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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| F762.1 | Green city. Burton Nights II 283. |
| F233.1 | Green fairy. Wimberly 240 n. 4; Irish myth: *Cross; England, Scotland: Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.1.7.1 | Green giant. *Kittredge Gawayne 195ff. |
| B731.2 | Green horse. Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 7. |
| F527.2 | Green knight. *Kittredge Gawain passim; BP II 262f.; Dickson 180ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2275.4.1 | Green pigeon cheated out of its chick: is always mourning. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K147.1 | Green plantains sold as matured plants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B731.1 | Green she-goat. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chèvre". |
| D1355.20 | Green stone causes women to love the possessor. (Cf. D1070.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F440.1 | Green vegetation spirit. *Kittredge Gawain 195ff.; *Fb "grön" I 504. |
| P682 | Greeting customs. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| P682.1 | Greeting in God's name. Jewish: Neuman. |
| P27 | Grief at queen's death. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1359.3.1.3 | Grief dispelled by sound of bell attached to magic fairy dog. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| T211.9.2.1 | Grieving man goes to die where his wife's corpse lies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F12.2 | Grieving mortal taken by god of the dead up to otherworld to identify his son, who has just died. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N575 | Griffin as guardian of treasure. (Cf. B42.) Penzer I 104. |
| H1233.4.3 | Griffin as helper on quest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2232.4 | Griffin disdains to go on ark; drowned: hence extinct. Dh I 288. |
| B42 | Griffin. Half lion, half eagle.—*Chauvin VII 13 No. 313B; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 1129f.; Penzer I 104, 141 n. 2; Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A671.2.10 | Griffins in hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N696.2 | Grinding stones carried by men seeking refuge in tree-top fall, killing their enemies below. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.4 | Groom and his army have to fight bride's army. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R41.4 | Groom as prisoner in his and giantess's bridal chamber. (Cf. R41.5.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| T137.4 | Groom becomes a member of bride's family. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1844.3 | Groom deceives bride with substituted bedmate and hides self in order to learn the secret she has promised to tell. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| T137.3 | Groom invited after marriage ceremony into female apartments to eat wedding breakfast with the bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N339.4 | Groom killed by lightning on wedding night. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K873.2 | Groom murdered, while watchmen and bride are brought to sleep by music. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| T133.6 | Groom's mother visits bride-to-be and puts the betrothal ring on her finger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T135.4 | Groom's sword makes vermillion mark on bride's forehead as wedding ceremony. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A992.3 | Ground bursts open and a temple rises from it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F942.2 | Ground cut from under adversary. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| C144 | Ground defiled by menstrual blood. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V229.13 | Ground elevates itself to give protection or comfort to saint. *Loomis White Magic 45. |
| F949.1.1 | Ground opens and swallows demoniac wasps. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F947 | Ground opens and swallows forest. Irish myth: Cross; England: Baughman. |
| F948.1 | Ground opens and swallows heathen idols. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F948.2 | Ground opens and swallows other object. Irish myth: Cross; Chinese: Graham. |
| F942.1 | Ground opens and swallows up person. Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 327; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Fox 63 (Althaimenes), 227 (Persephone), Frazer Apollodorus II 241 n. 5; Jewish: *Neuman; Africa: Werner African 200. |
| F942.1.1 | Ground opens to hide fugitive. U.S.: Baughman; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 28. |
| E410.1 | Ground trembles or rumbles when ghost rises from grave. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99. |
| A856.2 | Ground, previously all wet, dries up when first woman cuts her little finger and blood drips on ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A501 | Groups of demigods. |
| F817.1 | Growing and ungrowing grass. Produces one pod daily till the fifteenth of the month; thereafter one pod shrinks each day. (Cf. F811.12.) Chinese: Ferguson 33. |
| F755.4 | Growing mountain. Grows concurrently with child reared upon it. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F802 | Growing rocks. RTP X 28. |
