Folklore Database · Browse
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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| J1765.2 | Man taken to be sheep. (Cf. X424.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F10.2 | Man taken to upper world sees all that happens on earth. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Z115.1 | Man takes case against wind for damages. Wanting to have nothing to do with a court, the wind generously makes good the damages, and punishes the judge guilty of bribery. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3901. |
| K2297.2 | Man takes his friend's mistress when the friend is away. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1936.1 | Man takes mirror to bed to see whether he sleeps with his mouth open. England: *Baughman. |
| K547.2 | Man takes off wig, takes out false teeth, takes off wooden leg, overawes Indians. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| K2112.3 | Man taking refuge in woman's house causes her false accusation. *Bolte Frey 253 No. 95. |
| E322.9 | Man talks to dead wife in grave. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 453. |
| A2721.3.1 | Man tells Jesus he is sowing stones. "You shall get stones." Why peas do not soften in boiling. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 78; cf. Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 96 No. 124; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3016. |
| J1161.10 | Man tells servant that he may have anything he can take with his teeth (eat). Servant takes master's cape with his teeth. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| G303.9.5.6 | Man temporarily abducted by devil. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 710; Estonian and Latvian: Tautosakos Darbai VI 19—23. |
| T332 | Man tempted by fiend in woman's shape. (Or woman by fiend in man's shape.) *Kittredge Witchcraft 211, 525 n. 49; *Herbert III 357ff.; Chauvin II 226 No. 3; Gaster Exempla 213 No. 136; *Toldo II 307ff., 310ff.; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 887; Wesselski Mönchslatein 72 No. 63; Alphabet No. 257. — Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 816*; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 11 No. 86; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H1569.1.1 | Man tests industry of prospective servant girl. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N111.4.1 | Man thanks earth for saving his life; had he fallen into well he would have blamed Fortune. Wienert FFC LVI 81 (ET 470), 125 (ST 341); Halm Aesop No. 316; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2321.2 | Man thinks he has given birth to a child by letting wind. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 3; Christensen DF XLVII 228 No. 93. |
| J1838 | Man thinks own toe is snake's head and cuts it off. (Cf. J1782.8.) North Carolina: Brown Collection I 699. |
| J2317.1 | Man thinks that he has diabetes. Rascals have sewed his trouser leg till it is too tight. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 680. |
| N646 | Man thinks to end life by drinking poisonous water, but it cures him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1786 | Man thought to be a devil or ghost. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 868—871, 890; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J1786.5 | Man thought to be devil by lion. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q467.4 | Man thrown into waterfall as punishment for alleged violating of princess. (Cf. Q244.) Icelandic: FSS 110, Boberg. |
| S264.1 | Man thrown overboard to placate storm. (Cf. S263.5.3.) Type 973*; Child V 496 s.v. "Ships"; Chauvin VII 30 No. 212 n. 2; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 227; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1024; Korean: Zong in-Sob 107 No. 57. |
| F1041.16.10 | Man throws cereal and spoon on the floor because he is supposed to eat together with his brother. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J1791.5.2 | Man throws stone at own reflection in water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1072 | Man to be judged by his own qualities, not his clothes. |
| J323 | Man to be reforged chooses present unhappiness. He is in heaven and God is to reforge him, but he chooses not to change. Indonesian: *DeVries's list No. 239. |
| J163.2 | Man to bring wife a purseful of sense. *Bédier Fabliaux 451. |
| A1346 | Man to earn bread by sweat of his brow. (Cf. A1331.1.)—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 158; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F302.10 | Man to have fairy wife for only seven years. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1761.0.2.1 | Man to have wishes if he can repeat them in one breath. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T62.1 | Man to marry first woman who gives him alms. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W111.1.1.3 | Man too lazy to open eyes to see where fire is burning. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W111.1.6 | Man too lazy to pick up berries (dates). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J561.1 | Man tracking gorilla sees animal's strength. Wisely refrains. Africa (Fjort): Dennett 69 No. 14. |
