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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| G302.2.1 | Kingdom of demons. (Cf. G303.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B223 | Kingdom of fishes. India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Hartland Science 174, Ikeda.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 342 n. 236. |
| B224 | Kingdom of insects. |
| B221.1 | Kingdom of monkeys. Chauvin VII 40 No. 153; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F535.6 | Kingdom of pygmies. |
| B221.2 | Kingdom of rats. India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B225 | Kingdom of reptiles. |
| B225.1 | Kingdom of serpents. Icel.: Boberg; Chauvin V 256f. No. 152; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 388. |
| B223.1 | Kingdom of sharks. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 140. |
| F707.3 | Kingdom where everything is of diamond. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F707.1 | Kingdom where everything is of gold. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F707.4 | Kingdom where everything is of pearl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F707.2 | Kingdom where everything is of silver. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F715.8 | Kingdom where seven rivers meet. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q67 | Kingly duty rewarded. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P13.3.1 | Kingly insignia worn only on field of battle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P19.4 | Kingly powers (rights). Irish myth: Cross. |
| P11.1.1 | Kings chosen by lot. *Chauvin VI 75 No. 239; Africa (Swahili): Steere 141. |
| D45.1 | Kings exchange forms and kingdoms for a year. Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 93; Irish myth: Cross. |
| P14.10 | Kings have seat on hills. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P16.6 | Kings worshipped after their death. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| P10 | Kings. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| P17.8 | Kingship given to younger brother. (Cf. P17.10.) Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| V462.0.1 | Kingship renounced to become an ascetic. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P17.4 | Kingship rotates among brothers. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2004.2 | Kiss of forgetfulness. *Type 313; *Cox Cinderella 511 and practically all references given under D2003 (Forgotten Fiancée); *Fb "kys" II 349.—Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| A185.6.1.1 | Kiss of God causes painless death. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J1652 | Kissing the mother first. Oracle that the first of three sons to kiss his mother will be king. One of them kisses the earth, mother of all. He succeeds. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 171. |
| A411.2 | Kitchen-gods. Chinese: Werner 166; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J643.2 | Kite as king of chickens. Herbert III 35. |
| B522.2 | Kite steals jewels and thus saves condemned man. Innocent man in possession of stolen jewels, is about to be apprehended. Kite carries off the jewels and saves him.—*Penzer IV 192 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B501.2 | Kite teaches rhyme by which he may be summoned for help. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J514.1 | Kite tries to carry off so many partridges that he drops them all. Herbert III 40ff.; Hervieux IV 211 No. 38; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J512.2 | Kite tries to neigh like a horse. Loses his voice and gains nothing. Wienert FFC LVI *46 (ET 52), 90 (ST 27); Halm Aesop No. 170. |
| J581.5 | Kites and crows quarrel over division of wounded fox. Meantime fox escapes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T582.4 | Knife (other sharp instrument) as childbirth precaution. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N331.1.1 | Knife accidentally strikes girl's throat and kills her. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| G272.3 | Knife in bed as protection against witches. *Fb "heks" I 581a; England: Baughman. |
| F1066.1 | Knife plunged into earth comes out bloody. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D1317.17 | Knife sings as warning of fraud. (Cf. D1083.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F838.2 | Knife with handle half gold and half silver. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K735.3 | Knight captured in pitfall while his horse escapes. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Q51.1 | Knight covers foal with his coat to protect it from storm. English: Wells 60 (Sire Gawene and the Carle of Carelyle). |
| G303.16.3.5 | Knight dismisses devil in name of cross. Scala Celi 127b No. 696; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 93. |
| J411.9 | Knight disregards insult by servant. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| U134 | Knight doesn't want to go to heaven if there are no hunting dogs there. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K2126 | Knight falsely accused of sedition. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| W154.12.1 | Knight is ungrateful for rescue in battle. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| P52 | Knight jousts with all comers. (Cf. P561.) English romance: Malory passim. |
