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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.

46,221 motifs

Page 73 of 185 · 250 per page
Thompson reference ▲ Description
E501.4.1.3 Dogs with fiery eyes in wild hunt. Schweda 25.
E501.4.1.4 Dogs with eyes hanging out over mouth in wild hunt. Fb "øje" III 1165b.
E501.4.1.5 Black dogs in wild hunt. Schweda 25; England: Baughman.
E501.4.1.6 Three-legged dogs in wild hunt. *Zingerle Sagen aus Tirol 590; H. Usener Dreiheit (Rheinisches Museum f. Philologie N. F. LVIII (1903) 1ff., 161ff.).
E501.4.1.7 Winged dogs in wild hunt. RTP XVII 505.
E501.4.1.8 Dogs in single file in wild hunt. Schweda 25.
E501.4.1.9 Dogs on leash in wild hunt. Schweda 25.
E501.4.1.10 Baying dogs in wild hunt. Schweda 25; Fb "hund" I 676a.
E501.4.2 Wild huntsman's horse. *Howie 51.
E501.4.2.1 White horse in wild hunt. *Schwartz Zs. f. Vksk. VII 235; Schweda 25.
E501.4.2.2 Black horse in wild hunt. Schweda 25.
E501.4.2.3 Brown horse in wild hunt. Schweda 25.
E501.4.2.4 Horse in wild hunt breathes fire. Schweda 25; Schwartz Zs. f. Vksk. VII 235.
E501.4.2.5 Horse with fiery eyes in wild hunt. Schweda 25.
E501.4.2.6 Two-legged horse in wild hunt. Plischke 30.
E501.4.2.7 Headless horse in wild hunt. Plischke 30.
E501.4.3 Boar (sow) in wild hunt. Plischke 31.
E501.4.3.1 One-eyed sow in wild hunt. Plischke 31.
E501.4.3.2 Blind wild boar in wild hunt. Plischke 32.
E501.4.4 Two ravens follow wild huntsman. *Zingerle Sagen aus Tirol 588.
E501.4.5 Owl (ghost of nun) in wild hunt. Plischke 34.
E501.5 Object of wild hunt's pursuit.
E501.5.1 Wild hunter pursues a woman. Plischke 65; Fb "Odins jæger" II 732b; Schwartz Zs. f. Vksk. VII 233.
E501.5.1.1 Naked woman pursued and cut in two by rider. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 228; *Herbert III 134.
E501.5.1.2 Prostitutes pursued in wild hunt. (Cf. E501.2.4.) Plischke 65.
E501.5.1.3 Witches pursued in wild hunt. Plischke 65.
E501.5.2 Fairies pursued in wild hunt. Fb "Odins jæger" II 732ab.
E501.5.3 Wood-spirits pursued in wild hunt. Plischke 66.
E501.5.4 Unbaptized children pursued in wild hunt. Plischke 65.
E501.5.5 Animals pursued in wild hunt.
E501.5.5.1 Hare pursued in wild hunt. Plischke 66.
E501.5.5.2 Deer pursued in wild hunt. Schwartz Zs. f. Vksk. VII 232; RTP XXII 466.
E501.6 Ghostly warner of wild hunt's approach. Plischke 38.
E501.7 Personal appearance of wild huntsmen.
E501.7.1 Wild huntsmen headless. *Zingerle 589; Schweda 28.
E501.7.2 Wild huntsmen with deer-heads. Plischke 29.
E501.7.3 Wild huntsmen with heads on backward. Plischke 29.
E501.7.4 Wild huntsmen carrying skull under arms. Plischke 29.
E501.7.5 Wild huntsmen with entrails stringing from open bodies. Plischke 29.
E501.7.6 Wild huntsmen luminous. Zingerle 4 No. 6.
E501.7.6.1 Wild huntsmen exhale fire. Schweda 28.
E501.7.6.2 Wild huntsmen have fiery eyes. Schweda 29.
E501.7.6.3 Wild huntsmen leave fiery tracks. Schweda 28.
E501.7.6.4 Wild huntsmen surrounded by fire. Schweda 29.
E501.7.7 Wild huntsmen with long hair. Schweda 29.
E501.8 Clothing of wild huntsmen.
E501.8.1 Wild huntsmen dressed in black. Schweda 29.
E501.8.2 Wild huntsmen dressed in red. Schweda 29.
E501.8.3 Wild huntsmen dressed in white. Schweda 29.
E501.8.4 Wild huntsmen dressed in ancient costume. Schweda 29.
