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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| B15.7.11 | Animal with one head, two bodies, six legs. Irish myth: Cross. (Cf. B15.6.3.5, B15.7.9.1.) |
| B15.5.2 | Animal with snout of iron. Irish myth: Cross. (Cf. B15.7.13.1.) |
| B115.3 | Animal with tail of plenty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B107 | Animal with treasure inside it. |
| B582.1 | Animal wooer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K2115 | Animal-birth slander. A woman is accused of having given birth to animals. Her children are put out of the way and animals substituted. *Types 707, 710; *BP I 13ff., 20, II 380ff.; *Schlauch, Chaucer's Constance and Accused Queens (New York, 1927) 21; *Huet Revue d'Ethnographie et de Sociologie II 200; *Chauvin VII 97 No. 375 n. 1; *Dickson 39ff. nn. 39, 40, 45; Fb "kattekilling" II 111; *Cox 486.—Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Wells 130 (Emare); Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2, *Rotunda; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 137, Espinosa II Nos. 99—104; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 383; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 116; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 190 No. 28, (Benga): Nassau No. 22. |
| K2115.1 | Animal-descent slander. Malicious story that man is son of an animal. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| G79.1 | Animal-wife devours her husband. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1818 | Animal's action misunderstood. |
| A2468 | Animal's behavior at death. |
| A2301 | Animal's body made larger. (See A2213.3.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2302 | Animal's body made smaller. (See A2213.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F981.6.1 | Animal's broken heart disgorged. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2433 | Animal's characteristic haunt. *Dh III 204ff. |
| K341.7 | Animal's cry imitated to distract owner's attention from his goods. Meantime rascal steals an animal. Type 1525D; *BP III 391 n. 2. |
| A2450 | Animal's daily work. |
| B751 | Animal's fanciful treatment of their young. |
| A2441.1 | Animal's gait or walk—mammals. |
| A2441 | Animal's gait or walk. |
| A2462 | Animal's habits when attacked. |
| A2466 | Animal's habits when caught. |
| A2470 | Animal's habitual bodily movements. |
| A2428 | Animal's hearing. |
| A2463 | Animal's means of attack. |
| A2461 | Animal's means of defense. Dh III 234ff. |
| A2444 | Animal's method of swimming. |
| A2456 | Animal's occupation: boring. |
| A2451 | Animal's occupation: carrying. |
| A2453 | Animal's occupation: collecting. |
| A2452 | Animal's occupation: hunting. *Dh III 272ff. (For animal's favorite prey, see A2494, Why certain animals are enemies.) |
| A2457 | Animal's occupation: rolling. |
| A2455 | Animal's occupation: stealing. Dh III 255. |
| A2489 | Animal's periodic habits—miscellaneous. |
| A2423.2 | Animal's pleasing voice. |
| B275.4 | Animal's revenge for being criticized by a bird: nest destroyed. —India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2275.5 | Animal's seeking attitude from ancient loss. The ancient animal loses something. Its descendants are forever seeking for the lost object. This explains the characteristic bearing of certain animals. (Cf. A2471.) |
| D631.2 | Animal's size changed at will. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 516. |
| B738 | Animal's skin revolves while flesh and bones remain stationary. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B747 | Animal's strong teeth. |
| A2495 | Animal's treatment of its excrements (urine). |
| A2423.1 | Animal's ugly voice. |
| A2441.1.0.1 | Animals (and men) hop because ground is often so dry that it cracks: they have to jump over the cracks. Canada: Baughman. |
| K891.5.1 | Animals (giants) enticed over precipice. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 299 n. 91; Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 37 No. 18. |
| B529.1 | Animals (sow, bitch, mare) hide boy in their belly to protect him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2061.2.2.7 | Animals abused or destroyed to cause death of person. England: *Baughman. |
| B537 | Animals adopt mysterious housekeeper. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B569 | Animals advise men—miscellaneous. |
| B560 | Animals advise men. Type 400 and references on the whole section in this work concerned with Helpful Animals (B300—599), since advice is very frequently part of the help.—*BP I 134; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28. |
| X1208 | Animals already cooked for eating. |
