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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 75 of 185 · 250 per page
Thompson reference ▲ Description
E613.10 Reincarnation as goose. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 267, II 1264.
E613.11 Reincarnation as peacock. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1052, II 671.
E613.12 Reincarnation as parrot. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 266, 578, II 247, 572, 730f., 1122, 1173.
E614 Reincarnation as reptile.
E614.1 Reincarnation as snake. (Cf. D191.) Fb "sjæl" III 214a; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 339ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 857; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 166f.
E614.2 Reincarnation as lizard. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 813; Tonga: Gifford 108.
E614.3 Reincarnation as crocodile. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 365, 479, II 555.
E614.4 Reincarnation as tortoise. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 267.
E614.5 Reincarnation as iguana. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 267.
E615 Reincarnation as amphibian.
E615.1 Reincarnation as frog. (Cf. D195.) Tobler 28; Fb "sjæl" III 214a; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1322.
E616 Reincarnation as insect. Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 331ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys.
E616.1 Reincarnation as bee. (Cf. D182.) Fb "sjæl" III 214a.
E616.2 Reincarnation as butterfly. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 266.
E616.3 Reincarnation as flea. India: Thompson-Balys.
E616.4 Reincarnation as weevil. India: Thompson-Balys.
E616.5 Reincarnation as bedbug. (Cf. E693.2.) India: Thompson-Balys.
E617 Reincarnation as fish. (Cf. D170, E713.1.) Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 999, 1148, II 691.
E617.1 Reincarnation as salmon. (Cf. B124.1, D176.) Irish myth: *Cross; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 115, II 15.
E617.2 Reincarnation as goldfish. India: Thompson-Balys.
E617.3 Reincarnation as shark. Solomon Islands: Beckwith Myth 13.
E617.4 Reincarnation as whale. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 115.
E618 Reincarnation as worm. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 222.
E618.1 Reincarnation as leech. India: Thompson-Balys.
E629 Reincarnation as animal—miscellaneous.
E629.1 Reincarnation as scorpion. India: Thompson-Balys.
E629.2 Reincarnation as crab. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 267.
E630 Reincarnation in object.
E631 Reincarnation in plant (tree) growing from grave. (Cf. E632, D1610.2.) Type 510; BP I 187; *Cox 477 n. 7; *Fb "sjæl" III 214b, "blod" IV 49a, "juletræ" II 57a; Saintyves Contes de Perrault (Paris, 1923) 36ff., 141ff.—English: *Child V 481. s.v. "grave", V 491 s.v. "plants"; Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "arbres", "cadavre", "tombeau"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 7, 311 No 41; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 92 No. 780B*; Greek: Fox 198 (Adonis), 201 (Pyramus and Thisbe); Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 6; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 2 Nos. 12, 13; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Dixon 238, De Vries Volksverhalen I 300; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 50f.; Papua: Ker 131; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Cushing 183, (Kato): Goddard UCal V 219 n. 1; Amazon: Alexander Lat. Am. 294; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 147, (Ekoi): Talbot 133.
E631.0.1 Twining branches grow from graves of lovers. (Cf. E419.6.) *Gaidoz Mélusine IV No. 4; Type 966*; *Fb "rose" III 80a, "lilie" II 427b, "træ" III 867a; Chauvin V 107 No. 37; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 264f.; Japanese: Anesaki 253, 346f.
E631.0.1.1 Tops of trees from lovers' graves show shapes of their heads. Irish myth: *Cross.
E631.0.1.2 Tablets made of trees from lovers' graves magically unite. Irish myth: *Cross.
E631.0.2 Flower from grave bears letters. These commemorate the buried person. *Fb "grav" I 478a, "skrift"; Irish myth: Cross; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 2 No. 11; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 19 n. 3 (Hyacinth).
E631.0.2.1 Flower with "ave" on leaves. Crows from tomb as reward for faithful sayings of "Ave Maria". *Ward Catalogue of Romances II 654 No. 21; Herbert ibid. III 342; Von der Hagen Nos. 73, 88; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
E631.0.3 Plant from blood of slain person. *Fb "blod" IV 49a, "juletræ", II 57a; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 311 No. 41; Greek: Fox 198, 201; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis IV 225f.
E631.0.3.1 Red plant from blood of slain person. *Fb "blod" IV 49a; BP II 532 n. 2.
