236.3 | Earthquake saves fugitive. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F960.2.5.1 | Earthquake when good man is murdered. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| A1061.1 | Earthquakes at the end of the world. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (M307.12).—S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158. |
| A1145.2 | Earthquakes from movements of sea-monster. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1145.1 | Earthquakes from movements of subterranean monster. (Cf. A844). —*Encyc. Religion and Ethics I 491b; *Olrik Ragnarök 278; Icel.: De la Saussaye 264.—Greek: Fox 211 (Poseidon); Jewish: Neuman; Egyptian: Müller 104; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 311f.; Armenian: Ananikian 93; India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Chibcha): Kroeber BBAE CXLIII (2) 908. |
| B722.4 | Earthworm has light in its tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1755 | Earthworm thought to be snake (or other monster). Type 1316***. |
| V75 | Easter. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V25 | Easy confession not effective. |
| L330 | Easy escape of weak (small). |
| D1355.14 | Eaten fruit causes sexual desire. (Cf. D981.) India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1619.2.2 | Eaten goat bleats from eater's stomach. (Cf. D1032.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E714.4.1 | Eaten heart gives one the owner's qualities. Fb "hjærte" IV 218b; N. A. Indian: *Hultkrantz 397—411; Jewish: Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1619.2.1 | Eaten magic dog howls from eater's belly. *Wesselski Theorie 34f; New Zealand: Dixon 86. |
| B635.1.1 | Eaten meat of bear-lover causes unborn son to have bear characteristics. (Cf. B611.1.)—Hrolfs saga Kraka 53. |
| D1619.2 | Eaten object speaks from inside person's body. |
| E32.0.1 | Eaten person resuscitated. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Tonga: Beckwith Myth 483. |
| M312.3 | Eater of magic bird-heart will become rich (or king). *Type 567; *BP III 3; **Aarne MSFO XXV 176; Chauvin VI 170; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1138; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 190. |
| M312.3.1 | Eater of magic fish will have power to spit up treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1144.1 | Eaters of stolen food detected by the giving of an emetic. Italian Novella: Rotunda (J1142.4.); French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 24. |
| J1144 | Eaters of stolen food detected. |
| C766 | Eating after one is satisfied. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 182. |
| D1358.1 | Eating courageous animal's heart makes courageous. (Cf. E714.4.1. |
| J1511.3 | Eating cure becomes epidemic. A woman feigns periodic attacks of a sickness that can be cured only by eating a great number of delicacies. The husband feigns the same disease. Type 1372*. |
| C221.1.2.3 | Eating dove. (Cf. C549.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1358.1.1 | Eating dragon's heart makes courageous. (Cf. B11, D1015.1.2.)—Icelandic: Völsunga Saga 79, Boberg. |
| F451.3.13.1 | Eating dwarfs smack like hogs. German: Pröhle Harzsagen No. 229. |
| D1357.1 | Eating ferocious animal's heart makes person cruel. (Cf. D1015.1, D1335.1.2.)—Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1025 | Eating his own entrails. The fox persuades the wolf to do so. *Type 21; Krohn Bär (Wolf) und Fuchs (JSFO VI) 85; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1500.2.5 | Eating magic pig prevents disease. (Cf. B184.3.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| C229.5 | Eating meat with milk. (Cf. C271).—Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D2161.4.13 | Eating of human hearts as cure for insomnia. Chauvin VI 61 No. 229. |
| C221.1.1.3 | Eating seal meat. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV200. |
| D1358.1.2 | Eating serpent's and wolf's flesh makes courageous and impetuous. (Cf. D1032.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| C152.3 | Eating tabus for pregnant woman. |
| C221.2 | Eating totem animal (or animal namesake). Frazer Golden Bough VIII 25ff.—Irish myth: Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 156; India: Thompson-Balys. —Hupa: Goddard UCal I 154; Iroquois. Smith RBAE II 85; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 52; African: *Werner African 276ff.; Tshi: Ellis Tshi-Speaking Peoples 211.—Australian: Parker 40ff.; Bougainville: Wheeler 58. |
| W151.7 | Eats up the money. Old man before dying eats his money. In church, son wants to cut corpse open and get the money. The devil: "Don't spoil the skin." Shakes money out of the corpse's throat and takes the skin. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3621, Legends No. 638. |
| N322.1 | Eavesdropping man in disguise as devil killed unwittingly by daughter's lover. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 305 No. 4. |
| N322 | Eavesdropping person unwittingly killed. Icelandic: *Boberg. Cf. death of Polonius in Shakespeare's "Hamlet". |
| K464 | Eavesdropping sexton duped into giving suppliant money. The trickster prays to the Virgin for a certain sum of money and promises repayment of double at the end of the month. The sexton throws the money to him, but never receives it back. Type 1543*. |
| N322.2 | Eavesdropping wife hidden in bushes killed unwittingly by husband. Greek: Fox 72 (Prokris). |
| A913.3 | Ebb-tide goes to great whirlpool. Tonga: Gifford 144. |
| B29.2 | Echidna. Half woman, half serpent.—Frazer Apollodorus I 131. |
| K1887.1 | Echo answers. Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 172; Greek: Pauly-Wissowa s.v. "Echo"; Chinese: Graham. |
