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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 851–890 of 890 · Page 18 of 18

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
831 The Dishonest Priest In order to get hold of money found by a poor man, the priest goes with the skin of a he-goat on his back (as Devil) to the man to frighten him [Q551.2]. But when he gets home he cannot get the skin off [Q551.2]. 831 Q551.2.
832 The Disappointed Fisher The fisher, his wife, and his child always get three fishes. From greed they kill the child in order to have more fish for themselves. But they catch from then on only two fishes. [Q553.5]. 832 Q553.5.
838 The Bad Rearing Son on gallows bites his mother's (father's) nose off: punishment for neglect in youth. [Q586]. Cf. Type 756B. 838 Q586.
898 The Daughter of the Sun The Speechless Maiden; the Puppet Bride). I. Virgin in the Tower. To avoid fulfillment of a prophecy that a princess shall be impregnated by the sun and bear a child, she is confined in a tower. Nevertheless the prophecy is fulfilled. [T381, T521].… , 898 R131.11.3., S313., T381., T521.
1191 Devil's Bridge Unwitting bargain with devil evaded by driving dog over bridge first. The child has been unwittingly promised (the first thing that goes over the bridge). [S241.1]. 1191 S241.1.
1164 The evil woman thrown into the pit The ogre comes out, since he cannot remain below with her. [K2325, T251.1.4]. , 1164 T251.1.2.1., T251.1.2.2.
1678 The boy who had never seen a woman When he sees a girl and asks his father what it is, the father tells him it is Satan. Asked what he most likes, he says »The Satans». [T371]. 1678 T371.
247 Every Mother Thinks Her Child Is the Most Beautiful The snipe asks the sportsman to spare its small ones, easily recognized as being the prettiest in the forest. To be on the safe side the man shoots only the ugliest he can find. They are the young snipes. (Often told of the ape.) 247 T681.
770 The Nun Who Saw the World The nun leaves the convent with her lover. The Virgin takes her place in the convent during the years of her absence. The nun returns repentant. [K1841.1]. 770A* V238.
805 Joseph and Mary Threatens to Leave Heaven... No examples in the Database yet 805 V254.6.
1950 The three lazy ones Who is the laziest. Each recounts a proof of his laziness. [W111.1]. , 1950 W111.1., W111.1.1., W111.1.2., W111.1.3.
1561 The boy 'loses his sight' No examples in the Database yet 1561 W111.2.6.
1951 Is Wood Split? A lazy man asks if wood is split before he accepts it as a gift [W111.5.12]. Sometimes, if rice is cooked. 1951 W111.5.10.
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.
160 Grateful Animals ; Ungrateful Man The rescue from the pit. A traveler saves a monkey, a snake, a tiger, and a jeweler from a pit. The monkey gives him fruit; the tiger a necklace of the princess he has killed. The jeweler accuses the rescuer before the king. The serpent saves him by biting the prince and then showing the man the proper remedy. 160 W154.8.
1348 The Imaginative Boy No examples in the Database yet 1348 W211.2.
1894 The man shoots a ramrod full of ducks No examples in the Database yet 1894 X1111.
1895 A man wading in water catching many fish in his boots No examples in the Database yet 1895 X1112.
1916 The Breathing Tree A hunter cuts down a tree packed so full of animal that a crack opens as the animals inhale, closes when they exhale. 1916 X1116.
1890 The lucky shot Discharge of gun kills the heath-cock, which falls on the sprouts on the tree, which kills the bear, etc. [X1124.3]. 1890, 1890D, 1890E, 1890F X1122.2., X1122.3., X1124.3.
1896 Hunting the wolves with rod and line No examples in the Database yet 1896 X1132.1.
1875 The Boy on the Wolf's Tail He hides himself in the mill and frightens the robbers from their treasure; cf. Type 1653. Is hidden in a barrel. Holds fast to the wolf's tail through a hole in the barrel. [X1133.3]. Cf. Types 169H*, 1229, 1900. 1875 X1133.3.
1229 If the Wolf's Tail Breaks Trickster and companion are wolf hunting. The companion goes into the wolf hole. The wolf comes out. The other catches the wolf by the tail and the wolf scratches dust into the companion's eyes. »What a dust.» - »If the wolf's tail breaks, you… 1229 X1133.3.2.
1940 The Extraordinary Names The place where animals and things have extraordinary names. 1940 X1506.
1927 The Cold May Night A very cold night comes in May. Hearing of a much colder night long ago, a man sets out to find about it. In his travels he comes to (a) an otter lying in a deep hole on top of a rock: he has been so long lying there that the rock has been worn… 1927 X1620.
1911 Cart as Legs Small cart serves as back legs for crippled sow. Pigs have also these carts. (Similar stories about other animals.) [X1202.1]. 1911A X1721.1.
1882 The Man who Fell out of a Balloon Buried in the earth, he goes to get a spade to dig himself out. 1882 X1731.2.1., X1757.
1965 Lying tales No examples in the Database yet 1965 X1791.
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.
2012 The Forgetful Man Counts the Days of the Week On Monday they go to mill, etc. - He thus discovers that it is Sunday. [Z24]. , 2012 Z24., Z24.1., Z24.1.1.
2019 Fair Katrinelje and Pif-Paf-Poltrie Each member of a family is assigned a characteristic function; various wooers appear and are rejected until the one which is apparently the most unpromising is chosen. [Z31.1]. 2019 Z31.1.
2021 The cock and the hen The hen chokes to death on a grain. Various animals join the funeral procession. The funeral carriage breaks down or the procession drowns. [Z32.1]. , 2021, 2021B Z32.1., Z32.1.1., Z43.2.
2022 An Animal Mourns the Death of a Spouse Each act of mourning described by a neologism: the table untables itself. [Z32.2.1]. , 2022 Z32.2., Z32.2.1.
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.
2025 The Fleeing Pancake A woman makes a pancake which flees. Various animals try in vain to stop it. Finally the fox eats it up. [Z33.1]. 2025 Z33.1.
2028 The Troll (Wolf) who was Cut Open A troll eats the watcher's five horses and finally the watcher himself. The master goes to investigate. The troll: »I ate the five horses, I ate the watcher, and I will eat you.» Does so. Likewise with wife, servant, daughter, son, and dog. The cat… , 2027, 2028 Z33.2., Z33.3., Z33.4.
163 The singing wolf By his singing the wolf compels the old man to surrender his cattle, his children and grandchildren, and finally his wife. The old woman goes into the wolf's service. She returns home bringing butter, etc. [Z33.4.2]. 163 Z33.4.2.
2015 The goat that would not go home One animal after another tries in vain to persuade the goat to go home. Finally a wolf (bee) bites him and drives him home. [Z39.1]. Variants: a hog, wolf, cat or the like [Z39.1]. Often mixed with Type 2030. Cf. Type 212. 2015 Z39.1.
2014 Chains Involving Contradictions of Extremes Cf. Type 2335. , 2014, 2014A Z51., Z51.1.
124 The Three Little Pigs The goose builds a house of feathers; the hog one of stone. The wolf blows the goose's house in and eats her. Cannot blow down the hog's house. Finally he is allowed to enter. He is tricked into the chimney (or churn) where he is burned up. 124 Z81.

Showing 851–890 of 890 · Page 18 of 18





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