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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| D1851.2 | Immortality gained from bargain with Death. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| C937.1 | Immortality lost because of breach of tabu. African (Congo): Weeks 217. |
| D1850.1 | Immortality useless without eternal youth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1850 | Immortality. (Cf. D1346.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1654.2 | Immovable apples. (Cf. C981.1.) Fb "æble" III 1135b. |
| D1654 | Immovable object. *Fb "tung" III 893a; *Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1654.1.1 | Immovable stone moved by saint. (Cf. D930.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1654.4 | Immovable weapon. |
| V228 | Immunities of saints (holy men). (Cf. D1840.) |
| Q154 | Immunity from death by violence as reward. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q150 | Immunity from disaster as reward. |
| D1841.6 | Immunity from drowning. (Cf. F222.1.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q171 | Immunity from punishment for sin as reward. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M367.1 | Immunity from wet or dry, steel or wood, sword or javelin, by day or by night. Man killed at edge of sea, at twilight, with force of sea and thunderbolt. India: Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Keith 133. |
| F959.6.2 | Immunity to poison by eating poisons. (Mithridates.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 284. |
| A102.3 | Immutable god. Jewish: Neuman. |
| S139.2.2.1.2 | Impaled head used as target. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q461.1 | Impalement as punishment for faithlessness. Enemy chief has the faithless widow of his victim impaled. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q461 | Impalement as punishment. Chauvin V 3 No. 2; Taylor Romanic Review IX 21ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Penzer I 111, Meyer Hindu Tales 226. |
| Q461.3 | Impaling as punishment for adultery. (Cf. Q241.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F965.3 | Impenetrable darkness. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A102.18 | Imperfect god, subject to death and rebirth. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 959. |
| Q220 | Impiety punished. (Cf. Q457.2, Q458.0.5, Q467.2, Q552.2.3.1.2, Q552.2.3.2.2, Q558.11, Q558.12, Q558.17, Q559.4, Q559.5.) Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 317, 331, 335; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1218.1.4 | Importunate lover (priest) is forced to hide in chest. Husband takes the chest to the waiting congregation. Clever priest comes out enacting the resurrection of Lazarus. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1218.6 | Importunate lover beaten and sent on street bearing humiliating placard. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1218.8 | Importunate lover beaten with canes filled with straw. He thinks he is severely wounded. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1218.1.3.1 | Importunate lover imprisoned and starved: later given choice of lady or food. Chooses food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1214.1 | Importunate lover induced to dress as woman and sift flour. Is shown to his wife. Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Heptameron No. 69; Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 17. |
| K1218.9.1 | Importunate lover is given a rendezvous. Obscene tricks played on him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1214.1.1 | Importunate lover is induced to undergo series of humiliations. (1) Disguise as bakery woman. (2) Disguise as priest. (3) Disguise as corpse. (4) Hiding in wine skin. Humiliated each time. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1227.9 | Importunate lover kept overlong at supper: must leave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q473.4 | Importunate lover put asleep in street. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1218.7 | Importunate lover tied to tree. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1218 | Importunate lovers led astray. |
| K1218.1.5 | Importunate suitor enticed into sack and beaten by husband. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1218.1.7 | Importunate suitor has his head shaved and tarred and is put into a sack and returned to his men. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1945 | Imposition by sham sickness. |
| Q430.1 | Imposition of tabu as punishment. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1041 | Impossibility of pleasing everyone. One must act therefore without awaiting everyone's approval. |
| J1512 | Impossible demand rebuked. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1371 | Impossible quests. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 313 n. 126b. |
| H919.4 | Impossible task assigned by plaintiff as proof. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H1129.10.1 | Impossible task: assembling huge quantity of many-colored fleas. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H1023.2.3 | Impossible task: filling a grain-bin through the hole in the bottom. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1010 | Impossible tasks. *Type 428; *Child V 498 s.v. "tasks"; Burton Nights VI 204ff., S VI 4ff.; Hdwb. d. Märchens I s.v. "Aufgaben, schwierige"; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 168; Chinese: Graham. |