| G303.16.19.8 | Knight saved from devil by friends. Scala Celi 135b No. 752. |
| T331.2 | Knight unsuccessfully tempted by host's wife. **Kittredge Gawain and the Green Knight. |
| T121.1 | Knight weds peasant girl. English: Wells 60 (Syre Gowene and the Carle of Carelyle). |
| Q244.2 | Knight who ravished nun captured when she miraculously appears before him on his horse and holds reins until he is taken. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| P52.1 | Knight's duty to perform as lady bids. English romance: Malory VI 5. |
| Q113 | Knighthood as reward. English: Wells 94 (The Taill of Rauf Coilyear); and very frequently in medieval romances. |
| F531.4.3 | Knights drink from a huge nine-gallon cup. English: Wells 60 (Syre Gawene and the Earle of Carelyle). |
| E501.2.1 | Knights in wild hunt. Plischke 29. |
| E434.7 | Knives as protection against revenants. (Cf. D1173.) Wimberly 255. |
| F456.1.2.3.2 | Knockers (ghosts of Jews) are compelled to sing carols in mines at Christmastime. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1 | Knockers (Tommy Knockers, spriggins). |
| F456.1.2.2.4 | Knockers appear to miners before accidents occur: the sight of one serves as a warning to leave mine. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.1.2 | Knockers as ghosts of giants who formerly lived in area. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.1.1 | Knockers as ghosts of Jews who crucified Christ and who were forced to work Cornish tin mines as punishment. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.1.3 | Knockers as spirits of dead miners. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.1 | Knockers bring ill luck if one whistles in the mine. (Cf. G303.16.18.) England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.2 | Knockers do miner's work at night while he is gone. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.2 | Knockers hide tools of miners. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3.1 | Knockers hold midnight mass deep in mines on Christmas Eve. (Cf. E492.) England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.4 | Knockers kick rungs out of ladders, cutting off escape of trapped miners. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.5 | Knockers lame miners who bother them unduly. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.1 | Knockers lead men to the richest lodes in the mines by knocking in those areas. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3.3 | Knockers refrain from work on Saturdays and other Jewish holidays. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.3 | Knockers tamper with dynamite fuses in mine. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.3 | Knockers test entries and supports by tapping them with hammers. U.S.: Baughman. |
| P178.1 | Knocking out a slave's tooth entitles him to freedom. Jewish: Neuman. |
| T582.3 | Knots to be untied at childbirth. Particularly knots in the woman's clothes. Aly Hdwb. d. Abergl. V. 19; cf. Frazer Pausanias V 45f.; English: Child I 85. |
| J155.7 | Knowledge from mysterious women met in the forest. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 218ff.; *Boberg. |
| B216 | Knowledge of animal languages. Person understands them.—*Types 517, 670, 671; *Toldo Studien zur vgl. Littgsch. VIII 18; *BP I 321; Köhler-Bolte I 145, II 340; *Grunwald Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. LXI 316; Icel.: Boberg; Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "language"; Hindu: Penzer I 107 n. 1, VII 3 n. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman; Korean: Zong in-Sob 101 No. 55; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 68, 153, 412; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 16 No. 8; Buriat: Holmberg Siberian 427.—Africa (Benga): Nassau 227 No. 34. |
| D1815.1 | Knowledge of ghost language. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 99. |
| A164.3.1 | Krishna plays cards with his three wives. (Cf. A163.1.). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1960.2 | Kyffhäuser. King asleep in mountain (Barbarossa, King Marko, Holger Danske, etc.) will awake one day to succor his people. *BP III 460; *Feilberg Danske Studier (1920) 97ff.; **Weltig Der Sagenkreis des Kyffhäusers (Bremen, 1891); *Wehrhan Die Sage 47ff.; *Hartland Science 170ff.; *Krappe "Die Sage vom König im Berge" (Mitt. d. schles. Gesell. f. Volkskunde XXX (1935) 76—102).—Celtic: MacCulloch Celtic 15, 180; England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3595; Armenian: Ananikian 34; Jewish: Neuman; Persian: Carnoy 327; India: Thompson-Balys, Keith 173. |
| D141.0.1 | Kynanthropy. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G264 | La Belle Dame Sans Merci. Witch entices men with offers of love and then deserts or destroys them. Hartland Science 71; Huet Contes Populaires 47; Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 172; Scotch: Macdougall and Calder 259; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Mitford 243ff., 254ff., 275ff.; Korean: Zong in-Sob 74, 100; Marquesas: Handy 48; N. A. Indian (Micmac): Parsons JAFL XXXVIII 94 No. 26, (Seneca): CurtinHewitt RBAE XXXII 402 No. 71, 425 No. 79, 485 No. 105, (Fox): Owen PFLS LI 87, (Yurok): Powers CNAE III 59, (Anvik): Chapman PAES VI 67 No. 11; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 251. |
