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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 |
|---|---|
| E256 | Ghosts eat corpse. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 238. |
| E257 | Ghosts seek firewood to roast man. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 99. |
| E259 | Bloodthirsty revenants—miscellaneous. |
| E259.1 | Corpse bites off woman's nose. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E259.2 | Ghosts may eat only female animals. Africa (Bulu): Krug 108f. |
| E260 | Other malevolent revenants. |
| E261 | Wandering ghost makes attack. Unprovoked and usually unmotivated. Irish: Jacobs Celtic 200, Kennedy 180, O'Suilleabhain 30, 99, Beal XXI 309, 331; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 246; Icelandic: *Boberg; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3542, Legends No. 712; Russian: Ralston 271, 274, 313; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 27 Nos. 229—240; cf. 2 Nos. 15—17; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 11; N. A. Indian (Kathlamet): Boas BBAE XXVI 182, 184 (Tahltan): Teit JAFL XXXII 225. |
| E261.1 | Wandering skull pursues man. *Brown The Wandering Skull (Am. Journ. Philology XI 423ff.); Indonesian: DeVries Volksverhalen I 299; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Benedict 342. |
| E261.1.1 | Ghost's flying head attacks slayer. Japanese: Anesaki 307. |
| E261.1.2 | Speaking skull tells about previous life, reveals future events, etc. Krappe Moyen Age XXVII (1926); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E261.1.3 | Hero attacked by revenant with half a head, carrying man with half a body. (Cf. E461, E422.1.1, F511.0.5.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| E261.2 | Dead arises when shroud bursts and pursues attendant. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 113 No. 3; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *369; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 39 No. 3; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 4. |
| E261.2.1 | Coffin bursts; dead arises and pursues attendant. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E261.3 | Man attacked on Christmas night by dancing ghosts. Finnish: Swedish Wessman 6 No. 46. |
| E261.4 | Ghost pursues man. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 677, 681; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 409, 463, Rasmussen III 182, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 62. |
| E261.4.1 | Ghost of witch in her coffin chases man. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E261.5 | Ghost beats living man with whip. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E262 | Ghost rides on man's back. *Fb "ryg" III 103a, "spøgelse" III 520a; E. H. Meyer Germanische 76; Schönbach Sitzungsberichte d. Phil. Hist. Classe der Kaiserl. Akad. d. Wiss. zu. Wien CXXXIX (1890) 135; Icelandic: Boberg; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3511. |
| E263 | Adulteress returns from dead as devastating dragon. *Herbert III 18, 279. |
| E264 | Ghost drives priest into oven. Fb "ovn" II 774a. |
| E265 | Meeting ghost causes misfortune. Fb "spøgelse" III 519b. |
| E265.1 | Meeting ghost causes sickness. (Cf. D2064.) |
| E265.1.1 | Blow received from a spirit at night; that side paralyzed. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts; England: *Baughman. |
| E265.1.2 | Ghost of father slaps son's face; a cancer grows there. Canada: Baughman. |
| E265.1.3 | Ghost strikes man in face, making his mouth crooked. Ireland: Baughman. |
| E265.2 | Meeting ghost causes person to go mad. (Cf. D2065.) Ireland, U.S.: Baughman. |
| E265.3 | Meeting ghost causes death. (Cf. E574.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E266 | Dead carry off living. Wimberly 257; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 468; Africa (Bulu): Krug 109. |
| E266.1 | Ghost of suicide drags people into stream. England: *Baughman. |
| E266.1.1 | Ghost claims a life every seven years by drowning person in river. England: *Baughman. |
| E266.2 | Ghost leads people to commit suicide. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E267 | Dead tears living to pieces. Wimberly 264. |
| E268 | Ghost (revenant) kills by spewing water from his mouth on Hallowe'en. (Cf. F211.1.1.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E271 | Sea-ghosts. Ghosts which haunt the sea. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40ff. Nos. 6, 17—22. |
| E271.1 | Ghost brings disaster on sailors. U.S., England: *Baughman. |
| E271.2 | Sea-ghost predicting death. Norwegian: Solheim Register 17. |
| E272 | Road-ghosts. (Cf. E332ff., E582.) Ghosts which haunt roads. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 10; England, U.S.: *Baughman; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 248; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 674. |
| E272.1 | Ghost rides in cart. Horse can scarcely pull cart, later dies or goes mad. (Cf. D1654.9, E332, E411.0.3.) Ireland, England: Baughman. |
| E272.2 | Ghost rides behind rider on horse. (Cf. E215.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E272.3 | Ghost frightens people off bridge into stream. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| E272.4 | Ghost chases pedestrian on road. England: Baughman. |
| E272.5 | Ghost misleads traveler on road. See similar actions of fairies, witches, Will-o-the-wisp. (Cf. F402.1.1.) Wales: Baughman. |
