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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.

890 tale types

Sorted by type number, ascending

Showing 1–50 of 890 · Page 1 of 18

ATU ▲ Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson
1 The theft of fish The fox plays dead; a man throws him on his wagon of fish. The fox throws the fish off and carries them away. The wolf imitates and is caught. 1, 1* K371.1., NA
2 How the bear lost his tail The bear (wolf) is persuaded to fish with his tail through a hole in the ice. His tail freezes fast. When he is attacked and tries to escape, he loses his tail. 2, 2A, 2B, 64 K1021, K1021.1., K1021.2.
3 Sham Blood and Brains The fox covers his head with buttermilk (blood, urine, etc.) and says that his brains have been knocked out. Frightens the bear. 3 K473.
4 Carrying the Sham-Sick Trickster The fox shams sickness and is carried by the wolf. 4 K1241.
5 Biting the foot The fox to the bear, who is biting his foot: »You are biting the tree root.» The bear lets loose. 5 K543.
7 The calling of three tree names The bear and the fox wager as to which can name three trees first. The bear names different varieties of the same tree. The fox wins the wager. 7 N51
8 "Painting" on the Haycock The bear (wolf) wants to be painted like the birds. The fox persuades him to lie on a haycock and sets fire to it. 8, 8A K1013., K1013.2
9 The unjust partner In the field and in the stable. The bear works: the idle fox cheats the bear. 9, 9B, 9C K1251.1, K171.2., K471.
15 Stealing the Partner's Butter The fox (the hen) pretends that he has been invited to be godfather and steals the butter stored by him and the bear (the cock) for the winter. He smears butter on the mouth (tail) of the sleeping bear. 15 K372.
20 Animals Eat One Another Up The fox persuades them to begin with the smallest. 20, 20A, 20C, 61A K1024., K2027., Z43.3.
21 Eating his own Entrails The fox persuades the wolf (bear) to eat his own entrails. 21 K1025.
30 The Fox Tricks the Wolf into Falling into a Pit Race. 30 NA
34 The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese The wolf and the fox think the reflection of the moon in the water is a cheese. The fox lowers the wold into the water, the wolf fall into the water and the cheese disappears. 34, 34A J1791.3., J1791.4.
36 The Fox in Disguise Violates the She-Bear The she-bear is caught in a tree cleft or hole in the hedge . To avoid later recognition the fox covers himself with soot and is taken for the pastor. Variant: the hare, the she-fox. 36 K1384.
37 The fox as shepherd Search for a nursemaid (or mourning-woman). Fox takes service and eats up the young bears. 37, 37* K931.
38 Claw in Split Tree The fox (or man) persuades the bear to stick his claw in the cleft of a split tree. 38 K1111.
39 The Bear Pulls Mountain Ashes apart so that the Fox's Old Mother can Get Berries The fox eats the berries himself.
41 The Wolf Overeats in the Cellar The fox persuades the wolf to enter a cellar (smokehouse or kitchen) and steal food. The wolf eats so much that he cannot escape through the hole he has entered by. He is killed. Cf. Types 33*, 33**. 33*, 33**, 41, 41* K1022.1.
43 The Bear Builds a House of Wood; the Fox, of Ice In summer the fox wants to drive the bear out of his house Cf. Types 81, 1097, 1238. 1097, 43 J741.1.
44 The Oath on the Iron In a dispute between the fox, the wolf, and the bear concerning the theft of their winter supplies, the fox denies the guilt and swears by touching iron (a trap). The bear follows his example but hits the iron so hard that his paws are caught. 44 K1115.
49 The bear and the honey The fox leads the bear to a wasp-nest. 49 K1023.
50 Curing a Sick Lion The fox pretends to seek a remedy for the lion; advises him to skin the wolf . , 50, 50A, 50C J644.1., K961., W121.2.1.,           ,            
51 The Lion's share The ass divides booty equally between himself, the fox, and the lion. The lion eats the ass. The fox then divides: gives the lion meat and keeps bones. 51 J811.1.
52 The Ass without a Heart The ass as toll-gatherer is killed by the lion for asking for toll. The fox eats the ass's heart. When the lion asks for it, the fox replies that the ass could have had no heart since he was such a fool as to ask the lion for toll. 52 K402.3.
53 Reynard the Fox at Court The fox is summoned to appear before the court of justice, but he does not come and laughs at the messengers. When he is caught at last and about to be hanged, he escapes again. 53 J864.2.
55 The Animals Build a Road (Dig Well) The fox as overseer punishes lazy animals. 55 A2233.1.
