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 |
|---|---|
| E64.10 | Resuscitation by piece of felt. (Cf. D1051.) Georgian: Wardrop Georgian Folk-Tales (London, 1894) 15 No. 3. |
| E64.11 | Resuscitation by magic robe (blanket). (Cf. D1052.) N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Dorsey CI LIX 329 No. 88, (Tlingit): Swanton BBAE XXXIX 36 No. 8. |
| E64.12 | Resuscitation by sacred relics. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E64.13 | Resuscitation by ring. BP III 537; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E64.14 | Resuscitation by magic bag. (Cf. D1193.) Zs. f. d. Phil. XXVI 23. |
| E64.15 | Resuscitation by magic gold. Zs f. d. Phil. XXVI 23. |
| E64.16 | Resuscitation by animal's tail. |
| E64.16.1 | Resuscitation by yak's tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E64.17 | Resuscitation by magic stone. (Cf. D931.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E64.18 | Resuscitation by leaf. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E64.19 | Resuscitation from bird dung. (Cf. D1026.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E64.20 | Resuscitation by magic baskets. Africa (Fang): Einstein 155. |
| E64.21 | Resuscitation by handkerchief. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 182. |
| E65 | Resuscitation by kiss. Type 885*.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E66 | Resuscitation by breathing on corpse. Greek: Fox 22; Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; Melanesia: Codrington JAI X 272; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 319 n. 153a; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 280, Rasmussen III 124, Holm 68, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 247; Africa (Benga): Nassau 213 No. 33. |
| E66.1 | Resuscitation of cremated man by blowing on the ashes. India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Bakairi, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 312. |
| E67 | Resuscitation by talking to corpse. Type 450; Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 17. |
| E68 | Apparently dead persons revived when certain thing happens. Proper prince appears, or the like. Chauvin V 263 No. 154. |
| E71 | Resuscitation by wishing. N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 123 No. 19. |
| E72 | Resuscitation by smelling of moss. N. A. Indian (Menomini): Hoffman RBAE XIV 181. |
| E73 | Resuscitation by incantation. Chinese: Graham. |
| E74 | Resuscitation by waving magic object. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E75 | Resuscitation by writing deity's name. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E79 | Resuscitation by magic—miscellaneous. |
| E79.1 | Resuscitation by passing helpful animal over corpse. Chinese: Graham. |
| E79.1.1 | Resuscitation by bird flying over dead. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E79.2 | Resuscitation by reversing positions of two blocks of wood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E79.3 | Resuscitation by touch of eagle. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E80 | Water of Life. Resuscitation by water. Types 550, 551; *BP I 513, II 400; **Wünsche Lebensbaum; Chauvin VI 73f.; Hertz Abhandlungen 47ff.; *Fb "vand" III 1001b, "livets vand" II 439b, "flaske" I 309a; Dawkins Alexander and the Water of Life (Medium Aevum IX 173—192); Jacobs' list s.v. "Water of Life"; Köhler-Bolte I 186, 562.—Icelandic: Hrуlfssaga Gautrekssonar (ed. Detter) 46, 64; Russian: Ralston Russian Folk-Tales (London 1873) 231ff.; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Babylonian: Spence 130 (Ishtar); India: *Thompson-Balys, Penzer X 210 s.v. "Life, water of"; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 347; Arabian: Burton Nights S VI 213ff., 221; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 494; Indonesian: DeVries Volksverhalen II 359 No. 104; Pelew Islands: Dixon 252; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 74, 121, 153, 264; Fiji: ibid. 76; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 355 n. 279a; (Calif. Indian): Gayton and Newman 64; Africa (Bushman): Bleek and Lloyd 27, 67, 137. |
| E80.1 | Resuscitation by bathing. Herbert III 197; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer IV 145; West Indies: Flowers 427. |
| E80.1.1 | Resuscitation by bathing in milk. (Cf. D1018, D1503.7.1, E102.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E80.2 | Resuscitation by wet cloth over corpse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E80.3 | Resuscitation by water (in basket, overnight). N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 68. |