| A511.4 | Growth of culture hero. |
| F979.14 | Grub's urine waters tree. (Cf. D1027.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K341.11.1 | Guard (owner) sent to see a cat which fishes for her master. Goods stolen in his absence. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| T381.1 | Guarded maiden first seen by hero in church. *Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 103; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| T381.1.1 | Guarded maiden first seen by hero in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V238 | Guardian angel. (Cf. F403.2.2.2, V232, 246.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B576.1.1 | Guardian animals evaded. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 367 n. 113a. |
| K335.1.7 | Guardian beast overcome by hero's mirrors. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K629.2 | Guardian enticed away. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1965 | Guardian magically made to sleep while girl goes to lover. (Cf. K1349.4, T30.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1965.1 | Guardian magically made to sleep while lover visits maiden. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F140.1 | Guardian of spirit-land boundary. Maori: Clark 135. |
| N570 | Guardian of treasure. *Fb "skat" III 235b, 236a; *Winter 41; *Norlind 69ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 73ff. Nos. 623—629. |
| F494.1 | Guardian spirit of land. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 228, Herrmann Saxo II 22ff., *Boberg; Danish: Ellekilde Ellekongen i Stevns, Danske Studier 1929, 10ff. |
| J2125 | Guarding chickens from the fox. Numskull ties their beaks and weights them down in the river with stones. BP III 337ff.; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 139 No. 1692. |
| K1413 | Guarding the door. It is lifted off and carried away. *Types 1009, 1653A; Penzer V 117 n.; Clouston Noodles 97; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1014A*. |
| K331.2.2 | Guards fatigued by trickster so that they sleep while goods are stolen. Africa (Kaffir): Theal 179. |
| J2712.2 | Guess how many eggs I have and you shall get all seven. Christensen DF XLVII 214 No. 73. |
| J2712.1 | Guess what I have in my hand and I will give it to you to make egg-cake with. What does it look like? What outside and yellow inside. It is a hollowed turnip filled with carrots. Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 209 No. 15. |
| H515 | Guessing contest between kings. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K216.2.1 | Guessing name of devil's secret plant. The man's wife in tar and feathers overhears the devil tell the secret name of the crop he has discovered (tobacco). The devil says to the supposed animal, "Get out of my tobacco!" Dh I 194; *BP I 411, III 358. |
| C432.1 | Guessing name of supernatural creature gives power over him. (Tom-Tit-Tot).—*Type 500; BP I 495; *Clodd Tom-Tit-Tot; Köhler-Bolte I 109; *Fb "gjætte" I 452; Henne-am Rhyn No. 618.—Icelandic: Arnason Legends of Iceland (Powell tr.) I 49, *Boberg. |
| H528 | Guessing sex of unborn child (or animal). |
| H512 | Guessing with life as wager. *Type 500, 922; *Anderson FFC XLII 252; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H527 | Guessing: whether more of a certain stone is above or below ground. A test set by heathen king for a saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1396 | Guest at inn is told that there is but one available bed: that of the mistress. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 7; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| P325.1 | Guest begets son with his host's daughter. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J1575 | Guest brings along cakes to eat. Stingy host rebuked. Spanish: Espinosa III No. 192; Italian Novella: *Rotunda, Boccaccio Decameron I No. 8 (Lee 23). |
| P322 | Guest given refuge. Murderer of a man's father takes refuge in his house and is saved by him. *Chauvin II 198 No. 31. |
| P322.2 | Guest in disguise or under false name. (Cf. K1831.) *Boberg. |
| K1611.2 | Guest to be killed suspects plot and forces host to sleep in his bed. Brothers come home and kill their father. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| P334.1 | Guests accused of greediness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P324.2 | Guests fed before being questioned. Greek: Odyssey III 70 and passim. |
| J1563.5 | Guests frightened away by housewife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1563.2 | Guests make impossible demands of host: host's representative forces guests to leave by sending them on difficult quest. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J1072.1 | Guests strike man who tries to interfere in their quarrel. It is their host in old clothes. Guests are humiliated but forgiven. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 415. |
| P324.3 | Guests' life inviolable. Greek: Odyssey XIV 403 and passim. |