| E273 | Churchyard ghosts. Fb "spøgelse" III 519b; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 8; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 675. |
| E273.1 | Ghosts prevent burial of corpse. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 6 No. 44. |
| E274 | Gallows ghost. Ghost haunts gallows. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 9; U.S.: Baughman. |
| E275 | Ghost haunts place of great accident or misfortune. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 25 No. 225. |
| E275.1 | Ghost haunts mine after tragedy. (Cf. E336.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E276 | Ghosts haunt tree. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 679. |
| E278 | Ghosts haunt spring. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 678. |
| E279 | Malevolent revenants—miscellaneous. |
| E279.1 | The ghost haunts outside at night in human shape. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E279.2 | Ghost disturbs sleeping person. (Cf. E281.2.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E279.3 | Ghost pulls bedclothing from sleeper. England, Ireland, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E279.4 | Ghost haunts park, terrifies watchers. England: Baughman. |
| E279.5 | Ghost violently brands drunkard with "D". U.S.: Baughman. |
| E279.6 | Ghost punishes person who molests him. England, Ireland, Wales: *Baughman. |
| E279.7 | Ghosts blow smithy into air. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E280 | Ghosts haunt buildings. (Cf. H1411.) |
| E281 | Ghosts haunt house. (It is sometimes hard to tell whether haunters are supposed to be ghosts or familiar spirits of some kind.) *Type 326; BP I 22ff.; Scotch: Campbell Tales II 290, 299; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 33, Beal XXI 310; England, Scotland, U.S.: Baughman (F470); North Carolina: Brown Collection I 669, 671; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 248; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 311 No. 46, 323 No. 101; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3505; Finnish-Swedish Wessman 25 Nos. 220—222. |
| E281.0.1 | Ghost kills man who stays in haunted house. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E281.1 | Hungry ghosts haunt house seeking food. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 241. |
| E281.2 | Ghostly horse enters house and puts hoofs on breast of sleeper. Tobler 50. |
| E281.3 | Ghost haunts particular room in house. England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E282 | Ghosts haunt castle. (Cf. F771.4.5.) Type 1160.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "château". |
| E283 | Ghosts haunt church. *Type 326.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "église", "chapelle"; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 7. |
| E284 | Ghost haunts cloister. Herbert III 83 (étienne de Bourbon). |
| E285 | Ghost haunts well, prevents drawing water after dark. England: Baughman. |
| E290 | Malevolent return from the dead—miscellaneous. |
| E291 | Ghosts protect hidden treasure. |
| E291.1 | Person burying treasure kills person to supply guardian ghost. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E291.2 | Form of treasure-guarding ghost. |
| E291.2.1 | Ghost in human form guards treasure. Canada, England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E291.2.2 | Ghost animal guards treasure. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E292 | Ghost causes storms. England: *Baughman. |
| E293 | Ghosts frighten people (deliberately). England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E293.1 | Ghost scares thief, prevents theft. England: *Baughman. |
| E293.2 | Ghost scares card players. U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E299 | Miscellaneous acts of malevolent ghosts. |
| E299.1 | Ghost causes machinery to run unattended. Canada, England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E299.2 | Ghost prevents removal of box from abbey. The box takes on miraculous weight. England: Baughman. |
| E299.3 | Ghost upsets farmers' wagons. England: Baughman. |
| E299.4 | Ghost breaks windows. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E299.5 | Ghost unties boats, setting them adrift. Canada: Baughman. |
| E300 | Friendly return from the dead. Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 331; Jewish: Neuman. |
| E310 | Dead lover's friendly return. (Cf. E210.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; German: Erk-Böhme Deutscher Liederhort No. 201a; N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Grinnell Pawnee Hero Stories (New York, 1889) 191, Dorsey CI LIX 126 No. 34, (Sioux): Dorsey RBAE XI 490, (Zuсi): Cushing 19. |
| E311 | Return from dead to return and ask back love tokens. English: Child II 228. |
| E320 | Dead relative's friendly return. |
| E321 | Dead husband's friendly return. |
| E321.1 | Dead husband sends his ring to his wife. Fb "ring". |
| E321.2 | Dead husband returns and lives with his wife. He is invisible to others. (Cf. F378.) N. A. Indian (Teton): Dorsey AA o.s. II (1889) 148. |
| E321.2.1 | Dead husband returns, helps wife knit socks, piece quilts. She shows his work as proof. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E321.2.2 | Dead man visits his wife every night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E321.3 | Dead husband returns, asks wife to make him coffee. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E321.4 | Ghost often visits his widow and her new husband. England: Baughman. |