| B733 | Animals are spirit-sighted. Scent danger.—Swiss; Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 9—Irish myth: Cross. Cf. B120. Wise animals. |
| A165.1 | Animals as attendants of god. |
| B572 | Animals as carpenter (builder). Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 188, II 819. |
| B272 | Animals as defendants in court. **Jacoby Zs. f. Vksk. XXIII (1913) 184. |
| B574 | Animals as domestic servants. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 798 (elephant). |
| F601.7 | Animals as extraordinary companions. Type 715; Africa (Fjort): Dennett 74ff. No. 16. |
| A165.2.1 | Animals as messengers of the gods. |
| B271 | Animals as plaintiffs. |
| V12.4 | Animals as sacrifice. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2232.5 | Animals ask for goddess's perfume: punishment, bad odor. (Cf. A2416.1.)—Tshi: Ellis 338. |
| A878.3 | Animals at earth-tree. |
| B767 | Animals attracted by music. German: Grimm Nos. 8, 114. |
| Q597 | Animals avenge injury. (Cf. Q557.) |
| B592 | Animals bequeath characteristics to man. Horse gives him the characteristics of youth (fiery), cow of middle age (avaricious), and the dog of old age (fractious).—Fable: Halm Aesop No. 173; BP III 290; Köhler-Bolte I 42ff.; Babrius No. 74; Wienert FFC LVI *70 (ET 347), 127 (ST 358). |
| A2221.2 | Animals blessed for good services at crucifixion. (Cf. A2231.2.) |
| A2221.1 | Animals blessed for honoring infant Jesus. (Cf. A2231.4, A2356.2.7, A2381.1.)—Dh II 15f., 195ff.; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 86 No. 58c (cross on back of ass).—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 13 No. 67 (hog has good flesh); French: Sébillot France III 256. |
| A1772 | Animals born from primeval mating of snake and person. S. Am. Indian (Tapirapé): Wagley-Galvao BBAE CXLIII (3) 253. |
| F391.1 | Animals borrowed by fairies. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux". |
| B299.8 | Animals build bridge. |
| B572.1 | Animals build palace (house) for man. India: Thompson-Balys; Samoa: Beckwith Myth 536 (rats). |
| V67.5 | Animals buried with the dead. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.5.4.1 | Animals can see trolls. (Cf. B733.) Hartmann 74. |
| F982 | Animals carry extraordinary burden. |
| B559 | Animals carry men—miscellaneous. |
| B550 | Animals carry men.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B845.2 | Animals chained in couples. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F985 | Animals change color. |
| A2433.1.2 | Animals change their type of dwelling-place. Dh III 215ff. |
| K335.1.4 | Animals climb on one another's backs and cry out; frighten robbers. *Type 130; *Aarne FFC XI 112; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H483 | Animals compete as messenger to call father of new-born child. Their voices are tried. Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 265 No. 71. |
| U11.1.1.1 | Animals confess sins to lion holding court. All the powerful animals forgiven. Ass and lamb are punished. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| U11.1.1 | Animals confess sins to one another: fox and wolf forgive each other; punish ass. (Cf. V20.) *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 350. |
| B265 | Animals continually rend each other. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2178.4 | Animals created by magic. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 42. |
| A1714.3 | Animals created from earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1750 | Animals created through opposition of devil to god. |
| A1705 | Animals created to serve man. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1758 | Animals created while god Mahadeo quarrels with his wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K335.1.4.1 | Animals cry out; frighten robbers. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| B299.9 | Animals cultivate crops. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 179. |
| M411.8.4 | Animals cursed by saint. (Cf. M471.) *Loomis White Magic 100f. |
| M414.8 | Animals cursed. |
| B293.0.1 | Animals dance for king. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B293 | Animals dance. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Luba): De Clerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 193. |
| B841.1 | Animals debate as to which is the elder. **Wesselski Archiv Orientální IV 1ff.; *Baum JAFL XXX 378 ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob XXXIII No. 17; Japanese: Ikeda.—Africa (Benga): Nassau 95, 109 Nos. 5, 10, (Fang): Nassau 239 No. 7. |
| B563 | Animals direct man on journey. Type 400; Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt I 190f.; Dickson Valentine and Orson 54 n. 67; *Günter Christliche Legende des Abendlandes 235 s.v. "Führung"; *DeCock Studien en Essays 200ff.; *Fb "Ravn" III 23a.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Benga): Nassau No. 33, (Basuto): Jacottet 140 No. 20, 202 No. 30, (Ekoi): Talbot 209. |