| E80.4 | Resuscitation by holy water. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E80.4.1 | Resuscitation by dew from heaven. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E82 | Water of life and death. One water kills, the other restores to life. *BP III 31 n. 1; Greek: Fox 281 (blood of life and death); India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 355 n. 279b. |
| E84 | Water of death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E90 | Tree of Life. (Cf. D950.) Resuscitation by touching its branches. *MacCulloch Childhood 83; *Wünsche Lebensbaum.—Irish myth: *Cross; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 354; India: *Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Guianas, Chaco, Arawakan Chaná): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 369. |
| E90.1 | Sun and moon steal wonderful tree which revives dead man or animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E100 | Resuscitation by medicines. Greek: Aeschylus Agamemnon line 1020; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 7, 34; (Benga): Nassau 98, 213 Nos. 5, 33, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 117 No. 20, (Kaffir): Theal 66, (Vai): Ellis 196 No. 14, 200 No. 18, 243 No. 49, (Cameroon): Ittman 72f., (Wakweli): Bender 96. |
| E101 | Resuscitation by salve (oil). (Cf. D1244.) BP I 127; Fb "salve" III 150b.—Irish myth: *Cross; Italian: Gonzenbach I 318 No. 48; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): *Cole 18 n. 1, 44, 51. |
| E102 | Resuscitation by magic liquid. (Cf. D1242.) *Krappe Balor 132ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 61 No. 445A; India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 47. |
| E102.1 | Resuscitation by magic milk. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E102.2 | Resuscitation by sprinkling ambrosia. (Cf. E80.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E105 | Resuscitation by herbs (leaves). Type 612; BP I 126ff., *128; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 354 n. 2; *Kittredge Gawain 153 n. 4; *Wesselski Märchen 239f. No. 50; Jacobs' list s.v. "Life-restoring herb"; Penzer VI 18 n. 1.—Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 312 n. 2; Jewish: Neuman; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 7, V No. 7, Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 135; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 7, (Thonga): Junod 56. |
| E106 | Resuscitation by magic apple. *Type 590; BP III 1; Fb "æble" IV 1135b; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 90b s.v. "Apfel" n. 2. |
| E107 | Resuscitation by magic pill. (Cf. D1243.) Chinese: Werner 159. |
| E108 | Resuscitation by magic powder. |
| E108.1 | Resuscitation by magic powder blown into nose. Africa (Kordofan): Frobenius Atlantis IV 101ff. No. 11. |
| E113 | Resuscitation by blood. Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 143; *BP I 46ff.; *Fb "blod" IV 46b, 47a; Jacobs' list s.v. "Blood resuscitates".—Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 16 n. 1; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 9; India: *Thompson-Balys. —Tonga: Gifford 185; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G 3/912); N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 96 No. 7; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 165. |
| E113.1 | Resuscitation by animal's blood. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| E113.1.1 | Resuscitation by raven's blood. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| E114 | Resuscitation by spittle. (Cf. D1001.) Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 143.—Sicilian: Gonzenbach I 156 No. 25; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 99, 157; Tonga: Gifford 185; N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Teit JAFL XXIX 305 (European borrowing). |
| E115 | Resuscitation by wax from deer's ear. Scotch: Campbell Tales II 309 No. 44. |
| E116 | Resuscitation by use of animal fat. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E117 | Resuscitation by gall of slain giant. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| E120 | Other means of resuscitation. |
| E121 | Resuscitation by supernatural person. MacCulloch Childhood 84 n. 2; Melanesia: *Wheeler No. 66f. |
| E121.1 | Resuscitation by a god. (Cf. A454.) Irish: Beal XXI 329; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 234 n. 3 (Theseus), Fox 119 (Pelops), 126 (Protesilaos), 144 (Alkestis, Glaukos), 220 (Adriadne, Semele), 280 (Asklepios); Icelandic: Boberg (Odin); Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 339. |
| E121.1.1 | Resuscitation by concerted effort of the gods. Greek: Fox 119 (Pelops). |