E501.8.5 Wild huntsmen belted and tied up. Plischke 35.
E501.8.6 Wild huntsman with black fur cap and white staff. Hartland Science 236.
E501.9 Wild huntsmen invisible. Tobler 92.
E501.10 Objects as part of wild hunt.
E501.10.1 Empty shoe follows wild hunt. Plischke 35.
E501.10.2 Worn-out broom at head of wild hunt. Plischke 35.
E501.10.3 Wagon accompanies wild hunt. Plischke 36.
E501.11 Time of appearance of wild hunt.
E501.11.1 Wild hunt appears at night. *Schwartz Zs. f. Vksk. VII 235.
E501.11.1.1 Wild hunt appears at midnight. Schweda 16; Plischke 52.
E501.11.1.2 Wild hunt abroad until cockcrow. Schweda 16.
E501.11.1.3 Wild hunt appears on St. John's Night. Schweda 16.
E501.11.1.4 Wild hunt appears on stormy nights. Plischke 55.
E501.11.2 Wild hunt appears at certain seasons.
E501.11.2.1 Wild hunt appears in winter. Schweda 16; Plischke 54.
E501.11.2.2 Wild hunt appears between Christmas and Twelfth Night. Plischke 54.
E501.11.2.3 Wild hunt appears on feast-days. Schweda 16; Plischke 55; Fb "Odins jæger" II 732ab.
E501.11.3 Wild hunt appears periodically.
E501.11.3.1 Wild hunt appears every seven years. Plischke 64.
E501.11.3.2 Wild hunt appears yearly at same moment. Plischke 74.
E501.12 Place of appearance of wild hunt.
E501.12.1 Wild hunt appears in woods. Schweda 13; Plischke 57.
E501.12.2 Wild hunt appears in churchyard. Schweda 13.
E501.12.3 Wild hunt appears at crossroads. Schweda 13; Plischke 61.
E501.12.4 Wild hunt appears by body of water. Schweda 13; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 678.
E501.12.5 Wild hunt appears by hill or mountain. Schweda 14; Plischke 57.
E501.12.6 Wild hunt appears in a field. Schweda 14.
E501.12.6.1 Wild hunt appears in old battlefield. Plischke 29, 59.
E501.12.7 Wild hunt appears at desert spot. Schweda 14.
E501.12.8 Wild hunt appears at castle. Schweda 14.
E501.12.9 Wild hunt appears over city. Schweda 14.
E501.12.10 Wild hunt appears at old mill. Schweda 14.
E501.13 Phenomena at appearance of wild hunt.
E501.13.1 Wild hunt heralded by noise. Schweda 20, Plischke 36.
E501.13.1.1 Wild hunt heralded by detonation. Schweda 21.
E501.13.1.2 Wild hunt heralded by rattle of chains. Schweda 20; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 250.
E501.13.1.3 Wild hunt heralded by clash of swords. Plischke 29.
E501.13.1.4 Wild hunt heralded by ringing of bells. Schweda 21.
E501.13.2 Wild hunt heralded by music. Plischke 36.
E501.13.3 Wild hunt heralded by noise of horses.
E501.13.3.1 Wild hunt heralded by stamping of horses. Schweda 21.
E501.13.3.2 Wild hunt heralded by neighing of horses. Schweda 21.
E501.13.4 Wild hunt heralded by baying of hounds. Schweda 21.
E501.13.5 Wild hunt heralded by shouts of huntsmen. Schweda 21, Tobler 92.
E501.13.6 Wild hunt heralded by storm. Plischke 37.
E501.13.7 Wild hunt heralded by fire. Schweda 21.
E501.14 Course of wild hunt.
E501.14.1 Wild hunt chases in air. Plischke 62; Mazeret RTP XXV 313.
E501.14.1.1 Wild hunt in air very close to ground. Plischke 63.
E501.14.2 Wild hunt courses in particular direction. Plischke 63.
E501.14.3 Wild hunt goes thrice around pond. Schweda 29.
E501.14.4 Wild hunt goes several times around a hill. Schweda 29.
E501.14.5 Wild hunt goes around the entire earth. Plischke 64.
E501.14.6 Wild hunt goes through houses when front and back doors are on a line. (Cf. E501.17.5.4.) Plischke 64; Fb "port" II 862b, "Odins jæger" II 732b.
E501.15 Behavior of wild huntsmen.
E501.15.1 Wild huntsman blows horn. Schwartz Zs. f. Vksk. VII 232.