| K40 | Labor contest won by deception. |
| F613.2.1 | Labor contract: as much money as my companion (strong man) can carry. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 8. |
| P410 | Laborers. |
| F781.1 | Labyrinth. Series of rooms so confusing that one cannot find the way out. Icelandic: Boberg; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 120 n. 1; Jewish: Neuman. |
| J2161.3 | Lacing the shoes. Fool laces bedcovering to shoe. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1366.2 | Lack of magic necklace causes forgetfulness. (Cf. D1365.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W196 | Lack of patience. U.S.: Baughman. |
| J142 | Lack of proper education regretted. |
| Q221.6 | Lack of trust in God punished. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z139.7 | Ladder as symbol of upward progress. |
| F848.3 | Ladder of bones. (Usually bones are stuck in side of steep and slippery mountain.) *Köhler-Bolte I 171.—N. A. Indian (Plains Cree): Thompson Tales 141. |
| F848.2 | Ladder of fingers (toes). *Köhler-Bolte I 170f. |
| F848.4 | Ladder of fire. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F52.1 | Ladder of glass to upper world. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A666 | Ladder to heaven (applied to saint). Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z139.7.1 | Ladder to heaven as symbol of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F52 | Ladder to upper world. *Frazer Old Testament II 52ff.; *Toldo IV 59; Gaster Thespis 400.—Irish myth: Cross; Egyptian: Müller 176; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 126; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 333 n. 204; Hatt Asiatic Influences 48ff.; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 109; Africa: Werner African 136, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 11 n. 2. |
| E501.2.2 | Ladies in wild hunt. Plischke 29. |
| J751.1.1 | Lady answers queen so straightforwardly she gets light punishment. Heptameron No. 21. |
| T75.4 | Lady humiliates lover after he leaves wife for her. Chinese: Graham. |
| T55.3 | Lady in love with ruler enlists friend's aid. Rendezvous arranged. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| F421.1 | Lady of the Lake. A female lake-spirit. Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXV 112; Hindu: Tawney II 570. |
| D921.1 | Lake (pond) produced by magic. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "étang"; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A920.1.8 | Lake bursts forth to drown impious people. Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 241ff., (1931) 162ff.; Fb "sø" III 731a; G. Schütte in Danske Studier (1925) 117ff. |
| A920.1.3 | Lake bursts forth to drown thief. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.7.1 | Lake bursts forth to quell fairy war. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.12 | Lake bursts forth where blind king plucks rushes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.9 | Lake bursts forth where island is plowed out. (See A951.)—Olrik Danske Studier (1910) 1ff. |
| A920.1.7 | Lake created by fairies. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F934.4 | Lake disappears. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F93.2 | Lake entrance to lower world. Africa: Werner African 186. |
| C615.3 | Lake forbidden at certain time. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.6 | Lake from urine of horse. (Cf. A933.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.8.1 | Lake from violating tabu. Irish myth: Cross; Africa: Bouveignes 21—29. |
| D1641.12.1 | Lake is drunk dry. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G308.4 | Lake made dangerous by haunting serpent (dragon, péist). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2136.4 | Lake magically transported. (Cf. D1641.12.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| G308.6 | Lake monster has power to attract victims. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XXII 22. |
| F713.3 | Lake monster turning over causes lake to overflow surrounding mountains. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F713.6 | Lake of blood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F162.6.1 | Lake of fire in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A878.2 | Lake of milk by tree of life. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 414. |
| D921.3.1 | Lake of milk created through merit of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.13 | Lake of milk formed through virtue of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V229.16 | Lake of milk made through merit of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.16 | Lake originally filled with palm wine. Africa (Bushonga): Torday 235. |
| F934.3 | Lake petrifies wood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D921.2 | Lake produced by belches after magic draught. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1641.12 | Lake removes itself. (Cf. D921.) Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3605; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 75 No. 243; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 135 No. 89. |