| E121.1.2 | Resuscitation by power of goddess. *India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E121.1.3 | Man sent back to earth by Death, for it is not yet his time to die. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E121.1.3.1 | Hero resuscitated by his bride, daughter of king of death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E121.2 | Resuscitation by Christ. Types 750***, 753; Irish myth: Cross. |
| E121.3 | Resuscitation by Virgin Mary. (Cf. V268.) *Type 710; *Crane Miraculis 85 No. 8; *Ward Catalogue of Romances II 633 No. 31; Wells Manual of Writings 170; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E121.4 | Resuscitation by saint. Köhler-Bolte II 163ff.; Alphabet Nos. 130, 374, 375, 376, 559, 628; *Loomis White Magic 83f.; Irish: Plummer xxxv, *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Sicilian: Gonzenbach I 156 No. 25; Jewish: bin Gorion III 20; India: *Thompson-Balys. See also Acta Sanctorum passim. |
| E121.4.1 | The cooked and revived child. Saint to a woman: "Cook me what you like most." Gullible woman cooks son. Saint revives child. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 80f. |
| E121.5 | Resuscitation by holy man (priest, etc.). Irish: O'Suilleabhain 31, 90, Beal XXI 310; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E121.5.1 | Resuscitation by rabbi. Gaster Exempla 218 No. 149. |
| E121.5.2 | Resuscitation through prayers of holy man. (Cf. E63.) Nouvelles de Sens No. 24. |
| E121.5.3 | Resuscitation by prophet. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E121.6 | Resuscitation by demon. Hindu: Tawney I 132. |
| E121.6.1 | Resuscitation by demon's entering corpse. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E121.7 | Resuscitation by magician. (Cf. D1711.) Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Lillooet): Teit JAFL XXV 332, (Mewan): Merriam Dawn of the World (Cleveland, 1910) 188; Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 247. |
| E121.7.1 | Resuscitation by druid. (Cf. P427.5.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| E121.8 | Resuscitation by fairy. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E122 | Resuscitation by animals. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E122.1 | Resuscitation by cuckoo. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *455. |
| E122.2 | Resuscitation by snake. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E125 | Resuscitation by relative. |
| E125.1 | Resuscitation by son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E125.2 | Resuscitation by sister(s). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 152. |
| E125.3 | Resuscitation by brother. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E127 | Resuscitation by friends. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E132 | Resuscitation through ashes thrown on funeral pyre. *Penzer IX 68 n. 2. |
| E133 | Resuscitation by warming dead man. German: Grimm No. 4. |
| E134 | Resuscitation by laying flesh on pyre and covering with cloth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E134.1 | Resuscitation by covering body for certain time. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 72, 80, 102. |
| E136 | Resuscitation by heavenly voice. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E138 | Resuscitation by carrying corpse to its home. |
| E138.1 | Deer foster parent of hero comes alive from its burial hill when youth returns to spot and carries him off to jungle again. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E141 | Resuscitation: ghosts deceived so that they cannot find way back to grave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E142 | Resuscitation by polishing sword that contains dead man's life. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E149 | Means of resuscitation—miscellaneous. |
| E149.1 | Human bone, found in demon's stomach wrapped in silk with bow and arrow, becomes a boy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E149.2 | Resuscitation of decapitated princess by hero by imitating ogre's actions of night before: passing sword three times up and down her throat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E149.3 | Resuscitation from touch of a child at his first walking. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E150 | Circumstances of resuscitation. |
| E151 | Repeated resuscitation. A person dies and is resuscitated repeatedly. *Zwierzina Legenden der Märtyrer vom unzerstörbaren Leben. (Innsbrucker Festgruss dargebracht der 50. Versammlung deutscher Philologen in Graz).—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Georgian: Wardrop Georgian Folk-Tales (London, 1894) 59 No. 10; India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian (Micmac): Rand 296 No. 51, (Chilcotin): Farrand JE II 22 No. 8, (Yuki): Kroeber UCal IV 185, (Osage): Dorsey FM VII 43 No. 36, (Navaho): Matthews MAFLS V 93; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 298f., 463; S. A. Indian (Ackawoi): Alexander Lat. Am. 270; Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 75 No. 36. |
