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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 |
|---|---|
| F455.1 | Home of trolls. |
| F455.1.1 | Trolls live in howe (barrow, grave). *Fb "trold" III 852a; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.1.2 | Trolls live in cliffs. Icelandic: **Boberg. |
| F455.2 | Appearance of trolls. (Cf. G304.1.) |
| F455.2.1 | Trolls the size of ten or twelve year old child. *Fb "trold" III 852a. |
| F455.2.2 | Trolls are usually ugly, hideous, big and strong. Icelandic: *Boberg; Norwegian: Solheim Register 18, Hartmann 48, 52, 65. |
| F455.2.3 | Trolls are black (dark). Hartmann 65; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.2.4 | Trolls dressed in skins. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.2.5 | Troll in human form. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.2.5.1 | Troll in human size. Hartmann 65. |
| F455.2.6 | Trolls frightful. Hartmann 52. |
| F455.2.7 | Troll with snout for nose. Hartmann 54. |
| F455.2.8 | Troll in animal form (cat, dog, pig, hen). Hartmann 67, 70. |
| F455.2.9 | Troll as whirlwind. Hartmann 73. |
| F455.2.10 | Great age of trolls. Often centuries old. Hartmann 67. |
| F455.3 | Characteristic activities of trolls. |
| F455.3.1 | Trolls skillful as smiths. *Fb "smed" III 402a; *Krappe Grinkenschmied (Archiv für das Studium der neueren Sprachen und Literatur CLVIII [1930] 9—23). |
| F455.3.2 | Trolls dance. *Fb "danse" IV 93b. |
| F455.3.3 | Trolls ride. |
| F455.3.3.1 | Troll rides on dog. Fb "hund" I 676b. |
| F455.3.3.2 | Troll rides in whirlwind. (Cf. F455.2.9.) Fb "hvirvelvind" IV 232a. |
| F455.3.3.3 | Trolls ride on men and cattle. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.3.4 | Trolls spin and weave fine cloth. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.3.5 | Trolls bake. Hartmann 71, *Boberg DF XLVI. |
| F455.3.6 | Trolls go about at night. Hartmann 75. |
| F455.4 | Possessions of trolls. |
| F455.4.1 | Trolls' riches. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.4.1.1 | Trolls' riches inside mountain. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.4.2 | Trolls' food. |
| F455.4.2.1 | Trolls' food gives man supernatural strength. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.4.2.2 | Trolls eat from golden dishes, but food is frogs and snakes. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.4.2.3 | Trolls live on food humans have failed to bless. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.5 | Visibility of trolls. (Cf. F235.) |
| F455.5.1 | Trolls invisible but heard. (Cf. F412, F451.9.6.) Hartmann 69f. |
| F455.5.2 | Invisible troll attends wedding and eats food. Hartmann 73. |
| F455.5.3 | Trolls have cap of invisibility. (Cf. F451.3.3.8.) Hartmann 73. |
| F455.5.4 | Certain persons can see trolls. (Cf. F235.3.) Hartmann 74. |
| F455.5.4.1 | Animals can see trolls. (Cf. B733.) Hartmann 74. |
| F455.5.4.2 | Trolls visible to unconfirmed children. Hartmann 83. |
| F455.5.4.3 | Trolls seen through another's arm (or the like). (Cf. D1821.3.1, F235.6.) Hartmann 74. |
| F455.6 | Trolls and men. |
| F455.6.1 | Trolls' friendship with men. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.6.2 | Trolls' lending and borrowing. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.6.2.1 | Troll repays loan with costly or magic object. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.6.3 | Trolls steal from humans. Hartmann 64, 73. |
| F455.6.3.1 | Trolls steal fish at Christmas. Hartmann 57. |
| F455.6.4 | Theft from troll. |
| F455.6.4.1 | Troll's costly cup stolen. Hartmann 18, 70. |
| F455.6.4.2 | Troll's treasure obtained by casting steel on it. Hartmann 20. |
| F455.6.5 | Trolls visit men. |
| F455.6.5.1 | Trolls visit people Christmas Eve. Hartmann 53f., 75. |
| F455.6.6 | Trolls carry off people. (Cf. F320, F322.) *Hartmann 76, 86ff.; *Feilberg DF V. |
| F455.6.6.1 | Stolen woman saved from trolls' dance. (Cf. F322.2.) Hartmann 118ff. |
| F455.6.7 | Trolls as changelings. (Cf. F321.1.) Scandinavian: *Hartmann 76ff.; **Piaschewski Der Wichsetbalg (Breslau, 1935). |
| F455.6.8 | Trolls help men. |
| F455.6.8.1 | Trolls help with grain harvest. Hartmann 72f. |
| F455.6.9 | Trolls as the constant enemies of humans. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.6.10 | People possessed by trolls. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.7 | Trolls and Christianity. (Cf. G304.2.4.1.) |
| F455.7.1 | Trolls flee before Christianity. (Cf. F382) Hartmann 69. |
| F455.7.2 | Troll helpless before sign of Cross. (Cf. D1766.1.) Hartmann 67. |