E501.15.2 Wild huntsman has his horse beaten. *Zingerle 589.
E501.15.3 Wild huntsman makes people carry him on their backs. Harou RTP XX 368.
E501.15.4 Wild huntsman repays with leaves (shavings) that turn to gold. Plischke 36; Zingerle 589.
E501.15.5 Living smith must repair wagon belonging to wild hunt. Plischke 36.
E501.15.6 Behavior of wild huntsman's dogs.
E501.15.6.1 Wild huntsman asks people to hold his dogs. Fb "Odins jæger" II 732a.
E501.15.6.2 Wild huntsman turns his dogs loose on those he meets. Harou RTP XX 368.
E501.15.6.3 Bite of wild huntsman's dogs drives other dogs mad. *Fb "hund" I 676a, "Odins jæger" II 732a.
E501.15.6.4 Wild huntsman's dogs cannot pass over grave. Must be lifted over. Plischke 33.
E501.15.6.5 Wild huntsman's dog cannot be dislodged from house it has entered. Plischke 33.
E501.15.6.6 Wild huntsman's dogs eat dough, bread, meal, etc. Plischke 33; *Zingerle 590.
E501.15.6.7 Wild huntsman's dog when seized becomes stick (black coal). Plischke 32.
E501.15.7 Wild huntsman waters his horse. Fb "Odins jæger" II 732a.
E501.15.8 Wild huntsman lives in room on farm. Fb "Odins jæger" 732b.
E501.16 Phenomena at disappearance of wild hunt.
E501.16.1 Wild hunt disappears with loud noise. Schweda 21.
E501.16.2 Wild hunt disappears with movement of tree tops. Schweda 21.
E501.16.3 Wild hunt disappears with blast of wind. Schweda 21.
E501.16.4 Wild hunt disappears in column of fire. Schweda 21.
E501.16.5 Wild hunt disappears during storm. Schweda 21.
E501.17 Evading or combating the wild hunt.
E501.17.1 Wild hunt powerless against certain persons.
E501.17.1.1 Wild hunt powerless against herdsmen. Schweda 31.
E501.17.1.2 Wild hunt powerless against churchmen. Schweda 32.
E501.17.2 Wild hunt powerless beyond certain range. Schweda 32.
E501.17.3 Wild hunt powerless at crossroads. Schweda 32; Plischke 32, 37; RTP XX 163.
E501.17.4 Wild hunt's power evaded.
E501.17.4.1 Power of wild hunt evaded by prayer. Schweda 31; Plischke 79.
E501.17.4.2 Power of wild hunt evaded by formula. (Cf. D1273.) Schweda 32.
E501.17.4.3 Power of wild hunt evaded by sacrificing to huntsman's dogs. Fb "kvie" II 338.
E501.17.4.4 Power of wild hunt evaded by silence. Schweda 31; England: Baughman.
E501.17.5 Wild hunt avoided.
E501.17.5.1 Wild hunt avoided by keeping on one's road. Sometimes in middle of road or on right side of road. Schweda 31; Plischke 77.
E501.17.5.2 Wild hunt avoided by getting out of its course. Plischke 76.
E501.17.5.3 Wild hunt avoided by keeping in house with windows closed. (Cf. E501.14.6.) Plischke 76.
E501.17.5.4 Wild hunt avoided by throwing self to earth. Plischke 76.
E501.17.5.5 Wild hunt avoided by staying within circle. (Cf. D1272.) Plischke 76.
E501.17.5.6 Wild hunt avoided by holding bread. (Cf. D1031.1.) Plischke 78.
E501.17.5.7 Wild hunt avoided by holding certain plant. (Cf. D965.) Plischke 78.
E501.17.5.8 Sound of wild hunt avoided by sticking fingers in ears. Fb "øre" III 1181a.
E501.17.6 Wild huntsman pacified.
E501.17.6.1 Wild huntsman pacified by sacrifice. *Fb "ofre" II 735a.
E501.17.6.2 Wild huntsman pacified with food. Fb "Odins jæger" II 732b.
E501.17.7 Wild huntsman released from wandering.
E501.17.7.1 Wild huntsman released from wandering by mould from Christ's grave. Fb "Kristi grav".
E501.17.8 Wild hunt forced to depart.
E501.17.8.1 Wild hunt frightened away by scolding. Plischke 75.
E501.18 Evil effects of meeting wild hunt.
E501.18.1 Wild hunt harmful to certain persons.