| E152 | Body still warm restored to life. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 152. |
| E155 | Periodic resuscitation. (Cf. D620.) Return to life at regular intervals. *Cosquin Contes indiens 18ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E155.1 | Slain warriors revive nightly. Continue fighting the next day. *Krappe Balor 132ff.; Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 546; Irish myth: *Cross, Beal IV 342, 454, V 210; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 176, Fb "kamp", Panzer Hilde-Gudrun 327ff., Herrmann Saxo II 364, *Boberg; Hindu: Tawney I 476. |
| E155.1.1 | Constant replacement of fighters. In contest between gods and demons, latter are constantly slain and replaced. Hindu: Keith 150. |
| E155.1.2 | Soldiers of magic army constantly revived. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E155.2 | Annual resuscitation of a god. (Cf. A192.1.) Greek: Fox 156 (Zeus), 218 (Dionysus), 230 (Persephone); Babylonian: Spence 132 (Adonis, Tammuz). |
| E155.3 | Nightly resuscitation of man with external soul. When enemy takes off necklace containing the soul he revives, but dies again when it is put on. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E155.4 | Person dead during day, revived at night. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E155.4.1 | Woman alive by day, dead by night. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E155.5 | Slain pigs revive nightly. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E155.5.1 | Calf, slain at night, alive next day through power of saint. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E155.6 | King eaten every morning: revived daily. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E156 | Gradual resuscitation—one organ at a time. Korean: Zong in-Sob 47. |
| E161 | Killed game revives and flies away. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 303 n. 109e; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 159 No. 20. |
| E162 | Resuscitation impossible after certain length of time. N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 97 No. 7 (ten days); Africa (Vai): Ellis 200 No. 18 (three days). |
| E162.0.1 | Resuscitation after great length of time. (Cf. D1857.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E162.1 | Resuscitation even possible after three days. Icelandic: Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 308. |
| E162.2 | Dead man tries in vain to come back to life. (Cf. E1.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 347. |
| E163 | Man kept alive by consecrated sword. (Cf. D1081, E765.3.0.1.) Irish: Plummer clxxxv, *Cross. |
| E165 | Resuscitation of wife by husband giving up half his remaining life. (Sometimes vice versa). *Type 612; *BP I 126, 129; *Wesselski Märchen 188; *Chauvin VIII 120 No. 104; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 93, 193; Jewish: bin Gorion I 372; India: *Thompson-Balys, Penzer VIII 117; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 226; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis IX No. 108. |
| E165.1 | One man prays either to keep friend from death or for both to die. Both allowed to live. Jewish: bin Gorion II 171f., 349. |
| E165.2 | Husband resuscitated after wife's nose is cut off and thrown over grave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E166 | Return from dead granted for definite time. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 126 (three hours); Hindu: Keith 114 (100 years). |
| E167 | Man given ability to return to life if killed. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 301. |
| E168 | Cooked animal comes to life. (Cf. E155.5.) Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E168.1 | Roasted cock comes to life and crows. English: Child I 233—242, 505, II 8, 501b, III 502f., IV 451f., V 212a, 288a. |
| E171 | Flayed animal resuscitated. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E174 | Bones wrapped in sheepskin inscribed with holy name revive. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E174.1 | Ashes of burnt hero revive. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E175 | Death thought sleep. Resuscitated person thinks he has been sleeping. He exclaims, "How long I have been asleep!" *Köhler-Bolte 555; Wesselski Märchen 192.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Dixon 235; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 319 n. 154, (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 57; S. A. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 502. |