| E321.5 | Ghost appears often to wife and daughter. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E322 | Dead wife's friendly return. (Cf. E221.2.) Irish: O'Suilleabhain 104, Beal XXI 333; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Iroquois): Smith RBAE II 103, (Pawnee): Grinnell Pawnee Hero Stories (New York, 1889) 129, (Osage): Dorsey FM VII 43 No. 36. |
| E322.1 | Dead wife returns and bears children for husband. *Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323. |
| E322.2 | Dead wife returns to wake husband. *Types 403, 450.—New York: Jones JAFL LVII 245. |
| E322.2.1 | Dead wife returns and asks husband to go with her to spirit world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E322.3 | Wife in heaven by day, with husband by night. Hindu: Tawney II 577. |
| E322.4 | Dead wife returns in form of bird. Scotch: Macdougall and Calder 183; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E322.5 | Man carries his dead wife with him. *Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323f. |
| E322.6 | Dead wife returns to live with her husband until his death. U.S.: *Baughman; S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 685. |
| E322.7 | Dead wife returns to another person to have him write a letter to her husband. England: Baughman. |
| E322.8 | Return from dead and remarriage to husband. Chinese: Graham. |
| E322.9 | Man talks to dead wife in grave. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 453. |
| E323 | Dead mother's friendly return. *Jellinek Zs f. Vksk. XIV 323f.; *Fb "moder" II 600b, "spøgelse" III 520a; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "mère"; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3527; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E323.1 | Dead mother returns to see baby. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E323.1.1 | Dead mother returns to suckle child. *Types 403, 450; *BP I 96; *Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 No. 27; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 260; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 350 n. 263, (Luiseсo): DuBois UCal VIII 153; Africa (Kweli): Sieber 89; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 266 No. 74, 275 No. 88. |
| E323.1.2 | Dead mother returns to care for neglected baby. Tobler 92f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Papua: Ker 131; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 67. |
| E323.2 | Dead mother returns to aid persecuted children. *Types 510A, 511, 923; Cox 475 n. 4; *BP I 165ff.; *MacCulloch Childhood 108; *Cosquin Contes indiens 504ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 6; Jewish: Neuman; Oceanic (Hawaii, Indonesia, Micronesia, Melanesia): Dixon 89 nn. 97—100; West Indies: Flowers 429; Africa (Cameroons): Mansfield 228. |
| E323.2.1 | Dead mother (in animal form) returns to aid persecuted children. Chinese: Graham. |
| E323.3 | Dead mother called up from grave to give her son charms. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 124. |
| E323.4 | Advice from dead mother. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Hausa): Equilbecq III 291ff. |
| E323.5 | Mother returns to search for dead child. England, Ireland: *Baughman. |
| E323.6 | Mother returns to encourage daughter in great difficulties. England: Baughman. |
| E323.7 | Dead mother makes son strong. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 158. |
| E324 | Dead child's friendly return to parents. Frequently to stop weeping. (Cf. P230.) *BP II 485; *Fb "hеnd" I 765a; Dieterich Zs. f. Vksk. XII 147; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 41, Beal XXI 315; English: Child II 238f., III 244f., 247, V 241, Baughman; U.S.: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3525; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Chinese: Werner 314; N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Grinnell Pawnee Hero Stories (New York, 1889) 145; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 161. |
| E324.1 | Voice of son answers his mother from the grave only when called by his pet name. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E324.2 | Ghost family visits grave of father. England: Baughman. |
| E325 | Dead sister's friendly return. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 98; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 178. |
| E326 | Dead brother's friendly return. Dieterich Zs. f. Vksk. XII 147; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 102, Beal XXI 332; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 446. |
| E327 | Dead father's friendly return. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; U.S.: Baughman; Greek: Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 195; Latin: Virgil Aeneid V 724; Chinese: Graham. |
| E327.1 | Dead father returns to daughter to stop her weeping. (Cf. E324.) Scotland: Baughman. |
| E327.2 | Dead father returns to encourage daughter in childbirth. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E327.3 | Dead father returns to clear son's name of crime. England: *Baughman. |
| E327.4 | Ghost of father returns to rebuke child. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E327.5 | Dead father returns in form of bird. (Cf. E322.4.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E330 | Locations haunted by non-malevolent dead. (Cf. E270—E284 for locations haunted by malevolent ghosts.). |
