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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.

46,221 motifs

Page 74 of 185 · 250 per page
Thompson reference Description ▲
F129.4.1 Journey to Isle of Tears. Irish myth: Cross.
F127.3 Journey to land of crocodiles. India: Thompson-Balys.
F81.1.2 Journey to land of dead to visit deceased. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 199f.
F124 Journey to land of demons. India: Thompson-Balys.
F127.2 Journey to land of elephants. India: Thompson-Balys.
F122 Journey to land of giants. Irish myth: Cross (F129.10); Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 17; India: Thompson-Balys.
F123 Journey to land of little men (pygmies). Irish myth: Cross; Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 17.
F129.1 Journey to Land of Men of Heads only. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 273.
F129.7 Journey to land of naked people. India: Thompson-Balys.
F129.5 Journey to land of no return. India: Thompson-Balys.
F112 Journey to Land of Women. Island of women, land of maidens, country of the Amazons, etc. *Patch PMLA XXXIII 624 n. 81, Other World *381 s.v. "maidenland"; Hartland Science 202.—Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Fox 109, 111; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 390f.; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth XXXVI; Marquesas: Handy 56, Beckwith Myth 472, 502; West Indies: Flowers 432.
F126 Journey to land without sky: takes whole life. Premature aging. India: Thompson-Balys.
F81.5 Journey to lower world to get treasures. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 583ff.
F80 Journey to lower world. *Types 301, 650, BP II 300; *Siuts Jenseitsmotive 50ff.; Wimberly 128; Jacob's list s.v. "Underworld"; Tylor Primitive Culture 4th ed. (1903) II 65.—Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 321, *Hilda R. Ellis The Road to Hell, a Study in the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature (London, 1943), 170ff., *Boberg; Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "souterrain"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 25; Finnish: Kalevala rune 25; *Fb "underjordiske" III 975b; Greek: Grote I 189; Jewish: *Neuman; Gaster Oldest Stories 51, Thespis 183ff., 195; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Dixon 213 n. 12, 215, De Vries' list No. 161; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 199f.; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 151, Thalbitzer 7, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 241; N. A. Indian (Arikara): Alexander N. Am. 108; S. A. Indian (Quiché): Alexander Lat. Am. 170; Africa (Zanzibar): Bateman 201 No. 10, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 89 No. 16, (Zulu): Callaway 317f.
F118 Journey to Mother of Time. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8.
H1256 Journey to other world to obtain a wife. (Cf. H1381.3.1.2.) Chinese: Graham.
F0 Journey to other world. *Patch Some Elements in Mediaeval Descriptions of the Otherworld (PMLA XXXIII 601—643); *Wimberly 108ff.; *Ward II 396ff.; *von Negelein Zs. f. Vksk. XI 16ff., 149ff., 263ff; *Encyc. Rel. Ethics s.v. "Other world"; *Henne-am Rhyn Das Jenseits (1881).—Irish: Nutt The Irish Vision of the Happy Otherworld and the Celtic Doctrine of Rebirth (in Meyer, The Voyage of Bran), *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 114ff.; Brown Iwain 56ff.; Icelandic: Gould Scandinavian Studies and Notes IX (1927) 190; German: *Siuts Jenseitmotive im deutschen Volksmärchen; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Tawney I 58f., 417ff., 526f., II 267ff., 288ff.; Arabian: Burton Nights VIII 70, IX 181ff., S II 85ff., S IV 443ff.; Russian: Kuzenow Ueber den Glauben vom Jenseits und den Todtenkultus der Tcheremissen (Internationales Archiv für Ethnographie IX No. 4, X No. 2); Melanesia (Ysabel): Codrington 365, (Mono-Alu-Fauru): Wheeler 21f., 33, (Buin): ibid. 47, (Papua): Ker 7; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 330 n. 192.
F1 Journey to otherworld as dream or vision. *Loomis White Magic 52.—Irish myth: *Cross; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 25.