| F455.7.3 | Trolls may not utter holy names. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.8 | Troll killed. |
| F455.8.1 | Trolls turn to stone at sunrise. (Cf. F531.6.12.2.) Norwegian: Solheim Register 18, Hartmann 68. |
| F455.8.2 | Trolls killed by lightning. Hartmann 67. |
| F455.9 | Banning trolls. |
| F455.9.1 | Certain persons can ban trolls. Hartmann 74. |
| F455.10 | Recognizing trolls. |
| F455.10.1 | Test of troll child. Snake placed in dough she is to knead. She calls it "brother". Hartmann 81. |
| F455.11 | Offspring of trolls. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F456 | Mine spirits. Gnomes. (Cf. E336.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 279, 460. |
| F456.1 | Knockers (Tommy Knockers, spriggins). |
| F456.1.1 | Origin of knockers or spriggins. |
| F456.1.1.1 | Knockers as ghosts of Jews who crucified Christ and who were forced to work Cornish tin mines as punishment. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.1.2 | Knockers as ghosts of giants who formerly lived in area. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.1.3 | Knockers as spirits of dead miners. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2 | Actions of knockers. |
| F456.1.2.1 | Malicious actions of knockers. |
| F456.1.2.1.1 | Knockers bring ill luck if one whistles in the mine. (Cf. G303.16.18.) England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.2 | Knockers hide tools of miners. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.3 | Knockers tamper with dynamite fuses in mine. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.4 | Knockers kick rungs out of ladders, cutting off escape of trapped miners. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.5 | Knockers lame miners who bother them unduly. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2 | Helpful actions of knockers. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.1 | Knockers lead men to the richest lodes in the mines by knocking in those areas. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.2 | Knockers do miner's work at night while he is gone. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.3 | Knockers test entries and supports by tapping them with hammers. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.4 | Knockers appear to miners before accidents occur: the sight of one serves as a warning to leave mine. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3 | Other actions of knockers. |
| F456.1.2.3.1 | Knockers hold midnight mass deep in mines on Christmas Eve. (Cf. E492.) England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3.2 | Knockers (ghosts of Jews) are compelled to sing carols in mines at Christmastime. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3.3 | Knockers refrain from work on Saturdays and other Jewish holidays. England: Baughman. |
| F456.2 | Mining spirit: "Bluecap." |
| F456.2.1 | Bluecap moves coal-tubs for miners. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.3 | Mining spirit: "Cutty Soams". |
| F456.3.1 | "Cutty" cuts cords by which miners pull tubs full of coal. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.4 | Miscellaneous mine spirit motifs. |
| F456.4.1 | Fairies operate coal mine. Wales: Baughman. |
| F460 | Mountain-spirits. (Huldra.) See also F200—F399 (Fairies and Elves), F420 (Water-spirits), and F451 (Dwarfs) for many common motifs. Meyer Altgermanische 101; *Fb "vætte" III 1122b, "dværg" I 220b, "höj" I 740a, and especially "bjærgmand" I 41b, 42a; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 1071 s.v. "Berggeister"; *Wehrhan 80; Scandinavian: **Hartmann 35ff., 57, 64 ("huldra"); *Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 60ff. Nos. 513—564; Slovenian: *L. Kratzenbacher Germanische Mythen in der epischen Volksdichtung der Slowenen (Graz, 1941) 28—35; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F460.0.1 | Mountain spirits as souls of dead. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 76. |
| F460.1 | Appearance of mountain men. |
| F460.1.1 | Mountain-man in animal shape. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 60 No. 517. |
| F460.1.1.1 | Mountain-man in shape of hog. Fb "svin" III 676a. |
| F460.1.2 | Mountain-wife has breasts so long that she throws them over her shoulder. (Cf. F232.2, F441.2.1.2, F531.1.5.1, G123.) Fb "patte" II 791b; Scandinavian: Hartmann 38. |
| F460.1.3 | Mountain-man carries shears at side like sword. Fb "saks" III 143a. |
| F460.1.4 | Dress of mountain-men. *Fb "bjærgmand" IV 41b. |
