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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 551–600 of 890 · Page 12 of 18

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
785 Who Ate the Lamb's Heart ? Accused of eating the goose's leg, the thief maintains that it had only one leg, and cleverly enforces his point by showing geese standing on one leg. (Usually the master confounds the rascal by frightening the geese so that they use both legs.)… , 785 J1141.1.1., K1811., K402.
1422 The Parrot and the Adulterous Woman No examples in the Database yet 1422 J1154.1.
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.
890 The Pound of Flesh The wife as judge saves her husband. I. A merchant buys a bride in Turkey for her weight in gold. II. He gets the money by giving as security a piece of his own flesh. III. (a) The husband is abroad and (b) while he is away three merchants fall in… , 890 J1161.2., K1825.2., K443.2., T52.3.
1590 The Tresspasser's Defence With earth from his own property in his shoes, the man swears, when he is on his neighbor's land, that he is on his own. [J1161.3, K1917.1]. Cf. Types 859A, 859B, 859C, 859D. , 1590 J1161.3., K2310., K475., M105., Q270.
155 Ingratitude Is the World's Reward A man rescues a serpent (or a bear), who in return seeks to kill the rescuer. Fox, as judge, advises the man to put the serpent back into captivity. 155 J1172.3.
953 The Old Robber Relates Three Adventures The old robber relates three adventures to free his sons [R153.3.3, J1185]. Each adventure is more frightful than the last [R151.1]. The tales: (1) an adventure with ghostlike cats, (2) Odysseus and Polyphemus (cf.Type 1137), (3) an ogre fooled by… , 953 J1185., K1011., K527., Q53., R153.3.3.
821 The Devil as Advocate A man is accused of theft. The devil carries the judge from the court room and thus repays the hospitality of the accused. 821B J1191.2.
1586 The Man in Court for Killing a Fly Cf. 1586, 163A* (a) A fool sees a fly light on his mother's (companion's) head and hits it with an axe, etc., killing his mother [J1833.1, N333.1]. (b) When a grasshopper (fly) lights on a hunter's shoulder, his companion shoots it, killing the… , 1586 J1193.1., J1833.1.
1562 "Think Thrice before you Speak." The youth obeys literally the precept even when he sees the master's coat on fire. [J2516.1, cf. J571.1]. 1562, 1562A, 1562B* J1269.12., J2516.1., NA
1567 Hungry Servant Reproaches Stingy Master Cf. Type 1389*. , 1567, 1567F, 1567G J1341.1., J1341.11., J1341.4., J1341.6.
1574 The flattering foreman A tailor dreams that at Judgment Day he sees a flag made up of all the pieces of cloth he has stolen. Upon waking he asks his servants to warn him if they ever see him tempted to steal again. This happens. He replies, »The piece I am about to steal… 1574 J1401.
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.
179 What the bear whispered in his ear Paid guide climbs tree and leaves traveler to mercy of a bear. Traveler feigns death and the bear sniffs at him and leaves. The guide: »What did the bear say to you?« »He said, never trust a coward like you.« 179 J1488.
981 The Killing of Old Men Wisdom of Hidden Old Man Saves Kingdom. In famine all old men are ordered killed. One man hides his father. When all goes wrong in the hands of the young rulers, the old man comes forth, performs assigned tasks, end aids with his wisdom. [J151.1].… 981 J151.1.
1628 The learned son and the forgotten language Having left the seminary, a son speaks only Latin, pretending to have forgotten his own language. When a rake strikes him in the forehead, he screams in his own tongue »Devilish rake!» [J1511.11]. Cf. Type 1641 C. 1628* J1511.11.
1592 The Iron-eating Mice The trustee claims that mice have eaten the iron scales confided to him. The host abducts the trustee's son and says that a falcon has carried him off. [J1531.2]. 1592, 1592B J1531.2., J1531.3.
1410 Four Men's Mistress A husband disguises as a priest to hear his wife's confession. She says that she has been the mistress of a servant, a knight, a fool, and a priest; i.e., her husband when he was her servant, and later her knight. He had then been a fool for… 1410 J1545.2.
1408 The man who does his wife's work Does everything wrong [J2431]. Lets cow graze on the roof; cf. Type 1210. Ties the rope's end to his foot [J2132.2]. Lets the beer run out; cf. Type 1387. In the chimney. , 1408, 1408B, 1876 J1545.3., J1881.1.3., J2132.2., J2176.1., J2431., J2465.4., X1267.1.