F4 Journey to otherworld as hunt. Irish myth: *Cross.
F3 Journey to otherworld as invasion. Irish myth: *Cross.
F5 Journey to otherworld as penance. Irish myth: Cross.
F155 Journey to otherworld by clinging magically to an object. *Brown Iwain 110 n. 1; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
H1254 Journey to otherworld for magic objects. Irish myth: Cross.
M358.2 Journey to otherworld foretold. Irish myth: *Cross.
F157 Journey to otherworld in boat. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
F157.1 Journey to otherworld in crystal (glass) boat. Irish myth: *Cross.
F129.4 Journey to otherworld island. (Cf. F111.1, F112.1, F134.)
F159.2 Journey to otherworld on horseback. Irish myth: *Cross.
F87 Journey to otherworld to secure bride. Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 41ff.
F125 Journey to otherworld where people are made whole (cured). Jewish: *Neuman; American Indian: Thompson Tales 349 n. 256; Africa: Werner African 204.
F7 Journey to otherworld with angel. Jewish: Neuman.
D2122.0.1 Journey to otherworld with magic speed. (Cf. F0.) Irish myth: Cross.
F12 Journey to see deity. Usually to the upper world. *Type 460A; *Aarne FFC XXIII 124.—Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/79); Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 18, 184.
F127.1 Journey to serpent kingdom.
F12.1 Journey to sky-god. Chinese: Graham.
F66.1.1 Journey to sky-world by riding unseen in supernatural wife's chariot. India: Thompson-Balys.
F110 Journey to terrestrial otherworlds. *Graf Miti, leggendi e superstizioni de medio evo I 1ff.; Gaster Oldest Stories 51, 168.—Irish myth: *Cross.
F116 Journey to the Land of the Immortals. Type 313*; Irish myth: *Cross.
F117 Journey to the Land of the Thunders. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 334 n. 206, (Cherokee): Alexander N. Am. 69; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 202, 359.
F115 Journey to the Land of the Unborn. Zemmrich Internationales Archiv für Ethnologie IV 231. Cf. Maeterlinck's "L'Oiseau Bleue".
F64 Journey to upper world by keeping thoughts continually on heaven. N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Teit MAFLS XI 56 No. 34.
F66.1 Journey to upper world in chariot. Jewish: *Neuman.
F66 Journey to upper world on horseback. Jewish: *Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 441.
F10 Journey to upper world. Most references for F0 discuss this motif. Chauvin VII 54ff. No. 77.—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 332 n. 2 (Dionysus and Semele); India: *Thompson-Balys, Tawney II 483; Chinese: Werner 224, 282; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 460, 515; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 311 n. 118; S. A. Indian (Kariri, Shipaya): Métraux MAFLS XL 25; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18, (Fjort): Dennett 74 No. 16, (Ekoi): Talbot 71, 184, 344, (Congo): Weeks 202 No. 1, 217 No. 12, (Zulu): Callaway 147, (Ila [Rhodesia]): Smith and Dale II 348.
F121 Journey to world of spirits. India: Thompson-Balys.
D2122.5 Journey with magic speed by saint. Irish myth: Cross.
D2122 Journey with magic speed. *Loomis White Magic 93; Penzer II 223 n. 1, VI 213, 279, VII 24, 225 n. 1, VIII 57 n. 2.—Irish: Plummer clxxxvi, *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "transport"; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 195; Korean: Zong in-Sob 65, 73; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 24; Africa (Vai): Ellis 207 No. 24, (Benga): Nassau No. 24 (version 2).
D2122.4 Journey with speed of angels. Irish myth: Cross.
E489.7 Judas Iscariot appears in midst of sea on rock washed alternately by fiery and icy waves. (Cf. Q560.2.3.) Irish myth: *Cross.
N131.3.1 Judas Iscariot spills salt at the Last Supper. England: Baughman.
A169.1 Judge and tribunal of the gods. Icel.: *Boberg.