| W154.26.1 | Man trades an egg for a needle, demands treat of a gill of rum, the traditional reward for traders. The storekeeper gives him the rum; he asks for an egg in it. The storekeeper breaks an egg (the one he has just traded the needle for) into the rum. It has two yolks; the trader asks for two needles. U.S.: Baughman. |
| J2085.1.1 | Man trades his only horse for a set of harness. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N453 | Man transformed as ant, learns secret of freeing princess. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M313 | Man transformed into swine will regain his human form after third marriage. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| T33 | Man transformed to animal kept as pet by heroine. (Cf. D658.) Malone PMLA XLIII 401f. |
| D693 | Man transformed to ass plays the lyre. *Type 430; *BP III 166. |
| B241.3 | Man transformed to beast becomes leader of herd. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D643.2 | Man transformed to deer decoy for people at execution of saint's friend. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T578.2 | Man transformed to female (human or animal) bears offspring. (Cf. T554.0.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D57.1 | Man transformed to green knight. *Kittredge Gawain. |
| D695 | Man transformed to woman has children. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K952.2 | Man transforms self to gadfly to enter giant's stomach and kill him. S. A. Indian (Tehuelche): Alexander Lat. Am. 336. |
| K2384 | Man tricked to be one's sworn brother in order to secure his help against his mother. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F1041.11.2 | Man turns pale, red, blue, etc. from emotion or strain. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M222 | Man umpires dispute in exchange for guarantee of safety. Disputants, bear and tiger, agree not to eat him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| U181 | Man unable to persuade wife to confess misdeed to priest succeeds when he makes her drunk. (Cf. J1141.) Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 242. |
| W155.3 | Man unable to weep for hardness of heart. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| X1737.1.1 | Man under the ice. Falls through ice with his horse, wanders around on the river bottom, pushes his spear through ice from below and rises to the surface. (First ed. X918.) *Wesselski Bebel I 171 No. 8. |
| K1955.1.1 | Man undertakes to cure fat abbot of stomach ailment. Starves him until he admits he can eat anything. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| T245 | Man unfaithful even on wedding night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W154.18 | Man ungrateful for life saved because rescuer helped others also. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W154.2.2 | Man ungrateful for rescue by animal. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B848 | Man unharmed in den of animals. (cf. B771.2.1.)—Type 403; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| T331 | Man unsuccessfully tempted by woman. (St. Anthony.) Alphabet Nos. 128, 795; Wesselski Mönchslatein 103 No. 87; Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 30; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman, Gaster Exempla 192 Nos. 34, 34A; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 168, 887, 1034, II 37, 226, 594, 616, 707, 716, 892, 996, 1052, 1214, 1322. |
| N320.1 | Man unwittingly causes death of daughter. English romance: Malory III 15. |
| N360 | Man unwittingly commits crime. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N365.1.1 | Man unwittingly falls in love with his own mother. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N324 | Man unwittingly kills prince. Exiled. *Boje 120f. |
| N365.4 | Man unwittingly lies with mother-in-law. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| T471.1 | Man unwittingly ravishes his own sister. (Cf. N365.3.) Finnish: Kalevala rune 35. |
| M211.1 | Man unwittingly sells soul to devil. He jestingly offers to sell his soul. Devil in disguise buys it. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 280; *Wesselski Märchen 245 No. 55. |
| H591.2 | Man uses umbrella under trees. (To protect self from falling branches and bird droppings.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q552.21 | Man vomits heart as punishment and lives without it till his death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C12.5.8 | Man vows he will cross water "in spite of devil." Devil takes him. Origin of place name: En Spuyten Duyvil. U.S.: Baughman. |