E631.0.4 Speaking and bleeding trees. Reincarnated persons. *Reinhard PMLA XXXVIII 456 n. 106; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 200 s.v. "Baum"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 299 No. 8; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Ferguson 177.
E631.0.5 Tree from innocent man's blood. Fb "juletræ" II 57a, "sjæl" III 214b.—English: Child I 143; India: Thompson-Balys.
E631.0.5.1 Dry branch on innocent man's grave blossoms as proof of innocence. Fb "uskyldig".
E631.0.6 Tree from sinner's grave. Hdwb. d. Märch. I 200 s.v. "Baum".
E631.1 Flower from grave. BP II 126; Hungarian: Solymossy Hongaarache Sagen (1929) 243 No. 68, Moуr Ungarisches Jahrbuch V 430; India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 207.
E631.1.1 Lily from grave. Fb "lilie" II 427b, "sjæl" III 214b; BP III 461; English: Child I 143; India: Thompson-Balys.
E631.1.2 Rose from grave. *Fb "rose" III 80a.
E631.1.3 Reincarnation as lotus. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 527.
E631.1.4 Reincarnation as cockscomb. India: Thompson-Balys.
E631.2 Grass does not grow on murderer's grave. (Cf. H271.) Fb "græs"; England: Baughman.
E631.2.1 Reincarnation as a grass straw. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 115.
E631.3 Herbs grow from grave of healer. Brouwer Das Volkslied in Deutschland, Frankreich, Belgien und Holland (Groningen, 1930) 196ff.; Irish myth: *Cross.
E631.4 Dead ogress reincarnated as bramble-bush which prevents escape of fugitive. Chinese: Graham.
E631.5 Reincarnation as plant.
E631.5.1 Reincarnation as tobacco plant. Chinese: Graham; India: Thompson-Balys.
E631.5.2 Reincarnation as peanut plant. S. A. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503.
E631.5.3 Reincarnation as eggplant. Africa (Luba): LeClerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 226f.
E631.6 Reincarnation in tree from grave. Japanese: Ikeda; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 376; Papua: Ker 92. Cf. Virgil Aeneid III 22ff.
E632 Reincarnation as musical instrument. The Singing Bone. A musical instrument made from the bones of a murdered person, or from a tree growing from the grave, speaks and tells of the crime. *Type 780; **Mackensen FFC XLIX; BP I 260, II 532; *Fb "streng" III 603a, "harpe" I 559b, IV 201b, "ben" IV 32b; Child I 121—135, 494, IV 449; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "os"; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.
E632.1 Speaking bones of murdered person reveal murder. India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Ibo [Nigeria]): Thomas 58, 67, (Fang): Tessman 124ff.
E633 Reincarnation as dish. Bones made into dish. These speak. (Cf. E632.) English: Child I 126; Japanese: Ikeda.
E635 Reincarnation as fountain. Fb "kilde" II 119b; Child V 287a.
E636 Reincarnation as water. (Cf. D283.) India: Thompson-Balys.
E636.1 Reincarnation as bag of water. Irish myth: Cross (E636).
E637 Reincarnation as ball (of gold and iron). India: Thompson-Balys.
E641 Reincarnation as whirlwind. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 414 No. 12.
E642 Reincarnation as stone.
E642.0.1 Reincarnation as salt. India: Thompson-Balys.
E642.1 Dead lovers are now two stones lying together. India: Thompson-Balys.
E643 Reincarnation as smoke.
E643.1 Smoke from funeral fires of two lovers mingles in sky. India: Thompson-Balys.
E644 Reincarnation as rainbow. India: Thompson-Balys.
E645 Reincarnation as mineral.
E645.1 Reincarnation of slain boy as gold and silver. India: Thompson-Balys.
E646 Reincarnation as meteor. S. A. Indian (Gran Chaco): Belaieff BBAE CXLIII (1) 380.
E648 Reincarnation: man-object-man. In most of the versions of E632 (Reincarnation as musical instrument) the hero (heroine) finally comes back to life in his usual form. See also BP II 126f.; India: *Thompson-Balys.
E648.1 Reincarnation: woman - bird - nettles - stone - woman. Chinese: Graham.
E648.2 Reincarnation: man - woman - stone image. Korean: Zong in-Sob 76.
E649 Reincarnation to object—miscellaneous.