57 Raven with a Cheese A raven/crow has some cheese/meat in his mouth. The fox flatters the raven into singing. He drops his food and the fox gets it. 57 K334.1.
58 The Crocodile Carries the Jackal The jackal, who wants to eat fruit or carrion on the other bank, persuades a crocodile to carry him across the river by saying he will find a bride for the crocodile. He makes a dummy and, safe back on shore, sends the crocodile to that.
59 Fox and the Sour Grapes Pretends that the grapes he cannot reach are sour. 59 J871.
60 The Fox and the Crane Invites Each Other The crane (heron) has his food in a deep dish, the fox his on a flat plate. The crane injures his beak. 60 J1565.1.
61 The Fox Persuades the Cock to Crow with Closed Eyes Captures him. Often followed by: the cock persuades the fox to ask a blessing before eating him. 61, 61B K721., K815.15.
62 Peace Among the Animals – The Fox and the Cock The fox tries to beguile the cock by reporting a new law establishing peace among the animals. Dogs appear and the fox flees saying that the dogs have not yet heard of the new law. 62 J1421.
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
65 Mrs. Fox's Suitors The widowed she-fox proves her faithfulness by rejecting suitors who do not resemble her deceased husband. 65 N681.
68 The Jackal Trapped in the Animal Hide
  • I. Entering the Elephant. (a) An elephant lets his friend the jackal enter his body to drink water. The jackal eats the internal organs and the elephant dies. The jackal is trapped in the carcass. (b) A jackal eats its way into a carcass which it finds and is trapped inside when the skin dries.
  • II. Jackal and the God. (a) A god passes and the jackal challenges him to a rain-making contest. The god sends rain, the carcass swells, and the jackal escapes. (b) The jackal pretends to be a god and frightens people into bringing sacrifice and pouring water over the carcass.
    		•  , 68, 68*, 68A J2131.5.7., J655.2., K1022.1.1., K565.2.
    70 More cowardly than the hare The hare finds a (sheep, fish, frog, etc.) who is afraid of him and laughs till his lip splits. 70 J881.1.
    71 Contest of Frost and the Hare The hare lies on the frozen snow and says, »Oh, how warm!» 71 H1541.1.
    72 The Rabbit Rides Fox A-Courting The fox is the favorite suitor of the girl the rabbit wants. The rabbit tells the girl that the fox is his horse. She refuses to believe him. She agrees to marry if he will ride to her house. He persuades fox to carry him—usually by feigning lameness—and wins the girl. (Sometimes told of human beings.) Cf. Type 4. 72, 72* J61., K1241.
    73 Blinding the Guard The rabbit, imprisoned in a hollow tree, induces his guard to look up at him. He spits tobacco juice into the guard's eyes and blinds the guard, and thus effects his escape. 73 K621.
    75 The Help of the Weak The mouse gnaws the net and liberates the captured bear (fox, lion). 75 B371.1.
    76 The Wolf and the Crane The crane pulls a bone from the wolf's windpipe. When he asks for payment the wolf says, "That you were allowed to take your beak from my throat is payment enough." 76 W154.3.
    77 The Stag Admires Himself in a Spring The stag admires himself in a spring. He is proud of his horns, ashamed of his legs. In flight his horns are caught and the dogs overtake him. 77 L461.
    78 Animal Allows himself to be Tied to Another for Safety Animal allows himself to be tied to another for safety. Carried to his death. , 78, 78A K713.1.1., K713.1.2.,               
    81 Too cold for hare to build house in winter Too cold for hare to build house in winter, not necessary in summer: must go without a house. Cf. Types 43, 1238.
    85 The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage The mouse, the bird, and the sausage keep house together each with appropriate duties. When they exchange roles, all goes ill. 85 J512.7.
    90 The Needle, the Glove, and the Squirrel The needle at first has little success; receives blows from the others. Finally it slips into an elk's stomach andkills the elk.
    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.
    92 The Lion in the Water The hare, sent to be the lion's dinner, says he has been detained by a more powerful enemy and shows the lion his own reflection in a well. The lion leaps in and is drowned. Cf. Types 34, 34A, 1168A, 1336, 1383. , 92 K1715.1.,              
    93 The Master Taken Seriously She-fox and her children do not flee from the vineyard until owner begins in earnest to root it out. (Also told of other animals.) 93 J1031.

    Showing 1–50 of 890 · Page 1 of 18





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