| Q221.4.2 | Man vows to recover loose boat or go to hell trying. He goes to hell. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N476.2 | Man vulnerable only in armpits shot as he stretches his arms. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J322.1 | Man wagers he can run with his head off. Asked what it will profit him, he says that it will profit his family. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 567. |
| J1731.2 | Man wants roasted honeycomb. Unwilling to admit that he does not know what a honeycomb is, a stupid man asks the innkeeper's wife to roast a slice of honeycomb. Spanish: Childers. |
| T299.2.1 | Man warned by wife against stepping on red cloth. Chinese: Graham. |
| T255.7 | Man warns his wife that he has dreamed that she is attacked by a wolf. She pays no heed to him and the dream comes true. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| F1017 | Man washes clothes blindfolded. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T121.6 | Man weds his bondmaid. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| W111.5.13 | Man weeds garden from cushioned rocking chair, using fire tongs to reach weeds. U.S.: Baughman. |
| W27.1 | Man weeps with gratitude to God because He did not make him hideous as toad. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K212.1 | Man whispers in devil's ear that his wife is approaching with her broom again. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q552.2.3.1.3 | Man who angers saint sinks into earth to his knees. (Cf. Q227.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2327 | Man who asks for good weather given a box full of hornets. He thinks that it is filled with the weather. Köhler-Bolte I 324. |
| N251.2 | Man who aspires to greater wealth loses all. When he is about to be rewarded by king the latter dies. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M414.11 | Man who betrays secrets cursed. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Q582.2 | Man who brings fire to his house at devil's instigation burns to death. (Cf. Q233.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1545.3.3 | Man who continually threatens to leave wife mortified when she tells him to go; pretends his buffalo is dragging him home (after he does leave). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q552.5.1 | Man who cuts off tongue of swallow has dumb children. (Cf. Q285.1.1.) Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 19 No. 182; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N186 | Man who derided another's faith in the stars becomes respected astrologer. (Cf. P481.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q42.1.2 | Man who divides his food with beggar is later freed from captivity by him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| V51.1 | Man who does not know how to pray so holy that he walks on water. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 332; **Andrejev "Tri Starca" Novoje Delo (Kazan, 1922) (see Anderson Zs. f. Vksk. XXX-XXXII 171); Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 827*; Russian: Andrejev No. 827*. |
| S11.3.1 | Man who doubts his children's paternity kills them. Murders wife and paramour. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E791 | Man who forgets to count himself dies immediately after. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W154.5.1.2 | Man who has been rescued from pit tries to kill his monkey rescuer for food. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 472f. |
| P319.2 | Man who has counseled friend in assassination asks to be killed on the other's body. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E564 | Man who has died and returned to life becomes diviner. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V411.3 | Man who has given all in charity has foot amputated: restored miraculously. Alphabet No. 81; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| L424 | Man who has never known unhappiness or want is swallowed up by earth with all his household. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| T134.3 | Man who has once been married helps groom to dress for wedding. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V34.3 | Man who has received sacrament overcomes enemy, a blasphemer. Alphabet No. 163; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 535. |
| W152.14 | Man who insists on using everything that is useful. |
| V475.3 | Man who is disappointed with his religious order renounces his vow. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N227 | Man who is impoverished is given high post by princess in disguise. Marries her. (Cf. N251.3.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| F681.9 | Man who is too heavy for any horse walks faster than horseback riders. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K2321.1 | Man who killed mother uses her corpse to get presents. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 161. |