E649.1 Reincarnation as hill. Head made into hill. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E649.2 Reincarnation as flour vat. Stomach made into flour vat. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E649.3 Reincarnation as hoe. Feet made into hoe. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E649.3.1 Reincarnation as hoe-handle. Back made into hoe-handle. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E649.4 Reincarnation as mussel shell. Ears made into mussel shell. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E649.5 Reincarnation as currants. Eyes made into currants. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E650 Reincarnation: other forms.
E651 God reincarnated as dwarf. Hindu: Keith 121 (Vishnu).
E652 God reincarnated as monster. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 792, 934; Chinese: Werner 207.
E653 Reincarnation: man as nature spirit.
E653.1 Reincarnation: man as water spirit. (Cf. F420.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 421.
E653.2 Reincarnation: man as tree spirit. (Cf. F441.2.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 445, 940, II 507, 820, 952.
E656 Reincarnation: animal to man. India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 57, 96.
E656.1 Men who behave irrationally (without plans) reincarnations of animals. India: Thompson-Balys.
E657 Reincarnation: animal to god. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 828.
E658 Reincarnation: animal to other animal. Jewish: Neuman.
E670 Repeated reincarnation. Irish myth: *Cross; Gaster Exempla 248 No. 349; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 9; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 421, II 518, 1117; India: *Thompson-Balys; Marquesas: Handy 106; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 142.
E671 Reincarnation: man - object - object.
E671.1 Reincarnation: body becomes marble wall; robe, grass; eyes, pools, etc. India: Thompson-Balys.
E690 Reincarnation: miscellaneous.
E691 Reincarnation: animal to object.
E691.1 Reincarnation: snake into flowers. India: Thompson-Balys.
E692 Reincarnation as punishment. India: Thompson-Balys.
E692.1 Bad woman cursed to be reborn as bat. India: Thompson-Balys.
E692.2 Mean person reborn as hyena. India: Thompson-Balys.
E692.3 Tricky potter reborn as crab. India: Thompson-Balys.
E692.4 Jealous woman reborn as chilly. India: Thompson-Balys.
E692.5 Cruel woman reborn as firefly. India: Thompson-Balys.
E692.6 Youth reincarnated as root in punishment for incest. India: Thompson-Balys.
E693 Reincarnation for revenge. India: Thompson-Balys.
E693.1 Drowned girl reborn as leech to take revenge on murderers. India: Thompson-Balys.
E693.2 Woman reborn as bedbug to take revenge on husband. (Cf. E616.5.) India: Thompson-Balys.
E693.3 Woman reborn as scorpion to take revenge on husband. India: Thompson-Balys.
E694 Reincarnation as compensation. India: Thompson-Balys.
E694.1 Hungry ghost reborn as jackal. India: Thompson-Balys.
E694.2 Frustrated woman reborn as tobacco plant. India: Thompson-Balys.
E694.3 Frustrated boy reborn as lizard. India: Thompson-Balys.
E694.4 Childless woman reborn as fish. India: Thompson-Balys.
E695 Gradual reincarnation—man to tiger. Chinese: Graham.
E696 Reincarnated person restored to original form.
E696.1 Bird, reincarnated murdered girl, resumes her original form when persecutor's blood is poured on her. India: Thompson-Balys.
E697 Vulture eats only those who will be reborn as human beings in their next birth. India: Thompson-Balys.
E700 The Soul. **Tobler; **Feilberg Sjæletro (København, 1914); Еke Hultkrantz Conceptions of the Soul among the North American Indians (Stockholm, 1953); Hilda R. Ellis The Road to Hell, A Study in the Conception of the Dead in Old Norse Literature (London, 1943) 170ff.—Greek: Waser über die äussere Erscheinung der Seele in den Vorstellungen der Völker, zumal der alten Griechen (Archiv für Religionswissenschaft XVI [1914] 336); Irish myth: *Cross; Skandinavian: *K. S. Kramer Die Dingbeseelung in der germanischen überlieferung (München, 1939); Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 182—190, 251—266, 491—506; German: Meyer Germanen 68ff.; Jewish: Neuman; N. A. Indian (Iroquois): Hewitt The Iroquoian Concept of the Soul (JAFL VIII 107).
E700.1 Names given the soul. Jewish: Neuman.
E701 Soul of object. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 13; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 464.
