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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 Thompson references, ascending

Showing 501–550 of 890 · Page 11 of 18

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
502 The Wild Man The prince sets the prisoner free. The latter becomes his servant and helper. (The Ride on the Glass Mountain; cf. Type 530. Rescue of the Princess from the Dragon, cf. Type 300. Service as Shepherd; War or Other Adventures). The youth wins the… , 502 G671., R222.
1180 Catching Water in a Sieve The ogre and the girl [H1023.2]. Cf. Type 480. 1180 H1023.2.
1175 Straightening a Curly Hair No examples in the Database yet 1175 H1023.4.
1179 The ogre on the ship Must pump out the water (the whole sea). [H1023.5]. 1179 H1023.5.
1525 The robber brothers The man pretends to show how the horse can be stolen. Really leads it away. [K341.8]. Cf. Types 1540, 1542. , 1525, 1525A, 1525D, 1525G, 1525H, 1525J*, 1525M, 1525N, 1525Q, 1525Q*, 1525R H1151., H1151.2., H1151.3., J1516., K301., K301.1., K306., K307.1., K308., K311., K332., K341.20., K341.21., K341.3., K341.6., K341.7., K362.2., K406.2., L142.1., NA
851 The Riddle of the Suitor The prince saved by his true servant in a robber's den. The poisoned raven. The riddle from the hero's own experiences. He wins the princess's hand. Cf. Types 516518. I. The Riddle Contest. A princess is offered in marriage to the youth who can… , 851 H117., H342., H551., H565., H721.1., H734., H762., H792., H802., H81.2.
891 The Man Who Deserts his Wife and Sets Her the Task of Bearing Him a Child I. The Prince Deserts His Wife. (a) A girl by accident arouses the enmity of a prince, who threatens to make her half a wife, or the like, and marries her, or (b) a prince becomes angry at his wife. (c) The prince deserts his wife, (d) or imprisons… , 891, 891A, 891B H1187., K1814., K1837., M372., na, R41.2., T381.
551 The Water of Life The youngest succeeds with the help of an eagle (dwarf) and various magic objects. The brothers gain possession of the remedy. The princess searches for the father of her child. For analysis see Type 550: I b, (c); II; III c, d; IV; V b. , 551 H1210.1., H1242., H1321.1., H1381.2.1., H80., H81.1., K1932., K2211., L161., N711.3., N825.2., T475.2., W154.12.3.
870 The Princess in the Underground Cave She digs herself out: serves at the king's castle. Takes the place of the bride at the wedding. The conversation with the horse, the bridge, the churchdoor. I. Imprisoned Princess. Because of her faithfulness to her betrothed, a princess along with… , 870, 870A H13.1., H13.2., H15.1., H151.5., H411.1., H90., H92., K1816.0.2., K1831., K1843.1., K1911.3., R211., R45., T55.
1384 The husband hunts for three persons as stupid as his wife Cf. Types 1450, Clever Elsie; 1385, The Foolish Wife's Pawn. The man finds three as foolish [H1312.1]. Cf. Type 1540, The Student from Paradise. This type combines with many others, particularly 1310, 1245, 1265, 1286, 1326, 1371*, 1385, 1386, 1387… 1384 H1312.1.
326 The Youth Who Wanted to Learn What Fear Is Various episodes: in the church tower, under the gallows, etc. Cf. Types 1159, 1160.
  • I. Quest: To Meet Fear. A youth who does not know what fear is goes out to find it.
  • II. Experiences. He tries various frightful experiences: (a) playing cards with devil in church; (b) stealing clothes from a ghost; (c) staying at night under a gallows, (d) in a cemetery, or (e) in a haunted house where a dead man's members fall down the chimney; (f) vanquishing ghost like cats; (g) playing ninepins with a reassembled dead man; (h) being shaved by barber-ghost; (i) cutting devil's finger nails.
  • III. Learning Fear. After his wedding he learns fear when cold water is thrown on him or eels are put down his back while he is asleep.
    		•  , 326, 326A*, 326B* H1376.2.2., H1411., H1441., K335.1.10.1.10.
    707 The Bird of Truth The queen bears marvelous children. They are stolen away. The queen is banished. The quest for the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the water of life. , 707 H1381.2.2.1., H71.1., H71.2., H71.3., K2110.1., K2115., L162., N201., R131.2., S301.
    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.
    712 Crescentia The slandered and banished wife is reinstated through her miraculous healing powers. , 712 H151.8., K2110.1., K2112., K2116.1.1.1., S451.