| B299.3 | Animals discover liquor and get intoxicated. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.2 | Animals dispute. |
| F989.10 | Animals distribute parts of man's body in accordance with prophecy. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1795 | Animals drop from clouds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J953.15 | Animals each think moon shines for his benefit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2234.2 | Animals eat deity's forbidden fruit: punished. (Cf. A2371.3.1.) —African (Ekoi): Talbot 377. |
| F989.22 | Animals eat extraordinary food. |
| F243.3.1 | Animals eaten by fairies become whole again. England, Ireland, U.S.: Baughman; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux". |
| B275.3 | Animals eating corpse of holy man die. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1793 | Animals emerge from tree. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 287; S. Am. Indian (Warrau): Kirchhoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 880. |
| C915.2 | Animals escape when forbidden baskets opened. Origin of animals. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C915.2.1 | Animals escape when forbidden calabash is opened. African (Yoruba): Frobenius Atlantis X 232f. No. 16. |
| B251.5 | Animals fast. Irish myth: Cross (B251.4). |
| B571.3 | Animals fight together with their master. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B266 | Animals fight. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E501.4 | Animals follow wild huntsman. |
| A1714.2 | Animals from bark thrown on ground. Borneo: Dixon 176. |
| A1725.2 | Animals from body dirt of deity (hero). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1724.1 | Animals from body of slain person. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1716.1 | Animals from different parts of body of slain giant. Giant person, cow, ox, etc.—Persian: Carnoy 288.—Borneo, Philippines: Dixon 177. |
| A1734 | Animals from frogs sent as one of Egypt's plagues. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1771 | Animals from mating of sun and moon. S. Am. Indian (Jivarу): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627. |
| A1715.2 | Animals from men transformed for discourtesy to God (Jesus). (Cf. A1831, A1862, A1871.)—*Dh. II 99ff. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1725 | Animals from parts of body of deity or saint. |
| A1715.1 | Animals from Pharaoh's drowned army. From the army crossing the Red Sea came the various animals.—Dh I 318. |
| A1724.1.1 | Animals from severed fingers of woman. (Cf. A2102.)—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 272; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1725.1 | Animals from spittle of deity (saint). (Cf. A2181, A2182.)—*DhII 107ff. |
| A1711 | Animals from transformations after deluge or world calamity. S. Am. Indian (Amazon Tribes): Alexander Lat. Am. 311f., Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367. |
| A1714.1 | Animals from transformed cloth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1724.2 | Animals from transformed hair. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1715 | Animals from transformed man. (Cf. A2005, A2011.2.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3115, Balys Legends Nos. 216-219, 261f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Maori: Clark 15; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 422; Raratonga (Cook Island): ibid. 101; Tuomatu: Stimson MS (z-G 3/1100); S. Am. Indian (Tiatinagua): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 449, (Munderucú): Horton ibid. 281, (Cashinawa): Métraux ibid. 685, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 31, 79, (Mataco): Métraux ibid. 64. |
| A1715.4 | Animals from transformed men according to favorite food. One man asks for flesh, one for blood, etc. They are changed to mice, cats, and bugs. (Cf. A1811, A1853.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC XXV 150 No. 71. |
| A1716 | Animals from transformed ogre or giant. Maori: Clark 101. |
| A1724 | Animals from transformed parts of the body (animal or human). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1715.5 | Animals from transformed survivors of shipwreck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1714 | Animals from various transformed objects. India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 22, 465; Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL 20 171, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 167, 169, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI, 588, (East Greenland): Rasmussen I, 82, 96, (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 261, (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 155, (Cape York): Rasmussen III 79; S. Am. Indian (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473, (Araucanian): Cooper ibid. (2) 753, (Inca): Rowe ibid. 315, (Cashinawa): Métraux ibid. (3) 684. |