E701.1 Soul of the earth. Cheremis: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 240.
E701.2 Soul of water. Cheremis: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 214.
E701.3 Soul of tree. Feilberg Am Urquell V 88ff., 119ff.
E701.4 Soul of fire. Cheremis: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 236.
E701.5 Soul of corn. Cheremis: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 241.
E702 Composition of the soul. Jewish: *Neuman.
E703 Creation of souls. Jewish: *Neuman.
E705 Soul forgets everything at birth. Jewish: Neuman. Cf. Wordsworth "Ode on Intimations of Immortality".
E706 Abode of unborn souls. Jewish: *Neuman.
E707 Person with more than one soul. Jewish: Neuman.
E708 Soul sustained on pleasant odors. Jewish: Neuman.
E710 External soul. A person (often a giant or ogre) keeps his soul or life separate from the rest of his body. *Type 302; *BP III 440; *Krappe in Penzer Ocean of Story VIII 107; *MacCulloch Childhood 118ff.; *Chauvin V 176 No. 100, II 193 No. 12; Fb "hjærte" IV 318b; Mélusine XI 263; *Penzer X 143 s.v. "External Soul"; Clouston Tales I 347; Köhler-Bolte I 161, 515; Gittée RTP II 283; Krappe Revue Archéologique (May-June 1933) 195—211.—Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "corps", "âme"; Icelandic: Fripjofssaga (Wenz ed., Halle 1914) 16; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 11; Greek: Grote I 136f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 178; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 346 n. 246a, *Hultkrantz 330—341; Africa (Swahili): Steere 3ff.
E710.1 Ferocious animal guardian of separable soul of ogress. India: Thompson-Balys.
E710.2 External soul avenges murder. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 145.
E711 Soul kept in object. (Cf. E765.) *Penzer I 129ff, VIII 107; Indonesian: Dixon 237 n. 50; India: Thompson-Balys; Irish myth: *Cross.
E711.1 Soul in egg. *Type 302; *BP III 439; Krappe in Penzer Ocean of Story VIII 107; *Fb "hjærte" I 631a, "liv" II 438b, "æg" III 1141b.—Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "oeuf"; Missouri French: Carrière; Scotch: Campbell Tales I 1ff.; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 355, 217 No. 73; India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.1.1 Soul in three separate eggs. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
E711.2 Soul in plant. India: *Thompson-Balys.
E711.2.1 Soul in calabash (gourd). Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 55 No. 24; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 572 No. 116.
E711.2.2 Soul in flower. India: *Thompson-Balys.
E711.2.3 Soul in chilly plant. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.2.4 Soul in pomegranate. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.2.5 Soul in coconut. India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 148.
E711.2.6 Soul in bamboo. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.3 Soul in jewel. BP III 439.—India: *Thompson-Balys.
E711.4 Soul in necklace. BP III 439.—India: *Thompson-Balys.
E711.5 Soul in sack. Fb "pose" II 864.
E711.6 Life in stick. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.7 Soul in stone. (Cf. E761.5.5.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg.
E711.8 Soul in golden apple. (Cf. F813.1.1.) Irish myth: *Cross.
E711.9 Soul in golden ball. Irish myth: Cross.
E711.10 Soul in sword. India: *Thompson-Balys.
E711.11 Soul in snow. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.12 Soul in dice. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.13 Soul in arrow. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.14 Soul in axe. India: Thompson-Balys.
E711.15 Soul in bird cage. India: Thompson-Balys.
E712 Hidden soul (life).
E712.1 Soul hidden in tree. *BP III 440; India: *Thompson-Balys, *Penzer V 127 n. 1.
E712.2 Soul hidden in safe. India: Thompson-Balys.
E712.3 Soul hidden in urn. India: Thompson-Balys.
E712.4 Soul hidden in box. India: Thompson-Balys.
E712.5 Soul hidden in pillar. India: Thompson-Balys.
E712.6 Soul hidden in fish basket. India: Thompson-Balys.
E712.7 Soul hidden in water bottle. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G 13/174).
E713 Soul hidden in a series of coverings. This motif is combined with several others. Usually the soul will be hidden in an egg, in a duck, in a well, in a church, or a similar series. *BP III 439; MacCulloch Childhood 134; Penzer I 131; Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys.