| E176 | Resuscitation in order to baptize. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E177 | Resuscitated man relates visions of beyond. (Cf. E480, V511.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| E178 | Resurrection at Judgment Day. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E181 | Means of resuscitation learned. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E181.1 | Husband advised how to resuscitate his wife: lift her up and turn her around so her head rests upon the brick which had been under her feet. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E181.1.1 | Man advised how to resuscitate his mother: break waternuts on her head: she would revive and live one year for each nut broken. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E181.2 | Student revives whole family following instructions given by demon. Chinese: Graham. |
| E182 | Dead body incorruptible. Beard and fingernails continue to grow. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E185 | Resuscitation when murder is discovered. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E185.1 | Resuscitation after murderer is buried in the earth, wood laid over him, and a lighted lamp on its top. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E186 | Failure at resuscitation. |
| E186.1 | Attempted resuscitation fails because of overanxiety. S. A. Indian (Kaiguá): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 139. |
| E200 | Malevolent return from the dead. *Fb "spøgelse" III 520b; *Carrington and Nandor Haunted People (New York, 1951); English: Child IV 416, V 303b; U.S. (New York State): *L. C. Jones JAFL LVII 237ff., New York History XXIV 177ff., Spooks of the Valley (Boston, 1948); (Pennsylvania): Balys MWF II 47—52; Icelandic: *Boberg; Norwegian: *Solheim Register 17; India: Thompson-Balys; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 316; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 64. |
| E210 | Dead lover's malevolent return. *R. Arbesmann The Dead Bridegroom in South American Folklore (Thought XIX [March 1944] 95—111); North Carolina: Brown Collection I 681; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 114 No. 8. |
| E211 | Dead sweetheart haunts faithless lover. English: Child I 426; U.S.: Baughman, (North Carolina): Brown Collection I 676, (New York): Jones JAFL LVII 245; Corsican: Ortoli Contes Pop. de la Corse (Paris, 1883) 322, 330. |
| E211.1 | Dead sweetheart in the form of a white rabbit follows seducer. England: *Baughman. |
| E211.2 | Dead sweetheart appears to seducer every evening, even after he has married another woman. England: Baughman. |
| E212 | Dead lover sets tasks. If girl does not perform them (or answer his questions) he will carry her off. Child IV 439ff. |
| E214 | Dead lover haunts faithless sweetheart. |
| E214.1 | Dead lover returns to dance with fickle sweetheart at her wedding. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E215 | The Dead Rider (Lenore). Dead lover returns and takes sweetheart with him on horseback. She is sometimes saved at the grave by the crowing of the cock, though the experience is usually fatal. *Type 365; *Fb "død" I 228a, "ride" III 53a, "spøgelse" III 520ab; Krumbacher Zs. f. vgl. Litt. N. F. I (1887) 214—220; Wlislocki ibid. N.F. XI (1897) 467; Borker Germania XXXI 117; Dieterich Zs. f. Vksk. XII 147;—England: Child V 60ff., 303; England, U.S.: *Baughman; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 No. 28. |
| E217 | Fatal kiss from dead. English: Child I 439, II 229ff., 236f., III 512f., IV 474f. |
| E218 | Spells to recall dead lover. Boiling dead man's head, bones, or carcass in a pot, or burning a piece of lover's clothing or cat in a hot oven. English: Child V 61. |
| E220 | Dead relative's malevolent return. *Fb "spøgelse" III 520b; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3531; West Indies: Flowers 428. |
| E221 | Dead spouse's malevolent return. Usually to protest with survivor because of evil ways. English: Child II 281 No. 86; Danish: Grundtvig Danmarks Gamle Folkeviser No. 89b; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3526; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 114 No. 6; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 6 No. 47; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 245; West Indies: Flowers 428. |