| F460.1.4.1 | Mountain-men in white caps. Fb "hvid" I 700b. |
| F460.1.4.2 | Mountain-men in red caps. (Cf. F236.3.2., F451.2.7.1.) Fb "lue" II 455. |
| F460.1.4.3 | Huldra-woman's cap. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F460.1.5 | Huldra-women have cow's tails. (Cf. F232.8, F518, F531.1.6.14.) Norwegian: Hartmann 37. |
| F460.1.6 | Huldra-men with long teeth and nose. Norwegian: Hartmann 37. |
| F460.1.7 | Huldra invisible. Hartmann 37. |
| F460.2 | Characteristics of mountain-men. |
| F460.2.1 | Mountain-folk afraid of thunder. Fb "torden" III 824b. |
| F460.2.2 | Mountain-folk ride through air on horses. Fb "luftrejse" II 457a. |
| F460.2.3 | Mountain-men cannot enter house till light is quenched. Fb "lys" II 480b. |
| F460.2.4 | Mountain-man has stack of butter before his door. Fb "smör" III 413b. |
| F460.2.5 | Huldra have lake. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F460.2.6 | Huldra live like people. Have own churches, king, soldiers, etc. Hartmann 37. |
| F460.2.8 | Huldra have drum. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F460.2.9 | Huldra have cattle. (Cf. F241.2.) Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F460.2.10 | Huldra have drinking-horn. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F460.2.11 | Huldra tend herds in mountains. Hartmann 35. |
| F460.2.12 | Mountain-man must die six times to be dead. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 273. |
| F460.2.13 | Huldra sing songs. Norwegian: Hartmann 35, 37. |
| F460.2.14 | Mountain spirits eat raw food. Mono-Alu: Wheeler 6f., 18, 19, 32, 34, 39, 41, 42, 46, 49, 51, 52, 60, 61, 188. |
| F460.2.15 | Mountain spirits change sex at will. (Cf. D10.) Buin: Wheeler 19, 51. |
| F460.3 | Amusements of mountain-folk. |
| F460.3.1 | Mountain-folk dance. *Fb "danse" IV 93a; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 302 No. 2. |
| F460.3.2 | Mountain-men play games. Hartland Science 166ff., 178; cf. Irving's Rip Van Winkle. |
| F460.4 | Relation of mountain-men and human beings. |
| F460.4.1 | Mountain-girl marries mortal man. Supernaturally strong man as offspring. Fb "döjs" I 229b; Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1928) 282—283. |
| F460.4.1.1 | Mountain-men as lovers of herding-girls. Norwegian: Hartman 37. |
| F460.4.1.2 | Mountain woman has sex relations with man. Norwegian: Hartmann 104ff.; Solheim Register 19. |
| F460.4.1.2.1 | Child from dreamed sex relations with mountain-woman. Hartmann 121 (cf. Ibsen's Peer Gynt). |
| F460.4.2 | Helpful mountain-men. Norwegian: Hartmann 35. |
| F460.4.2.1 | Mountain-spirits help build palace. Chinese: Werner 181. |
| F460.4.2.2 | Money left on hill to repay helpful mountain-men. *Fb "penge" II 803a. |
| F460.4.2.3 | Mountain-spirit teaches hero swordsmanship. Japanese: Anesaki 309. |
| F460.4.2.4 | Mountain-men give children a book. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 60 No. 514. |
| F460.4.2.5 | Huldra trade cattle with men. Norwegian: Hartmann 35. |
| F460.4.3 | Mountain-men leave broken implement for man to mend. Fb "ovnrage" II 775b; Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 271. |
| F460.4.4 | Malevolent mountain-men. |
| F460.4.4.1 | Mountain-men abduct persons. *Fb "karet" II 91; Icelandic: *Boberg; Norwegian: Solheim Register 19, *Hartmann 109, 112; Chinese: Werner 345; Japanese: Ikeda; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 39; New Hebrides: Codrington 409. |
| F460.4.4.1.1 | Woman rescued from mountain-men. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19, *Hartmann 117. |
| F460.4.4.2 | Mountain-men chain captive peasant. Fb "lænke" II 497. |
| F460.4.4.3 | Mountain-men throw person over church roof. Fb "kaste" II 103. |
| F460.4.4.4 | Mountain-men make sausage of Christians. Fb "pölse" II 907. |
| F460.4.4.5 | Mountain-folk steal from peasant. Fb "lys" II 480b. |
| F460.4.4.6 | Mountain-men drive off man's herds. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 301f. Nos. 12, 18. |
| F460.4.4.7 | Mountain-spirit causes shipwreck. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 138. |
| F460.4.5 | Mountain-men borrow from peasant. Fb "lеne" II 521. |
| F460.4.6 | Failure to bless mountains gives mountain-men power. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 301 No. 18; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F460.4.7 | Mountain-man as godfather. Type 1165; Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 441ff., (1928) 264ff. |
| F460.4.8 | Visit to mountain-men. Norwegian: Solheim Register 18. |