E713.1 Soul hidden in apple (ball) in a salmon which appears every seven years in certain fountain. (Cf. D1651.10.) Irish myth: *Cross.
E714 Soul (or life) kept in special part of body. *Krappe in Penzer Ocean of Story VIII 107; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 117 n. 3; N. A. Indian: *Hultkrantz 166-178.
E714.1 Soul (life) in the blood. *Fb "blod" IV 46b, "sjæl" III 213b; Paris Zs. f. Vksk. XIII 12 n. 1; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 4; Jewish: Neuman.
E714.2 Serpent's life in its gold crown. Type 672B; *BP II 463; Chinese: Graham.
E714.3 Soul in head. Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 83.
E714.3.1 Troll's life in his brother's forehead. *Fb "hjærte" I 631a.
E714.4 Soul (life) in the heart. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 4; India: Thompson-Balys.
E714.4.1 Eaten heart gives one the owner's qualities. Fb "hjærte" IV 218b; N. A. Indian: *Hultkrantz 397—411; Jewish: Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg.
E714.5 Soul (life) in the liver. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 4.
E714.6 Soul (life) in the breath. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 7; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Hultkrantz 179—208.
E714.7 Soul (life) in left hand. Penzer I 127, VIII 109 n. 3.
E714.7.1 Soul (life) in thumb. India: Thompson-Balys.
E714.8 Monster with life in his neck. (One vulnerable place.) India: Thompson-Balys.
E714.9 Giant's soul in a mole in the hollow of his palm. Irish myth: Cross.
E714.10 Ogre's soul in "pale spot" below his right ear. (Cf. Z311.2.) Irish myth: Cross.
E714.11 Life (soul) in entrails. India: Thompson-Balys.
E714.12 Soul in hair. Greek: *Grote I 203.
E714.13 Soul fastened to spine. Jewish: Neuman.
E715 Separable soul kept in animal. *Krappe in Penzer Ocean of Story VIII 107; Fb "liv" II 438b.
E715.1 Separable soul in bird. BP III 440; India: *Thompson-Balys.
E715.1.1 Separable soul in duck. *Fb "and" IV 12b.
E715.1.2 Separable soul in crop of sparrow. Penzer I 131f.
E715.1.3 Separable soul in parrot. India: *Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 131.
E715.1.3.1 Ogre's life in parrot's feather in man's pocket. India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.1.3.2 Ogre with life in parrot, speaks from inside parrot. India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.1.4 Soul in crane. India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.1.5 Soul in starling. India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.1.6 Soul in raven. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 56.
E715.2 Separable soul in fish. (Cf. B175.) BP III 440; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.3 Separable soul in insect.
E715.3.1 Separable soul in bee. BP III 440; India: *Thompson-Balys.
E715.3.2 Separable soul in fly. Africa (Bambara): Equilbecq II 88ff. No. 25.
E715.3.3 Separable soul in hornet. India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.4 Separable soul in wild animal.
E715.4.1 Separable soul in deer. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 55.
E715.4.2 Separable soul in wolf. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 55.
E715.4.3 Separable soul in walrus. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 55.
E715.4.4 Separable soul in seal. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 55.
E715.5 Separable soul in snake. India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.5.1 Separable soul in toad. India: Thompson-Balys.
E715.6 Separable soul in hydra's head. Penzer I 132.
E718 Multiple separable souls: ogre's separable spirits live in a tree (plant), fish, honey bee. India: Thompson-Balys.
E720 Soul leaves or enters the body.
E720.1 Souls of human beings seen in dream. Icelandic: *Boberg.
E721 Soul journeys from the body. *Frazer Golden Bough III 36ff.; Penzer I 37 n. 1.—*Celtic: H. Hartmann Ueber Krankheit, Tod und Jenseitsvorstellungen in Irland (Erster Teil: Krankheit und Fairyentrückung) (Halle, 1942); Irish myth: *Cross; Norwegian: Solheim Register 16; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 289—295, 305—311; Slavic: Máchal 227; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 267; Japanese: Ikeda; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 171, 178, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 326; N. A. Indian: Hultkrantz 241—291.
E721.0.1 Mark inflicted on wandering soul seen on body after soul's return. Irish myth: Cross.