| F934.2 | Lake rises from bramble bush. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D921.3 | Lake under which supernatural smith lives. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.6.2 | Lake with water of life in otherworld. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 492; Maori: Clark 182. |
| B611.3.2 | Lake-horse paramour. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B91.5.2.1 | Lake-serpent (monster) in form of woman. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B91.5.2 | Lake-serpent (monster). Irish myth: Cross. |
| F421 | Lake-spirit. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 675; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 143; N. A. Indian (Iroquois): Alexander N. Am. 28. |
| A920.1.14 | Lakes are daughters of the gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A920.1.4 | Lakes burst forth to commemorate birth, death, battle, etc., of primitive hero. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.2 | Lakes from digging of primeval ox. (Cf. A901.)—Kirghis: Holmberg Siberian 331. |
| F162.6 | Lakes in otherworld. Patch Other World 380 s.v. "lake"; German: Grimm No. 133. |
| A920.1.10 | Lakes made by giant or devil. Lithuanian: Balys Historical. |
| A920.1.5.1 | Lakes originate from belches. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.5 | Lakes originate from tears. (Cf. A901, A911.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| Z177 | Lamb as symbol of Christ. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J391.1 | Lamb chooses her foster-mother, the she-goat. Owes more to her than to her own mother, who has deserted her. Wienert FFC LVI 63 (ET 259), 145 (ST 507). |
| J216.2 | Lamb prefers to be sacrificed in temple rather than to be eaten by a wolf. Wienert FFC LVI 51 (ET 107), 115 (ST 253); Halm Aesop No. 273. |
| D2161.3.7.1 | Lame animal magically cured. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N822 | Lame boy (girl) as helper. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 35, 58, 248, 280. |
| L112.8 | Lame child as hero. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Wakweli): Bender 79. |
| J1391.6 | Lame excuse: one cannot drink because he has no teeth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A128.5 | Lame god. Greek: Fox 205 (Hephaistos). |
| X143.1 | Lame man taken on hunt in wheel chair beats the dogs home when they tree a spook or when a bear gets after them. (Cf. K1861.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D2161.3.7 | Lameness magically cured. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G262.0.1.1 | Lamia devours her lover. Kittredge Witchcraft 225, 532 n. 114. |
| B29.1 | Lamia. Face of woman, body of serpent (or body of sow, and legs of horse).—*Bolte FFC XXXIX 5 n. 1—Icel.: Herrmann Saxo II 603; Czech: Máchal Slavic 265; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G262.0.1 | Lamia. Witch who eats children. *Kittredge Witchcraft 224f, 532 nn. 104—108; India: Thompson-Balys, Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 588, II 407, 676; Papua: Ker 45, 64, 121, 141; Africa (Fang): Trilles 249, (Wachaga): Gutman 92. |
| Q451.2 | Laming as punishment. (Cf. S162.) Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1601.7 | Lamp (fire) lights itself. (Cf. D1162, D1275, D1781.) Zs. f. Vksk. VI 70 (to Gonzenbach No. 28); Crane Italian Popular Tales No. 30; India: *Thompson-Balys, Tawney I 567; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 45. |
| D1323.19 | Lamp gives him who looks into its flame a vision of the Most High. (Cf. D1162.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1654.4.3 | Lance imbedded in earth cannot be moved. (Cf. D1086.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1311.17.3 | Lance sounds when knocked on shield, except when its owner will be defeated. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K185.7.2 | Land bargain: land ridden around during a sermon. *Fb "f[ö]l" I 400, "ride" III 52b. |
| K185.7.1 | Land bargain: land surrounded by a horse (cow) in one day. Fb "ride" III 52b; Harou RTP XIV 90; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A954 | Land born from goddess. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 302. |
| K185.14 | Land grant: as far as ox can be heard. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K185.4.2 | Land grant: as much land as can be covered by saint's mantle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K185.12.2 | Land grant: as much land as can be seen from certain eminence. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K185.12.1 | Land grant: as much land as can be seen on a clear day. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M207 | Land grants (bargains). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| X1503.1 | Land in which highest praise parents can earn is that they marry their children when they are babies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2157.1 | Land made magically fertile. (Cf. D1563, D2081, F349.4, F733.) Dickson 122 nn. 69, 70; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 145; Loomis White Magic 82; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 85 No. 750B; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2081 | Land made magically sterile. (Cf. D1563.) *Kittredge Witchcraft 171, 488f. nn. 59, 63, 64; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 383 n. 5; Irish myth: *Cross; England, U.S.: *Baughman; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 85 No. 750B. |