| J1191.5.1 | Impossible to eat pearls: also impossible for woman to bear animals (objects). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P95 | Impossible to refuse the request of a troubled nobleman. Greek: Odyssey IV 653. |
| F481.3 | Impossible to rid oneself of cobold. (Cf. F482.3.1.) *Taylor MPh XV 736 n. 2; *BP II 422 n. 1; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3467. |
| K1934.1 | Impostor (magician, demon) takes the place of the king. The ladies of the harem recognize the false king, and the true king is reinstated. *Krappe American Journal of Philology (1933) 260—268; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| K1931.7 | Impostor abandons hero on high hill. Pulls down rope on which he is to be lowered. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N617 | Impostor accidentally gives king talking bed which reveals his identity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1971.12 | Impostor acting as God in tree suspected and tree burned. *Penzer V 59 n. 2; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 61, 277; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1952.6 | Impostor appears with letter authorizing that he be set on the throne. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1952.4 | Impostor claims to be earl's son in exile. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1936 | Impostor claims to be father of princess's child. *Type 304. |
| K1944 | Impostor demands box in name of king. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| K1934 | Impostor forces hero (heroine) to change places with him (her). *Types 408, 531, 533; *BP II 284 n. 1, III 18 n. 4. |
| K1933 | Impostor forces oath of secrecy. Hero or heroine swears not to tell of imposture. *Types 300, 301, 533; *BP II 273ff., 284 n. 1; Icelandic: Göngu Hrуlfs saga (FAS III) 274ff.; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 139, 151, 157. |
| K1937 | Impostor impersonates dead count. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q552.1.3 | Impostor killed by lightning. (Cf. Q262.) Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 110 No. 65. |
| K1911.1.10 | Impostor kills fairy, hides body and dresses in fairy's clothes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1931.6 | Impostor leaves hero alone on island. (Cf. S145.) |
| H38.2 | Impostor of low origin recognized by habitual speech. |
| Q262 | Impostor punished. (Cf. K1900, Q413.3, Q414.0.6, Q414.1.1, Q416.0.3, Q431.7, Q433.4, Q458.0.4, Q552.1.3.) English: Wells 42 (Arthour and Merlin); Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "usurpateur", "imposteur"; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Keller, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 106—110, Espinosa II Nos. 133—135; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1931.1.1 | Impostor tries to push foster brother into the water and then cuts rope so that he drifts alone out on the sea in boat without oars. Icelandic: *Boberg; Tonga: Gifford 128. |
| K1988.1 | Impostor: one sister borrows another's clothes and gets religious blessing in her place. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1931 | Impostors abandon (or kill) their companion and usurp his place. |
| K1931.2 | Impostors abandon hero in lower world. Usually let rope drop on which he is to be raised. *Type 301; *BP II 301; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 53 No. 400B*; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1932 | Impostors claim reward (prize) earned by hero. *Types 300, 301, 303, 506, 550, 551, 667*; *BP I 528ff., III 490ff.; *Ranke FFC CXIV 213f., 236; Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte; *Parsons FL XXXII 194ff.; *Tille FFC XXXIV 370; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 327 n. 183; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 278 Nos. 89, 90. |
| K1935.1 | Impostors exposed by girl at her wedding. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1931.3 | Impostors kill hero. *Type 665; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| K1935 | Impostors steal rescued princess. *Types 300, 301, 303, 304*; Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1931.4 | Impostors throw hero into pit. *Types 550, 551; *BP I 503ff., II 394ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III No. 143. |
| K1931.5 | Impostors throw hero into prison. Type 301C*. |
| K1931.1 | Impostors throw hero overboard into sea. *Type 506; **Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte; *BP III 490ff., 494; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 133—135; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 404ff.; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 284 No. 119. |
| K1942 | Impostors tricked into carrying hero in box. Woman makes them think they will have her as reward. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1969.3.1 | Impostors: servant enters dead body of master and takes his place. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1900 | Impostures. |
| K1848.1 | Impotent husband deceives wife by having a substitute in virility test. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| A1111 | Impounded water. Water is kept by monster so that mankind cannot use it. A hero defeats the monster and releases the water. (The monster is sometimes a giant frog.)—*Chauvin VI 3 No. 181, VII 132 No. 399.—Hindu: Keith 33 (guarded by dragon); India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Ferguson 155; Japanese: Anesaki 276.—Australian: Dixon 279, 297; Papua: Ker 25; Baining of New Britain: ibid. III; Samoan, Melanesian: ibid. 38 n. 109, 110.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 293 n. 76, (Tahltan): Teit JAFL XXXII 201, 203; S. Am. Indian (Bacairi, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 313, (Botocudo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 540, (Caingang): Lowie ibid. (1) 397, (Bolivia, Peru): Jijena Sanchez Perro Negro 134.—Africa: Stanley 8, (Basuto): Jacottet 148 No. 21, 154 No. 22 cf. 8 No. 1, (Hottentot): Bleek 27 No. 14, (Ekoi): Talbot 144, 197, (Ababua): Einstein 101. |