J1192.1 Judge awards decision to the greater bribe. *DeVries FFC LXXIII 263; Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 125, 128, 852, 853; Scala Celi 20a No. 122; England: Baughman; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
J1192.1.2 Judge favors poor defendant so he may obtain money from rich without begging. Jewish: Neuman.
J1197 Judge finds offense is not great when it is his own son who is guilty. India: Thompson-Balys.
J1195 Judge frightened into awarding decision. India: *Thompson-Balys.
Q265.3 Judge must yield bench to son because he had made a false judgment. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
J571.6 Judge not that you be not judged: thus judge upbraided when he is later accused in court and claims mercy. India: Thompson-Balys.
J1212 Judge put out of countenance.
U21.5 Judge reduces penalty when accused is his own son. India: Thompson-Balys.
J904 Judge should possess humility and modesty. Jewish: Neuman.
P421 Judge. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg.
A675 Judges in the lower world. Greek: Fox 143.—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 206 No. 155; Japanese: Anesaki 238.
A669.1 Judges in the upper world. Gaster Thespis 186; Icel.: Boberg.
J1172 Judgment as rebuke to unjust plaintiff.
J1171 Judgment by testing love.
J1261.7 Judgment Day a long way off. Thief told by monk that he must return stolen cloth on Judgment Day "If I have so long a period of grace, I should like to take the whole monastery." Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 783; Irish: Beal XXI 327, O'Suilleabhain 76; Italian Novella: Rotunda.
E751.7 Judgment day on Monday. Irish myth: Cross.
M55 Judgment: pardon given if hero produces the lady about whom he has boasted. English: Wells 132 (Sir Launfal).
M56 Judgment: thief to be pardoned if he can steal king's treasure without being caught. India: Thompson-Balys.
M90 Judgments and decrees—miscellaneous motifs.
M0 Judgments and decrees.
J1175 Judgments concerning arson.
H218.1 Judicial combat interrupted by friends of loser. *Dickson 79 n. 40.
K872 Judith and Holofernes: girl from enemy camp chosen to sleep with intoxicated general kills him in bed. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Gaster Exempla 230 No. 251, *bin Gorion Born Judas I 362f., *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
P483 Juggler (conjurer). Irish myth: Cross.
K1967 Juggler promises to fly from one house to another. Keeps crowd waiting until dusk and then makes his escape. Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
K17 Jumping contest won by deception. Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 51; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 302 n. 104.
K17.4 Jumping frog contest. Frog filled with shot. Anonymous Historia de Pedro Urdemales (Yungay, Chile, 1885) No. 11. Literary treatment by Mark Twain.
J2161.1 Jumping into the breeches. Trying to draw both legs on at once. Type 1286; Köhler-Bolte I 82; Clouston Noodles 201.
J1832 Jumping into the river after their comrade. Through misunderstanding one of the men jumps into the river. He calls out; the others think that he wants them to follow, and all jump in and are drowned. *BP II 556 n. 1; Japanese: Ikeda.
F1071.2 Jumping over a ditch which is really an ocean. India: Thompson-Balys.
G11.14 Jungle-man as cannibal. India: Thompson-Balys.
T161 Jus primae noctis. Overlord claims right of sleeping the first night with subject's wife. Liebrecht Orient und Occident II 541f., Liebrecht 94, 416; Herrmann Saxo II 324; *Hertz Abhandlungen 207ff.; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 746; *Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 82f. — Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 140, *Cross; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 319 No. 21; French: Sébillot France IV 285; Jewish: *bin Gorion Born Judas I 363, *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
P12.6 Just king brings good fortune upon people. Irish myth: *Cross.
U10 Justice and injustice.
U21 Justice depends on the point of view.
A102.16 Justice of God. Jewish: Neuman.
W35 Justice. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman.
Q26 Keeping fast rewarded. India: Thompson-Balys.
J821 Keeping on good terms with hostile gods.