    71 Contest of Frost and the Hare The hare lies on the frozen snow and says, »Oh, how warm!» 71 H1541.1.
    976 Which was the Noblest Act? The bridegroom, the robber, and the lover. A bridegroom permits his bride to fulfill a promise to visit her lover on her wedding night. On the way she meets robbers. When he hears her story one of the robbers conducts her to her lover. On hearing her… 976 H1552.1.
    893 The Unreliable Friends. (The HalfFriend). The man kills a hog. He tells his friends that he has killed a man and asks where he can hide the body. All of them drive him away and only his father's halffriend remains true to him in his feigned trouble [H1558.1]. , 893 H1558.1., R169.6.
    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.
    850 The Moles of the Princess The pipe and the dancing hogs.
  • I. The Markings. (a) In return for his dancing hogs the princess lets the youth see her naked. (b) With this knowledge he wins the princess.
  • II. To Whom She Turns. (a) As a further test the princess is to be given to the suitor to whom she turns in the night. (b) Rivals sleep with her and contest in enticements: she turns to the hero.
    • Cf. Type 62    		 , 850 H315., H51.1., H525., K1358., K443.6.
    854 The golden ram No examples in the Database yet , 854 H322., K1341.1.
    507 The Mistress of the Monster I. The Grateful Dead Man. See Type 506 I. II. The Monster Husband. The hero woos a princess whose former suitors have all come to misfortune and whose heads have been stuck on poles. With the help of the dead man who has taken the necessary magic… , 507A H322.1., H972., T172.0.1., T172.2.1.
    1642 The Good Bargain The fool throws money to the frogs. Sells butter to sign-post and meat to the dogs. Makes the princess laugh. I. Money to the Frogs. The numskull throws money to the frogs so that they can count it. II. Selling to Dogs. (a) He sells meat to dogs, (b)… , 1642 H341., J1151.2., J1851.1.1., J1852., J1853., J1853.1., K187.
    1640 The Valiant Little Tailor Seven with one stroke. While fleeing defeats the enemy (the sign-post on his arm). Kills wild boar. Also incidents belonging to the stupid ogre and the clever man , 1640 H38.2.1., J1115.4., K1082., K1112., K18.3., K1951.1., K1951.2., K1951.3., K525.1., K61., K62., K63., K71., K72., K771.
    1451 A suitor chooses the thrifty girl The thrifty girl makes herself a dress from the flax the lazy fiancé has thrown on the floor. The young man chooses the thrifty girl. [H381.1]. 1451 H381.1.
    1452 Choosing a Bride by How She Cuts Cheese Three girls tested. First eats rind and all, second cuts away good cheese, third cuts away just enough. [H381.2]. 1452 H381.2.
    1453 Bride test: key in flax reveals laziness Suitor hides key in flax on spinning wheel. Finds it there next day. [H382.1]. 1453 H382.1.
    901 Taming of the Shrew The youngest of three sisters is a shrew. For their disobedience the husband shoots his dog and his horse. Brings his wife to submission. Wager: whose wife is the most obedient. Cf. Type 1370. , 901 H386., L50., N12., T251.2.
    704 The Princess and the Pea A princess is recognized by her inability to sleep in a bed which has a pea under its dozen mattresses. 704 H41.1.
    888 The Faithful Wife I. The Husband Threatens to Beat his Wife. (a) A prince (merchant's son) says he will marry only a girl who will submit to a beating (with a hose) each day [M134]. (b) The prince marries the girl and she refuses to allow him to beat her, saying he… , 888, 888A H431.1., H80., J1545.6., K1837., M134., R152.1., R61., T320.1.
    887 Griselda The king marries a maiden of the lower class. She promises to be always complacent. The king puts her to the proof by making her believe that he has killed their children and married another wife [H461]. Cf. Types 712, 881, 900. 887 H461.
    1381 The talkative wife and the discovered treasure The wood-cock in the fish-net and the fish in the bird-trap. The woman under the bath tub (for fear of rumored war). The woman is considered mad and the man can keep his treasure. The husband has foolishly told his talkative wife of discovered… 1381, 1381B, 1381C, 1381D, 1381E H472.1., J1151.1.1., J1151.1.3., J2353., NA
    920 The son of the king (Solomon) and of the smith The children are exchanged. In the children's play Solomon acts as king. Shows his cleverness. I. Expulsion of the Prince. (a) The prince is expelled from home because (a1) he reports from his mother's womb her scandalous conduct. (b) He is ordered… , 920B, 920C H486.2., J412.1., L13.
