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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | Jokes about catechism | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 1851 | Jokes about Devout Women | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 1855 | Jokes about Jews | She bears a girl. [J2336]. | ||
| 405 | Jorinde and Joringel | A witch turns the girl into a bird. The youth with the help of a magic object changes her back into her former shape. | , 405 | D683.2., D771. |
| 805 | Joseph and Mary Threatens to Leave Heaven... | No examples in the Database yet | 805 | V254.6. |
| 926 | Judgment of Solomon | Two women claim a child. Judge offers to cut it in two. The real mother refuses. [J1171.1]. | , 926, 926C | J1141., J1141.1., J1141.1.4., J1154.2., J1171.1., J1172.1., J1179.6. |
| 1286 | Jumping into the Breeches | The woman tries to pull on her husband's breeches for him on both legs at once. | 1286 | J2161.1. |
| 1086 | Jumping into the Ground | A hole already dug and covered with boughs [K17.1]. Cf. Type 1085. | ||
| 1260 | Jumping into the sea for fish | They put meal into the ice hole and then, one after another, all jump in to taste the porridge. [J1938]. | 1260 | J1938. |
| 1459 | Keeping up appearances | No examples in the Database yet | 1459** | K1984. |
| 681 | King in the Bath; Years of Experience | This illusion takes place when the king puts his head under water. [D2012.1]. | 681 | D2012.1. |
| 900 | King Thrushbeard | A princess disdains all her suitors. Names one of them Thrushbeard. Her father marries her to a beggar. Her pride is broken. The beggar reveals himself as King Thrushbeard. I. The Suitors. (a) A king sends abroad invitations for suitors to woo his… | , 900 | H181., H311., H461., H465., K1361., K1816.0.3., K1817.1., L113.1.0.1., L431., Q483., T45., T62., T72.2.1., T76. |
| 157 | Learning to Fear Men | The fox undertakes to persuade the wolf of the frightfulness of men. They see an old man. The fox says this was a man but is no longer one. Likewise a boy (will be a man). Next a man with a gun. The wolf approaches and is shot. He tells the fox he could have defeated the man but for the man's spitting fire. [J17]. | 157, 157A | J17., J22.1. |
| 1344 | Lighting a Fire from the Sparks from a Box on the Ear | Cf. Type 1372. | ||
| 1008 | Lighting the Road | No examples in the Database yet | 1008 | K1412. |
| 2023 | Little Ant Finds a Penny, Buys New Clothes with it, and Sits in her Doorway | Various animals pass by and propose marriage. She asks what they do at night. Each replies with its characteristic sound, but none pleases her but the little quiet mouse, whom she marries. She leaves him to tend the stew, and he falls in and drowns.… | 2023 | Z32.3. |
| 333 | Little Red Riding Hood | The wolf or other monster devours human beings until all of them are rescued alive from his belly. Cf. Types 123, 2027, 2028.<br /> I. Wolf's Feast. (a) By masking as mother or grandmother the wolf deceives and devours (b) a little girl (Red Riding Hood)… | , 333, 333A | F913., J21.5.5., K1044., K2011., Q426., Z18.1.1. |
| 1347 | Living Crucifix Chosen | Peasants take their old crucifix to an artist for a new one. The artist asks them whether they want a living or dead crucifix. Argument: living God takes less for upkeep and he can be killed later. [J1738.2]. | 1347, 1347* | J1738.2., NA |
| 1829 | Living Person Acts as Image of Saint | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 1242 | Loading the wood | A rider takes the meal-sack on his shoulder to relieve the ass of his burden. | 1242, 1242A | J1874.1., J2213.4. |
| 923 | Loving the Salt | The youngest of three daughters says that she loves her father like salt. The sick father is driven forth, etc. [592.1]. See analysis of Type 510: I c; II a; III c; V. | , 923 | H592.1., M21. |
| 945 | Luck and Intelligence. Which is More Powerful? | Test: peasant who has intelligence in his head is brought to court. Luck saves trim. I. Introduction. (a) Intelligence end Luck dispute as to which is the more powerful. (b) As a test a gardener is endowed with intelligence. II. The Wooden Doll. (a)… | , 945 | D435.1.1., F1023., F954.2.1., H343., H621., N141., Z16.1. |
| 736 | Luck and Wealth | The fish with the jewel. Cf. Types 745, 745A. A poor man gets a piece of tin. He gives it to a fisherman under the agreement that the first catch of fish shall be given to him. In the net is a fish with a precious stone in his body. [N421]. | 736A | N211.1. |
