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Aarne–Thompson–Uther index
About this index and how to read it
The ATU index classifies international folktales by type. Each row gives the type number, its title and summary, followed by the references it inherits: Arne Thompson is the earlier Aarne–Thompson type number, and Thompson lists the motif references from Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature associated with that type.
Cross-references inside a summary open the relevant tale-type or motif record. Thompson motif references in the final column are linked directly to the corresponding entry in the Stith Thompson Motif Index when that reference exists in the database. Any column heading can be clicked to sort by it, and clicking again reverses the order. Following a type number opens that type on its own page.
| ATU | Title | Summary ▲ | Arne Thompson | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 877 | The Old Woman who was Skinned | La Vecchia Scorticata. King marries woman whose finger he has seen and whose voice he has heard. She turns out to be old woman. He has her thrown out. She hangs in a tree. Swan fairies change her into beautiful girl. The king takes her as wife. Her… | 877 | D1880. |
| 1417 | The Cutt-off Nose (Hair) | Lai of the Tresses. A woman leaves her husband's bed and has another woman take her place. The husband addresses her, gets no answer, and cuts off her nose (hair). In the morning the wife still has her nose (hair). The husband is made to believe that… | , 1417 | J2315.2., K1512. |
| 1935 | Topsy-Turvy Land | Land where all is opposite from the usual. [X1505]. | ||
| 2010 | Ehod mi yodea (One, who knows?) | Le dodici parole della verità. Las doce palabras retorneadas. The numbers from one to twelve are brought into relation with various objects, often of religious significance. [Z22]. | 2010 | Z22. |
| 225 | The Tortoise That Wanted to Fly | Lets him fall to the earth | 225, 225A | J2357., K1041. |
| 1097 | The Ice Mill | Like Type 43 with man and ogre in place of animals. Cf. J741. | ||
| 592 | The Dance Among Thorns | Magic fiddle, cards, and gun. The judge is compelled to dance. I. The Magic Object and Powers. (a) A boy, driven from home by an evil stepmother or (b) dismissed from service with a pittance for years of labor, (c) gives his money to a poor man who… | , 592 | D1415.2.5., D1653.1.7., D1761.0.2., K551.3.1., N55., Q42.1., S322.4. |
| 400 | The Quest for a Lost Bride | Magic objects or animals as helpers (as introduction frequently the Swan Maiden). I. The Hero. (a) A father unwittingly promises his son to a sea monster (giant, etc.). (b) The boy is adopted by a king. (c) The ogre wants to take the boy but cannot… | , 400, 400*, 401, 401A | , B652.1., D361.1., D361.1.1., D721.2., D758.1., H1385.3., N681. |
| 1695 | The Fool Spoils the Work of the Shoemaker, the Tailor and the Smith | Makes shoes for animals as well for men since he expects a cold winter. [J1873.1, W111.5.9]. | ||
| 1336 | Diving for Cheese | Man (animal) sees moon reflected in water and, thinking it a cheese, dives in for it. [J1791.3]. This is Type 34 with human actors. | 1336A | J1791.7. |
| 1030 | Man and ogre share the harvest | Man and ogre or fox and bear. Of root crops the ogre chooses the tops; of other crops the roots. [K171]. Cf. Types 9B, 1633. | 1030 | K171.1. |
| 2204 | The Dog's Cigar | Man is smoking a cigar (pipe) in train; it falls out of the train; a dog jumps out after it; the dog arrives at the station later ... »What do you think he had in his mouth?» »The cigar (pipe)?» »No, his tongue!» | ||
| 1800 | Stealing Only a Small Amount | Man promises in confession to steal only a small amount. Steals rope with mare on end of it. [K188]. Cf. Type 1630A*. | ||
| 1812 | Wager: to Dance with Nun | Man tells nun she must undress. Nun outraged refuses. Then you must dance a few steps with me. Nun prefers this and does. Man wins wager. (Nun's song while dancing a part of tale). | ||
| 983 | The Dishes of the Same Flavor | Man thus shown that one woman is like another and dissuaded from his amorous purpose. [P236.2, Q281.1]. | ||