| B147 | Animals furnish omens. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B391.4 | Animals given water to drink: grateful. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 150. |
| B296 | Animals go a-journeying. *Types 130, 210; **Aarne FFC XI Die Tiere auf der Wanderschaft; BP I 75, 135, 237; Fb "væder" III 1106b, *"tyr" III 908 ab.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesian, Japanese: Dixon *203 n. 41.; Missouri French: Carrière.—Africa (Tonga): Gifford 206.—Cf. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 302 n. 108. |
| B392.1 | Animals grateful for being given appropriate food. Hero finds dog with hay and horse with meat. He changes it about.—Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 63 (to Gonzenbach No. 13.); Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B390 | Animals grateful for other kind acts. |
| B360 | Animals grateful for rescue from peril of death. *Types 554, 554*, 560; *BP II 21f., 454; *Dh IV 147ff.; Chauvin II 109 No. 73; Hartland Perseus III 194; *Brown Iwain 16 and passim, 132 n. 3; Hüsing (G.) "Zum Etanamythos" Archiv f. Religionswiss. VI 178ff.; Alphabet No. 166; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 338, 339), 127 (ST 353), Halm Aesop Nos. 92, 130; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 648.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg (B364.5).—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 321ff.; Ikeda; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 29 No. 17; Korean: Zong in-Sob 175 f. No. 76.—Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 163 No. 32; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| B361 | Animals grateful for rescue from pit. *Type 160; Chauvin I 106 No. 71; Ward II 196; Bødker Exempler 304 No. 75; *Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 119; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 346), 127 (ST 357), Phaedrus III 2; BP IV 139f; *Moe Samlede Skrifter I 192ff.; Hilka Compilatio Singularis Exemplorum 23; Wesselski Märchen 246 No. 56.—Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 31; Spanish Exempla: Keller; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 649.—Hindu: *Penzer V 157; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 30.—Africa: Frobenius Atlantis IX 385 Nos. 103f., (Swahili): Steere 423, (Zanzibar): Bateman 81 No. 6, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 163 No. 32. |
| B393 | Animals grateful for shelter. Japanese: Mitford 270. |
| B576.2 | Animals guard treasure. *Fb "höne" I 750b, "hund", I 675 b (hen, dog)—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 294 No. 9, 325 No. 4.—*Norlind Skattsägner 53; *Winter Deutsche Schatzsagen 54, 61; Danish: Kristensen Da. Sagn III (1895) 455ff.; (1931) 311ff.—England-U.S.: *Baughman (dog, cat, sow, goat, snake, bird, crow, raven, cock, drake, swan and night-bird). India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham (tiger). |
| B120.0.1 | Animals have second sight. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1233.6 | Animals help hero on quest. *Type 550; Malone PMLA XLIII 444; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 187; Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B582.2 | Animals help hero win princess. *Type 554, 559, cf. 552, 553; *BP I 134, II 21, 454 n. 1, III 425.—Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28. |
| B544.1 | Animals help imprisoned master. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 180. |
| K2351 | Animals help in military victory. |
| K2 | Animals help man in contest. Type 1081; S. A. Indian (Chincha, Peru): Alexander Lat. Am. 231. |
| B571.1 | Animals help man overcome monster with external soul. Discover where he keeps his soul.—BP I 134; Type 302.—Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| H982 | Animals help man perform task. *Types 300, 329, 531, 550, 552, 554, 665. |
| B579.4 | Animals help repair leaky pot. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1711.1 | Animals helpless in sea-voyage together. Sheep, duck, and cock in peril The duck swims; the cock flies to the mast. *Type 204; *Fb "and" IV 12. |
| K1161 | Animals hidden in various parts of a house attack owner with their characteristic powers and kill him when he enters. *Types 130, 210; **Aarne FFC XI; *BP I 75, 135; *Hoebel JAFL LIV 1ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda, Anesaki 331; Korean: Zong in-Sob 160 No. 70; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 99. |