| Q583.1 | Man who laughs at blind made blind. (Cf. Q288, Q451.7.0.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| N251.3 | Man who loses fortune marries widow of his rich master. (Cf. N227.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1073.1 | Man who never does any piece of work so well that he cannot improve it. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 310. |
| K238.2 | Man who owes 1000 ducats has his creditor arrested for owing him ten. Thus he hopes to postpone payment of his own debt. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E416 | Man who removes landmarks cannot rest in grave. (Cf. E345.1.) Kuhn Sagen aus Westfalen I 40f. No. 34, 118 No. 127, 177 No. 187; Sikes British Goblins (London, 1880) 149; Hoffman JAFL II 33; Frahm Am Urquell II 202; Kristensen Danske Sagn V (1897) 404ff., (1934) 308ff. |
| J1394.2 | Man who rises too early. The king in order to correct the habit has him robbed. He says that robbers get up even earlier than he. Chauvin II 196 No. 26. |
| D1505.12 | Man who touches book of St. Oswin's life is cured of blindness. (Cf. D1266.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M381 | Man whose death has been prophesied takes refuge in church, but is accidentally slain through window by arrow directed at stag. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F594 | Man whose entrails are visible when he laughs. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1194.1 | Man whose laughter brings rain will not laugh: brought to laughter when people who, unknown to each other, have gone to sleep in same dark room frighten each other. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V512.2 | Man whose only good deed was unintentional sees this deed outweigh all his evil in the scales of judgment. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J882.3 | Man whose wife gives him bath only once a week comforted by one who does so once a year. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W213 | Man will not allow food served to strangers until a man of them wrestles with him. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W214 | Man will not do a woman's bidding. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W111.1.2 | Man will not lift knife to cut rope about to hang him. Wesselski Märchen 213 No. 21; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 261. |
| W111.1.3 | Man will not move in bed when water drops in his eyes. Wesselski Märchen 213 No. 21; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| W171.1 | Man winks both at buyer and seller. He tries to appear friendly to both. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 491. |
| K1917.5 | Man wins girl's love by pretending to wealth and nobility. Deception is discovered and impostor is banished. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H551.1 | Man wins wife by instructing her how to answer her mother's riddles. Child I 418f. |
| P310.7 | Man wins wife for his friend. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1321.1.3 | Man wishes to learn and gains entrance to learned girl's presence in woman's disguise. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C12.1.1 | Man wishing to be conjurer fears helper he has called. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 452. |
| B23.3 | Man with (two) horns on his head. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg. |
| F516.2.3 | Man with a thousand arms. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 39. |
| B55 | Man with bird's head. Chauvin VII 77 No. 121. |
| B29.4.1 | Man with cat's head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| X372.4.1 | Man with cheeks stuffed with food operated on to remove swellings. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K974 | Man with deformed head slays his barbers. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F551.1.3 | Man with dog's feet. Icelandic: Hrуlfs saga Kr. 54ff., Boberg. |
| B25.1 | Man with dog's head. *Chauvin VII 77 No. 121; H. Cordier RTP V 72ff.; Fb "hundetyrk".—Loomis White Magic 114; Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 72. |
| F516.4 | Man with elastic reach. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 263. |
| F531.2.12 | Man with eyes the size of brass pots, teeth like axeheads, ears like elephant's ears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G345 | Man with fire moccasins. They set fire to surroundings. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 322 n. 164. |
| F545.2.4 | Man with forehead of iron. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 75f. |
| F610.4.1 | Man with four men's strength. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| B24.2 | Man with goat's head. (Cf. A1614.1.2.) Irish myth: Cross (B29.5). |