| F393.3 | Impoverished fairy seeks fortune among mortals. Irish myth: Cross. |
| L432.2 | Impoverished father begs from daughter he has banished: recognized. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L432.2.1 | Impoverished father begs from his prosperous daughter whom he has made to marry a poor man. Chinese: Graham. |
| L432.3 | Impoverished husband begs from wife he has formerly expelled. Chinese: Graham. |
| L432 | Impoverished husband begs from wife's new husband. He has formerly refused this man charity. *Chauvin II 174 No. 16, VIII 180 No. 212; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 263 N. 232; *Basset 1001 Contes II 305. |
| H152.2 | Impoverished husband in service of wife recognized. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W11.7.1 | Impoverished nobleman offers wife to ruler. Latter spares her honor and aids the couple. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| L432.4 | Impoverished youngest brother comes to elders in search of work. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T525.2 | Impregnation by a comet. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 92. |
| T532.1.3 | Impregnation by leaf of lettuce. Greek: Fox 166. |
| T513.1.1 | Impregnation by magician's power. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 148, Rasmussen II 217; S. A. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 168. |
| T532.8 | Impregnation by shadow of Bhimsen. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T525.1 | Impregnation by star. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 92. |
| T528 | Impregnation by thunder (lightning). Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 91. |
| T512.5 | Impregnation from licking spittle. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| T515 | Impregnation through glance. England: Baughman; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 315; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 289 No. 94. |
| T515.1 | Impregnation through lustful glance. N. A. Indian (Yana): Curtin Creation Myths 348. Cf. the "greenclad woman" in Ibsen's Peer Gynt. |
| A972.4 | Imprint of horse in rocks.—French: Sébillot France I 383ff.; Danish: Thiele Danmarks Folkesagn I 209, II 47, Schmidt DF XXXIX 22-23; German: Þiðriks saga I 157, 220.—India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D2074.2.5.1 | Imprisoned cleric comes to answer saint's prayers in ritual. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R74.3.1 | Imprisoned king's son released when he promises to be a faithful subject and pay tax. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| V41.1 | Imprisoned miner kept alive by masses performed by his wife. Ward II 675; Herbert III *85, 284, 324, 365; Alphabet No. 499. |
| J814.1 | Imprisoned musician defends himself. Has been imprisoned because the king did not like the way the musician looked at him. After a year the king returns as a conqueror and sees musician. The latter says that he saw the king's conquests in a vision and was blessing him when he looked at him. The musician is honored. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 255 No. 188. |
| T381 | Imprisoned virgin to prevent knowledge of men (marriage, impregnation). Usually kept in a tower. (Danaë.) *Types 310, 516; *Krappe Balor 2ff., 11 nn. 38, 39; *Hertel Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 83ff. (chest on water); *Rösch FFC LXXVII 103, 107f.; *Krappe Le Moyen Age 96ff.; *Loomis White Magic 119. — Irish myth: *Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 153 n. 3, 154 n. 1, *Hartland Perseus chap. 1; Babylonian: Spence 157; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 5 No. 2; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 277 n. 21b; West Indies: Flowers 578. |
| D2078 | Imprisoning by magic. |
| D2177 | Imprisoning by magic. (Cf. R40.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q433.1 | Imprisonment for adultery. (Cf. Q241.) Heptameron No. 61; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| Q433.5 | Imprisonment for attempted seduction. (Cf. Q243.2.1.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q433.8 | Imprisonment for gambling. (Cf. Q381.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q433.4 | Imprisonment for imposture. (Cf. Q262.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q433.7 | Imprisonment for treachery. (Cf. Q261.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R45.2 | Imprisonment in lion's den. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 5; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: Neuman. |
| J711.2 | Improvident mouse eats grain stored for famine. Loss is discovered and grain placed elsewhere. Mouse, who has saved nothing, starves. *Chauvin II 115 No. 90. |
| J2119.1.1 | Improving the wife's face by cutting off her nose. Penzer V 68f.; *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 21 No. 76. |
| Q326 | Impudence punished. (Cf. Q411.10, Q413.5.) Irish myth: Cross; Africa (Bushongo): Torday 241. |
| Q413.5.1 | Impudent suitor or his messenger hanged or threatened with hanging. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| A431.1.1 | In absence of goddess of fertility, no reproduction of life. Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 304. |