J2129.6 Keeping rain from the trunks. Numskulls take out the clothing and cover the trunks to keep rain off. Penzer V 116 n. 1.
J2036 Keeping the measure by stretching out the arms. Numskull goes to buy goods for his wife. Clouston Noodles 90; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 248 No. 161.
J1482 Keeping the secret. Man tells parson secret and asks him to keep it. The parson refuses; "If you can't keep the secret, you must not expect me to." *Wesselski Arlotto II 263 No. 199.
J1875.1 Kernel tries to escape death. A fool eats nuts. A kernel slips from him. The fool: "Everything tries to escape from death." *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 183 No. 346.
F353 Kettle borrowed from fairies and not returned. (Cf. F343.17.) Hartland Science 244; England: *Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys.
Q561.2 Kettle heating in hell for certain person. *Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 106ff.
N211.1.2 Key (to fetters) found in fish. Irish myth: *Cross.
F1034.5.1 Key to house concealed in man's heart. Africa (Angola): Chatelain III No. 8.
E434.6 Keys as protection against revenants. (Cf. D1176.) Wimberly 255.
J974 Kid perched on house jeers at wolf. (Cf. J978.) Jacobs Aesop 204 No. 16; Wienert FFC LVI 56 (ET 162), 112 (ST 231); Halm Aesop No. 135.
K1611.5 Kid puts one of tigress's cubs in his place: she eats the cub. India: Thompson-Balys.
K551.17.1 Kidnapped woman escapes by asking for drink of water. India: Thompson-Balys.
P173.2 Killed enemy's son as slave. Icelandic: Boberg.
E161 Killed game revives and flies away. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 303 n. 109e; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 159 No. 20.
A2461.3 Killer-whale uses dorsal fin as weapon. Joshua: Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 236.
C841.10.1 Killing albatross causes misfortune to follow killer. England: Baughman.
Q211.6 Killing an animal revenged. (Cf. Q231, Q424.1, Q582.4.)
K957.1 Killing by throwing hot salt into eyes. Africa (Upoto): Einstein 143.
G614 Killing of ogre's cattle, sheep, etc. brings on ogre's anger. Icelandic: *Boberg.
K800 Killing or maiming by deception. India: Thompson-Balys.
J1193.1 Killing the fly on the judge's nose. The judge has told the boy that he should kill a fly wherever he sees one. Type 1586; *BP I 519; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 271 No. 280; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 673; Fansler MAFLS XII 390, 435; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII 69 No. 4.
K951.1.1.1 Killing tiger by throwing hot hatchet into mouth. India: Thompson-Balys.
H1522 Killing trees threaten hero. India: *Thompson-Balys; Tahiti: Dixon 64; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 322 n. 160.
D1402.23 Killing with head of fallen enemy. Irish myth: Cross.
Q2 Kind and unkind. Churlish person disregards requests of old person (animal) and is punished. Courteous person (often youngest brother or sister) complies and is rewarded. *Types 361, 403, 431, 440, 480, 513, 550, 551, 554, 570, 571, 577, 610, 620, 707, 750**, 287**; *BP I 86, 99, 207, 503, II 21, 39, 380, 394, 427, III 84, 267, 276; **Roberts; *Cox Cinderella 481; MacCulloch Childhood 61; *Saintyves Perrault 10. — Irish: O'Suilleabhain 18; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 75 No. 594, Espinosa II No. 86, III Nos. 141—143, 153, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 117, 183, 202—204; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 10, IV No. 7, V No. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Anesaki 318f., Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 32 No. 15, 46 No. 27; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 172, Dixon 210; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/167); N. A. Indian: *Thompson CColl II 383, 386ff., 432, *Thompson Tales 276 n. 18b, (California): Gayton and Newman 95; Africa: Werner African 138ff., 204, 208, 210, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 89 No. 16, (Benga): Nassau 213 No. 23, (Ekoi): Talbot 237, 280, (Kaffir): Theal 48, 52, (Basuto): Jacottet 140, 146, 224, (Yoruba): Ellis 244 No. 1, (Fjort): Dennett 121f., (Ibo, Nigeria): Basden 282, (Duala): Lederbogen JAS IV 70, Märchen 84; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 125 No. 44.