| 1965 | Lying tales | No examples in the Database yet | 1965 | X1791. |
| 322 | Magnet mountain attracts everything | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 1560 | Make-believe eating; make-believe work | At the table the peasant says, »We will only act as if we were eating.» At work the servant: »We will only act as if we were working.» [J1511.1]. | ||
| 1064 | Making Fire by Stamping on Ground | Hot ashes prepared beforehand. | ||
| 1133 | Making the ogre strong (by castration) | Same as Type 153 with the ogre in place of the bear. | , 1133 | K1012.1., K1012.2., K241. |
| 1587 | Man Allowed to pick out Tree to be Hanged on | Cannot find one. [K558]. | ||
| 173 | Man and animals readjust span of life | Cf. 828 AT first, 30 years are given to all animals and to man. For the animals it is too long, for man too short. Man is given a portion of animal's lives. [A1321]. | 173 | A1321. |
| 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. |
| 1886 | Man Drinks from own Skull | The skull falls into the water and a duck makes a nest in it. | ||
| 465 | Man persecuted for his beautiful wife | I. Obtaining the Beautiful Wife. (a) The hero steals the clothing of a bathing girl (swan maiden) and gives them back only if she will marry him [D361.1, K1335], or (b) he receives his wife from God. II. The Tasks. (a) The envious king covets the… | , 465, 465A, 465B, 465C | , B642., D721.3., H1023.3., H1090., H1233.2.1., H1335., H911., H931. |
| 1240 | Man sitting on branch of tree cuts it off | Een poep wil een klokketouw stelen. Hij klimt erin en snijdt het boven zijn hoofd af [cf. J2133.4]. | 1240 | J2133.4. |
| 1278 | Marking the place on the boat | An object falls into the sea from a boat. Numskulls mark the place on the boat-rail to indicate where it fell. [J1922.1]. | 1278, 1278* | J1922.1., J1922.2. |
| 413 | Marriage by Stealing Clothing | A youth comes upon a holy man (old woman) in the forest [N825]. He is told not to go in a certain direction but does so [Z211] and sees three lovely maidens bathing. The holy man agrees to help him, turns him into a bird, tells him to steal the… | , 413 | C311., E121.5., K1335., Z211. |
| 1475 | Marriage Forbidden Outside the Parish | An order is read in church forbidding the young people to marry girls from other parishes. [X751]. | ||
| 1468 | Marrying a stranger | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 801 | Master Pfriem | The cobbler who was never satisfied is expelled from heaven [Q312.1]. He is admitted by St. Peter, [A661.0.1.2] but warned against fault-finding [F13]. He sees men carrying a beam crosswise [F171.6.3]. But when he sees the horses hitched in front and… | , 801 | A661.0.1.2., F13., F171.6.3., F171.6.4., H1023.2., Q312.1. |
| 1386 | Meat as food for cabbage | The wife places pieces of meat on a growing cabbage. [J1856.1]. Cf. Type 1642. | 1386 | J1856.1. |
| 717 | Meat Stolen for Poor Turns to Roses | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 828 | Men, Animals, and the Span of Life | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 113 | Mice Choose Cat as King | Mice choose cat as king. | 113A, 113B | B342., K815.13. |
| 782 | Midas | His secret discovered by his barber. Or he whispers the secret to a reed which repeats it. | , 782 | D1316.5., F511.2.2., N465. |
| 476 | Midwife (or Godparent, or Nurse) for the Elves | No examples in the Database yet | , 476*, 476** | , B81.6., D475.1., F372.1. |
| 1555 | Milk in the Cask | Order to put a small vessel of milk into huge container. Of a small shrewd group each by himself pours water thinking this will not be detected if the others pour milk. [K231.6.1.1]. (Sometimes told of wine.) | 1555A, 1555B | K231.6.2.2., K233.4. |
| 1146 | Millstones | Said to be pearls of hero's mother. | 1146 | K1718.2. |
| 968 | Miscellaneous Robber and Murder Stories | No examples in the Database yet | , 968 | K343.0.1., K434.1., K434.3., S121. |
| 329 | Miss the Magic Mirror | A man hides himself three times (in the belly of the fish, etc.). (Sometimes combined with Types 301 or 313.) I. The Task. (a) A princess (devil) assigns her suitors the task of hiding themselves. (b) She has magic windows that give her magic sight.… | , 329 | D641., H321. |
| 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. |
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