| J1142.2.1 | Guilt detected by quickening heartbeat. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H210.1 | Guilt or innocence of souls tested by bridge. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H222.3 | Guilt or innocence shown by effect of enchanted water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1141.12 | Guilty man freed of murder charge is tricked into making a false accusation for which he is sentenced. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| X331 | Guilty of everything connected with the seven senses. When the priest to whom he is confessing says there are but five senses, the magistrate says that he needs two more senses than other people. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 297. |
| J1141.1 | Guilty person deceived into gesture (act) which admits guilt. |
| F1041.1.3.10.1 | Guilty persons being confronted with their crimes become "insensate like trees." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1420.3 | Guitar charming all who hear it. (Cf. D1234.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1945.2 | Gull a transformed ravished maiden. While he is sleeping, the maiden the hero has stolen is ravished by another man. The hero thereupon turns her into a gull. (Cf. A1710.)—Finnish: Kalevala Rune 38. |
| B147.2.2.2 | Gull as bird of ill-omen. *Fb "mеge". |
| A1945.1 | Gull from transformed cat. A cat catches a strong fish with her claws. The fish carries the cat on its back to the sea, where the gull originates from the cat. (Cf. A1710.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 18 No. 102. |
| A2431.3.4 | Gull's nest. Exchanged with ringdove. (See A2247.)—Dh III 124. |
| J2300 | Gullible fools. |
| K1533 | Gullible husband behind the tree. (Tristan and Isolt.) Husband goes to wife's love tryst and hides behind a tree. The wife, having learned of his presence, tells lover that he should not allow their innocent relations to lead to gossip. Husband is appeased. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2315.2 | Gullible husband made to believe he has cut off his wife's nose. She, in another house, has had her nose cut off by mistake. She makes him believe he has done it by making him angry enough to throw a razor at her. When he throws the razor she claims it has cut off her nose. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J2301.3 | Gullible husband removes from wife's garment dust gathered while she lies with another man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1532 | Gullible husband under the bed. |
| J2301 | Gullible husbands. (Cf. J2311.0.1., J2311.2, J2311.7, J2312, J2313, J2314, J2315, J2316, J2324, J2331.) *Types 1313, 1406; *Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 124; Bédier Fabliaux 265ff., 475; *Crane Vitry 227 No. 231; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 225 No. 66; *BP III 337; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 866; B[ö]dker Exempler 280, 296 Nos. 24, 59; Christensen DF XLVII 59; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K499.7 | Gullible king gives large sums to minister for construction of imaginary weapon and then more to have it destroyed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2303 | Gullible mother. |
| J2302 | Gullible wives. |
| K1057 | Gun as tobacco pipe. The trickster gives the ogre the gun to smoke. *Type 1157; *Fb "tobak" III 814a. |
| G265.8.3.1.1 | Gun bewitched so that it will not hit target. Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| J1772.10 | Gun thought to be clarinet: one man blows, another presses the "keys". (Cf. K1057.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1861*. |
| D2086.2 | Guns rendered ineffective by witch. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 644. |
| X1124.3.1 | Gunshot splits limb and catches feet of birds. Type 1890. |
| U138 | Habit of dishonesty (thievery) cannot be broken. |
| F164 | Habitable caves and mounds in otherworld. Siuts 65ff.; Patch Other World 375 s.v. "cave". |
| F721.2.1 | Habitable hill raised on four pillars. *Fb "höj" I 750a. |
| F721.2 | Habitable hill. *Type 870; *Fb "höj" I 740ab, "trold" III 852a; Winter Die deutsche Schatzsage 47; Hartland Science 170, 173, 177, 217; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 1049f. s.v. "Berg"; Irish myth: *Cross; English: Child I 363. |
| A2434 | Habitat of animal. The country or locality in which animal is found. |
| B11.3 | Habitat of dragon. |
| A2433.6.8 | Habitat of snake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G230 | Habitat of witches. |
| A2433.6.6 | Habitation of frog. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Togo): Einstein 7. |
| F408 | Habitation of spirit. |
| G249 | Habits of witches—miscellaneous. |
| G240 | Habits of witches. |
| U139.1 | Habitual food and drink continued even when it is harmful. Bødker Exempler. |
| M221.1 | Hag offers to run race with men on condition that the one left behind shall be beheaded. Marvelous runner beheads hag. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q552.14.5 | Hail as punishment. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D2143.4 | Hail produced by magic. U.S.: Baughman; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 20 No. 2, (Cameroon): Ittman 71. |
| D2143.4.1 | Hail produced by whistling tune. (Cf. D1275.1, D1782.) Africa (Kaffir): Theal 185. |
| A934.6 | Hail-storm leaves twelve chief rivers in Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F962.5.1.1 | Hailstones, each as large as a crabapple. Irish myth: Cross (F194.1.) |