| C934.2 | Land made sterile because of broken tabu. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1584.2 | Land measured according to amount encompassed during certain hours. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1584.1 | Land measured according to amount within person's view. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F704 | Land of cold and mist. (Cf. A623.) Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 584ff., MacCulloch Eddic 281, 304, 324, 326, Boberg. |
| F706 | Land of darkness. Krappe The Land of Darkness (Philol. Quarterly XXI [1942] 334—46); Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 595, 598, 599, MacCulloch Eddic 32, Boberg; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 152, *Neuman. |
| E489.10 | Land of dead "in Abraham's bosom". Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E481.2 | Land of dead across water. Icelandic: Boberg; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 486; N. A. Indian (Haida): Swanton JE V 34. |
| E481.6.3 | Land of dead in east. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E481.1 | Land of dead in lower world. *Krappe Etude 45ff.; **M. Landau Hölle und Fegefeuer in Volksglauben, Dichtung, und Kirchenlehre (Heidelberg, 1909); Krappe Revue Celtique XLIX (1932) 96—102; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Fox 146, Grote I 62; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 72; Jewish: *Neuman, Gaster Thespis 183, 187f.; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 485; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 199f.; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 200f.; Tonga: Gifford 183; Melanesia: Wheeler 33, 47; Papua: Ker 81; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 146, 155; N. A. Indian: *Alexander N. Am. 274 n. 10; S. A. Indian (Metaco): Métraux MAFLS XL 24. |
| E481.6.1 | Land of dead in north. Icelandic: Boberg; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 77f.; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 101. |
| E481.6 | Land of dead in one of the cardinal directions. |
| E481.8 | Land of dead in sky. India: *Thompson-Balys; Cook Islands: Beckwith Myth 76. |
| E481.6.2 | Land of dead in west. (Cf. A692.1.) Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 77f.; Irish myth: *Cross; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99. |
| B221.4 | Land of elephants. Icel.: Boberg. |
| F702 | Land of fire. (Cf. F753, F756.1, F763, F771.1.11, F785.3.) Chauvin VII 57 No. 77. |
| F130.1 | Land of India (Greece) as otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B221.3 | Land of lions. Icel.: Boberg. |
| F113 | Land of men. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B221.5 | Land of mice. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B222.3 | Land of parakeets. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B222.4 | Land of parrots. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B222.2 | Land of peacocks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B222.1 | Land of pigeons. India: Thompson-Balys |
| F701 | Land of plenty. Yields everything to heart's desire. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 588, 593, Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Hindu: Keith 144. |
| E482 | Land of shades. Everything is done by unseen people. Type 425; Tegethoff 14; *Siuts 218ff.; Ward Catalogue of Romances II 425 (Voyage of St. Brandon); N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 339 n. 221. |
| E485.1 | Land of skeletons. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 230. |
| E485 | Land of skulls. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 275. |
| F701.2 | Land of the Blessed. Everything as it should be. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E481 | Land of the dead. *Types 470, 471; *Köhler-Bolte II 224ff.; *Encyc. Rel. and Ethics II 680ff.; **Wiedeman Die Toten und ihre Reiche im Glauben der alten ägypten (Leipzig, 1910); A. Jeremias Hölle und Paradies bei den Babyloniern (Leipzig, 1903); Dickson 94f. n. 78; Feilberg DF X 1; Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 585; Finnish: Kalevala rune 16; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Alexander N. Am. 274 n. 10; Africa: Werner African 180ff., (Ekoi): Talbot 7, 59, 226, 240, (Benga): Nassau 208 No. 33. |
| A661.0.10 | Land of the saints surrounded by fiery circle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B221.6 | Land of tigers. |
| D1338.7 | Land of youth. Land which keeps off old age.—Fb "ungdom" III 979b; Hartland Science 196f.—Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 181, *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K185.8 | Land purchase: as much as can be plowed (fenced) in a certain time. *Fb "plove" II 850a, "ride" III 52b; cf. Olrik Danske Studier (1910) 4ff.; Icelandic: Hdwb. d. Märchens I 446b nn. 450—454, Mac Culloch Eddic 181, Boberg; Frisian: Lübbing Friesische Sagen 95. |
| A952 | Land rises out of sea. Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 75. |
| Q552.2.1 | Land sinks and lake appears as punishment. *Fb "sø" III 449b; Loomis White Magic 41, 101; England: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 787*; Chinese: Werner 405. |