    1579 Carrying Wolf, Goat, and Cabbage across Stream A man is to set across a stream, in a boat that will hold himself and only one other object, a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. He must do this so that the wolf doesn't eat the goat, nor the goat the cabbage. Two solutions: (1) (a) take goat over, (b)… 1579 H506.3.
    853 Contest in Repartee Takes along a dead crow and other objects which he has found. I. The Contest. A princess is offered in marriage to the youth who outwits her in repartee. II. The Clues. On the way to the contest the hero picks up a dead crow, an egg, and other… , 853, 853A H507.1., H507.1.0.1., K1331.
    930 The Prediction Cf. Types 461, 1525R*. I. The Prophecy. (a) It is foretold that a poor boy is to become the king's son-in-law. II. Sale and Abandonment. (a) The king buys the boy from his parents. (b) He abandons the boy in a box on a river (or in a forest). (c) He… , 930, 930A H51., K1355., K511., K978., M312.1., M312.1.1., M359.2., M370., N101., R131., S115.2., S143., T22.2.
    922 The king and the abbot Falsely accused minister reinstates himself by his cleverness [K2101, P111]. Cf. Type 981. , 922 H512., H541.1., H561.2., H634., H681.1., H691.1., H696.1., H701.1., H702., H703., H705.1., H705.2., H711.1., H713.1., H797., K1961., Q113.4.
    812 The Mystery of the Devil The man is saved by solving the riddle propounded by the devil. The solution discovered in the forest. I. Devil's Contract. (a) A man (three men) promises himself to the devil at the end of a certain time if he cannot solve three (seven) riddles… , 812 H523., H671., H672., H673., M211.
    927 Out-riddling the judge The accused is set free when the judge cannot solve the riddles propounded to him. The riddles: (a) what has seven tongues in one head? (bird's nest with seven young found in a horse's head); (b) formerly I was a daughter, now I am a mother; (c) or… , 927 H542., H792., H793., H804., H805., H806., H807.
    950 Rhampsinitus Rhampsinitus. The theft in the treasury (bank). The head of one of the thieves cut off. The other thief (brother) sought in vain. The lamentation of the relatives betrays the thief, etc. Cf. Type 1525. I. Theft from the treasury. (a) The king's… , 950 H58., J1142.4., J1143., K315.1., K332., K407.1., K415., K425., K730.
    921 The king and the peasant's son The youth's clever answers to the king' questions (1 1/2 men and the horse's head, etc. [H561.4, H583]). Among the riddles are: (a1) What do you see? - 1 1/2 men and horse's head (himself, the legs of the king who is horseback in the door way, and… , 921, 921A, 921B* , 921C*, 921D* H583., H583.1., H583.2., H583.3., H583.4., H583.5., H583.6., H585.1., J1252., L144.2., NA
    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.
    1613 "Playing-Cards are my Calendar and Prayerbook." A soldier reproved for playing cards during church service answers thus and shows so cleverly the symbolic meanings of each of the cards that he receives a reward. [H603]. 1613 H603.
    924 Discussion by sign language No examples in the Database yet , 924 H607.1., J1804.
    879 The Basil Maiden (The Sugar Puppet, Viola) I. The Sprinkler of Basil. A princess before leaving her schoolmistress is used to sprinkling a vase of flowers. II. Questions and Counter questions. A prince ridicules her with a rhyme but the girl learns from her teacher a rhyme which scorns him in… , 879 H702., H705.3., K1837., K525.1.
    882 The wager on the wife's chastity A ship captain marries a poor girl. Makes a wager with a merchant on the chastity of his wife. Through treachery, the merchant secures a token of unfaithfulness (ring). The captain leaves home. The wife follows him in men's clothing. They reach home… , 882 H94., K1342., K1837., K2112.1., N15.
    232 The Heathcock and the Birds of Passage The former prefers to remain at home amid hardships than to go to foreign lands. 232D* J101.
    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.
    1215 The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey Asinus Vulgi. Miller blamed when he follows his son on foot; when he takes the son's place on the ass; when he takes the son behind him; and when he puts the son in front of him. [J1041.2]. , 1215 J1041., J1041.2.
    335 Death' Messengers Death promises the man to indicate his future. He gives him a blow, blindness, etc. But the man does not understand the signs and lives happily throughout. 335 J1051.
    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.

    Showing 501–550 of 890 · Page 11 of 18





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