| D1812.5.1.15 | Hailstorm as bad omen. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F555.8.1 | Hair above heart so stiff it rends five garments. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1661 | Hair and beard of various peoples. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D57.3 | Hair and skin turn to color of gold. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F398 | Hair burned to summon fairies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| S187.2 | Hair combed with iron combs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F555.10 | Hair emits sound. Jewish: Neuman; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 75. |
| D1562.2 | Hair from fox's tail opens all doors. (Cf. D1023.2, D1557.) *Fb "hеr" I 771b. |
| D1454.1 | Hair furnishes treasure. (Cf. D991.) |
| D1323.11 | Hair gives clairvoyance. (Cf. D991.)—Modoc: Curtin Myths of the Modocs (Boston, 1912) 32. |
| F547.5.9 | Hair in vagina which becomes a mantis. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K635.1 | Hair of sleeping maiden tied to tree so that she is not able to rise. Tonga: Gifford 50. |
| D2061.2.2.4.1 | Hair of victim burned, causing his death. England: Baughman. |
| F555.3.0.1 | Hair recedes into head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F555.9 | Hair so curly that nuts falling on it would be held. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F555.3.3 | Hair so long that girl can cover herself with it. Icelandic: Gunnlaugs saga Ormstunga ch. V 13, ed. Altnord, Text bibl. 1908, Boberg. |
| F555.8 | Hair so stiff that apples falling on it would be impaled. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K1021.1.1 | Hair tied to basket so that dupe kills self when she throws basket down. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2611.6 | Hair transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F1041.7 | Hair turns gray from terror. *Chauvin VII 112 No. 379 bis n. 1; Korean: Zong in-Sob 81. |
| C912 | Hair turns to gold as punishment in forbidden chamber. (Cf. C611.) —*Types 314, 480; Fb "hеr" I 771b; German: Grimm No. 136; Roberts Type 480 p. 174. |
| P552.5 | Haircut as preparation for war. Maori: Beckwith Myth 250. |
| G11.11.2 | Hairless cannibal. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 344. |
| J1289.16 | Hairless palms from giving and receiving gold. Jester flatters prince for bounty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1364.16 | Hairpin causes magic sleep. (Cf. D1072.2.)—*Type 709; *BP I 463. |
| D1390.1 | Hairs of lion, when burnt, get owner out of difficulties. (Cf. D1023.) Malone PMLA XLIII 409. |
| D733.1 | Hairy anchorite. Beast-like man seduced by beautiful woman becomes human and handsome.—*C. A. Williams Oriental Affinities of the Legend of the Hairy Anchorite (U. of Illinois, 1925) 15; Gaster Oldest Stories 43. |
| V211.1.2.1 | Hairy star appears before Nativity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F961.2.2 | Hairy star. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N255.3 | Halcyon builds nest on sea-cliff to escape land hazards. Tempest blows nest away. Wienert FFC LVI *63 (ET 266), 140 (ST 4623; Halm Aesop No. 29. |
| K446.1 | Half a grain. Trickster drops half a grain into grain cellar then demands half of the grain supply. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N2.5.2 | Half kingdom as wager. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q559.8 | Half of house in which false judgment is given slips down hill. (Cf. Q265.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q112 | Half of kingdom as reward. *Types 575, 653; *BP II 131ff., III 45ff.; Christiansen FFC XXIV 99; *Fb "prins og prinsesse" II 876; Icelandic: Egils saga einhenda ok ásmundar Berserkjabana (FAS III) 366 (one-third of kingdom), Boberg; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 19; Spanish: Espinosa III No. 50; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Micmac): Rand 427 No. 80; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 264. |
| J1551.9 | Half of money thrown into tank. The monkey to the grocer: "You sold half water and half milk." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q112.0.2 | Half of property as reward. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1522.1 | Half price for half a shave. A man asks to be shaved at half price. The barber shaves one side. He must pay the other half for the rest of the shave. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 601. |
| F527.6 | Half red and half blue strong man. Icelandic: Hálfdanar saga Br. 561, Boberg. |
| B625.0.1 | Half-man, half-fish as wooer. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 30. |
| N532.1 | Half-moon close to the earth indicates hidden treasure. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| A506 | Half-spirit, half-man. Samoa: Beckwith Myth 368. |
| S327.3 | Half-wit abandoned because of his tricks. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XXII 23. |
| M301.9 | Half-wit as prophet. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| L121.1 | Half-wit successful. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XXII 23. |