| A953 | Land thrown down from heaven. Tonga: Gifford 15. |
| F111.5 | Land where all creatures are friendly to one another. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P16.8 | Land where every raja dies; if he rules for a day he dies that night; if he rules for a night, he dies that day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F129.6 | Land where everyone is wise, from the raja on his throne to the beggar in the bazaar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F566.2 | Land where women live separate from men. Cohabit with water monsters. Irish myth: Cross; S. A. Indian (Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 286. |
| F494 | Land-spirits. |
| F703 | Lands with extraordinary names. Land of the boot, the towel, the walking-stick, and the like. *Köhler-Bolte I 421. Cf. Type 1940, BP III 129; Chinese: Werner 391. |
| F162 | Landscape of otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1735.2 | Language acquired by swallowing its written characters. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V249.2 | Language of angels. |
| B217.8 | Language of animals learned by Adam from Eve. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z175.1 | Language of flowers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A667 | Language of heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D476.1.4 | Lard made from tree bark. *Loomis White Magic 81. |
| K1715.12 | Large animal frightened by smaller showing him well rope (for his tail), curds (for spit), winnowing fans (for ears). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| X1115 | Large bag of frozen raccoons taken by hunter. (Cf. X1130.3.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| H1231 | Large boot-supply for journey. Quest is to be so long that many boots are to be worn out. Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 4; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 358 n. 287k. |
| X1235.1 | Large cow. (Cf. B871.1.1.) |
| H1484.1 | Large fire and water for washing eyes as device of expectant lover. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| X1286.1.5 | Large mosquitoes carry off prey. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1286.1.4 | Large mosquitoes fly off with kettle. They have drilled through kettle. Their bills are clinched inside like nails. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1286.1.7 | Large mosquitoes—miscellaneous. Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G682 | Large price exacted for curing ogre after wounding him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q111.8 | Large quantity of land as reward. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B343 | Large reward given for return of helpful animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1009.3 | Large stone falls from sky killing all but one couple. S. Am. Indian (Moré): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 406. |
| G363.2 | Large tusks grown from ogre's mouth. Chinese: Graham. |
| U12 | Largest burdens laid on smallest asses: best offices to most ignorant men. *Wesselski Bebel II 121 No. 64. |
| J1141.1.1 | Largest part of a prize to go to the guilty man. In order to obtain the prize, he confesses the earlier crime. *Type 785; *BP II 149; *Chauvin VIII 101 No. 73; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 65 No. 9. Cf. American Negro: Harris Friends 160 No. 22. |
| K2369.2.1 | Largest part of fleet does not emerge until late in battle. Icelandic: örvar-Odds saga 86—89, Boberg. |
| L315.5 | Lark causes elephant to fall over precipice. Chauvin II 81 No. 1; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 771; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| T587.3 | Last born twin conceived first. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V313 | Last judgment. Jewish: Moreno Esdras, *Neuman. |
| T251.1.2 | Late husband chooses to remain in Purgatory rather than to return to his shrewish wife. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 129 No. 1516. |
| F1041.11 | Laughing and crying at the same time (sundry reasons given). *De Vries FFC LXXIII 213; Gaster Exempla 130 No. 352; India: *Thompson-Balys, *Bloomfield JAOS XXXVI 54—89, *Penzer VII 261; Chinese: Chavannes 500 Contes I 160 No. 43, 286 No. 78. |
| B214.3 | Laughing animal. |
| K87.1 | Laughing contest: dead horse winner. The ogre tries to laugh as long as the dead horse with a grinning mouth. Laughs till he dies. Type 1080*; Russian: Andrejev No. 1080. |
| D1318.2.1 | Laughing fish reveals unjust judgment. A severe judgment is rendered for a small offence. As the convicted man is being led away, a dead (dried) fish is heard to laugh. The fish reveals that he has laughed at the foolishness of the judge who, while he punishes minor offences severely, is unable to see the capital crimes in his own household. (Cf. D1281.) *Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 216.—India: Thompson-Balys, *Penzer I 46ff., VII 254, IX 142.—Cf. Child I 241, II 501b, IV 452a, V 288b. |
| E366.1 | Laughing skull advises hero. (Cf. E545.) *Cosquin études 351ff. |
| C460 | Laughing tabu. Type 451; BP I 71.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
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