J391 Kind foster-parents chosen rather than cruel parents. (Cf. J325.)
W154.15 Kind magistrate is victim of ingratitude. Gives lawbreaker a light sentence. The latter seduces the magistrate's wife. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
F420.5.1 Kind water-spirits.
Q40 Kindness rewarded. *Chauvin VI 109 No. 274 n. 2; Irish: Beal XXI 304; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Fox 200 (Phaon); Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 362; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 132 No. 87; Africa (Bankon): Ittman 83, (Bulu): Krug 109, (Duala): Lederbogen JAS IV 71.
Q51 Kindness to animals rewarded. Jewish: *Neuman; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 83, Africa (Wakweli): Bender 87f., (Wute): Sieber 197, (Fang): Tessman 196.
Q47 Kindness to orphans repaid by dead parents. Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 99.
J715 Kindness unwise when it imperils one's food supply.
W10 Kindness. (Cf. Q40.) Missouri French: Carrière; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman.
G11 Kinds of cannibals.
D2061.1 Kinds of death produced by magic. (Cf. D1896.)
D1658.2 Kinds of grateful objects. (See also D1658.1.)
D1825 Kinds of magic sight.
Q400 Kinds of punishment—general. *Child V 492 s.v. "punishments"; Irish myth: Cross.
H921 King (father) assigns tasks to his unknown son. *Type 920; De Vries FFC LXXIII 40ff., 323ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 132.
N711 King (prince) accidentally finds maiden and marries her. *Types 403, 451, 705, 709; *BP I 99ff., 295ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 80, 115; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 8; India: *Thompson-Balys.
L419.2 King (prince) becomes beggar. Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
N711.1 King (prince) finds maiden in woods (tree) and marries her. *Types 450, 706, 710; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; India: *Thompson-Balys.
T91.6.2 King (prince) in love with a lowly girl. (Cf. L162, T121.8.) Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1185.
N771 King (prince) lost on hunt has adventures. *BP I 432 n. 2; *Köhler-Bolte II 408ff.; Dickson 93, 123 n. 75; Malone PMLA XLIII 398; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 8, V No. 5; India: *Thompson-Balys.
P16.1 King (prince) retires from the world (becomes hermit, swineherd). *Chauvin VI 194 No. 363; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg.
R191 King (prince) returns home (from exile) and rescues his native country. Icelandic: *Boberg.
N362 King (prince) unwittingly killed. Africa (Fulah): Frobenius Atlantis VI 182ff. No. 4.
J702.2 King (queen) teaches children to work at all tasks to prepare them for life's possible hazards. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
T121.8 King (rich man) weds common girl. (Cf. L162, T91.6.2.) Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 938, II 1091.
B246.2 King (sultan) of flies. Africa (Swahili): Baker FL XXXVIII 183ff., No. 1.
P19.2.1 King abducts woman to be his paramour. Irish myth: Cross.
F1041.16.7 King about to kill foster-son due to his evil explanation of dream; both jump into sea and are drowned. Icelandic: Boberg.
N648 King accidentally cured by doctor's ruse and excuses pretended inability to cure him. India: Thompson-Balys.
N836.1 King adopts hero (heroine). English: Wells 8 (King Horn), 11 (Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild), 17 (Reinbrun, Gy sone of Warwike), 20 (William of Palerne), 115 (Sir Eglamour of Artois), 117 (Sir Torrent of Portyngale); Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys.
J482 King advised to marry maid rather than widow. Widow would have things her own way. *Stiefel Zs. f. Vksk. VIII 278.