1558 Welcome to the Clothes A man at a banquet is neglected because of his poor clothes. He changes clothes, returns, and is honored. »Feed my clothes,» he says, »for it is they that are welcomed.» [J1561.3]. 1558 J1561.3.
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.
211 The hog who was so tired of his daily food Schwarzer Tod im "Stipelloch" gefangen (entkommt später) 211 J1612.
105 The fox and the cat The cat has only one trick and saves herself in a tree. The fox who knows a hundred tricks is captured. 105, 105* J1662., K522.
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.
204 Sheep, duck and cock in peril at sea The duck swims; the cock flies to the mast and crows that he sees the shore. 204 J1711.1.
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
1316 Rabbit Thought to be a Cow Servant sent to bring in cows is found chasing rabbits. [J1757]. Cf. Type 570. , 1316 J1751., J1754., J1755., J1757.
1317 Blind Man and Elephant Four blind men feel an elephant's leg, tail, ear, and body respectively, and conclude it is like a log, a rope, a fan, and something without beginning or end. [J1761.10]. NA J1761.10.
1319 Other mistaken identities No examples in the Database yet 1319, 1319A*, 1319J* J1761.11., J1772.1., J1781.2.
1310 Drowning the crayfish as punishment Eel, crab, turtle, etc. express fear of water and are thrown in. , 1310 J1762.1.2., K581.1.
1314 The Buttercask Taken for a Dead Man Fools knock it in two. [J1783.1]. 1315 J1771.1.
1335 The Eaten Moon The numskull sees a cow drink from a pool where the moon is reflected. The moon goes under a cloud. He thinks the cow has eaten the moon and slaughters her to recover it. [J1791.1]. 1335, 1335*, 1335A J1791.1., J1791.2., J1806.
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.
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.
1281 Burning the Barn to Destroy an Unknown Animal The cat (owl) is bought. Eats many mice. To kill it they set the house on fire. [J2101]. Cf. Type 1651. 1281, 1281A J1815., J2101.
1290 Swimming in the Flax-field Peasants go to visit the sea. They see a waving flax field, and thinking it is the sea, jump in for a swim. [J1821]. 1290 J1821.
1643 The Broken Image The fool sells his cow to a crucifix [J1853.1.1]. He knocks it to pieces because it will not pay him. He finds a treasure inside [N510]. 1643 J1853.1.1.
1386 Meat as food for cabbage The wife places pieces of meat on a growing cabbage. [J1856.1]. Cf. Type 1642. 1386 J1856.1.
1291 Sending One Cheese After Another One cheese falls and rolls down the hill. She sends the second to bring back the first. [J1881.1.2]. 1291, 1291B, 1291C J1871., J1881.1.2., J1881.1.3.
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.
1675 The ox (ass) as mayor The peasant has his ox study. The man who is to teach the ox [K491] slaughters it and tells the peasant that it has gone to the city and become a merchant (mayor). The peasant goes to visit him, meets a man who is named Peter Ox (or the like) and… , 1675 J1882.2., K491.
1218 Numskull Sits on Eggs to Finish Hatching Cautions people to be quiet and not frighten the eggs. (Sometimes puts on honey and feathers before sitting on the eggs.) [J1902.1]. Cf. Type 1677. , 1218 J1902.1., K1253.
1213 The Pent Cuckoo Fools build an enclosure to keep in the cuckoo. She flies over the hedge. They say that they have not built the hedge high enough. [J1904.2]. 1213 J1904.2.
1682 The groom teaches his horse to live without food It dies. [J1914]. 1682 J1914.
1543 The man without a member No examples in the Database yet 1543*, 1543A*, 1543C* J1919.8., NA
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.
1200 The Sowing of Salt The numskull sows it like grain and expects it to produce salt [J1932.3], or plants a cow's tail to produce calves [J1932.4.1]. , 1200 J1932.1., J1932.2., J1932.3., J1932.4.
1255 A hole to throw the earth in Numskull plans to dig a hole so as to have a place to throw the earth from his excavations. [J1934]. 1255 J1934.
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.
1383 A Woman Does Not Know Herself No examples in the Database yet , 1383 J2012.2., J2012.3.

Showing 551–600 of 890 · Page 12 of 18





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