E721.1 Soul wanders from body in sleep. Dreams explained as experiences of the soul on these wanderings. *Frazer Golden Bough III 36ff.; Fb "sjæl" III 213a; Tobler 22, 37, 67; Herbert III 209; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 172.—English: Guy of Warwick (EETS extra ser. XXV) lines 9358ff.; Icelandic: Boberg; Irish: Plummer clxxii, *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3520; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 93; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 473f.; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 144, 173f.; Cook Islands: Clark 81; Marquesas: Handy 81; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 56, 363; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 62; Africa (Fang): Trilles 133.
E721.1.1 Sleeper not to be awakened, since soul is absent. *Frazer Golden Bough III 37ff.; Tobler 38.
E721.1.2 Soul of sleeper prevented from returning to his body. Frazer Golden Bough III 38; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 320.
E721.1.2.1 Soul of sleeper prevented from returning when it is captured in animal form. Frazer Golden Bough III 38.
E721.1.2.2 Soul of sleeper prevented from returning by moving the sleeper's body. (Cf E431.7.2.1.) Frazer Golden Bough III 41; Irish myth: Cross.
E721.1.2.3 Soul of sleeper prevented from returning by burning the body. India: Thompson-Balys, *Penzer I 39 n. 2.
E721.1.2.3.1 Body dismembered so soul cannot return. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 287.
E721.1.2.4 Soul of sleeper prevented from returning to his body when soul as bee leaves body and enters hole in wall beside which he is sleeping. (Cf. E734.2.) England: Baughman.
E721.1.2.5 Frightened soul cannot return to body. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 452.
E721.2 Body in trance while soul is absent. *Fb "legeme" II 393a, "heks" I 581a, "sjæl" III 215a; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 299—300.
E721.3 Wandering soul cause of sickness. Frazer Golden Bough III 53ff.; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 6; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 473f.; N. A. Indian: *Hultkrantz 448—463.
E721.3.1 Madness from spirit leaving body: comes back with cough. India: Thompson-Balys.
E721.4 Wandering soul detained by ghosts. Frazer Golden Bough III 52ff.
E721.5 Wandering soul assumes various shapes. Fb "sjæl" III 214a.
E721.5.1 Wandering soul assumes shape of wolf. (Cf. D113.1.1, E731.) Irish myth: Cross.
E721.6 On return to body soul crosses on scythe-blade as bridge. *Fb "høle" I 747a; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
E721.7 Soul leaves body to visit hell (heaven). (Cf. V511.1, V511.2.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman.
E721.8 Soul leaves body to converse with dead. Irish myth: Cross.
E721.9 Soul of embryo wanders. Jewish: Neuman.
E721.10 Soul takes voyage. Cook Islands: Beckwith Myth 157.
E722 Soul leaves body at death. India: Thompson-Balys; Irish myth: Cross.
E722.1 Form of soul as it leaves body at death.
E722.1.1 Soul as black or white spirit over coffin. Black if condemned. Can be seen by peeping between horse's ears. Fb "sjæl" III 214b.
E722.1.2 Soul as black or white entity. Black if condemned. Irish myth: *Cross.
E722.1.3 Soul leaves body as small point of light. England: Baughman.
E722.1.4 Soul leaves the body in form of bird. (Cf. E732.) England: Baughman; Korean: Zong in-Sob 30.
E722.2 Manner of soul's leaving body. Jewish: Neuman.
E722.2.1 Soul borne away on cloud. (Cf. E754.6.) Chinese: Werner 267.
E722.2.2 Soul borne away on wind. Chinese: Werner 314.
E722.2.3 Roof taken off above sick man who cannot die. This done so that the soul can escape. Zachariae Zs. f. Vksk XVIII 445; *Fb "engel" I 250.
E722.2.4 Condemned soul forked from body by Satan. (Cf. E752.2.) Irish myth: Cross.
E722.2.5 Saved soul leaps from body on hearing heavenly music. (Cf. E754.) Irish myth: Cross.
E722.2.6 Doors fly open when one dies. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 685.
E722.2.7 Soul weeps when departing from body. (Cf. E551.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3504.
E722.2.8 Soul reluctant to leave body.
E722.2.8.1 Soul lingers in body at death. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts, Balys Index No. 3503.
E722.2.8.2 Soul hovers over body, reluctant to part. India: Thompson-Balys.
E722.2.9 Dead friends come for dying man's soul. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3501, Balys Ghosts.