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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| X1523 | Lies about steep slopes of mountains. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1785 | Lies about stretching or shrinking. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1237.1 | Lies about strong oxen. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1721 | Lies about surgical operations. |
| X1723 | Lies about swallowing. (Cf. F910.) |
| X1611 | Lies about the wind. Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1233.3 | Lies about thin hogs. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1470 | Lies about trees. |
| X1431 | Lies about turnips. Type 1920A. |
| X1420 | Lies about vegetables. |
| X1755 | Lies about watches. |
| X1540 | Lies about water features. |
| X1600 | Lies about weather and climate. |
| X1212 | Lies about wildcats. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1610 | Lies about winds and storms. |
| X1216 | Lies about wolves. Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1346 | Lies about worms. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1796 | Lies concerning speed. |
| X1206 | Lies: animals trained to respond to certain sounds: absurd result. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| X1700 | Lies: logical absurdities. (Cf. J2200.) |
| E714.11 | Life (soul) in entrails. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M234.3 | Life bought for gold. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M234.4 | Life bought with promise of reparations and healing of enemy. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E765.1.2 | Life bound up with burning brand (torch). Hartland Science 205 (Olger the Dane); Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 65 n. 5 (Meleager). |
| E765.3.2 | Life bound up with calabash. As calabash grows, so does girl. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 55 No. 24. |
| E765.1.1 | Life bound up with candle. When the candle goes out, person dies.—*Krappe in Penzer Ocean of Story VIII 107; Anderson Die Meleagrossage bei den Letten (Philologus N. F. XXXIII [1923]); Icelandic: De la Saussaye 315, *Boberg; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 82 No. 708*A. |
| E765.4 | Life bound up with external event. Death to come when certain thing happens. |
| E765.1 | Life bound up with light (flame). Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "vie"; Fb "lys" II 483ab; Gaster Thespis 275f.; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E765.3.0.1 | Life bound up with magic object. When magic object is lost, person dies. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E765.3 | Life bound up with object. *Krappe in Penzer Ocean of Story VIII 107; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Hultkrantz 364. |
| E765.2 | Life bound up with that of animal. Person to live as long as animal lives. *Krappe in Penzer Ocean of Story VIII 107; Irish myth: *Cross (Diarmaid); Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 5; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Hultkrantz 364—374. |
| E765.3.3 | Life bound up with tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E765 | Life dependent on external object or event. Person's life is mystically connected with something else and comes to an end when that thing is destroyed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E489.2 | Life in land of dead contrary to ours. People grow younger and smaller till they become nothing and are reborn. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 73. |
| E711.6 | Life in stick. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E760 | Life Index. Object or animal has mystic connection with person. Changes in one correspond to changes in the other.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B335.2 | Life of helpful animal demanded as cure for feigned sickness. Penzer V 127 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| V354 | Life of heroic age preferable to Christian living. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| P412.1.1 | Life of shepherd proper preparation for ruler. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z113 | Life personified: old woman carrying healing potions and salves. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| D1855.5 | Life prolonged a thousand years by traveling six months each year. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N659 | Life saved by accident—miscellaneous. |
| N650 | Life saved by accident. |
| Q151.8 | Life spared as reward for bravery and constancy. Centurion tells his enemies to kill him rather than attempt to win him. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q151.6 | Life spared as reward for hospitality. (Cf. Q45.4.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Q151.7 | Life spared as reward for uprightness. (Cf. Q54.) PMLA XLVI 1004; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q151 | Life spared as reward. |
| M234.2 | Life spared for bringing a dreaded enemy without weapon. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 83 f. (Thor and Loki). |