| F465 | Rübezahl. A mountain and storm spirit. *Wehrhan 68; **Jungbauer Die Rübezahlsage (Reichenberg, 1923); Koch **Rübezahl (Breslau, n.d.); Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXXV—XXXVI 68; *Loewe Zs. f. Vksk. XVIII 1, 151, XXI 31, 126. |
| F470 | Night-spirits. Poltergeister; goblins; hobgoblins. *Kittredge Witchcraft 214, 521f. nn. 7, 9ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: *Wessman 30ff.; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 305 No. 4. |
| F470.0.1 | Friar Rush as mischief maker. *Kittredge Witchcraft 216, 524 nn. 27—31. |
| F470.1 | Spirits pull off person's bedclothes. *Kittredge Witchcraft 217, 524f. nn. 37—44; England, Scotland, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F470.2 | Night-spirits dance. Fb "danse" IV 93a. |
| F471 | Dream demons. |
| F471.1 | Nightmare (Alp). Presses person in dream. **E. Jones Der Alptraum (Leipzig-Wien, 1912); *Tegethoff Amor und Psyche 87ff.; Hdwb. d. Abergl. 1 282 s.v. "Alp"; Laistner Rätsel I 41ff., II 1ff.; Wehrhan 62; Hdwb. d. March. s.v. "Alp"; *Meyer Germanen 129ff.; Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 322; *Fb "mare" II 551f.; *Kittredge Witchcraft 218, 525f. nn. 54—62.—Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 288ff., De la Saussaye 293f., *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 241ff., (1928) 154ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 88 Nos. 748—770; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 63 No. 171; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 60; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 127 No. 60; Jewish: Neuman; Hindu: Penzer III 131 n. 3. |
| F471.1.1 | Actions of nightmares (alps). Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3690. |
| F471.1.1.1 | Alp rides horse sweaty at night. *Fb "mare" II 551b, 552a; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 60; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 127 No. 60; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 3683f. |
| F471.1.1.2 | Alps dance. *Fb "danse" IV 93a. |
| F471.1.2 | Protection against the nightmare (alp). *Fb "mare" II 551. |
| F471.1.2.1 | Exorcising the nightmare. Meyer Germanen 132. |
| F471.1.2.2 | Destruction of an alp. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 309 No. 11. |
| F471.1.3 | Unbaptized children as nightmares. When caught, they beg baptism. Usually they are murdered illegitimates. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3685. |
| F471.1.4 | Ghost of hunter as nightmare. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3686. |
| F471.1.5 | Persons who at night become nightmares. Those who are born on a Thursday and christened on a Sunday must at certain times (on Thursdays) press somebody or something. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3687; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 67 No. 183. |
| F471.2 | Incubus. A male demon who comes in sleep and has sexual intercourse with a woman. *Kittredge Witchcraft 116, 444ff. nn. 103—155 passim; *Loomis White Magic 77; Irish myth: Cross; Welsh: ibid.; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 59; Germanic: De la Saussaye 293f.; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 126 No. 59; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3682; S. A. Indian (Araucanian): Alexander Lat. Am. 328; Africa (Fang): Einstein 175. |
| F471.2.0.1 | Demon lover. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F471.2.1 | Succubus: female incubus. *Loomis White Magic 77; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *369, *423f., 3681; Armenian: Ananikian 87; West Indies: Flowers 433. |
| F472 | Huckauf. A goblin which jumps on one's back. *Kittredge Witchcraft 220f., 528f. nn. 78—79; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 68 No. 291; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3425, Legends Nos. 827—832. |
| F473 | Poltergeist. Invisible spirit (sometimes identified as ghost or witch) responsible for all sorts of mischief in or around a household. |
| F473.1 | Poltergeist throws objects. England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.2 | Poltergeist causes objects to behave contrary to their nature. |
| F473.2.1 | Chair is rocked by invisible spirit. (Cf. D1601.28.) U.S.: Baughman, (North Carolina): Brown Collection I 640. |