| 928 | Planting for the Next Generation | Man who is planting tree told that it will never mature in his day. He is planting it for the next generation. [J701.1]. | ||
| 873 | The King Discovers his Unknown Son | Marries the mother. A king in disguise leaves a token with a girl to give to their son if one is born [T645]. The boy is twitted with being a bastard and goes on a quest for his unknown father [H1381.2.2.1.1]. The king incognito discovers the boy's… | , 873 | H1381.2.2.1.1., H80., L162., N731., T645. |
| 1093 | Contest in words | Maxims. - Usually the devil and the girl [K91]. Cf. Type 875 part II. | ||
| 113 | Mice Choose Cat as King | Mice choose cat as king. | 113A, 113B | B342., K815.13. |
| 1591 | The Three Joint Depositors | Money is left with a banker by three joint depositors. The money is to be delivered only on demand from all three. One of the men steals the money. The others sue the banker for the money. He agrees to deliver it when all three jointly demand it.… | 1591 | J1161.1. |
| 91 | The Heart of a Monkey | Monkey when caught for his heart (as remedy) makes his captor believe that he has left his heart home. Is released. | 91 | K544. |
| 1179 | The ogre on the ship | Must pump out the water (the whole sea). [H1023.5]. | 1179 | H1023.5. |
| 1048 | Buying Wood | Neither straight nor crooked trees (sawdust). | ||
| 1699 | Misunderstanding Because of Ignorance of a Foreign Language | New recruits learn answers to questions in foreign language. Order changed in asking brings confusion. [J1741.3.1]. | , 1699 | J2496.2., X111.7. |
| 63 | The Fox (or Jackal) and the Fleas | No examples in the Database yet | 63 | K921. |
| 64 | Tailless Fox Tries in Vain to Get Foxes to Cut off Tails | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 96 | When the hare was married | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 171 | The Three Bears | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 229 | The Hawk Frightened at the Snipe's Bill | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 234 | The Nightingale and the Blindworm | No examples in the Database yet | 234, 234A* | , A2241.5. |
| 235 | The Jay Borrows the Cuckoo's Skin | No examples in the Database yet | 235 | A2241. |
| 244 | Peacock Plumes | No examples in the Database yet | 244, 244A*, 244C* | , J267.1., J951.2. |
| 305 | Dragon Blood as Cure | No examples in the Database yet | 305 | D1500.1.7.3.3.1.7.3.3. |
| 322 | Magnet mountain attracts everything | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 361 | Bearskin | No examples in the Database yet | , 361 | C721., C723.1.1., L54.1.1., M211. |
| 424 | The Youth Wed to a She-Devil | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 449 | The Tsar's Dog – Sidi Numan | No examples in the Database yet | , 449 | D132.1., D141., D700. |
| 452 | The Maiden Who Seeks her Brother | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 453 | The Maiden Who Seeks her Brother | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 463 | The Witch in the Stone Boat | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 466 | A Journey to the Other World | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 476 | Midwife (or Godparent, or Nurse) for the Elves | No examples in the Database yet | , 476*, 476** | , B81.6., D475.1., F372.1. |
| 500 | Rumpelstiltskin | No examples in the Database yet | , 500 | C432.1., D2183., H1021.8., H521., H914., N475., S222.1. |
| 515 | The Shepherd | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 518 | Big Fight over Magic Things | No examples in the Database yet | , 518 | D1361.12., D1520.19., D1521.1., D832. |
| 540 | The Dog in the Sea | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 562 | The Spirit in the Blue Light | No examples in the Database yet | , 562 | D1391., D1421.1.4., D1426., D1470.1., D845., N813. |
| 569 | The Knapsack, the Hat, and the Horn | No examples in the Database yet | , 569 | D1222., D1470., D1472.1.22., D1475.4., D831., D861. |
| 572 | The Barking Dog's Head | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 611 | True Love | No examples in the Database yet |
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