| F165.3.1 | Hall of glass in otherworld. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F441.2.3 | Hamadryad. Female spirit of a particular tree. Greek: Fox 270. |
| D1322.1.1 | Hammer in coffin maker's shop makes noise to announce a death. (Cf. D1209.4.) North Carolina: Brown Collection I 640. |
| A157.7 | Hammer of thunder god. Gaster Thespis 135, 363. |
| Q451.2.0.3 | Hamstringing as punishment. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 244. |
| S162.2 | Hamstringing. E. H. Meyer Germanen 161f.; *P. Maurus Wielandsage in der Literatur (Müncher Beiträge zur rom. und eng. Philologie XXV [1902]); Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J2132.2.2 | Hand bound to dog's leash: person dragged. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q451.1.4 | Hand cut off (falls off) as punishment for murder. (Cf. Q211.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q451.1.4.1 | Hand cut off as punishment for fornication. (Cf. Q243.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q451.1.1 | Hand cut off as punishment for theft. (Cf. Q212.) *Penzer V 61 n. 1, 143 n., VI 19; *Chauvin VI 80 No. 249; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C948.6 | Hand cut off for broken tabu. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Q451.1.2 | Hand cut off for contempt of court. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q451.1.3 | Hand cut off for treachery. (Cf. Q261.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| F1036 | Hand from heaven writes on wall. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| V222.1.2 | Hand of saint made bright by Lord's touch. Too splendid for man's sight thereafter. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E411.0.1 | Hand of sinner sticks out of grave. *BP II 550. |
| S139.2.2.1.5 | Hand of slain enemy nailed to castle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E251.1.2 | Hand of vampire severed by cutting off hand of drawn figure. Penzer IX 27 n. 1. |
| Q222.5.6 | Hand stuck for beating an idol. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N2.3.2 | Hand wagered. To be cut off. Penzer II 232n. |
| D1575.1 | Hand-of-glory does not awaken sleepers. The hand is lighted as a candle. See references for D1162.2.1. |
| D1314.5 | Hand-of-glory indicates location of treasure. (Cf. D1162.2.1.) —*Kittredge Witchcraft 144, 463 n. 50. |
| D1162.2.1 | Hand-of-glory. Magic candle made of criminal's hand. *Kittredge Witchcraft 144f., 463 nn. 50, 55; Penzer III 150; Baker AA old ser. I 51ff.; *Fb "tyvefinger"; *Taylor JAFL XXXI 561.—Irish myth: Cross; England, Ireland, Wales: *Baughman. |
| J1813.6 | Handful of black pepper taken into mouth instead of cooking it in food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H431.2 | Handkerchief as chastity index. Will not soil as long as woman (man) is true. *Type 888; BP III 517ff. |
| F822.1 | Handkerchief color of sun, moon, and stars. Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 111 No. 39, 278 No. 91, 281 No. 92. |
| K2112.5.1 | Handkerchief left in woman's room to cause accusation. (Othello.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| D1402.28 | Handkerchief whirled against advancing army stretches them lifeless. (Cf. D1069.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H86.4 | Handkerchief with name on it. German: Grimm No. 60. |
| F167.6 | Handless people in otherworld. Siuts 218. |
| T282 | Handmaid given as wife unto husband by barren wife. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Q451.0.4 | Hands and feet cut off as punishment for robbery. (Cf. Q212.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q451.0.1 | Hands and feet cut off as punishment. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Skaldsk XLI, Herrmann Saxo II 571, *Boberg. |
| N2.3.2.1 | Hands and feet wagered. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q451.1 | Hands cut off as punishment. (Cf. S161.) *Type 706; *BP I 295; **Däumling Studie über den Typus des Mädchens ohne Hände (München, 1912); Krappe Zeitschrift für Englische Philologie XLIX 361—69; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Latin American: *Knedler Hispanic Review X 314ff.; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| Q469.13 | Hands in cleft log as punishment. (Cf. K1111, Q435.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P319.5 | Hands of friends extend through sides of tombs and clasp in death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E782.1 | Hands restored. *Type 706; *BP I 295; Fb "hеnd" I 765b; Irish myth: Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller, Nouvelles de Sens No. 12; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F552.1 | Hands with unusual fingers. |
| F552.1.1 | Hands with unusual number of fingers. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| U119.3 | Handsome exterior does not indicate beautiful soul. Angel holds nose when handsome sinner passes. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D1872.1 | Handsome man magically made ugly. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1915.3 | Handsome man substituted for ugly as bridegroom: wins bride. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F575.2 | Handsome man. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V58.4 | Handwashing before prayer. Greek: Homer passim; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J2174.4 | Hang me right away so I can get back to work. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E422.0.1 | Hanged man thirsty; demands water to drink. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E366.2 | Hanged man warns youth against visiting sweetheart. Takes youth's place and receives shot meant for him. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3566, Balys Ghosts. |