| M234 | Life spared in return for life-long service. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M234.1 | Life spared in return for poetic mead. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 53. |
| Z24.1.1 | Life story in ten hours: "At one I was born .... at ten my child's soul was crowned in heaven." *Taylor JAFL XLVI 80 No. 2012B. |
| E761.7.10 | Life token: armor rattles at home when owner is killed away from home. England: Baughman. |
| E761.7.12 | Life token: arrow falls down. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.3.1 | Life token: bamboo stalks grow with joints upside down. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.3.1.1 | Life token: bananas ripen from bottom up. Papua: Ker 61. |
| E761.4.8 | Life token: beads cling together. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.6.4 | Life token: beer foams. (Cf. D1045.) *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 69 n. 5. |
| E761.7.7 | Life token: bird feathers sink in river at hero's death. Kirghiz: Radloff Proben der Volksliteratur der türkischen Stämme Südsiberiens III 85. |
| E761.7.6 | Life token: bird sent each day to tell of hero's condition; when owl comes it will be to announce death. Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 265. |
| E761.1.5 | Life token: blood boils. French: Cosquin Lorraine No. 5; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E761.1.6 | Life token: blood changes color. Gaster Exempla 251 No. 373; Russian: Ralston Russian Folk-Tales 102. |
| E761.1.4 | Life token: blood of fish calls out. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 187. |
| E761.6.3 | Life token: boiling liquid. *Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 270 No. 82. |
| E761.4.6 | Life token: charm dries. Africa (Lamba): Doke MAFLS XX 14 No. 11. |
| E761.1.8 | Life token: cloth becomes bloody. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 3. |
| E761.1.7 | Life token: comb drips blood. Finnish: Kalevala runes 12, 15. |
| E761.5.4 | Life token: cup springs asunder. (Cf. D1171.6.) *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 7. |
| E761.7.15 | Life token: direction dagger points determines if ogress has been killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.7.5 | Life token: dogs pulling on leash. Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 123. |
| E761.1.3.1 | Life token: earth, water, or blood in footprint. Earth: dead by disease; water: drowned; blood: killed in battle. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E761.7.9 | Life token: flaming shield goes out. (Cf. D1101.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| E761.3.3 | Life token: fruit falls from tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.1.7.1 | Life token: gloves drip blood. Russian: Ralston Russian Folk-Tales 67. |
| E761.7.8 | Life token: great wind blows. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E761.1.9 | Life token: hero's horse stands in stable in blood up to his knees. Russian: Rambaud La Russie Epique (Paris, 1876) 378. |
| E761.1.2 | Life token: horn fills with blood. Africa (Congo): Weeks 203. |
| E761.4.1 | Life token: knife stuck in tree rusts (becomes bloody). *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 2; *Fb "kniv" II 221a. |
| E761.7.3 | Life token: leaves full from tree. (Cf. D955.) Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 185. |
| E761.7.4 | Life token: light goes out. (Cf. E765.1.) *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 11; Gaster Thespis 275ff. |
| E761.1.12 | Life token: meal ground in mill is the color of blood. England: Baughman. |
| E761.6.6 | Life token: milk becomes agitated in pan at death of relative. (Cf. E761.6.2.) England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| E761.1.10 | Life token: milk becomes bloody. England: Baughman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.6.2 | Life token: milk becomes red. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 1; England: Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.4.9 | Life token: milk turns dark. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.4.3 | Life token: mirror becomes black (misty). (Cf. D1163.) *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 5; Armenian: Macler contes Arméniens 28; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| E761.7 | Life token: miscellaneous. |
| E761.7.11 | Life token: music box plays by itself as owner awaits burial. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E761.5 | Life token: object breaks (bursts). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.4 | Life token: object darkens or rusts. |
| E761.7.13 | Life token: paddy productive or unproductive. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.4.2 | Life token: picture burns black. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 4. |
| E761.5.1 | Life token: pot breaks. (Cf. D1171.1.) Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 188 No. 27. |
| E761.7.1 | Life token: ring presses finger. (Cf. D1076.) *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 6. |
| E761.4.4 | Life token: ring rusts. English: Child I 201; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 4. |
| E761.5.3 | Life token: ring springs asunder. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 68f. n. 4; Fb "ring" III 60a. |