| E221.1 | Dead wife haunts husband on second marriage. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 146; Scotch: Macdougall and Calder 185; England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E221.2 | Dead wife returns to reprove husband's second wife. Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman; N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Grinnell Pawnee Hero Stories 129. |
| E221.2.1 | Dead wife returns to reprove husband's second wife for abusing her step-children. N. A. Indian (Fox): Jones PAES I 153. |
| E221.3 | Dead husband returns to reprove wife's second husband (lover). Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E221.4 | Dead husband returns to protest wife's spending his money. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E221.5 | Dead wife torments husband who has let her die of neglect. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E222 | Dead mother's malevolent return. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 94, 104, Beal XXI 330, 333. |
| E222.0.1 | Mother haunts daughter. England: Baughman. |
| E222.1 | Mother's ghost tries to tear daughter to pieces. English: Child V 303b. |
| E222.2 | Dead mother haunts daughter who marries against mother's will. England: Baughman. |
| E222.3 | Dead mother returns to invoke curse on murderer-son. Greek: Aeschylus Eumenides line 115. |
| E225 | Ghost of murdered child. English: *Child I 218 No. 20; Tobler 30; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 114 No. 9; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 39 No. 9; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 3; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 241, 244; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 392, 410, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 181. |
| E225.1 | Ghost of abortion. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 274, 392, 410, 439, Holm 88, Rasmussen III 181f. |
| E226 | Dead brother's return. |
| E226.1 | Dead brother reproves sister's pride. English: Child I 428ff. |
| E228 | The dead daughter reproaches her mother for putting her dowery into coffin. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E229 | Dead relative's malevolent return—miscellaneous. |
| E229.1 | "If I were not your next of kin." Ghost tells man that otherwise he would tear him into pieces. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 328 No. 29. |
| E230 | Return from dead to inflict punishment. |
| E231 | Return from dead to reveal murder. Fb "gjenganger" I 443b, "lig" II 411b; Wimberly 261; England, U.S.: *Baughman; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 245; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 677; West Indies: Flowers 429; Jewish: bin Gorion V 213, 306, *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.—N. A. Indian (Fox): Jones PAES I 93ff., (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 173 No. 33, 670 No. 129; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 39, Rasmussen III 145, Kroeber JAFL XII 181, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 236; Africa (Fang): Tessman 118. |
| E231.1 | Ghost tells name of murderer. Wales: Baughman. |
| E231.2 | Ghost skeleton points lance at murderer. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E231.3 | Ghost light hovers over hiding place of body of murdered person. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E231.4 | Noise of chains leads to buried ghost. (Cf. E402.1.4.) England: Baughman. |
| E231.5 | Ghost returns to murderer, causes him to confess. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E232 | Return from the dead to slay wicked person. Alphabet No. 772; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 111. |
| E232.1 | Return from dead to slay own murderer. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E232.2 | Ghost returns to slay man who has injured it while living. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E232.3 | Ghost kills man who interferes with ghostly activity. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E232.4 | Ghost returns to slay enemies. U.S.: Baughman; S. A. Indian (Guaporé River): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 378. |
| E234 | Ghost punishes injury received in life. |
| E234.0.1 | Ghost returns to demand vengeance. (Cf. E232.2.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E234.1 | Ghost slaps face of son who cheated him out of property. A cancer grows on son's face. Canada: Baughman. |
| E234.2 | Ghost stampedes stolen cattle being driven past his ranch. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E234.3 | Return from dead to avenge death (murder). Irish myth: Cross; England, U.S.: *Baughman (E233). |
| E234.4 | Ghost an unjustly executed man. Real murderer found. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 194. |