| F443.1 | Echo as wood-spirit kidnaps and crazes man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F443 | Echo as wood-spirit. |
| A497.1 | Echo invisible. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A497 | Echo. |
| D1812.5.1.4 | Eclipse as evil omen. (Cf. F961.1, F965.2.) Penzer II 82.—Icelandic: Boberg. |
| A737.9 | Eclipse as punishment by deity. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Q552.20 | Eclipse as punishment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A737.1 | Eclipse caused by monster devouring sun or moon. *Fb "solulv"; *Encyc. Religion and Ethics I 492a.; Gaster Oldest Stories 234; Gaster Thespis 206.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 279; Finnish: Kalevala rune 47; Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 424; Jugo-Slav: Máchal Slavic Myth 229; Armenian: Ananikian 48.—Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 736; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Wilken Indische Gids (1885) I 240; Tahiti: Henry 227; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123, 158, 165, (Mocoví): Métraux MAFLS XL 20, (Manao): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 712, (Guarani, Manasí, Guarayú, Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, 393, 483, (Guayaki): Métraux-Baldus BBAE CXLIII (1) 444; (Toba, Abipуn, Mocovi, Mataco, Vilela): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Eastern Brazil): Lowie ibid. 434 (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (3) 724. |
| F961.0.2 | Eclipse of sun and moon in God's proximity. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F961.1.9 | Eclipse of sun at important historical events. (Cf. A737.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| A737.10 | Eclipses because sun cannot endure tragic happenings of history. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A737.6 | Eclipses caused by animal hiding sun behind his body. S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 348, (Lule): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366. |
| A737.7 | Eclipses from quarrels between moon and sun. S. Am. Indian (Botocudo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 540. |
| A737.8 | Eclipses when sun smears his face on account of mourning. S. Am. Indian (Caviсa, Tumupasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448. |
| F839.2.2 | Edge of shield sharp enough to cut hair on water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D476.2 | Edible substance changed to inedible. |
| K1271.1.3 | Educated chickens tell of woman's adultery. A trickster undertakes to teach a woman's chickens to talk. When he reports that they are saying that she has slept with the priest, she pays him off. *Type 1750; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 843; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1676*. |
| J146 | Educated men as choice company. |
| A511.3 | Education of culture hero. |
| B243.1.2 | Eel as king of fishes. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 6. |
| A2218.8 | Eel burned by torch: hence red eyes. Marquesas: Handy 80. |
| B612.1 | Eel paramour. Maori, Mangaia: Dixon 55; Samoa, Mangaia: Beckwith Myth 103; Hawaii: ibid. 136. |
| B15.7.12 | Eel with fiery mane. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A132.12 | Eel-god. Tonga: Gifford 57; Maori: Clark 163. |
| A1127.1 | Effect of the four winds on weather. Jewish: Neuman.—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 224; Ojibwa: Jones JAFL XXIX 372. |
| J2212 | Effects of age and size absurdly applied. |
| E501.19.3 | Effects of wild hunt remedied by asking the huntsmen for parsley. Plischke 74. |
| E501.19.2 | Effects of wild hunt remedied by asking the huntsmen for salt. Plischke 74. |
| E501.19.4 | Effects of wild hunt remedied by asking to partake in booty of hunt. This booty is the same kind as the hunt has already thrown down. (Cf. E501.18.2.) Plischke 74. |
| E501.19.5 | Effects of wild hunt remedied by eating part of flesh thrown down by it. (Cf. E501.18.2.) Plischke 75. |
| E501.19.6 | Effects of wild hunt remedied by prayer. Plischke 75. |
| E501.19.1 | Effects of wild hunt remedied by seeing it a year later in same place. Plischke 74. |
| V316 | Efficacy of prayer. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| V254 | Efficacy of saying "Aves". Irish: Beal XXI 335, O'Suilleabhain 114, 117. |
| K444.1 | Egg as reward of appropriate saying. First brother (knocking egg against wall): "Casca cascorum." Second (breaking shell and sprinkling dirt over it): "Sar, sale, sapiensa". Third (eating egg): "Consumatus es." Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 153 No. 1942; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D474.4 | Egg becomes bloody. German: Grimm No. 46. |
| F989.20 | Egg becomes crowing cock. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F878 | Egg used as shinny ball. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 74. |
| F1025.2.1 | Eggplant, needle, and cowdung go on warpath. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F359.1 | Eggs stolen from fairies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G302.5.2 | Egypt as abode of demons. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D1711.10.3 | Egyptians as magicians. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z22 | Ehod mi yodea (One; who knows?); Le dodici parole della veritа, Las doce palabras retorneadas. The numbers from one to twelve are brought into relation with various objects, often of religious significance. **Espinosa Revista de Filologia Espaсola XVII 390ff.; *Taylor JAFL XLVI 79 No. 2010; *Greenleaf Ballads and Sea-songs of Newfoundland (Cambridge, Mass., 1933) 93 No. 41; **Hdwb. d. Märchens II 171ff.; *Newell "The Carol of the Twelve Numbers" JAFL IV (1891) 215—220; Köhler-Bolte III 370 n. 2; BP III 15 n.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2010*; Russian: Andrejev No. 812B*; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 156 No. 2045*; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A666.1 | Eight (symbolical) steps of the ladder of heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P251.6.4 | Eight brothers. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Z71.16.1.1 | Eight deadly sins. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| C231.5 | Eight handfuls of food only to be eaten during ceremony. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A651.1.5 | Eight heavens. Samoa: Beckwith Myth 210. |