| T321.6 | In answer to maiden's prayer saint changes boat's course and guides it to another place. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T92.4.3 | In darkness of night trickster instead of her chosen lover elopes with girl. Tonga: Beckwith Myth 536. |
| F932.6.3 | In dead of night waters of stream cease flowing and stand perfectly still. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J242.8 | In dividing property clever younger brother takes hind part of buffalo, upper part of tree, and use of curtain during night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K171.6 | In dividing the fish, the dupe gets the bones. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 22. |
| K785 | In duel with long poles the ogre is forced into the pig-sty. Type 1083; Magyar: Honti FFC LXXXI 35 No. 1083. |
| F451.4.6 | In dwarf land sunrise is at midnight. German: Eckart 7. |
| A117.3 | In extreme old age spirits become gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 67. |
| P426.0.1 | In fear of clerics pagans flee into fairy mounds. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A173.1 | In god's absence his function ceases. Death, reproduction, etc., suspended until the god's return.—*Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 300ff. |
| E489.9 | In land of dead the dead walk on grass without bending it and on mud without sinking. (Cf. F973.2.) Chinese: Graham. |
| H491.1 | In large family father unwilling but mother willing to sell children. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 87, 303, Neuman. |
| J1279.4 | In numbers there is strength. The children of the Genoese are strong because there is more help. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K525.1.3 | In order to save child from death, maid substitutes block dressed to resemble it. Enemy strikes block. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A678 | In other world one room contains the dead, another contains souls of the unborn waiting to enter the wombs of women, and a third contains all the evil spirits. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2041.1 | In Passion Play the Christ says, "I am thirsty"; the thief on the left speaks up, "I too." Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 864. |
| J752 | In planning future, profit by the past. |
| A1285.1.1 | In response to Adam's prayer, God sends him to earth to be father of mankind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M226 | In return for magic shirt from girl hero is to stay in Ireland for three years. In return he claims her as wife. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J342.1.1 | In spite of master's advice disciple stays in country where everything has cheap price. Gets into trouble. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J711 | In time of plenty provide for want. |
| U180 | In vino veritas. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J2025 | Inability to find object one is carrying. |
| J2020 | Inability to find own members, etc. |
| D502 | Inability to transform self in presence of others. Chinese: Graham. |
| F767 | Inaccessible city. Chauvin V 33 No. 16; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F1009 | Inanimate object acts as if living. |
| F990 | Inanimate objects act as if living. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J1849 | Inappropriate action from misunderstanding—miscellaneous. |
| J1820 | Inappropriate action from misunderstanding. |
| J1565 | Inappropriate entertainment repaid. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J651 | Inattention to danger. |
| J652 | Inattention to warnings. Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; West Indies: Flowers 477. |
| P11.6 | Inauguration of king as espousal to goddess. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1645.2 | Incandescent cup. (Cf. D1171.6.) Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 203 (Grail). |
| D1645.1 | Incandescent jewel. (Cf. D1071.) *Chauvin V 4 No. 443; *Penzer III 167; *Reinhard PMLA XXXVIII 434 n. 32; *Cosquin indiens 246ff.; Fb "edelsten"; *Boje 81; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 217, 375, Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 274. |
| D1645.4 | Incandescent sword. (Cf. D1081, D1645.8.4.) Malone PMLA XLIII 433; Irish myth: Cross. |
| H245.1 | Incantation which when recited over certain "lots" causes them to distinguish between guilt and innocence. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V12.10 | Incense as sacrifice. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D1346.12 | Incense gives immortality. (Cf. D1295.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1586.3 | Incense relieves from plague. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N681.3 | Incest accidentally averted. |
| Q242 | Incest punished. (Cf. Q414.0.3, Q421.0.6, Q431.8.1, Q451.4.3, Q451.7.3, Q520.3, Q541.3, Q552.19.4.) Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N365 | Incest unwittingly committed. |
| T410 | Incest. **O. Rank Das Inzest-Motiv in Dichtung und Sage (Leipzig u. Wien, 1912); *Child V 484 s.v. "Incestuous"; Irish myth: *Cross; Arabian: Burton Nights I 110 n., II 172 n.; India: Thompson-Balys; Indo-Chinese: Dixon 165 *n. 47; Indonesia: Dixon 172. |
| A1273.1 | Incestuous first parents. India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Dixon 171f. |
| K1377 | Incestuous marriage arranged by trick. India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: **Schmerler JAFL XLIV 196-207. |