H561.2 King and abbot. King propounds three riddles to abbot to answer on pain of death. Herdsman disguises as abbot and answers questions. *Type 922; **Anderson FFC XLII; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 55; Fb "hyrde" I 719; India: Thompson-Balys; Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
H561.5 King and clever minister. King propounds riddles and questions to his clever minister. **De Vries FFC LXXIII 365ff.; *Encyc. Rel. Ethics s.v. "Ahiqar"; *Marc Studien zur vgl. Littgesch. II 393f., III 52; **Meissner Das Märchen vom weisen Achikar (Leipzig, 1917); Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
H561.4 King and clever youth. King asks questions; youth returns riddling answers. *Type 921; **De Vries FFC LXXIII 111ff., 308ff.; Anderson FFC XLII 356 n. 2; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys.
F577.3 King and fool identical in appearance. Irish myth: Cross.
J1483.1 King and jester flee: the king's swift horse. Jester: "You did have a swift horse. When I had to stop because my horse was tired out, you went two miles further." Wesselski Bebel I 207 No. 94.
H561.6 King and peasant vie in riddling questions and answers.
H561.6.1 King and peasant: the plucked fowl. The king gives riddling questions to a peasant, who always interprets them right. The king says that he will send the peasant a fowl which he shall pluck. The king gives the same questions to his courtiers, who cannot interpret them. They pay the peasant good money for the answers. Peasant tells king that he has plucked the fowl. Anderson FFC XLII 342; India: Thompson-Balys.
T586.1.2.1 King and queen have seven sons, all named Maine. Irish myth: *Cross.
H548.1 King and rabbi exchange riddles. Jewish: Neuman.
P50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king. Irish myth: Cross.
P14.11 King angry at hero who rides straight into the castle without permission. Icelandic: Völsunga saga ch. 28 (26).
N836 King as helper. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
D1711.7 King as magician. Icelandic: *Boberg.
M301.17 King as prophet. Irish myth: *Cross.
E501.1.1 King as wild huntsman. (Cf. E501.1.7.) Schweda 38; *Fb "Odins jæger" II 731b; Hartland Science 234, 236; RTP XVII 504f.
P14.8.1 King asks all newcomers what they can do and expects a prompt answer. Icelandic: *Boberg.
H1182.2 King asks favorite minister to show him a trick that he has never seen before. India: Thompson-Balys.
D1960.2.1 King asleep in mountain will awake when his horse's shoes are worn down. Every seven years the horse goes around the castle. He must wear his half-inch silver shoes to thinness of cat's ear before the king awakes. Howey 9.
J2137.7 King attempts to visit the spirit world underground and dies in a tunnel. India: Thompson-Balys.
P12.12 King avenges lack of homage. India: Thompson-Balys.
S21.4 King banishes mother to stables. India: Thompson-Balys.
P12.8 King banishes nobleman whose castle he wants. Icelandic: *Boberg.
C901.4.1 King breaks his own tabu and meets with the punishment he has set for violation of it. (His nose is cut off). India: Thompson-Balys.
M205.4 King breaks promise to care for man's family. Is caught trying to steal his money. India: Thompson-Balys.
J816.1 King brought to sense of duty by feigned conversation of birds. Philosopher pretends to know bird's language and to be translating what they tell him. *Basset 1001 Contes II 452; Chauvin II 153 No. 21, *VIII 129f. No. 119; Wesselski Märchen 220 No. 34; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys.
J816.3 King brought to sense of duty by woman's words. Drunken king sentences unjustly. Woman asks to appear before the king before he has dined. Her case is retried. Spanish: Childers.
V61.5 King buried in his war car. Icelandic: *Boberg.
V67.3.1 King buried with immense treasure in the ground of an artificially dried river; later the normal course of the river is restored. *Krappe "Les funérailles d'Alaric" Annuaire de l'institut de philologie et d'histoire orientales et slaves VII 229—40.