| F473.2.2 | Spirit hides articles in strange places. Canada, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.2.3 | Spirit puts out lights. U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.2.4 | House burns for no apparent reason. U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.3 | Poltergeist mistreats people. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.4 | Poltergeist mistreats animals. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F473.4.1 | Spirit rides horses and mules at night, wears them out. (Cf. F366.2, F471.1.1.1, G265.3.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| F473.5 | Poltergeist makes noises. England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.6 | Miscellaneous actions of poltergeist. |
| F473.6.1 | Spirit tears new paper off rooms in house. England: Baughman. |
| F473.6.2 | Spirit slashes clothing. Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F473.6.3 | Spirit takes food from table or cupboard. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| F473.6.4 | Spirit eats food. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F473.6.5 | Spirit throws back shots fired at it. (Cf. G265.8.3.1.2.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| F473.6.6 | Spirit makes wheels come off wagon. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F473.6.7 | Spirit shoves wagon into ditch. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F473.6.8 | Spirit plays man's fiddle at night. Wales: Baughman. |
| F473.6.9 | Spirit disturbs coffins in burial vault. England: *Baughman. |
| F475 | Friendly night-spirits. |
| F475.1 | Dame Berchta. Supposed to travel over the country at night with a troop. (Named from Bertha, the mother of Charlemagne.) Also called Frau Holle. *Meyer Germanen 23ff.; *Wehrhan 85f.; Slovenian: *L. Kretzenbacher Germanische Mythen in der epischen Volksdichtung der Slowenen (Graz, 1941) 84—94. |
| F480 | House-spirits. *Kittredge Witchcraft 215f., 523f.; Meyer Germanen 213ff.; Meyer Altgermanische 109.—Icelandic: Boberg; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 159ff.; *Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 30ff. Nos. 263—374 passim, 42 Nos. 337, 339; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 324 No. 153; Slovenian: *L. Kretzenbacher Germanische Mythen in der epischen Volksdichtung der Slowenen (Graz, 1941) 49—79; Eskimo: Boas BAM XV 331, RBAE VI 636. |
| F480.1 | House-spirit in form of a sow. Kittredge Witchcraft 216, 524 n. |
| F480.2 | Serpent as house-spirit. Armenian: Ananikian 73ff. |
| F480.3 | Thieving household-spirit. Steals things for its master. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 172; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 3468, 3472. |
| F480.3.1 | House to make household-spirit (cobold) surrender his booty. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3476. |
| F480.4 | House-spirit in form of baby. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F480.5 | House-spirit without bones or hair. Eskimo (Central): Boas RBAE VI 636. |
| F481 | Cobold. A house-spirit. **Feilberg Der Kobold in nordischer überlieferung (Zs. f. Vksk. VIII 1, 130, 264); *Kittredge Witchcraft 215f., 523f. nn. 23, 25.—Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 41ff., (1928) 29ff.; Estonian: L. v. Schroeder Germanische Elben und Götter beim Estenvolke (Wien 1906), Loorits Grundzüge I 266—281, 295—304. |
| F481.0.1 | Acquiring a cobold. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3466. |
| F481.0.1.1 | Cobold hatched out from a seven-year-old cock's egg or a boar's testicle. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3461; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 213 I*. |
| F481.0.1.2 | Cobold purchased. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3462f.; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 62 No. 159. |
| F481.0.1.2.1 | The purchased cobold discarded. On way home man believes himself cheated, and throws box with fly or piece of charcoal away. Later passing same place he finds a heap of corn or money. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3463; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 125 No. 55. |
| F481.0.1.3 | Cobold acquired by placing food for him in a certain place. He likes scrambled eggs. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3466. |
| F481.0.1.4 | Cobold accidently acquired. A rope or chicken is found and taken home. Found to be a cobold. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3464. |
| F481.1 | Cobold avenges uncivil answer (or treatment). Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 43 Nos. 53, 54; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3477; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 124f. Nos. 53, 54. |