| B294.4 | Animals hold fairs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.2 | Animals honor saint (cleric). Irish myth: Cross (B251.13). |
| B294 | Animals in business relations. |
| D682.3.1 | Animals in human form retain animal food and habits. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 456, Rasmussen III 73, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 173, (Central Eskimo): Boas BAM XV 217. |
| B270 | Animals in legal relations. **Cabanès Les animaux en justice (L'indiscretions de l'histoire, 5e serie, procedures singulières, Paris, 1920), **Lossouarn Les animaux en justice aux temps jadis (Bordeaux 1905).—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Bødker Exempler 289 No. 40, 294 No. 55.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F171.5 | Animals in otherworld pass in and out of church and become human beings. Type 471. |
| F167.1 | Animals in otherworld. Siuts 107ff.; Patch Other World 373 s.v. "animals"; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 55, Beal XXI 321. |
| B7 | Animals in the heavens. |
| E501.4.0.1 | Animals in wild hunt reincarnation of murdered person. Plischke 31. |
| B251.6 | Animals keep religious precepts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F981.3 | Animals killed by trickster's breaking wind. Koryak: *Jochelson JE VI 381 No. 68. |
| B292.0.2 | Animals leave wicked and go to pious master. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B251.10 | Animals lick Christ-child. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F989.22.4 | Animals live on pearls. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K139.1 | Animals made by magic exchanged for real ones. The magic animals disappear. Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 96. |
| D2074.1 | Animals magically called. (Cf. D1440, D2156.) *Toldo VIII 21; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Þiðriks saga II 271—75, Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 324. |
| D2089.3 | Animals magically stricken dead. (Cf. D2060.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.9 | Animals make religious responses. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2106.1.2 | Animals miraculously multiplied. *Loomis White Magic 87. |
| J1762.0.1 | Animals mistaken for messengers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B530 | Animals nourish men. Provide food, shelter, or other necessities.—India: Thompson-Balys.—Zanzibar: Bateman 85 No. 6 (ape, lion, snake). |
| B251.8 | Animals observe sacred revelation. |
| A2536 | Animals of good omen. |
| B731.0.1 | Animals of strange and varied coloring. *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt II 322 n. 1. |
| A155 | Animals of the gods (cf. A136). Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 109, 216. |
| J1873 | Animals or objects kept warm. |
| J1880 | Animals or objects treated as if human—miscellaneous. |
| B524.1 | Animals overcome man's adversary by force. English: Wells Manual of Writings 66 (Ywain and Gawain); Irish myth: Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 98 No. 327; India: *Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 493, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 187. |
| B524.2 | Animals overcome man's adversary by strategy. Type 545; BP I 325ff., III 487 (Gr. 33a, 214).—Icel.: Boberg; Indonesian: De Vries' list No. 48.—Africa (Kaffir): Kidd 230 No. 2, (Ekoi): Talbot 233, (Basuto): Jacottet 114 No. 27. |
| B253 | Animals perform offices of church. |
| B571 | Animals perform tasks for man. *Type 554; BP I 134, II *21ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 397; *Fb "fugl" I 381a; Köhler Zs. f. Vksk. VI 71 (to Gonzenbach No. 32).—Arabian: Burton S VI 9—11.—Indonesian, Malay: Dixon 216, 217, *218 n. 23.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 28, 80 No. 46.—Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 264; Chincha: ibid. 231; Quiché: ibid. 174; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B251 | Animals praise or worship. |
| B251.4 | Animals pray. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| C916.2 | Animals produced when forbidden drum is beaten. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 90, No. 16. |
| B531 | Animals provide food for men. *Basset 1001 Contes III 295 (birds); *Wesselski Märchen 249 No. 57; Toldo Studien zur vgl. Littgsch. VIII 21; *Fb "hind" I 612 (deer); Alphabet Nos. 361. 636.—Irish myth: Cross, Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxliv (otter).—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nourriture" (bird, dog); French Canadian: *Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15 (dog); Missouri-French: Carrière; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 328 No 17 (dragon).—Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 217, II 655, 1158; Chinese: Graham; Africa: Stanley 329, (Angola): Chatelain 129 No. 19; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 143, III 80, 198, Rink 227, 413, 462, Holm 84, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 222, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 638, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 176.—S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 6, (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 155. |
