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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 ▲ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 534 | The Youth Who Tends the Buffalo Herd | Cf. Types 181, 510C, 511A. I. The youth and the Wild Buffaloes (Cows). A youth cares for wild buffaloes which he comes upon in the forest and is befriended by them [B395, B396, N832.1, B537]. (a) The youth is lost or abandoned. (b) A tiger carries a… | ||
| 535 | The Boy Adopted by Tigers (Animals) | I. A Boy is Adopted by Wild Animals. (a) The boy is abandoned in the forest, (b) and adopted by tigers. (c) He is given a magic bow and arrow, or (d) magic axe. II. The Substitute Bridegroom. (a) The animals arrange a marriage for him. (b) A monkey… | ||
| 537 | The Flight with the Eagle | I. The Speaking Eagle. A man aims to shoot an eagle, when suddenly the bird begins to speak like a human being [B211.3]. The man spares him. II. The Grateful Eagle. The bird has a wing broken. The man cares for it for three years and wastes all his… | ||
| 540 | The Dog in the Sea | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 553 | The Bird as a Helper | A youth shoots a raven; saving of the princess from a sea-monster. Cf. Type 300. I. The Raven-feather. (a) With a feather of the raven the youth gets magic objects and treasure from the raven's sister. II. Rescue of Princess. See Type 300: IV (rescue… | ||
| 572 | The Barking Dog's Head | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 575 | The Wings of the Prince | Contest in the preparation of the most wonderful object. Wings. The prince buys the wings from a clever workman. The hero flies to the princess in the tower. They fly away together from the stake where they are to be burned. After they have flown… | ||
| 581 | The Magic Object and the Trolls | Cf. Types 303, 513. I. Magic Objects Acquired. Two brothers wander immediately after birth [T585] and part at a cross-roads [N772]. The first brother meets three old women with only one eye. He takes it [K333.2] and gives it back in exchange for an… | ||
| 591 | The Thieving Pot | A peasant exchanges his cow [N421, D851] for a magic pot that brings him bread, beer, money, etc. from his rich neighbors [D1605.1, D1412.2]. | ||
| 611 | True Love | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 620 | The Presents | The haughty sister misuses her gift and loses it. Of two sisters the haughty one disdains to help an old woman. By means of the old woman's magic wand [D1254.1] she is given a castle and becomes a queen. Because of her haughtiness she is driven forth… | ||
| 621 | The Louse-Skin | The hero guesses the puzzle and wins the princess. The one she turns to in the night. Cf. Types 425B, 571-574, 559, 850.
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| 622 | The Talking Bed-Legs | The king purchases a bed. During the night the legs of the bed speak and warn him of dangers or assist in other ways. [D1154.1.1, D1317.11, D1380.12, D1402.17, D1610.17.1, N454.1]. - Cf. Franklin Edgerton Vikrama's Adventures or the Thirty-Two Tales… | ||
| 667 | The Boy in Animal Form | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 674 | Incest Averted - Talking Animals | A princess, abandoned by or separated from her husband, gives birth to a son. The son is taken from her by trickery and he grows up without knowing who his true mother is. When grown, he sees his mother, falls in love with her [N365.1.1], and goes to her at night hoping to become her lover. On the way he overhears animals (calves) talking [N451] and learns the truth. | ||
| 676 | Open Sesame! | A poor man observes robbers who enter into a mountain [F721.4]. Uses, like them [N455.3], the words »Open up» [D1552.2] and gets gold from the mountain [N512]. His rich brother tries to do the same thing but is killed [N471]. The rich brother lends… | ||
| 677 | "Iron Is More Precious than Gold" | Hero lets himself fall from the ship to the bottom of the sea, where with the help of this charm he acquires much gold [D1273]. Cf. Type 910B. | ||
| 678 | The King Transfers his Soul to a Parrot | A king has learned how to transfer his soul [E725] to dead bodies, as has his vizier or another servant. The king transfers his soul to a parrot and the vizier transfers his soul to the king's body. The queen determines the truth (she hears of wise… | ||
| 703 | Snow Maiden | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 713 | The Mother Who Did Not Bear Me But Nourished Me | A stepdaughter is accused of bearing her sister's illegitimate child [K2112] and she and the child are expelled [S410]. Wherever they go famine ceases and magic abundance comes [D1652.1, D2081], but famine comes to places they have left [D2157.1].… | ||
| 717 | Meat Stolen for Poor Turns to Roses | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 722 | The Brother Married the Sister | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 738 | The Battle of Serpents | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 740 | The Brother to Hang Himself | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 746 | Floating Stone | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 748 | Queen Jelaous of Peasant Couple | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 755 | Sin and grace | The rose from the stone table. The preacher's wife magically prevents the birth of her children. Since she throws no shadow, her husband casts her forth as a sinner until a rose shall grow from a stone table. A churchman takes the woman at night into… | ||