E501.18.1.1 Wild hunt harmful to mockers. Schweda 31; Plischke 69, 72.
E501.18.1.2 Wild hunt harmful to thieves. Schweda 31.
E501.18.1.3 Wild hunt harmful to the curious. Schweda 31.
E501.18.1.3.1 Wild hunt throws down man's dead child when asked for part of game. England: Baughman.
E501.18.2 Wild hunt throws human flesh on persons who see it. This cannot be removed. Schweda 32; Plischke 72.
E501.18.3 Wild hunt throws horses' feet on persons who see it. This cannot be removed. Schweda 32; Plischke 72.
E501.18.4 Wild hunt carries person off. Plischke 69; England: Baughman.
E501.18.5 Wild hunt throws person to ground. Plischke 70.
E501.18.6 Sight of wild hunt renders person insane. Plischke 70.
E501.18.7 Sight of wild hunt blinds person. Plischke 70.
E501.18.8 Sight of wild hunt causes swelling of head. Plischke 71.
E501.18.9 Sight of wild hunt causes one to stick axe or knife in foot. Plischke 71.
E501.18.10 Sight of wild hunt causes death. Schweda 32; Ireland: Baughman.
E501.19 Remedy for effects of seeing wild hunt.
E501.19.1 Effects of wild hunt remedied by seeing it a year later in same place. Plischke 74.
E501.19.2 Effects of wild hunt remedied by asking the huntsmen for salt. Plischke 74.
E501.19.3 Effects of wild hunt remedied by asking the huntsmen for parsley. Plischke 74.
E501.19.4 Effects of wild hunt remedied by asking to partake in booty of hunt. This booty is the same kind as the hunt has already thrown down. (Cf. E501.18.2.) Plischke 74.
E501.19.5 Effects of wild hunt remedied by eating part of flesh thrown down by it. (Cf. E501.18.2.) Plischke 75.
E501.19.6 Effects of wild hunt remedied by prayer. Plischke 75.
E501.20 Wild hunt as omen.
E501.20.1 Wild hunt as omen of disaster. RTP XII 186.
E501.20.1.1 Wild hunt as omen of war. Plischke 67; Fb "krig" II 296a; England: Baughman.
E501.20.1.2 Wild hunt as omen of pestilence. Plischke 67.
E501.20.2 Wild hunt as omen of plentiful year. Plischke 68.
E501.20.3 Wild hunt as weather omen. Plischke 68.
E502 The Sleeping Army. Soldiers killed in battle come forth on occasions from their resting place (hill, grave, grotto) and march about or send their leader to do so.—*Schweda 59ff.; *Hartland Science 216ff.; Howey 9; Irish myth: *Cross; England, Scotland, Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys.
E510 Phantom sailors and travelers.
E511 The Flying Dutchman. A sea captain because of his wickedness sails his phantom ship eternally without coming to harbor. **G. Kalff De Sage van den Vliegenden Hollander (Zupthen, 1923); **Engert Die Sage vom Fliegenden Holländer; **W. Söderhjelm Flygande holländeren (Helsingfors, 1890); *Andraea Anglia Beiblatt XIII (1902) 47; Golther Zur deutschen Sage und Dichtung 7; Fb "skib" III 243a; England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E511.1 Reason for Flying Dutchman's punishment.
E511.1.1 Flying Dutchman sails because of cruelty. See all references to E511.
E511.1.2 Flying Dutchman sails because of pact with Devil. Engert 21ff.
E511.1.3 Flying Dutchman sails because he defied the storm. Engert passim.
E511.2 Flying Dutchman's ship.
E511.2.1 Flying Dutchman has dead men as sailors. Fb "skib" III 243a.
E512 Phantom cart driver wanders because of blasphemy. "Peter Rugg the Missing Man." Boasts that he will reach home despite storm or never see his home again. He always travels in hard shower of rain or just ahead of one. U.S.: *Baughman.
E520 Animal ghosts. Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Geist"; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 22 No. 201; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 243.
E521 Ghost of domestic beast.
E521.1 Ghost of horse. *Howey 31; *Fb "stud" III 619b, "hest" I 599b, "helhest" I 584b; *Kittredge Witchcraft 177 n. 31; *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 164ff.; England: Baughman.
E521.1.1 Headless ghost of horse. *Howey 62; *Fb "stud" III 619b, "hest" I 599b, "helhest" I 584b; Japanese: Ikeda.
E521.1.2 Three-legged ghost of horse. Fb "helhest" I 584b; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 15, 420, 1011, III 1517.