| B538 | Animals provide shelter. |
| A2239.5 | Animals punished for assaulting women. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E501.5.5 | Animals pursued in wild hunt. |
| B548.1 | Animals recover lost wishing ring. Grateful cat, dog, and snake compel mouse to steal it from thief.—*Type 560; **Aarne MSFO XXV 3—82; *BP II 455ff.; Dh IV 147ff.—Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. —Indonesian: De Vries' list No. 186; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 24ff. No. 13, 68. |
| B259.4.1 | Animals refrain from spoiling consecrated food. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B591.0.1 | Animals refuse to devour Cain to avenge murder of Abel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2233.1 | Animals refuse to help dig well (make road) and are punished. *Type 55; *Dh III 312ff., 323. |
| A2233.1.1 | Animals refuse to help dig well: may not drink from river or spring. (Cf. A2435.1.1.)—Type 55; Dh III 312ff.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 148 No. 54; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 90 No. 83; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3096, Legends Nos. 176—182. |
| B251.1 | Animals rejoice at Christ's birth. Irish myth: Cross; English: Child V 485 s.v. "joy". |
| J1172.3.2 | Animals render unjust decision against man since man has always been unjust to them. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Bushman): Honey South African Folk Tales (New York, 1910) 101f., (Tumbuka-Kamanga): Young Customs and Folklore of the Tumbuka Kamanga (Livingstonia, 1931) 233ff., (Shilluk): Oyler Sudan Notes and Records II 221f., (Tschi): Bellon Mitt. d. Sem. f. Orient. Spr. XVII (3) 20ff. No. 4, (Saho): Reinisch Die Saho-Sprache (Wien, 1889) I (5) 205ff. No. 17, (Senegal): Colin RTP I 140f., Zeltner Contes du Senegal et du Niger (Paris, 1913) 81ff. |
| J1420 | Animals retort concerning their dangers. |
| T681.1 | Animals ridicule foolish pride of owl in the beauty of his son's really hideous feet. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B271.3 | Animals ring bell and demand justice. A king has a bell which petitioners for justice may ring and thus summon him. The bell is rung by a serpent which is being menaced by a turtle (or by an old horse who wishes to complain against a cruel master).—*Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 648; *Wesselski Theorie 20; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B7.1 | Animals rule celestial spheres. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E433.3 | Animals sacrificed so that dead have food on way to other world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B520 | Animals save person's life. See also B540.—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 372 n. 1 (horse).—Icel.: *Boberg; Missouri-French: Carrière; Panchatantra III 8 (tr. Ryder) 334; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1260; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 25, 28, 31, 84; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen 76. |
| B555 | Animals serve as bridge across stream. Jewish: Neuman (snake); Persian: Carnoy 289 (ox); Burmese: Scott Indo-Chinese 274 (snake); Chinese: Werner 190 (magpie); Korean: Zong in-Sob 6 No. 2. (fish and tortoise).—India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Ceuici): Alexander Lat. Am 304 (herons). |
| B579 | Animals serve man otherwise. |
| B570 | Animals serve men. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.2.1 | Animals sing in honor of a saint. Köhler-Bolte I 148; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.3 | Animals sing songs of praise. Jewish: Neuman (cow, cat, lion, mouse, cock, vulture, fish, frog); Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1422.0.1 | Animals sources of food because they were once unfaithful, disobedient wives of a visitor from god-country. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.1.2 | Animals speak to one another at Christmas. DeCock Volkskunde XXI 52ff.; Luzel Légendes Chretiennes de la Basse Bretagne II 333; Tille Die Geschichte der deutschen Weinacht 66f.; Wossidlo Mecklenbürgische Volksüberlieferung II (1) 59, 369; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *748; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 47 No. 237; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 637. |