| E761.7.14 | Life token: rings will exchange places on girls' fingers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.1.11 | Life token: roof spouts of castle run with blood. England: Baughman. |
| E761.1.7.2 | Life token: scissors (razor, knife) drip blood. Chauvin VII 198; Armenian: Macler Contes Arméniens 28. |
| E761.5.6 | Life token: sheaves prostrate themselves. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E761.4.5 | Life token: silver object turns dark. Russian: Ralston Russian Folk-Tales (London, 1875) 91. |
| E761.7.2 | Life token: spring goes dry. (Cf. D927.) *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 10. |
| E761.2.2 | Life token: staff stuck in ground falls. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 8; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 220 No. 32. |
| E761.2.1 | Life token: staff stuck in ground shakes. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 212 No. 31, (Kaffir): Theal 82. |
| E761.2 | Life token: staff stuck in ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.5.5 | Life token: stone breaks. (Cf. E711.7.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E761.5.5.1 | Life token: stones prostrate themselves. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E761.4.7 | Life token: sword rusts. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.1.3 | Life token: track fills with blood. *Type 303; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E761.3 | Life token: tree (flower) fades. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 1; Fb "lilie"; Böckel Psychologie der Volksdichtung 255; *Loomis White Magic 125f.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "flétrissement"; French: Sébillot France III 433; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 93, 96 n. 3, 97; Papua: Ker 61; Indonesian, Polynesian: Dixon 234 n. 46; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 87 No. 5, (Kaffir): Kidd 225, (Madagascar): Dandouau Contes Populaires de Sakalava 231. |
| E761.3.4 | Life token: trees prostrate themselves. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E761.6 | Life token: troubled liquid. (Cf. D1242.) |
| E761.6.1 | Life token: troubled water. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 1; Italian: Basile Pentamerone No. 9; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.1.1 | Life token: water turns to blood. (Cf. F961.3.1, V211.2.3.2.) Fb "vand" III 1000b.—England: Baughman; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E761.6.5 | Life token: wine turns to vinegar. Gaster Exempla 219 No. 156 (155.) |
| E761.5.2 | Life token: zither string breaks. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 70 n. 9. |
| E761 | Life token. (Cf. E760.) Object (animal, person) has mystic connection with the life of a person, so that changes in the life-token indicate changes in the person, usually disaster or death. *Type 303; **Polivka The Life Tokens in Folk-Tales, Custom, and Belief (Národopisny Vestnik Ceskoslovansky XII [Prague, 1917]); *Chauvin V 87 No. 27 n. 1, V 295, VII 98 No. 375 n. 1; Penzer I 130, III 272 n. 1, X 210; Clouston Tales I 169ff.; Jacobs' list s.v. "Life index"; *BP I 545, II 392; *Hartland Legend of Perseus II 1—54; **Nelson The Life-Index, a Hindu Fiction Motif (Studies in Honor of Maurice Bloomfield) 211ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "danger"; India: *Thompson-Balys; Oceanic (New Hebrides, Torres Straits, New Guinea, Indonesia): Dixon 133 n. 5; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 317 n. 149, *Hultkrantz 338—340, (California): Gayton and Newman 69; S. A. Indian (Quiché): Alexander Lat. Am. 173; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 81, (Basuto): Jacottet 212, 218 Nos. 31, 32. |
| E765.1.3 | Life-lights in lower world. Each light mystically connected with the life of a person. When light is extinguished, person dies. *Type 332; BP I 377ff., *388. |
| Q520.3 | Life-long penance for brother-sister marriage. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXVIII 75. |
| U0 | Life's inequalities. |
| E761.3.2 | Lifen token: fruit decays on tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1614.3 | Light and dark-skinned peoples made from light and dark coconuts. New Britain: Dixon 108. |
| R31 | Light extinguished and woman stolen. (Cf. R10.1.) Icelandic: *Boberg; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 343 n. 237. |
| D1410.2 | Light from hand-of-glory renders person helpless. (Cf. D1162.2.1.) Baker Am. Anthropologist o.s. I 55f. |
| N532 | Light indicates hidden treasure. (Cf. N511.1.4.) *Fb "lys" II 480b; *Norlind 34ff., 57; England, U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 691, 694; Icelandic: *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 419ff., (1931) 293ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3632. |
| A1411.1 | Light kept in box (basket). Stolen.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 282 n. 45. |
| D1322.2 | Light moving toward cemetery as sign of death. (Cf. D1162.) North Carolina: Brown Collection I 641. |
| E752.10.2 | Light must be kept burning by corpse to keep evil spirits away. England: Baughman. |