| Z71.16.1.3 | Eight miracles of Christ's body in the sacrament. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P252.4 | Eight sisters. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Z71.16.1.4 | Eight unprofitable types of fasting. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z71.16.1.2 | Eight virtues. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B15.4.1.4 | Eight-eyed bat. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 233. |
| F512.2.1.2 | Eight-eyed person. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 233; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/15). |
| B15.1.2.7 | Eight-headed animal. |
| J1772.14 | Eight-oared ferry-boat mistaken for an animal which must have long legs to wade the stream. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P252.7 | Eighteen sisters kill one another. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R155.2 | Elder brother rescues younger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| S73.1.3 | Elder brother threatens to kill younger as soon as he is born. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 436. |
| Q431.2.1 | Elder brothers banished for treachery. (Cf. K2211, Q261.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 49 No. 328A*. |
| P250.1 | Elder children to protect younger. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "aоnés". |
| A2721.2.1.4 | Elder cursed for serving as cross. (Cf. A2766.1.) —England: Baughman. |
| A2711.2.1 | Elder tree is never struck by lightning because it was used in making the cross. England: Baughman. |
| Z221 | Eldest brother as hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T131.3 | Eldest daughter will marry man only if he will marry all her sisters too. Africa (Angola): Chatelain 119 No. 10. |
| A161.5 | Eldest god born in front, younger at back. (Cf. A112.7.) Hivaoa (Marquesas): Handy 138. |
| B239.1 | Election of fox as mediator to appease angry lion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B236.1 | Election of king of birds. (Cf. B232.)—*Type 221; *BP III 278 (Gr. No. 171); Penzer V 100ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; Panchatantra (tr. Ryder) 304; Bødker Exempler 293 No. 53; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B236.2 | Election of king of fishes. (Cf. B233, B243.)—*BP III 284 (Gr. No. 172); *Dh IV 192ff. |
| N561 | Electric shock scares away treasure diggers. Scotland: Baughman. |
| F962.1 | Electric storm breaks island into three parts. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F968.1 | Electric storm kills a thousand. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A112.9.1 | Elementary spirits borne by human woman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V211.1.5 | Elements silent and motionless at Nativity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| X941.3 | Elephant (camel) put in pocket as a curiosity to show friends. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F929.1 | Elephant allows jackal to quench his thirst by entering through his mouth to his stomach. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J461.8 | Elephant and ape debate about superiority. Owl gives them task neither can perform and ends futile debate. India: Thompson-Balys |
| A165.2.1.1.3 | Elephant as god's messenger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B240.14 | Elephant as king of animals. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Fang): Trilles 175, (Cameroon): Mansfield passim. |
| K407.3 | Elephant cuts piece from own leg and puts it on shelf, lest he be accused of stealing meat. Africa (Cameroon): Lederbogen 3. |
| B151.1.4 | Elephant determines road to be taken. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 603. |
| B599.3 | Elephant draws plow to mark boundaries of empire. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 528. |
| K2351.4 | Elephant drunk with toddy sent to attack enemy. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1108, II 527. |
| J1882.3 | Elephant educated as drum beater. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1791.12 | Elephant frightened at agitated reflection of moon in water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K825.2 | Elephant killed by cutting off trunk which is poked into cave after victims. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L315.5.1 | Elephant killed by mouse who runs up open end of trunk to head and there smears poison over his brain. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Congo): Weeks Jungle 393f. |
| A2353.3 | Elephant loses its breasts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1042.1 | Elephant offers to let chameleon hold on to his tail: it is oiled and chameleon falls off. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 225. |