J1081.1 King buys spendthrift's bed. It must have been an extraordinary bed to permit a man with so many debts to sleep on it. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 503; Herbert III 128 No. 79, 170 No. 35; Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
J816.2 King called baker's son: he has given the poet only loaves of bread. King sees jest and rewards poet. Nouvelles Récréations No. 4.
P27.3 King calls daughter in second marriage by the name of his first queen. Icelandic: Boberg.
J1289.10 King cannot destroy the city. A philosopher of the city came to him asking mercy for it King said he would do nothing he asked. Philosopher then asked him to destroy the city. This saves the city. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
P13.1 King cannot judge without crown. Fb "konge" II 264b.
P15.2.1 King carries off subject's wife and makes her his own. India: Thompson-Balys.
K947 King causes his own men to be burned and killed, by mistake or illusion. Icelandic: Boberg.
T131.1.2.2 King chooses bridegroom for daughter from boys' pictures. India: Thompson-Balys.
J221.2 King chooses small inconvenience of personal troubles to great troubles for his kingdom. He suffers to help realm. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
P11.2.1 King chosen by contest: princes finding greatest fault with their father. Youngest can find no fault and is chosen. Type 924**.
P11.2.2 King chosen by contest. Irish myth: Cross.
H1574.3 King chosen by test. Irish myth: Cross.
P11.4 King chosen on basis of strength and exploits. Irish myth: Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
L416 King commanded to wear enemy's shoes on his shoulders as sign of submission. Irish myth: Cross.
P16.3.0.1 King commits suicide. Irish myth: Cross.
T91.6.2.0.1 King covets subject's wife. India: *Thompson-Balys.
M414.5 King cursed. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
J914.1 King David dances with common youths before the Ark of the Covenant. He humbles self to please God. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
H507.1.0.2 King defeated in repartee by boy, who thus wins girl. Boy: "Who would give a man a bath, feed him his rice, and then bring him the tamal-pan to chew?" King: "No one but a wife." Boy claims minister's daughter. India: Thompson-Balys.
T161.0.1 King deflowers all twelve year old girls. India: Thompson-Balys.
S185.2 King demands intercourse with woman in childbed. Irish myth: *Cross.
P50.0.1.1 King demands open gate to vassals' castle (city). Irish myth: Cross.
P15.2 King demands subject's wife for himself. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.
T579.7 King demands that his pregnant queen be chained to him. India: Thompson-Balys.
P337 King demands work, sport or entertainment from winter guests. Icelandic: *Boberg.
J52.2 King descends to bottom of sea in glass barrel to learn wisdom from observing fish. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
P15.6 King descends to bottom of sea in glass barrel to study ways of fishes. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
K1812.16 King disguised as mountaineer. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
K1812.15 King disguised as own messenger. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
K1812.10 King disguised as peasant flees battle. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
K1812.0.1 King disguised beaten by his own men. India: Thompson-Balys.
K1812.7 King disguises as common soldier and is killed. Fulfills prophecy that insures victory. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
P14.23 King does not eat much during years of famine in order not to forget the hungry. Jewish: *Neuman.
P14.8 King does not want men who are unable to engage in any sport. Icelandic: örvar-Odds saga 142—43.
E155.6 King eaten every morning: revived daily. India: Thompson-Balys.
R311.2 King escapes pursuers through hollow tree in his hall. Icelandic: Boberg.
H157 King finds note with children in casket floated down river identifying them as his. (Cf. S141.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 526.
J711.3 King for a year provides for future. Knowing that the custom is that he is to be deposed in a year, he sends provisions to a safe place out of the kingdom. *Crane Vitry 137 No. 9; Herbert III 63, 191; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 224; *Chauvin II 160 No. 49, 192 No. 9, III 101 No. 8; Scala Celi No. 134; Alphabet No. 655.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 36, 275f.
Z71.5.4 King for seven years. Irish myth: Cross.