| E332 | Non-malevolent road ghosts. (Cf. E272, E581, E582.) |
| E332.1 | Ghost appears at road and stream. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E332.2 | Person meets ghost on road. Canada, England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E332.3 | Ghost on road asks traveler for ride. (Cf. E581, E582.) |
| E332.3.1 | Ghost rides on horseback with rider. (Cf. E215.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| E332.3.2 | Ghost rides in carriage, disappears suddenly at certain spot. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E332.3.3 | Ghost asks for ride in automobile. |
| E332.3.3.1 | The Vanishing Hitchhiker. Ghost of young woman asks for ride in automobile, disappears from closed car without the driver's knowledge, after giving him address to which she wishes to be taken. Driver asks person at address about the rider, finds she has been dead for some time. (Often driver finds that ghost has made similar attempts to return, usually on anniversary of death in automobile accident. Often ghost leaves some item such as a scarf or a traveling bag in car.) **Beardsley and Hankey California Folklore Quarterly I 303ff.; Hawaii, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E332.3.3.2 | Deity as ghostly rider. Hawaii: *Baughman. |
| E333 | Non-malevolent churchyard ghost. (Cf. E273.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E334 | Non-malevolent ghost haunts scene of former misfortune, crime, or tragedy. (See E336, E337, E338, E339.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E334.1 | Ghost haunts scene of former crime or sin. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E334.2 | Ghost haunts burial spot. (Cf. E411.1.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E334.2.1 | Ghost of murdered person haunts burial spot. (Cf. E413.) Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E334.2.2 | Ghost of person killed in accident seen at death or burial spot. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E334.2.3 | Ghost of tragic lover haunts scene of tragedy. (Cf. E337.3.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E334.3 | Ghost of person abandoned by faithless lover. (Cf. E211ff.) England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E334.4 | Ghost of suicide seen at death spot or near by. (Cf. E411.1.1, E431.16.) England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E334.5 | Ghost of soldier haunts battlefield. England: *Baughman. |
| E336 | Non-malevolent mine ghosts. (Cf. E275.1, E334.5.1, F456.) |
| E336.1 | Helpful mine ghosts. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E336.2 | Mine ghosts annoy miners. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E337 | Ghost reenacts scene from own lifetime. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E337.1 | Sounds of re-enacted actions. (Cf. E402.) |
| E337.1.1 | Murder sounds heard just as they must have happened at time of death. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E337.1.2 | Sounds of accident re-enact tragedy. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E337.1.3 | Sounds of revelry heard. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E337.1.4 | Sounds of driving cattle: horse's hoofs, whip-popping, calling to cattle, rattle of spurs: ghost of slain cowboy. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E337.2 | Re-enactment of tragedy seen. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E337.3 | Lovers' tragedy re-enacted. (Cf. E334.5.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E338 | Non-malevolent ghost haunts building. See E281, E402. England, Ireland, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E338.1 | Non-malevolent ghost haunts house or castle. England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E338.2 | Non-malevolent ghost haunts church. (Cf. E283.) England: *Baughman. |
| E338.3 | Non-malevolent ghost haunts cloister. England: Baughman. |
| E340 | Return from dead to repay obligation. |
| E341 | The grateful dead. Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 313; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E341.1 | Dead grateful for having corpse ransomed. Corpse is being held unburied because of nonpayment of debts. Hero pays debt and secures burial of corpse. —*Types 505—508; **Liljeblad Die Tobiasgeschichte und andere Märchen mit toten Helfern; *BP III 490ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 5, 222ff., 424; **Gerould The Grateful Dead (London, 1908); *Goebel Jüdische Motive in märchenhaftem Erzählungsgut (Gleiwitz, 1932) 38ff.; *Fb "lig" II 412b, "død" I 228a.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "mort"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 299 No. 13; Jewish: bin Gorion I 176, 374, V 76, 299, VI 224, 316; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Teit JE VIII 385 No. 93. |
| E341.1.1 | Dead grateful for having been spared indignity to corpse. Kind man has given it burial. U.S.: Baughman; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E341.2 | Dead grateful for food. N. A. Indian (Canadian Dakota): Wallis JAFL XXXVI 48. |
| E341.3 | Dead grateful for prayers. Tatlock MPh XXII 211f.; Alphabet Nos. 18, 519, 587; Nouvelles de Sens No. 15; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 102, Baughman. |