| F529.3 | Man with grass growing from his joints. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 488. |
| F511.0.5 | Man with half a head. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B29.4.1.1 | Man with head and tail of cat. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B21.3 | Man with horse's mouth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F545.2.3 | Man with inscription on forehead. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F517.0.2.1 | Man with legs so long he can steady boat as he stands in ocean. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 354. |
| F574.2 | Man with luminous arms. Jewish: Gaster Exempla 227 No. 223, Neuman. |
| H1239.4 | Man with magic knowledge defeats his competitors in quest by misinforming them about the character of country they will be traveling (for a place where there is no water he makes them bring loads of wood; for a place where water is he makes them bring along loads of water). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F688 | Man with marvelous voice. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| T254.3 | Man with obedient wife looks young; with disobedient, old. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F525.1.1 | Man with one side of stone (iron). Fb "jærn" IV 249b; Hawaii: Dixon 89 (stone); Africa (Kaffir): Theal 129 (iron). |
| D2071.0.3 | Man with power of evil eye cannot look at any living thing before breaking fast in the morning without causing it to wither and die. England: Baughman. |
| D2144.1.2 | Man with power to make everything freeze. Wears cap over ear. Should he wear it straight everything would freeze. *Type 513; BP II 79ff. |
| B29.2.2 | Man with serpent's head. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F610.4.3 | Man with seventy men's strength. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F551.1.1 | Man with snake-like feet. Greek: Fox 68 (Erichtheus). |
| W111.5.8 | Man with stolen fig in his mouth submits to having cheek lanced rather than open his mouth. (Cf. J1842.2.) Italian Novella: Rotunda (W111.7). |
| F610.5 | Man with strength of animals. |
| F610.5.1 | Man with strength of lion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F610.4 | Man with strength of many men. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F610.5.2 | Man with strength of ten elephants. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 31, 580. |
| F610.4.2 | Man with twelve men's strength. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J882.2 | Man with unfaithful wife comforted when he sees jealous husband who carefully guards wife cuckolded. *Wesselski Märchen 185 No. 1; Köhler-Bolte II 625; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J882.1 | Man with unfaithful wife comforted when he sees the queen's unfaithfulness. Wesselski Märchen 185 No. 1; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J882 | Man with unfaithful wife comforted. |
| F511.0.7 | Man with venomous worm in his head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1386 | Man won over by woman's obscene trick. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| W154.27 | Man works his horses to death, then complains that borrowed horse overeats. U.S.: Baughman. |
| V1.10.1 | Man worships a cake which from time to time he eats. *Chauvin V 24 No. 13 n. 1. |
| V55 | Man worships devil's image in order to secure advancement. Scala Celi 8b No. 56; Alphabet No. 50. |
| J221.3 | Man would rather pay 500 florins he did not owe than have it said he did not pay debts. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B29.9 | Man-ape. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B22 | Man-ass. Body of man, hoofs of ass.—*Chauvin VII 82 No. 373bis, n. I; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B29.7 | Man-bear. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B23 | Man-bull. |
| B29.4 | Man-cat. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B16.5.4 | Man-devouring turtle. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 145. |
| B25 | Man-dog. Icel.: *Boberg; American Indian and Siberian: *Jochelson JE VI, 1912, 336; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 205, III 226, 246, Holm 50, Rink 47, 111, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 633; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 205. |
| G88.2 | Man-eater with two great tusks on which he hangs the carcasses of the dead. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B33 | Man-eating birds. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 84; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 72. |
| B16.1.5 | Man-eating cattle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A135 | Man-eating god (goddess). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 29f.; Maori: Beckwith Myth 243. |
| B16.1.3.1 | Man-eating mares. *Frazer Apollodorus I 200 n. 1. |
| B16.0.3 | Man-eating monster (in cave). Irish myth: Cross. |