| A1412.1 | Light originated from shield of old cobra supporting the earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E386.5 | Light remark about what person would do if ghost appeared causes ghost to appear. (Cf. C10, C13.) England: Baughman. |
| D1318.11 | Light reveals guilt. (Cf. D1162). |
| N776 | Light seen from tree lodging place at night leads to adventures. *Type 130, 327; *Aarne FFC XI 111; BP I 115ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D1318.11.1 | Light where murder is committed. Fb "lys" II 481b. |
| K1885.1 | Lighted sponge in mouth of dead causes illusory breathing. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2101.1 | Lighting the cat's tail. Woman wishing to punish a cat fastens cotton to its tail and lights it. The whole village is burnt. Clouston Noodles 65; Wesselski Märchen 251 No. 59; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1412 | Lighting the road (or painting the house red). The house set on fire. Type 1008; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| A1141.1 | Lightning as fiery snake. Siberian, Finnish: Holmberg Siberian 445. |
| A1141.5 | Lightning as God's messenger. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1141.4 | Lightning as god's whip. Gaster Thespis 157; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1141.7.1 | Lightning as torches of invisible dancers. Africa (Fang): Trilles 174. |
| A526.9 | Lightning flashes from armpits of hero. Maori: Beckwith Myth |
| A1141.7 | Lightning from fire. S. Am. Indian (Chorotí, Lengua, Ashluslay): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Tupinamba): Métraux ibid. (3) 132. |
| A1141.2 | Lightning from flashing sword. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1141.3 | Lightning from heavenly horses striking hoofs against stars. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1400.1.23.2 | Lightning in magic box kills an army sent by king to conquer hero. (Cf. D1174.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2271.2.1 | Lightning made from the old moon. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 236 No. 109. |
| A1141.6 | Lightning produced by deity. Greek: Grote I 8; Jewish: Neuman; Maori: Clark 168. |
| R341.1 | Lightning strikes branch on which man is being hanged. Delay gives him chance to prove his innocence. (Cf. R175.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| V84.1 | Lightning strikes excommunicated person who enters church. Scala Celi 85b No. 492. |
| Q552.1.1 | Lightning strikes monk who despises humility. (Cf. Q331.) Scala Celi 102b No. 152; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 455; Alphabet No. 116. |
| A285.1 | Lightning weapon of the gods. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V222.1.4 | Lights show where the body of saint is buried. Loomis White Magic 28. |
| J1265.1 | Like Christ on Palm Sunday. Bishop has parson to dinner in the seat of honor. The parson fears that the dinner precedes punishment. Parson: "Don't let me be like Christ on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem" *Wesselski Arlotto I 173 No. 2. |
| U121 | Like parent, like child. |
| H432.2 | Lily as chastity index. Penzer I 165. |
| E631.1.1 | Lily from grave. Fb "lilie" II 427b, "sjæl" III 214b; BP III 461; English: Child I 143; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C946.1 | Limb broken for stepping on grave. (Cf. C520.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C946 | Limbs affected by breaking tabu. |
| Q451.2.0.1 | Limbs cut off (drop off) as punishment. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E431.5 | Limbs of dead fettered to prevent return. Von Trauwitz-Hellweg Urmensch und Totenglaube. 134ff.; Meyer Germanen 102; Wimberly 254; England: *Baughman; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis I 15f. |
| E31 | Limbs of dead voluntarily reassemble and revive. *Köhler-Bolte I 130; Gaster Thespis 300; Jewish: Neuman; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 92. |
| E782 | Limbs successfully replaced. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 248 No. 36. |
| K121 | Lime (ashes) sold as gold. *Type 1535; *BP II 10; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1652.16 | Lime (for building church) miraculously renewed by power of saint. Irish myth. Cross. |
| D1500.1.10.6 | Lime used in building church as cure. (Cf. D931.1.4.) Irish myth: Cross (D1500.1.35). |
| D1719.11 | Limited amount of magic in world. |
| E603 | Limited number of souls in world necessitates reincarnation. India: Thompson-Balys. E700. The soul. |
| D1761.0.2 | Limited number of wishes granted. *Types 750A, 1173*, 1951*; *BP II 491; *Loomis White Magic 124, 130; Irish myth: Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P18.2 | Limited number of wives for polygamous king. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D1574 | Line drawn by saint's bachall separates calves from their mothers. (Cf. D1272.1, D1277.) Irish: Plummer clxxv, *Cross. |
| Q494.1 | Line of kingship taken from king who defies saint. (Cf. Q227.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B773.3 | Lion (wolf) protects the saint's body. *Loomis White Magic 58, 60. |