| B211.0.1 | Animals speak, praising God, on the night of Christ's Nativity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V224.3 | Animals stolen from saint miraculously replaced. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q558.14.1 | Animals stricken dead for desecration of holy places. (Cf. D2089.3.) *Loomis White Magic 102; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2074.2.4.2 | Animals summoned by pronouncing their names. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F911.2 | Animals swallow animals. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 371, (Mpongwe): Nassau 34 No. 4. |
| B215.0.1 | Animals taught one another's language. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B561 | Animals tell hero their secrets. Do so voluntarily.—*BP II 482. |
| A2433.2.2 | Animals that inhabit water. Dh III 208ff. |
| A2433.2.3 | Animals that live alone. Dh III 210ff. |
| A2433.2.1 | Animals that live in woods. Dh III 204ff. |
| A2433.2.4 | Animals that live with men. Dh III 213ff. |
| J1785 | Animals thought to be the devils or ghosts. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 886ff. |
| B831 | Animals try in vain to repair sleigh. They get unsatisfactory materials.—Type 158. |
| U147 | Animals try unsuccessfully to exchange food. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D471.8 | Animals turned into stones. *Loomis White Magic 80f. |
| A1792 | Animals vomited up by creator. Bushongo: Werner African 144. |
| B521.3 | Animals warn against attack. Icel.: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 87. |
| B521.4 | Animals warn wife of husband's danger. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 252. |
| E32.2 | Animals which devour each other are restored to their original forms by command of a saint. *Loomis White Magic 63. |
| Q558.11 | Animals which eat of saint's body stricken dead. (Cf. B275.3, Q220.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| B292.0.1 | Animals with human child as slave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B773 | Animals with human emotions. |
| B200 | Animals with human traits. See in general the literature dealing with fables, with the Romance of Reynard, with the bear-fox cycle of Europe, with the rabbit fox cycle of America, etc.—Irish myth: Cross Fables: Wienert FFC LVI; Hervieux Les Fabulistes latins; Jacobs The Fables of Aesop; Jewish: Neuman; Reynard the Fox: Graf FFC XXXVIII; Bear-fox cycle: Krohn Bär (Wolf) und Fuchs JSFO VI; Dh IV; Rabbit-fox cycle: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) notes; Beckwith MAFLS XVII notes. See also Panchatantra.—Marquesas: Handy 79; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 146, (Chiriguano): ibid. 161, 179. |
| F826.1 | Animals with jeweled ornaments. Malone PMLA XLIII 401, 413. |
| B15.6.3 | Animals with many legs. Ipolyi Zs. f. deutsche Mythologie II 269.—Hindu: Penzer III 259 n. 1 (sarabhas); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101 | Animals with members of precious metal (jewels). |
| B15.4 | Animals with unusual eyes. (Cf. B15.7.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.6 | Animals with unusual legs or feet. (Cf. B19.1.) |
| B15 | Animals with unusual limbs or members. |
| B251.1.1 | Animals worship infant Jesus. *Dh II 12ff.—Alphabet No. 554.—Irish myth: Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B562 | Animals' advice leads man to wealth. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2213.3 | Animals' size increased by stretching. (Cf. A2312.1, A2301.)—Dh III 2—5 (fish, bat, flying squirrel, monkey). |
| A1009.2 | Animate and inanimate objects attempt to destroy humanity. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158. |
| E155.2 | Annual resuscitation of a god. (Cf. A192.1.) Greek: Fox 156 (Zeus), 218 (Dionysus), 230 (Persephone); Babylonian: Spence 132 (Adonis, Tammuz). |
| P13.5.1 | Anointing of kings. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J571.7 | Answer questions of a fool the next day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q91.4 | Answer rewarded with gold ring; message rewarded with purse with silver. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H573 | Answer to riddle found by trickery. *Type 621. |
| J1255 | Answering only "yes" and "no". India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1292 | Answers found in other world to questions propounded on the way. (Cf. H1278, H1282, H1283, H1284.) *Type 461; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| H544 | Answers found in other world to riddles propounded on way. Type 461; Aarne FFC XXIII 129; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
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