| F481.2 | Cobolds furnish supplies to their masters. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 43 No. 54; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 125 No. 55; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3471. |
| F481.2.1 | Cobold furnishes inexhaustible grain to grinder of handmill. Latter kills him in disgust. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3478. |
| F481.2.2 | House-spirit furnishes inexhaustible supply of food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F481.3 | Impossible to rid oneself of cobold. (Cf. F482.3.1.) *Taylor MPh XV 736 n. 2; *BP II 422 n. 1; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3467. |
| F481.4 | Brewing in eggshell to drive away cobold. (Cf. F321.1.1.1, F451.5.17.1.) *BP 368; Keightley 126, 418, 436, 473; Germania V 376; Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 314—24 Nos. 1049—1075; Jahn 72 No. 87; Euphorion III 784; Zs. f. Vksk. XVI 414; Zs. f. deutsche Mythol. I (1853) 290. |
| F482 | Brownie (nisse). **Feilberg Nissens Historie; *Fb "nisse" II 688; Norwegian: *Solheim Register 19; *Hartmann 28. |
| F482.1 | Appearance of brownie. |
| F482.1.1 | Brownie with red hair. *Fb "nisse" II 688a. |
| F482.2 | Clothing of brownie. Scandinavian: Hartmann 28. |
| F482.2.1 | Brownie dressed in green. Fb "nisse" II 688a. |
| F482.3 | Home of brownies. |
| F482.3.1 | Brownies live in house. Move when persons move. (Cf. F481.3.) Fb "nisse" II 688b. |
| F482.3.1.1 | Farmer is so bothered by brownie that he decides he must move to get rid of the annoyance. He piles all furniture on wagon and starts for new home, meets acquaintance who remarks: "I see you're flitting." Brownie sticks his head out of the churn on top of the load, answers: "Yes, we're flitting." Farmer goes back to former home. England, Ireland, Wales: *Baughman. |
| F482.3.2 | Brownies live in knoll. *Fb "høj" I 740a. |
| F482.3.3 | Nisser belong to particular farm. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F482.4 | Possessions of brownies. |
| F482.4.1 | Various-colored horses of brownie. *Fb "hest" I 598. |
| F482.4.2 | Nisser have oxen. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F482.5 | Deeds of brownies. |
| F482.5.1 | Brownies dance. (Cf. F471.1.1.2. and cross-references there given.) *Fb "danse" IV 93a. |
| F482.5.2 | Brownies sew by moonlight. Fb "mеne" II 659b. |
| F482.5.3 | Brownies tease. Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 80ff., (1928) 61ff. |
| F482.5.4 | Helpful deeds of brownie or other household spirit. (Cf. F403.2.) England, Scotland: *Baughman. |
| F482.5.4.1 | Brownie rides for midwife when needed. England, Scotland: *Baughman. |
| F482.5.4.2 | Brownie restores stolen property, gives thief a twitch in eyelid. England: Baughman. |
| F482.5.5 | Malicious or troublesome actions of brownies. England, Scotland, Wales: *Baughman. |
| F482.6 | Origin of household spirits. England: *Baughman. |
| F482.7 | House spirits fight each other. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F482.8 | House spirit as suitor. (Cf. F301.) Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F485 | Ship-spirit. (Klabautermann, Kabonterken.) Similar to house-spirit. Meyer Altgermanische 110; Zs. f. Vksk. II 409, 416, IV 299f., VIII 14 n. 4, 277, XXI 178, XXIX 68; Anglia Beiblatt VI 144, XVII 73; Frischbier Am Urquell I 134; Mitteilungen d. Schles. Ges. f. Vksk. Heft XII 76; Basset Legends and Superstitions of the Sea (New York, 1885).—Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 32 No. 273, 35 Nos. 295—296, 37, 41; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 44ff., (1928) 32ff. |
| F488 | The stupid house spirit. |
| F488.1 | Household spirit herds sheep, has great trouble coralling the lambs (rabbits). (Cf. J1757.) England: *Baughman. |
| F488.2 | Mowing contest with household spirit. Farmer puts harrow teeth in plot spirit is to mow. Spirit mows through them, thinking they are dock weeds. Type 1090 (K42.2). England: Baughman. |
| F490 | Other spirits and demons. |
| F491 | Will-o'-the-Wisp. (Jack o' Lantern.) Light seen over marshy places. Kittredge Witchcraft 215, 523 n. 22; *Fb "lygtemand" II 473; Icelandic: Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 51 No. 438; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 63f.; India: Thompson-Balys; U.S. (Georgia): Harris Nights No. 28; Africa (Fang): Einstein 96. |
| F491.1 | Will-o'-the-Wisp leads people astray. *Fb "lygtemand" II 473b; England, Scotland, U.S.: Baughman. |
| F491.2 | Will-o'-the-Wisp lights people to their homes. *Fb "lygtemand" II 473b.—England: Baughman. |
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