| J218.1 | Lion and wild boar make peace rather than slay each other for benefit of vulture. Wienert FFC LVI 48 (ET 72), 108 (ST 202); Halm Aesop No. 253. |
| B292.2.3 | Lion as domestic servant. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J421.1 | Lion as king makes ass his lieutenant. *Basset RTP VI 244. |
| J643.3 | Lion as king of animals reinstated after elephant is tired. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B240.4 | Lion as king of animals. (Cf. K961, K962, K1632.)—Wienert FFC LVI 47; Benfey Panchatantra I 91, 230; Bødker Exempler 277 No. 17, 303 No. 74; Jewish: Neuman; Graf FFC XXXVII passim; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B621.2 | Lion as suitor. Fable: Halm Aesop No. 249, Babrius No. 98, Wienert FFC LVI 45 (ET 32), 70 (ET 344), 107 (ST 198). |
| B742.1 | Lion breathes fire. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "lion". |
| V61.9 | Lion buried in stone cave with gold letters. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R13.1.2 | Lion carries off child. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J881.2 | Lion comforted for his fear of the cock. Finds that elephant is afraid of the gnat. Wienert FFC LVI 77 (ET 428), 116 (ST 267); Halm Aesop No. 261. |
| U36 | Lion cub killed by bull gives lioness no right to complain. Wienert FFC LVI 50 (ET 92), 129 (ST 367); Halm Aesop No. 395. |
| K1822.1 | Lion disguised as monk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q3.2 | Lion divides slain bullock. The thief who demands half of the bullock driven off; the traveler who modestly withdraws invited to take half. Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 342), 140 (ST 459). |
| J811.1.1 | Lion divides the booty. Best part goes to himself as king of beasts; second, as strongest; third, as most valiant; fourth—"touch it if you dare." Wienert FFC LVI *59 (ET 216), *148 (ST 530); Halm Aesop No 258; *K. Gorski Die Fabel vom Löwenanteil in ihrer geschichtlichen Entwicklung (Berlin, 1888). |
| K1715.11 | Lion frightened away by stabbing at it from inside iron cage. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B363.1 | Lion is freed from net by mouse. Mouse asks that his son marry lion's daughter. Request granted. The mouse is trampled to death by his bride.—Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B591.1 | Lion kills wolf who has killed mistress' sheep. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 131 No. 24. |
| B563.1 | Lion leads lost king from forest. (Cf. B431.2.)—Dickson Valentine and Orson 123 n. 75. |
| J321.3 | Lion leaves sleeping hare to follow the shepherd. Loses both victims. Wienert FFC LVI 51 (ET 105), 106 (ST 180); Halm Aesop No. 254. |
| J413.1 | Lion licks sick man, who is thereby disgusted. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B251.2.11 | Lion lies down at feet of saint. Saintyves Saints Successeurs 133. |
| J421.2 | Lion makes lame goat his lieutenant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W154.3.1 | Lion rescued from net by rat: eats rat. Cf. Type 75. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Africa (Ibo, Nigeria): Thomas 86, (Kaffir): Kidd 243 No. 10 (lion and gazelle); West Indies: Flowers 582. |
| B374.1 | Lion rescued from snake: thankful. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J225.2 | Lion sent to kill a man: frees him from possibility of sinning and sojourn in purgatory. *Type 759; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 682. |
| B371.1 | Lion spared mouse: mouse grateful. Later releases lion from net. (Cf. B363.)—Jacobs Aesop 203 No. 11, Halm Aesop 256, cf. Type 75.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B371.2 | Lion spares fly: fly grateful. Later warns lion.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J642.1 | Lion suitor allows his teeth to be pulled and his claws to be cut. He is then killed. Wienert FFC LVI 45 (ET 32), 70 (ET 344), 107 (ST 198); Halm Aesop No. 249; *Basset RTP XXVI 126; Africa: Weeks Jungle 450. |
| J1786.7 | Lion thinks man astride him is monster: frightened. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1758.5 | Lion thought to be donkey: drunkard rides it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B121.6 | Lion with magic wisdom. German: Grimm No. 67. |
| V1.8.9 | Lion worship. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B741 | Lion's roar causes havoc at 300 miles. At 300 miles all women miscarry, at 200 teeth of all men drop out.—Gaster Exempla 187 No. 7; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B631.4 | Lioness bears man child. Africa (Lamba): Doke MAFLS XX 14 No. 11. |
| K771.1 | Lioness enticed into putting head into wall to pursue hare who escapes through hole. Gets stuck. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A165.2.1.1.6 | Lions as God's messengers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| U149.1 | Lions despise what asses admire (braying). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B754.3 | Lions do not mate with their fellows, but prefer leopards. (Cf. Q551.3.)—*Krappe Balor 82; Frazer Apollodorus I 401. |
| J2614.3 | Lions flee because of the crowing of white cock, elephants because of swine's grunting. Icelandic: FSS 69—71, Boberg. |