| G312.4 | Man-eating ogre fries his victims in kettle of oil. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F811.24 | Man-eating tree. (Cf. G10.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| G11.6 | Man-eating woman. India: *Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Tawney II 616; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/249, 1110, z-G. 3/1276); Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 194; Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 197; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 370; Maori: Clark 39. |
| B28 | Man-elephant. Man with elephant's head.—Hindu: Keith 181. |
| B29.6 | Man-elk. Hrolfs saga kr. ch. 20. |
| B29.8 | Man-hedgehog. Upper half of body like hedgehog.—German: Grimm 108. |
| B29.3 | Man-hog. Irish myth: Cross; Chinese: Werner 335. |
| B27 | Man-lion. Man with lion's head.—Greek: *Grote I 7; Jewish: Neuman; Chauvin VII 87 No. 373bis n. 3. |
| B26 | Man-tiger. Hindu: Keith 96, Thompson-Balys. |
| B29.5 | Man-wolf. Icel.: Boberg. |
| J1289.11 | Man, fined for sabbath-breaking, asks for receipt, explains that if God asks for it, he will not have to journey to hell to get it from the judge. U.S.: Baughman. |
| J685.1 | Man, lion, and bear in pit. Bear tells lion not to eat the man, since he would grow hungry again. Rather they should have the man use his intelligence to get them out. Chauvin III 64 No. 29. |
| N318.1 | Man, thinking it an enemy, flees as sweetheart comes after him in pursuit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F574.1.4 | Man's beauty eclipses splendor of sun. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1645.10 | Man's body emits light. Chinese: Graham. |
| F595 | Man's body exudes sweet scent. Jewish: Neuman. |
| P251.5.6 | Man's descendants shall serve those of his brother. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M302.2.2 | Man's destiny read in his face. Korean: Zong in-Sob 73 No. 40. |
| Q551.8.4 | Man's eye bursts forth when he urges saint to marry. (Cf. Q227, Q451.7.0.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| M302.2 | Man's fate written on his skull. *Penzer VII 24 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D2171.7 | Man's feet fixed to pavement so that he cannot move until he makes vow. *Loomis White Magic 56, Irish myth: Cross. |
| F592 | Man's ferocious glance kills (causes swooning). Irish myth: Cross. |
| F547.3.5 | Man's genitals hidden in his body. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 31. |
| A1360 | Man's growth and maturity. |
| N399.2 | Man's inordinate laughter brings unfortunate results. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| W11.5.9.2 | Man's life spared through the intercession of the daughter he has wronged. He has ordered her killed. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| C948.4 | Man's liver snatched away because of broken tabu. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 118; African (Pangwe): Tessman 370, (Fang): Tessman 161. |
| N113.2.2 | Man's luck resides in his tooth. (Cf. N101.4.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 860. |
| C948.5 | Man's lungs cut out because of broken tabu. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 89. |
| E765.3.5 | Man's magic contains his life essence. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 541. |
| K2110.1.1 | Man's mistress accuses his wife of having leprosy. Chinese: Graham. |
| F544.0.2 | Man's mouth, from fear of sea-monster under lake, "distended to both his ears." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| T145.7 | Man's senior wife ugly but diligent; his second, beautiful but lazy. Africa (Fang): Trilles 264. |
| F688.2 | Man's shout remains in air three days. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E489.4 | Man's spirit in land of dead prophesies his own future death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1830.1 | Man's strength made equal to that of angel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J1174.5 | Man's torn garment as proof of his innocence of rape. If he were the assaulter, the torn garment would be woman's. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| T145.4 | Man's two wives each claim part of his body: they torment him. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F688.1 | Man's voice shakes heavens. Chinese: Werner 305. |
| D1311.13.1 | Mandrake as magic forecaster. (Cf. D965.1, D1314.7.1.) —*Starck; *Taylor JAFL XXXI 561f. |
| A2611.5 | Mandrake from blood of person hanged on gallows. (Cf. A2664.) —**Starck Der Alraun; *Taylor JAFL XXXI 561f.; Penzer III 153.; *Fb "alrunerod" IV 10a. |
| D1385.2.7 | Mandrake protects from evil spirits. (Cf. D965.1.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1314.7.1 | Mandrake shows location of treasure. (Cf. D965.1, D1311.13.) —*Norlind Skattsägner 23ff.; Penzer III 153. |