| E235 | Return from dead to punish indignities to corpse, or ghost. Ireland: Baughman; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 245; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3532; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E235.1 | Ghost punishes person who mocks him. Fb "sjæl" III 214b, "gjenganger" I 443b; Spanish Exempla: Keller; U.S.: Baughman. |
| E235.2 | Ghost returns to demand proper burial. Fb "lig" II 411b; Irish: *Cross, Baughman; Jewish: Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 199. |
| E235.2.1 | Dead man speaks demanding proper funeral rites. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E235.2.2 | Ghost returns because corpse was not properly burned. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E235.3 | Return from dead as punishment for trying to raise ghost. (Cf. E384ff., F491.7.) Ghost accuses man of stealing a trifle and thus has revenge. Fb "stjæle" III 575b; England: *Baughman. |
| E235.4 | Return from dead to punish theft of part of corpse. (Cf. E419.7.) Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 6 No. 49. |
| E235.4.1 | Return from dead to punish theft of golden arm from grave. *Type 366; Köhler-Bolte I 47, 133.—Gascon: Bladé II 324 No. 4; English: Baughman. |
| E235.4.2 | Return from dead to punish theft of leg from grave. *Type 366; BP III 480; Köhler-Bolte I 133; Fb "rædehistorie".—English: Baughman; French: Cosquin Lorraine II 76 No. 41; Gascon Bladé II 328 No. 5. |
| E235.4.3 | Return from dead to punish theft of bone from grave. *Type 366; Fb "menneskeben" II 579a; Köhler-Bolte I 133; England, U.S.: Baughman; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "os". |
| E235.4.4 | Return from dead to punish theft of liver from man on gallows. *Type 366; *BP III 478; Fb "lever" II 404b. |
| E235.4.5 | Return from dead to punish theft of skull. England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 115 Nos. 14, 15; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 328 No. 29. |
| E235.4.6 | Return from dead to punish theft of teeth. U.S. (S. Carolina): Baughman. |
| E235.5 | Return from dead to punish kicking of skull. (Cf. C13.) N. A. Indian (Tlingit): Swanton BBAE XXXIX 247 No. 86. |
| E235.6 | Return from dead to punish disturber of grave. England, U.S.: Baughman; Jewish: bin Gorion II 160, 348, 360, Neuman. |
| E235.7 | Return from the dead to capture thief. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| E235.8 | Corpse of saint sits up and looks at people who open grave and come to claim his body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E236 | Return from dead to demand stolen property. *Fb "spøgelse" III 520a; Icelandic: Boberg; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3565; N. Carolina: Brown Collection I 676. |
| E236.1 | Return from dead to demand clothing stolen from grave. Type 366; Fb "død" I 228, "ligskjorte" II 425; *BP III 482 n. 1; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 116 No. 16; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3534. |
| E236.1.1 | Return from dead to demand ring stolen from corpse. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3533, Balys Ghosts; England, U.S.: Baughman; U.S. (N. Carolina): Brown Collection I 676. |
| E236.2 | Return from dead to demand stolen children. Tobler 84. |
| E236.3 | Return from the dead to warn thief that he will be punished. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E236.4 | Return from the dead because last will was not fulfilled. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E236.4.1 | Ghost appears at time of death, foils lawyer who is counterfeiting a will for the newly-deceased. England, Holland: *Baughman. |
| E236.4.2 | Ghost appears to remind his brother of the terms of his will. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E236.5 | Return from dead to demand money stolen from corpse. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 161 No. 29. |
| E236.6 | Ghost drives away his relatives who are trying to get estate from his wife. England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| E236.7 | Ghostly noises disturb village until stolen church plate is returned. (Cf. E402.) England: Baughman. |
| E236.8 | Ghost seeks repayment of stolen money. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| E238 | Dinner with the dead. Dead man is invited to dinner. Takes his host to other world. *Type 470; **MacKay; Hartland Science 192f.; U.S.: Baughman; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "repas"; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 470A*; Estonian: Aarne in FFC XX No. 472*; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC No. 835*. Cf. Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 79. |