| A671.2.12 | Lions in hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B771.2.3 | Lions made tame by Moses' rod. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B847 | Lions placed in city to prevent entrance. Penzer I 108 n. 3. |
| F531.1.4 | Lips of giant. |
| F544.1.3 | Lips on side of face. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q451.12 | Lips sewed together as punishment for slander. (Cf. Q263.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F544.1.4 | Lips used as a spear. Oceanic: Beckwith Myth 200. |
| D1364.7.1 | Liquor blessed by saint causes magic sleep. Irish: Plummer clxxii, Cross. |
| T61.4.1 | Liquor brewed for betrothal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1427.0.2 | Liquor discovered by rain-god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1427.0.1 | Liquor discovered when birds get drunk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V29.6.1 | List of sins: schedule is returned miraculously cleansed of all his sins. *Loomis White Magic 131. |
| D1827.1.1 | Listening at church door on Halloween to hear the names of those to die in the coming year. (Cf. D1825.6.) Wales: Baughman. |
| J1486 | Listening to the debate. A lazy youth explains his late rising by saying that he lay abed to hear the argument between industry and laziness. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 761; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2461.1 | Literal following of instructions about actions. |
| J2461.2 | Literal following of instructions about greetings. Numskull gives wrong greeting and is told how to give the correct one. When he tries it, however, the conditions are wrong. *Type 1696; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 251f. No. 169; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2466 | Literal following of the count. |
| J2461.1.6 | Literal fool carries the harrow in his hand. He has killed a sparrow by his stupidity and has been told that he should have carried it in his hand. *Type 1696; *BP I 315; *Wesselski Bebel I 128 No. 26. |
| J2469.5.1 | Literal fool feeds dogflesh to visitor to follow father's advice: "Feed him on food you have never eaten in your life." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2461.1.4.1 | Literal fool is told to cook a few peas for five persons. Cooks five peas. Next time he is told to cook an abundance. Cooks half-bushel. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2461.1.4.2 | Literal fool puts three empty measures in pot. Told to put in three measures of rice to boil. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2461.1.5 | Literal fool strangles the hawk. On last trip he has lost the gloves and has been told that he should have put them in his bosom. He puts the hawk inside his shirt. *Type 1696; *BP I 315; *Wesselski Bebel I 128 No. 26; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 762. |
| J2499 | Literal fool—additional motifs. |
| J2490 | Literal fool—miscellaneous. |
| J2469.5 | Literal fool—something you have never experienced. |
| J2461.6 | Literal fool: fool told to follow his nose in a journey, runs head against tree, climbs it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2450 | Literal fool. |
| K236.4 | Literal fulfillment of marriage contract. Man to be released when earth is placed at his head (buried). Dies in grave. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2516.0.1 | Literal misconstruction of order. Hero gets revenge. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2461.1.4 | Literal numskull cuts peas into four parts. Told that he should have cut up the pancakes which he has eaten whole. Wesselski Bebel I 128 No. 27. |
| J2461.1.8 | Literal numskull destroys inherited property since his sister has instructions not to object to his actions. Africa (Hausa): Mischlich 164ff. No. 22 (=Frobenius Atlantis IX 277ff., 287ff., Nos. 74, 75). |
| J2461.1.1 | Literal numskull drags jar (bacon) on string. He has sent a pig home alone. Told that he should have led it by a string. *Type 1696; Fb "potte" II 867a; *BP I 315; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 141 No. 1703, Espinosa III 147. |
| J2461.1.2 | Literal numskull is gay at a fire. He has wept at a wedding and been told to be gay. Clouston Noodles 130; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2461.2.1 | Literal numskull kisses a pig. Told that he should have kissed the old woman. *Type 1696; *BP III 145. |
| J2461.3 | Literal numskull laughs at his child's death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2461.1.2.1 | Literal numskull sings entertaining songs on approach of death. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J2461.1.3 | Literal numskull throws water on roasting pig. Told that he should have thrown water in the fire when the house burnt. Clouston Noodles 130. |
| J2469.5.2 | Literal obedience: soldier breaks woman's oil pot in two with sword when she asks him to show her something she never has seen in life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2460 | Literal obedience. Gaster Oldest Stories 167; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 282. |
| K236 | Literal payment of debt (not real). |
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