| N332.2.1 | Elephant on rampage accidentally poisoned instead of man. Man claims having killed elephant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H171.1.1 | Elephant raises girl three times to be king's wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B543.3.1 | Elephant rescues stolen girl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2284.4 | Elephant tricked into eating own testicles. Has them inside. (Cf. A2365.1.1.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 361 No. 14. |
| J512.7.1 | Elephant, giraffe, snake, and ant try keeping house together: requirements different. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F369.8 | Elephants become lean from listening too much to fairy music; cannot graze. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B791 | Elephants have power of bringing rain. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 41. |
| B754.2 | Elephants have sexual desire only after eating mandrakes. English: Wells 182 (The Bestiary). |
| B801 | Elephants in folktales. *Penzer I 134. |
| B530.2 | Elephants look after ascetic in jungle. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 44. |
| P251.6.6 | Eleven brothers. Type 451; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F156.5 | Eleven portals to otherworld. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 46. |
| F301.5 | Elf-knight entices maiden away and kills her. English: Child I 47; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F301.2.1 | Elf-knight produces love-longing by blowing on horn. English: Child I 15ff., 23, 55, 367. |
| D2066 | Elfshot. (F360.) Magic shooting of small objects into a person's (or animal's) body. Kittredge Witchcraft 133, 453ff. nn. 62—82 passim; *Fb "skud" III 333b, "ellefolk" I 241b.—Irish myth: Cross; England, Ireland: *Baughman. |
| D1338.0.1.1 | Elixir retards aging. (Cf. D1242.3.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R225.1 | Elopement on winged horse. Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 110. |
| R225 | Elopement. *Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 106; *Thien Motive 27; *Boje 110ff.; *Krappe Revue Hispanique LXXVIII (1930) 489—543. — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus II 174 n. 1 (Helen); India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 860. |
| R355 | Eloping girl recaptured by parents. (Cf. R225.) Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 111. |
| X319.1 | Eloquent lawyer makes obviously guilty client doubt his own guilt. Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D2066.1 | Elves get stones from fairies who get them from mermaids. The devil does the finishing work on the stones. England: Baughman. |
| F239.5 | Elves have faces of wrinkled old men. England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| F232.7 | Elves have only half a thumb. England: Baughman. |
| C934.3 | Elves set country afire because of broken tabu. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q551.6.6 | Emaciation caused by envy. (Cf. Q302.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q466 | Embarkation in leaky vessel as punishment. *Type 612; BP I 126, *127. |
| Q466.0.1 | Embarkation in rudderless boat as punishment. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 650. |
| K499.5 | Embarrassing gift. Trickster unwilling to pay for burial fee of aged cow, gives cow to unwitting Brahmin as gift. Cow dies soon and Brahmin must pay. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T575.1.5.1 | Embryos in womb join melody and sing. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A115 | Emergence of deity. |
| A115.5 | Emergence of gods from above and below. Marquesas: Handy 138. |
| A1631.1 | Emergence of tribe from lower world stopped by fat woman or pregnant woman who becomes lodged in the hole of egress.—Warrau (Carib tribe): Alexander Lat. Am. 272 (references to Kiowa, Mandan, and Pueblo). |
| A1631 | Emergence of tribe from lower world. Creek: Alexander N. Am. 62; Choctaw: ibid. 63; Mandan, Kiowa: ibid. 105; Arikara: ibid. 107; Navaho: ibid. 159; Pima: ibid. 177; Sia: ibid. 203; Hopi: ibid. 205; Warrau (Carib): Alexander Lat. Am. 273; Amazon tribes: ibid. 309. |
| A1230 | Emergence or descent of first man to earth. |
| F451.9.5 | Emigrating dwarfs are ferried across water. (Cf. F451.5.10.6.) German: Karstens-Goslar 166. |
| W21 | Emperor friendly to everyone. Would act as he should like an emperor to act toward him if he were a common man. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 166. |
| Q211.0.3 | Emperor punished for his many murders. He is carried to hell. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| W11.2.1 | Emperor thinks day lost when he gives no gifts. Alphabet No. 443; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J2326.3 | Emperor wants to travel to paradise. Blindfolded and put on an ass. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1289.17 | Emperor: "What people have the biggest bellies?" Jester answers: "The landlords." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z116.1 | Empire personified. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B15.6.2 | Empousa. Monster with one foot of brass and another of an ass.—Greek: Fox 278. |
| J918 | Empress sews and shows she is not too noble to work. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| E501.10.1 | Empty shoe follows wild hunt. Plischke 35. |
| F133.2 | Empty under-water house. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 81. |
| D6 | Enchanted castle (building). Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| H151.6.1 | Enchanted heroine seen temporarily disenchanted: recognition follows. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 6. |
| D794.1 | Enchanted person attracts attention by dancing. South Africa: Bourhill and Drake 237ff. No. 20. |
| D794 | Enchanted person attracts attention of rescuer. |
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