| E341.4 | Dead grateful for clothes (shirt). Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E341.5 | Grateful priest returns to save gambler from devil. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 36. |
| E342 | Dead return to fulfill bargain. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E345 | Dead returns to repair injury. Fb "spøgelse" III 521b. |
| E345.1 | Dead returns to replace boundary marks he has removed. (Cf. E416.) *Fb "skjel" III 264a; Tobler 93; England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; New York: Miller NYFQ I 105f.; Irish: Beal XXI 310, O'Suilleabhain 33. |
| E351 | Dead returns to repay money debt. Herbert III 96 No. 38; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 327 No. 23; cf. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 13; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 53, 97, Beal XXI 319, 331; Scotland: Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E352 | Dead returns to restore stolen goods. *BP III 235; Tobler 65; Fb "gjenganger" I 443b.—Irish: O'Suilleabhain 98, Beal XXI 331; England: *Baughman; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 313 No. 80, 327 No. 23. |
| E353 | Dead man asks that certain girl be married to him because in life he seduced her. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E360 | Other reasons for friendly return from the dead. |
| E361 | Return from the dead to stop weeping. *BP II 485; Wimberly 110, 230ff.; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 433a s.v. "Eddamärchen"; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 831; Legenda Aurea (ed. Grässe) 132; *Fb "hеnd" I 765a, "tеre" III 947a, "græde" IV 187b; Dieterich Zs. f. Vksk. XII 147.—Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Child II 234ff., 512., III 513, V 62, 294; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 2 No. 18; Persian: Carnoy 345. |
| E361.1 | Tear from upper world of mortals falls on departed in lower world. Dead brother sends message of comfort to living. N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Alexander N. Am. 137. |
| E361.2 | Return from dead to give consoling message. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E361.3 | Dead son tells mother that no mortal escapes death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E363 | Ghost returns to aid living. |
| E363.1 | Ghost aids living in emergency. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E363.1.1 | Ghost substitutes for bride on her wedding journey. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E363.2 | Ghost returns to protect the living. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E363.3 | Ghost warns the living. England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E363.4 | Dead reassures living. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E363.5 | Dead provide material aid to living. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E363.5.1 | Ghost of murdered girl appears and lends jewels needed for a ball in exchange for flowers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E363.6 | Ghost aids living otherwise. England, Scotland: *Baughman. |
| E364 | Dead returns to say farewell. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3502, Balys Ghosts. |
| E365 | Return from dead to ask forgiveness. *Fb "tilgive", Feilberg DF X 74f; Irish myth: *Cross; Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 115 No. 13. |
| E365.1 | Return of the dead to grant forgiveness. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E366 | Return from dead to give counsel. (Cf. V229.1.) *Type 510; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 101, Beal XXI 332; Icelandic: *Boberg; Sicilian: Gonzenbach I 10 No. 3; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 no. 29; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 191; Korean: Zong in-Sob 133ff.—N. A. Indian (Iroquois): Smith RBAE II 104, (Onondaga): Jewitt RBAE XXI 148, 262, (Skidi Pawnee): Dorsey MAFLS VIII 49 No. 10, (Arapaho): Dorsey and Kroeber FM V 49, 259 Nos. 15, 110; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 219; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 110; Africa (Jaunde): Heepe 260, (Fang): Tessman 99f., 173, 193. |
| E366.1 | Laughing skull advises hero. (Cf. E545.) *Cosquin études 351ff. |
| E366.2 | Hanged man warns youth against visiting sweetheart. Takes youth's place and receives shot meant for him. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3566, Balys Ghosts. |
| E366.3 | Talking bones of eaten man advise hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E367 | Return from dead to preach repentance. Wesselski Arlotto I 201 No. 29; Irish: Beal XXI 332, O'Suilleabhain 100; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 3 No. 23. |
| E367.1 | Person who has spent two years in hell speaks of importance of religious experience. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E367.2 | Saint returns from dead to give blessing. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E367.3 | Return from dead to prophesy coming of Christ. (Cf. M363, M364.7.2.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E367.4 | Return from dead to convert to Christianity. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E367.5 | Ghost of woman chides unbeliever. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 291. |