P15.5 King frees man sent by rival king to kill him. He sees bravery in the would-be assassin. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
K873.1 King given sleeping potion and then beheaded in his bed by his wife. Icelandic: *Boberg.
J571.2 King given three wheels to control his anger. *Chauvin II 127 No. 130.
H587 King gives enigmatic order to minister.
P14.13 King gives his own wife as reward. India: Thompson-Balys.
P14.19 King goes in disguise at night to observe his subjects. India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 424, 908.
U241 King grows lean from fear of death. *Chauvin VIII 181 No. 213.
J155.2 King has amours with great men's wives so as to learn secrets from them. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 505.
P14.15 King has champion to enforce respect. Irish myth: Cross.
J913 King has earthen vessels placed on table among the golden ones. He had formerly been a potter and prefers the vessels which he had made to the ones now molding him. Spanish: Childers.
P13.9.1 King has first choice in booty. Jewish: Neuman.
P14.12 King has his own gifts stolen back for him. India: Thompson-Balys.
T586.1.2.2 King has six (seven) sons, all named Lugaid. Irish myth: *Cross.
K2014.1 King has wounded ally attended by leeches, but bribes them to introduce beetles, awns of barley, etc. into the wounds. Irish myth: Cross.
N340.2 King hastily has 7,000 people put to death for stoning his judges to death. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
N836.3 King helps princes in exile to avenge their father and take their homeland back. Icelandic: Boberg.
E501.1.7.1 King Herla as wild huntsman. *Liebrecht 28; Tupper and Ogle Walter Map 18.
P15.7 King himself works at brick building so that subjects cannot complain of enforced labor. Jewish: *Neuman.
J811.3 King honors poet and critic: the first so that he will honor the king; the second, so that he will not dishonor him. Spanish: Childers.
J2227.1 King ignorant of famine says the people can live on pulse (sugar) and rice. India: Thompson-Balys.
R9.6 King imprisons all living creatures. India: Thompson-Balys.
R3 King imprisons another king's embassy. Thien Motive 10.
J701.2 King improves kingdom before leaving it to his sons. He leaves it smaller but much stronger and richer. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
J571.3 King in anger punishes misdeed on Easter day. Is almost killed himself in retaliation. He submits and says that he deserves this punishment for hasty action. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 256.
P12.5.1 King in battle hides in ditch, with earth piled around him. Irish myth: *Cross.
K1812.19 King in disguise as one of his own men rescued in fighting alone against four. Icelandic: Boberg.
K1812.14.1 King in disguise of merchant is given hospitality by enemy. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
N467 King in disguise to learn secrets of his subjects. India: *Thompson-Balys.
K1812.17 King in disguise to spy out his kingdom. Chauvin VI 45 No. 209; Nouvelles Récréations No. 6.
K1812 King in disguise. *Chauvin VI 45 No. 209; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 95.
U83 King in exile neglected, but courted when he regains throne. India: Thompson-Balys.
H1385.12 King in quest of his prime minister who has left him in anger. India: Thompson-Balys.
D2012.1 King in the bath; years of experience in a moment. This illusion takes place when the king puts his head under water. *Chauvin VII 106 No. 94; Penzer VII 244ff.; Hartland Science 225ff.
M301.17.1 King in will foretells that daughters of his son shall be fruitful. Irish myth: Cross.
K2314.2 King induced by saint to remit tribute till Luan. "Luan" means both "Monday" and "Doomsday." (Cf. K2319.2.) Irish myth: *Cross.
K1288 King induced to kiss horse's rump: trickster then threatens to tell. *Type 570; *BP III 267ff.; Fb "røv" III 130a, "kysse" II 350; Russian: Andrejev No. 1630*; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 1—8, Espinosa Jr. No. 130.
P15.4 King is cursed by disguised dwarf-smiths whose work he criticised. Icelandic: ásmundar saga Kappabana 466.
P561.1 King is persuaded to rescind ban on tournaments. Italian Novella: Rotunda.