| E238.1 | Dance with the dead. Girl invites dead to come from grave and dance with her. Difficult escape. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 365B*; Balys Ghosts (E225.8); Prussian: Plenzat 20. |
| E241 | Ghosts punish intruders into ghost town. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 238, 240. |
| E242 | Ghosts punish intruders into mass (procession) of ghosts. Köhler-Bolte I 133; Gascon: Bladé II 266 No. 3; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 112f. Nos. 1, 2; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3558; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 39 No. 1; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 39 No. 1; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 48 Nos 64, 65. |
| E243 | Ghosts attack bishop who has suspended priest for singing for all Christian souls. Alphabet No. 686; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| E245 | Ghosts punish failure to provide for their wants. Haunt man because he does not leave food and drink for them. Corsican: Ortoli Contes de la Corse (Paris, 1883) 337; Africa (Kweli): Sieber 90. |
| E246 | Ghosts punish failure to sacrifice to them. Greek: Grote I 278; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 109; Africa: Werner African 198. |
| E247 | Ghost kills man who had had ghost exorcised for too short a time. England: Baughman. |
| E250 | Bloodthirsty revenants. |
| E251 | Vampire. Corpse which comes from grave at night and sucks blood. (Cf. B16.7.1, E268.) *Types 307, 363; *Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 322 (327 bibliography of literary treatments); *v. Negelein ibid. XIV 19; *Jaworskij ibid. VIII 331; *Hock Die Vampyrsagen und ihre Verwertung in der deutschen Literatur (Berlin, 1900); *Penzer VI 136, X 346 s.v. "vampires", 350 s.v. "Vetala"; *Fb "blod" IV 47a, "vampyr" IV 361b; *Kittredge Witchcraft 43, 397 n. 160; *Havecost Die Vampirsage in England (1914); Stetson The Animistic Vampire in New England (AA o.s. IX [1896] 1ff.); *Encyc. Rel. Ethics s.v. "Vampire"; Summers **The Vampire in Europe (London, 1929), **The Vampire, its Kith and Kin (London, 1928); *Feilberg Am Urquell III 331ff., VI 84; Wehrhan Die Sage 62; *E. Jobbé-Duval Les morts malfaisants (Paris, 1924)—England: Tupper and Ogle, Map 125f.; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "vampirisme"; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3543; Greek: Fox 278 (Stringes); Slavic: Máchal 231f.; Assyrian: Spence 265; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Dixon 231f.; Kai (German New Guinea): ibid. 143; West Indies: Flowers 429; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 357 n. 287e; S. A. Indian (Araucanian): Alexander Lat. Am. 329. |
| E251.1 | Vampire's power overcome. Penzer VI 138. |
| E251.1.1 | Vampire's power overcome by endurance and prayer. Hero continues to pray without looking or speaking while vampire punishes him. *Type 307; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| E251.1.2 | Hand of vampire severed by cutting off hand of drawn figure. Penzer IX 27 n. 1. |
| E251.2 | Vampire brought to life. |
| E251.2.1 | Vampire brought to life through endurance of punishment by her victim. *Type 307. |
| E251.2.2 | Prince plucks from grave of vampire a flower which later becomes a girl. *BP II 126f. |
| E251.2.3 | Vampire brought to life by being fed human food and drink. Africa (Ronga): Junod Les Chants et les Contes des Ba-Ronga de la baie de Delagoa (Lausanne, 1897) 317ff. No. 30. |
| E251.3 | Deeds of vampires. |
| E251.3.1 | Vampires eat corpses. *Type 363.—Cf. Fb "hud" I 661; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E251.3.1.1 | Ghosts roast girl daily in oven and devour her flesh. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E251.3.2 | Vampire milks cows dry. *Kittredge Witchcraft 166, 485 n. 27. |
| E251.3.3 | Vampire sucks blood. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E251.3.4 | Ghost sucks people's breath. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 173. |
| E251.4 | Form of Vampire. |
| E251.4.1 | Vampire with elephant face. Penzer VII 163. |
| E251.4.2 | Vampire with ass's ears. Penzer VII 163. |
| E251.4.3 | Vampire with eyes of owls. Penzer VII 163. |
| E251.4.4 | God with form and characteristics of vampire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E251.5 | Vampire plant. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E253 | Ghost tries to kill person for food. Africa (Nyang): Ittman 58. |
| E255 | Ghosts flay corpse. Fb "hud" I 661. |
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.