| 764 | The Devil's Son as a Priest | A youth (a) encounters the devil or (b) takes liberties with the corpse of a hanged man. With this companion he goes to certain houses, some of which because they are properly ordered the companion may not enter. The Devil (dead man) is able to enter… | ||
| 774 | Jests About Christ and Peter | Peter made ridiculous. | ||
| 778 | To Sacrifice a Giant Candle | Refusal to make sacrifice after need is past. In distress a person promises a sacrifice to a god (saint) but disregards the promise when the danger passes. [K231.3, K231.3.1]. | ||
| 779 | Divine rewards and punishments | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 788 | The Man Who Was Burned Up and Lived Again | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 803 | Solomon Binds the Devil in Chains in Hell | Asks the devil to try on the chains meant for Solomon. Variant: Christ and the Smith in hell. [A1071.1]. | ||
| 811 | The man promised to the devil becomes a priest | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 822 | The lazy boy and the industrious girl | The Lord and St. Peter come across a very lazy boy and a very industrious girl. Our Lord decrees, much to St. Peter's astonishment, that these two are to be married. [T125]. | ||
| 828 | Men, Animals, and the Span of Life | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 840 | The Punishments of Men | When a man and his son are passing the night in a house the son is unable to sleep. He sees wonderful things happening all about: a snake creeps from the sleeping man's mouth into the wife's mouth; an axe penetrates the man's head, etc. In the… | ||
| 842 | The Man Who Kicked Aside Riches | A man practices austerities for many years. He asks the god for wealth as a reward and the god signifies that his request is granted. On the way home, the man decides to close his eyes to feel how a blind man feels when he walks. He stumbles against… | ||
| 855 | The Substitute Bridegroom | Cf. Type 870. A handsome youth is hired to take the place of a oneeyed (or crippled) prince (merchant's son) at the latter's wedding. The bride falls in love with the hero and refuses the oneeyed prince. [K19.5.3]. (a) The hero escapes with the… | ||
| 856 | The Girl Elopes with the Wrong Man | I. Expulsion. A youth is driven forth by his father when the youth says he will marry four wives [M373]. (Cf. Type 725). II. The Elopement. (a) While acting as a servant, the hero pretends to be unable to read [K1816.0.3]. He accepts a message and… | ||
| 858 | When the King Sneezes the Shephard Refuses to Cry "God Bless You!" | King has him tortured and promises him large gifts if he will say it, but the shepherd refuses until he receives the princess as wife. | ||
| 860 | Nuts of "Ay ay ay!" | Princess offered to man who brings a glass of all waters, a bouquet of all flowers and nuts of ay, ay, ay! Hero brings seawater, a beehive and hazelnut with thorns so that the king cries »Ay, ay, ay!» [H1377.1, H1377.2, H1377.3]. | ||
| 861 | Sleeping at the Rendezvous | A youth having a rendezvous with a princess oversleeps [D1972] and is captured and imprisoned. His sister masks as a man and takes his place in prison. When her sex is discovered all is forgiven and the youth marries the princess. | ||
| 862 | "He that Asketh Shall Receive." | The hermit wants to prove the truth of these words of the Gospel. He asks for the hand of the princess. Performs the difficult task imposed upon him. [V316.1]. | ||
| 872 | Brother, Sister and Sister-in-law | No examples in the Database yet | ||
| 874 | The Proud King is Won | Gifts for the voyage [L221] (as in Type 425C). The youngest daughter sends a message to the king and he replies symbolically showing that he is not interested in her (sends her cloth, rope, and knife). The girl lets herself be sold to the king as a… | ||
| 876 | The Clever Maiden and the Suitors | Answers and understands enigmatic questions. | ||
| 885 | The Poor Boy Betrothed to the Maiden | The bride stolen. The girl's parents coerce her into pledging herself to the preacher. The hero comes in disguise to the wedding. The preacher in jest trusts him with the girl. [K1371.1]. He reveals himself. | ||
| 896 | The Lecherous Holy Man and the Maiden in a Box | I. The Lecherous Holy Man. (a) A holy man or (b) another trusted adviser falls in love with a beautiful girl, but she spurns his advances. He convinces the girl's father or husband that the girl is unchaste or that she will bring calamities to the… | ||
| 915 | All depends on how you take it | The two stepsisters marry. The daughter of the second wife follows the three precepts of her mother literally; the stepdaughter in conformity with her father's explanations. On their visit the parents find that with the first daughter everything is… |
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