E521.1.3 Ghost of race horse wins race in competition with living horses. U.S.: Baughman.
E521.2 Ghost of dog. Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Geist"; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 22 No. 202; Jewish: *Neuman; Texas: Bishop Pub. Texas Folklore Soc. XV 119—21; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 488, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 228.
E521.2.1 Ashes of dead dog speak. *Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 265 No. 72.
E521.2.2 Headless ghost of dog. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 682.
E521.3 Ghost of cat. (Cf. E423.1.2.) Kittredge Witchcraft 497 n. 41.
E521.4 Ghost of calf. (Cf. E423.1.8.1.) *Fb "kalv" II 79a; U.S.: Baughman.
E521.5 Ghost of hog. Fb "svin" III 676b.
E521.5.0.1 Headless ghost of hog. (Cf. E422.1.1.) Fb "svin" III 676b.
E521.5.1 Ghost of sow. Fb "sø" III 450a.
E522 Ghost of wild beast.
E522.1 Ghost of fox (Cf. E423.2.3.) Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 24.
E522.2 Ghost of bear. (Cf. E423.2.1.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 87.
E523 Ghost of fish. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 33.
E524 Ghost of bird. (Cf. E423.3.)
E524.1 Ghost of goose. Fb "gasse" I 425a.
E524.2 Ghost of cock.
E524.2.1 Cooked cock crows. Fb "kok" IV 272b.
E530 Ghosts of objects. Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Geist"; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 23 No. 205.
E530.1 Ghost-like lights. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 23 No. 210; England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E530.1.1 Ghost light follows ghost. U.S.: *Baughman.
E530.1.2 Ball of fire haunts murderer. U.S.: *Baughman.
E530.1.3 Ghost light haunts burial spot. England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E530.1.4 Ghost light on farm indicates that occupants will move shortly. Scotland: Baughman.
E530.1.5 Ghost light indicates impending calamity. Scotland: *Baughman.
E530.1.6 Ghost light serves as death omen. (Cf. D1812.5.) England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E530.1.7 Ghost light indicates route funeral will take. (Cf. D1825.7.1.) England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E531 Ghost-like building. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 23 No. 207; England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E532 Ghost-like picture. U.S.: *Baughman.
E533 Ghostly bell.
E533.1 Ghostly bell sounds from under water. England: *Baughman.
E533.2 Self-tolling bell. England: Baughman.
E534 Phantom spinning-wheel makes noise. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 678.
E535 Ghostlike conveyance (wagon, etc.). Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 22 No. 203; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 241—243.
E535.1 Phantom coach and horses. England, Ireland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E535.2 Ghostly wagon. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E535.3 Ghost ship. (Cf. E510.) Canada, England, U.S.: *Baughman. Childs NYFQ V 146ff.; Jones JAFL LVII 244.
E535.3.1 Phantom canoe. New York: Jones JAFL LVII 244.
E535.3.2 Phantom boat. Tahiti: Henry 91.
E535.4 Phantom railway train. U.S.: *Baughman; Jones JAFL LVII 241, 244.
E538 Ghoulish ghost objects.
E538.1 Spectral coffin. U.S.: Baughman.
E538.2 Ghostly rope of suicide appears. U.S.: Baughman.
E539 Other ghostly objects.
E539.1 Oven door jumps into room; money thought to be under spot where it lands. England: Baughman.
E539.2 Pot jumps in house to indicate money hidden underneath it. England: Baughman.
E539.3 Ghostly wool-packs roll over fields, down hill. England: *Baughman.
E539.4 Ghostly chair.
E539.4.1 Ghostly chair in cellar jumps up and down on three legs, points with fourth at spot on floor. Witnesses dig up body from under floor. U.S.: Baughman.
E539.5 Coal in bin jumps around and gurgles. U.S.: Baughman.
E540 Miscellaneous actions of revenants.
E541 Revenants eat. (Cf. E499.1.) *Fb "lig" II 412b, "spøgelse" III 518ab.; India: Thompson-Balys.
E541.1 Food placed out for returning souls of dead. Germanic: Celander Nordisk Jul I 203ff., Wuttke Volksaberglaube 471, Archiv f. Religionsgeschichte XIX (1918) 134; Lappish: Rheen Svenska Landsmеlen XVII (1898) 27; Slavic: Máchal 230; India: Thompson-Balys.
E541.2 Ghost eats living human beings. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E541.3 Dead come forth and eat grave-offerings. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 488, (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 154.