| Q413.2 | Hanging as punishment for adultery. (Cf. Q241.) Icelandic: *Boberg; German: Grimm No. 4; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q413.6 | Hanging as punishment for denying pagan gods. (Cf. Q225.2.) Der Heiligen Leben und Leiden 101 (Santa Barbara). |
| Q413.3 | Hanging as punishment for imposture. (Cf. Q262.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q413.5 | Hanging as punishment for impudence. (Cf. Q326.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q413.4 | Hanging as punishment for murder. (Cf. Q211.) Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q413.7 | Hanging as punishment for silence about hidden treasure. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Q411.11.2 | Hanging as punishment for stealing from a church. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q413.1 | Hanging as punishment for theft. (Cf. Q212.) *Fb "hænge" I 731b; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| Q413.8 | Hanging as punishment for treachery. (Cf. Q261.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q413.8.1 | Hanging by one foot as punishment for treachery. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q451.4.9 | Hanging by tongue as punishment. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N334.2 | Hanging in game or jest accidentally proves fatal. Wesselski Theorie 18; Fb "hænge" I 731b; Danish: Christensen DF XLVII 200 No. 36; Icelandic: Boberg; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3309, Legends Nos. 605 609; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 122 Nos. 40, 41. |
| H1533 | Hanging test. Unavailing attempt to kill hero by hanging. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 44, 50, Beal XXI 316, 318; Finnish: Kalevala rune 31. |
| D1502.2.3.1 | Hangman's noose cures scrofula. (Cf. D1278.) Kittredge Witchcraft 461 n. 22; England: Baughman. |
| D1407.2 | Hangman's noose gives luck in gambling. (Cf. D1278.) *Kittredge Witchcraft 142, 461 n. 23. |
| T150 | Happenings at weddings. *Hdwb. d. Abergl. IV 148ff.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H565.1 | Happenings before feast give Samson clue for riddles. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1359.3.2 | Happiness from eating magic pig. (Cf. D1032.4.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q291 | Hard-heartedness punished. (Cf. Q415.2.) Irish: O'Suilleabhain 61, 130, Beal XXI 324, 337; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A856 | Hardening of the earth. At first it is soft, but is hardened by sun's rays.—India: Thompson-Balys.—Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 39. |
| W155.1 | Hardhearted horse allows ass to be overburdened until it is crushed. Horse must then assume the load. Wienert FFC LVI *56 (ET 170), 144 (ST 397); Halm Aesop No. 177. |
| W155.4 | Hardhearted person refuses reprieve for father's murderers. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W155 | Hardness of heart. England, U.S.: Baughman; West Indies: Flowers 583. |
| K1991 | Hare (jackal) makes horns of wax and poses as horned animal. Horns melt by the fire. Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 380 No. 5, (Kaffir): Theal 188; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 353 No. 62; Antigua, West Indies: Johnson JAFL XXXIV 59; Bahamas: *Parsons MAFLS XIII 104; West Indies: Flowers 552—554. |
| B291.3.2 | Hare (rabbit) as messenger. |
| K521.11 | Hare and bride travel in pot to escape tiger, answer "Ruined pot" when challenged. Africa (Cameroon): Meinhof 102. |
| A2256.1 | Hare and man contest in watching for leaf to fall off tree. First one to succeed may eat other. Hare loses. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H625 | Hare and pig race across ditch. Each fails in his own way, pig behind hare. Which is winner? India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K11.3 | Hare and tortoise race: sleeping hare. In a race between the fast and the slow animal, the fast animal sleeps on the road and allows the slow animal to pass him. *Dh IV 66ff.; *BP III 341ff.; Jacobs Aesop 162 No. 68; Haupt Zs. f. deutsches Altertum XII (1865) 527; *Wienert FFC LVI 44 (ET 22), 135 (ST 412); Halm Aesop No. 420.—Japanese: Ikeda; Ainu: Chamberlain, B. Aino Folktales (London, 1888) No. 14; N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Schoolcraft Algic Researches 181, (Cherokee): Mooney RBAE XIX 290 No. 43; Africa (West Africa): Cronise and Ward Cunnie Rabbit, Mr. Spider and the Other Beef (London, 1903) 155f.; West Indies: Flowers 494; Bahama: Parsons MAFLS XIII 102; American Negro (Pennsylvania): Parsons JAFL XXX 214, (North Carolina): Parsons JAFL XXX 174, (South Carolina): Parsons MAFLS XVI 79, (Florida): Parsons JAFL XXX 226. |
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