| E368 | Pupil returns from dead to warn master of futility of his studies. *Crane Vitry 145f. No. 31; Alphabet Nos. 151, 700; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| E371 | Return from dead to reveal hidden treasure. (Cf. E276, E291, E419.11.2.) *Fb "spøgelse" III 521b; Tobler 34f.; Loomis White Magic 53; England, Wales, Ireland, Canada, U.S.: *Baughman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 827. |
| E371.1 | Return from dead to reveal whereabouts of stolen goods. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E371.2 | Return from dead to repeat forgotten epic. (Cf. A581, J1563.7.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E371.3 | Poet sings day after his death. (Cf. E342, E546.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E372 | Return from the dead to seek hidden treasure. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E373 | Ghosts bestow gifts on living. |
| E373.1 | Money received from ghosts as reward for bravery. A voice says: "I am letting it fall." The man: "Let it." Money falls to the ground. *Chauvin V 78 No. 22 n. 1; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 123 No. 46; cf. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 24 No. 216; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3626; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E373.2 | Sword received from summoned dead father. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E373.3 | Woman's hand rises from grave and gives man performing vigil letter of salvation. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E373.4 | Dead returns to supply tribe with money demanded by landlord. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E374 | Dead returns to life and tells of journey to land of dead. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E374.1 | Return of the dead to keep promise and tell of land of the dead. Two friends promise each other that the first to die will do so. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3570. |
| E375 | Return from dead to prevent flight of thief. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E376 | Ghost returns to confess misdeed. England: Baughman. |
| E376.1 | Saint returns from dead to exonerate cleric. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E377 | Return from dead to teach living. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E377.1 | Dead poet leaves grave mound to teach poem to herdsman: latter becomes great poet. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E379 | Friendly return from the dead—other motifs. |
| E379.1 | Return from dead to rescue from drowning. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E379.2 | Anchorite's body rises out of river in favor to disciple. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E379.3 | Return from dead to protect friends. S. A. Indian (Guaporé River): Lévy-Strauss III 378. |
| E379.4 | Ghost as confederate of man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E379.5 | Return from dead to make up enough men to perform ritual. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E380 | Ghost summoned. *Fb "mane" II 547a; Irish: Beal XXI 310; Scotland: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3513; Jewish: *Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E380.1 | Summoning souls punished: in hour of man's death they overwhelm him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E381 | Ghost summoned by weeping. See all references to E361. *Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323f; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 281 n. 41. |
| E382 | Ghost summoned by pouring blood of sacrifices into trench. Greek: Fox 145. |
| E383 | Ghosts summoned by sacred book. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 32; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 138 No. 107; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 48 No. 107; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 597, 601; Korean: Zong in-Sob 205. |
| E384 | Ghost summoned by music. |
| E384.1 | Ghost summoned by beating drum. England: Baughman. |
| E384.2 | Ghost raised inadvertently by whistling. England: Baughman. |
| E384.3 | Ghost summoned by blast on horn (whistle). Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 29; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 110. |
| E385 | Vigil of husband at wife's grave calls her forth. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99. |
| E385.1 | Husband ignored or discouraged by ghost wife. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99. |
| E386 | Other means of summoning ghost. |
| E386.1 | Ghost summoned by holy water. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 312. |
| E386.2 | Ghost summoned by charm. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 98; MacCulloch Eddic 298—300, 312. |
| E386.3 | Ghosts summoned by calling them by name. Icelandic: *Boberg; England: Baughman. |
| E386.4 | Walking around a grave twelve times backward will raise the ghost. England: Baughman. |
| E386.5 | Light remark about what person would do if ghost appeared causes ghost to appear. (Cf. C10, C13.) England: Baughman. |
| E387 | Reasons for summoning of ghosts. |
| E387.1 | Ghost summoned in order to talk to it. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E387.1.1 | Dead called from their graves to make statement. *Loomis White Magic 53. |
| E387.2 | Ghost summoned to get something from it. |
| E387.2.1 | Father summoned to get his sword. Icelandic: Hervararsaga 17—33, 102—13. |
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