| N788 | Incidents when wife takes food to husband in field or forest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1005.2 | Inclosure made during world calamity and only best types of animals and men preserved. Persian: Carnoy 308; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1812.12 | Incognito king comes to the aid of an enemy who has refused to vilify him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1812.1 | Incognito king helped by humble man. Gives reward. Type 952; *BP III 450; Child V 67; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1812.5 | Incognito king in victor's court. Asks forgiveness. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1812.1.1 | Incognito king is asked by humble man to aid him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1812.4 | Incognito king is given hospitality by fisherman. Rewards him with a city. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1812.2.1 | Incognito king joins robbers: to take only six shillings. The robber tells him that he must take no more, since the king has so many robbers. Type 951A. |
| K1812.2 | Incognito king joins robbers. *Type 951; *BP III 393, 450; Penzer II 184f. n., VII 215ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1812.9 | Incognito king rewards farmer for gift. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1812.13 | Incognito king rewards strangers who treat him as companion. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2364 | Incognito mistress breaks off relations when she overhears the lover discussing the adventure. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| T476 | Incognito mistress. King's mistress secretly becomes hero's without revealing identity. *Chauvin V 219 No. 129 n. 2. |
| K1812.11 | Incognito prince (king) sold into slavery. Disguised as sailor. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1812.2.2 | Incognito prince joins gamblers. He is beaten for showing courtesy. Realizes his folly and returns home. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K1812.8.2 | Incognito princess travels as bishop (monk). Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| T53.1 | Incognito prophet as matchmaker. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 177f., 374. |
| K1812.8 | Incognito queen (princess). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K2116.1.4 | Incognito queen falsely accused of having killed child left in her care. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| T412.2 | Incognito son tempts mother to see whether all women are wicked. Scala Celi 87a No. 509; Icelandic: Gerling Islandzk æventyri 7 No. 1. |
| D1656.1 | Incombustible book. (Cf. D1266.) Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 297 No. 29. |
| D1656.2 | Incombustible house (dwelling). (Cf. F222.1.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1656 | Incombustible objects. (Cf. D1841.3; D2158.2; F979.5.) Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "incombustible". |
| W133 | Inconsistency. |
| V465.1 | Incontinence of clergy. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics Index 113b, 136c; West Indies: Flowers 580. |
| Q243 | Incontinence punished—miscellaneous. (Cf. Q414.0.3, Q414.0.3.1, Q431.5.3, Q433.6, Q451.1.4.1, Q458.2.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| V465.1.1 | Incontinent monk (priest). Irish myth: *Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda |
| V465.1.2 | Incontinent nun. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J352 | Inconvenience disregarded when booty is in sight. |
| A120.3 | Incorporeal god. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V33.1 | Incredulity as to sacredness of host confounded by miraculous appearance. Scala Celi 42a, 65b, 66a Nos. 239, 357—60, 364; Herbert III 539. |
| V33 | Incredulity as to sacredness of host punished. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 687; Alphabet No. 309. |
| V33.1.1 | Incredulity of true transformation of host banished by actual appearance of Jesus's body and blood. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| F471.2 | Incubus. A male demon who comes in sleep and has sexual intercourse with a woman. *Kittredge Witchcraft 116, 444ff. nn. 103—155 passim; *Loomis White Magic 77; Irish myth: Cross; Welsh: ibid.; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 59; Germanic: De la Saussaye 293f.; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 126 No. 59; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3682; S. A. Indian (Araucanian): Alexander Lat. Am. 328; Africa (Fang): Einstein 175. |
| W123 | Indecision. (Cf. J1040.) West Indies: Flowers 581. |
| D1654.3 | Indelible blood. (Cf. D1003.) *Type 312; BP I 404ff.; *Fb "blod" IV 48b. |
| D1654.3.1 | Indelible mark. *Loomis White Magic 119. |
| D1654.3.1.1 | Indelible writing: the scraped word found written as before. (Cf. D1266.1.) *Loomis White Magic 85. |
| A2721.2.2 | Indentations on plants from Christ's biting them at crucifixion. (cf. A2751.3.1.)—Dh II 198. |
| A972.2.1 | Indention on rock from footprint of angel. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2751.3.1 | Indentions in stem of reed. (See A2721.2.1, A2721.2.2, A2732.)—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 90 No. 130b. |
| A972.5.3 | Indentions on rock from paws of King Arthur's dog. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.3.1.1 | Indentions on rock from weapons (limbs) of robbers through power of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.6 | Indentions on rocks caused by giants. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.1.1 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of Christ. Dh II 199.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Kirialaxsaga 66. |