| F992.1 | Mandrake shrieks when uprooted. Stark Der Alraun; Taylor JAFL XXXI 561. |
| A1232 | Mankind ascends from under the earth. (Cf. A1631.) Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Chaco, Pampean): Alexander Lat. Am. 322, (Tereno, Caduveo, Mbaya): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367, (Inca): Rowe ibid. (2) 315, (Munderucú): Horton ibid. (3) 281, (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux ibid. (3) 550, (Chamacoco): Métraux MAFLS XL 25; N. Am. Indian (Zuсi): *Benedict 337. |
| A1221.1 | Mankind begotten by giant's two feet. He touches one foot with the other and begets progeny.—Icel.: De la Saussaye 342 (Ymir). |
| A1224.4 | Mankind born from a cow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1224.6 | Mankind descended from fish. S. Am. Indian (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII 93, 294. |
| A1224.1 | Mankind descended from tadpoles. Wa (Indo-Chinese): Scott Indo-Chinese 293. |
| A1224.2 | Mankind descended from worms or larvae. Eastern Indonesian: Dixon 169; Tonga: Gifford 15f.; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684. |
| A1232.3.1 | Mankind emerges from a pit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1236.1 | Mankind emerges from buds on trees. Nias Is.: Dixon 167; Sumatran: ibid. 160. |
| A1232.3 | Mankind emerges from caves. India: Thompson-Balys; Haitian: Alexander Lat. Am. 30; S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 317, (Aymara): Tschopik ibid. (2) 571, (Araucanian): Cooper ibid. (2) 753, (Yuracare): Métraux ibid. (3) 503, (Mbaya): Métraux ibid. (1) 367, (Tiatinagua): Métraux ibid. (3) 449, (Caduveo): Métraux MAFLS XL 106; African: Werner African 147. |
| A1234 | Mankind emerges from ground. Greek: *Grote I 177; Australian: Dixon Oc. Myth. 271; Papuan (British New Guinea): ibid. 110; Indonesian: ibid. 169 n. 79—81; Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 312; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47; African: Werner African 147. |
| A1232.2 | Mankind emerges from lake. A woman and boy. They marry and populate earth.—Chibcha (with reference to other South American tribes): Alexander Lat. Am. 199. |
| A1234.2 | Mankind emerges from mountain. Pijaos (Colombia): Alexander Lat. Am. 200. |
| A1236 | Mankind emerges from tree. (Cf. A1251.)—Indonesian: Dixon 168f.; Papuan (British New Guinea): ibid. 110; Sumatra: ibid. 160.—S. Am. Indian (Warrau): Kirchoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 880, (Chamacoco): Métraux ibid. (1) 367; African: Werner African 145f. |
| A1232.2.1 | Mankind emerges from water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1221.2 | Mankind from "Peace and Quiet fructified by Light." Hawaiian: Dixon 16. |
| A1232.1 | Mankind from bones of dead brought from underworld. Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 90. |
| A1245.3 | Mankind from cleft rock. Formosa: Dixon 170; Gilbert Is.: ibid. 251. |
| A1231.1 | Mankind from featherless bird sent from sky. Sumatra: Dixon 169. |
| A1221.6 | Mankind from human-animal mating. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 88. |
| A1216.1 | Mankind from masturbation of creator with earth. (Cf. A615.1.) Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 314. |
| A1221.5 | Mankind from mating of frog and "daughter of fire." Africa: Bouvergnes 33, 40. |
| A1221.3 | Mankind from mating of pairs of reeds. Igorot (Luzon): Dixon 176. |
| A1221.4 | Mankind from mating of tree and vine. Borneo: Dixon 159; Samoan: ibid. 164 n. 37. |
If you wish to get access to data for projects and research, then please contact us, we do our best to help
How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
Please cite the relevant sources, catalogues, and classification systems, including the Folklore Database, Berezkin-Duvakin Catalogue, ATU, Thompson, alongside the page accessed and the last time accessed. Please respect copyright and licenses.
Editorial annotations and database enhancements © Jonathan Fielder-White licensed under CC BY 4.0. Berezkin-Duvakin derived narrative and metadata licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Full rights information can be found here.
All rights are reserved in the database structure, selection, arrangement, metadata, classifications, software, interface design, and original editorial content.
Important: The Folklore Database expressly reserves all rights in relation to text and data mining, automated extraction, scraping, machine learning, dataset creation, and the training, development, validation, or improvement of artificial intelligence technologies or systems. No part of this website or database may be scraped, copied, reproduced, harvested, downloaded in bulk, or otherwise used for AI training or commercial data extraction without prior written permission.
Designed and Developed by Jonathan Fielder-White.
© 2024–2026 Crecganford / Jonathan Fielder-White. All rights reserved.