| A972.2 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of fairies (angels, devils). Jegerlehner Oberwallis 303 Nos. 22, 23.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 500ff. |
| A972.3.1.2 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of saint's cow. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.5.1 | Indentions on rocks from head of infant hero (saint). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.1 | Indentions on rocks from imprint of gods and saints. *Toldo Studien zur vgl. Literaturgeschichte V 337ff.; Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 95.—Irish myth: *Cross; Eng., Scot., Ire., Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 977; Greek: *Grote I 180.—Hawaii Beckwith Myth 65, 142, 212f.; S. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281. |
| A972.5 | Indentions on rocks from marks of various persons. |
| A972 | Indentions on rocks from prints left by man (beast). (Cf. A901.)—*Fb "sten" III 552b; *Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 96; Dh II 8.—Irish: Thurneysen Irische Helden-u. Königssagen 189, Cross; Icel.: Boberg; Danish: Schmidt DF XXXIX 13ff.; French: Sébillot France I 369ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: Krickeberg Indianermärchen aus Nordamerika 245, Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 59; Aztec: Krickeberg Märchen der Azteken 60, 204, and passim; S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 132. |
| A972.5.4 | Indentions on rocks from weapons, knees, and elbows (of persons slain by hero). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B745 | Indestructibility of leech. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1614.7 | Indians and whites from different legs of first man. S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 108. |
| R131.20 | Indians rescue abandoned children. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H216 | Indications of innocence. |
| U150 | Indifference of the miserable. |
| Q491 | Indignity to corpse as punishment. (Cf. Q271.1.) Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B552.3 | Indra carried by cock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F252.1.2 | Indra has control over fairies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B184.2.3.3 | Indra sends down buffalo whose milk is offered to the saints. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F964.5 | Indra's tank blazes like gold. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2084 | Industrial processes magically interrupted. |
| J711.5 | Industrious ant works always at his harvest to keep it dry. Ant brings stored grain out into sun to keep it safe. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D476.1 | Inedible substance transformed into edible. |
| D1385.13.1 | Ineffable Name subjugates demons. (Cf. D807, G302.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D804 | Ineffable name written on object renders it magic. (Cf. C431.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| L141.4 | Inept child eventually surpasses others. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1122). |
| A1599.8 | Inequalities of fortune among men, otherwise the work of the world will not go on. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E422.1.11.5.1 | Ineradicable bloodstain after bloody tragedy. England, Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn IV 267ff. |
| H215.4 | Ineradicable handprint as indication of innocence. (Cf. D1654.3.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| D1652.1.7.1 | Inexhaustible apple. (Cf. D981.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1451.2 | Inexhaustible bag (sack) furnishes money. (Cf. D1193.) *Fb "pose" II 864a. |
| D1652.5.2 | Inexhaustible barrel. (Cf. D1171.9.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D1652.1.9.1.1 | Inexhaustible boar's flesh. Danish: Grundtvig Gamle danske Minder I (1854) No. 248; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 313, Boberg. |
| D1652.5.6 | Inexhaustible bowl. (Cf. 1170.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1026; Korean: Zong in-Sob 43. |
| D1652.1.1 | Inexhaustible bread. (Cf. D1031.1.) *Saintyves éssais 231ff.; *Fb "brød" IV 74b; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "pain"; England: Baughman; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. Cf. Mark 6:41ff. |
| A920.1.1 | Inexhaustible buckets as source of lakes. Chinese: Werner 221. |
| D1652.1.5 | Inexhaustible chestnut. (Cf. D1035.1.) N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 148, 187, 199, 503. |
| D1652.8 | Inexhaustible cloth. (Cf. D1051, D1052, D1652.12.) Irish: Plummer clxxxiv, *Cross; Japanese: Anesaki 315. |
| D1652.1.6 | Inexhaustible coconut. (Cf. D1035.2.) Leper's Island: Dixon 127. |
| D1652.1.3.2 | Inexhaustible corn. (Cf. D965.8.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1652.2 | Inexhaustible drink. (Cf. D1040, D1472.1.16.) *Fb "drikke". Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 30; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1652.10.1 | Inexhaustible firewood. (Cf. D1298.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1652.1.10 | Inexhaustible fish. Irish myth: Cross; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 20. |
| D1652.5.9 | Inexhaustible food bag. (Cf. D1193.) Africa (Fang): Tessman 157f. |
| D1652.5.8 | Inexhaustible food basket. (Cf. D1171.11.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 414. |
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