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Stith Thompson Motif Index

About this index and how to read it

Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.

The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.

5,810 motifs

Page 1 of 24 · 250 per page
Thompson reference Description ▲
A2332.6 "Blindness" in animals. Animals really or supposedly blind. Dh III 19ff.
A189.0.1 "Gods and not-gods". Irish myth: Cross (A189).
A1029.2 (Four) persons who, in four quarters of the world, survived the flood and thus preserved ancient tradition. Irish myth: Cross.
A1031.1 A "flame of fire swifter than a blast of wind" as punishment for the sin of the Irish. Irish myth: Cross.
A700.3 A woman has four children: sun, moon, fire, and water. India: Thompson-Balys.
A511.2.1.1 Abandoned culture hero captured by use of net. S. Am. Indian (Amuesa): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 132.
A511.2.1 Abandonment of culture hero at birth. S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 135, (Chiriguano): Métraux ibid. 142; Maori: Clark 29.
A661.0.1.4 Abersetus as guardian of river of fire at one of the doors of heaven. Irish myth: Cross.
A873 Above and below the earth are great clouds. India: Thompson-Balys.
A778.10 Abyss at end of Milky Way. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 20f.
A189.8 Accountants of god keep lists of good and bad acts of human beings. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1441 Acquisition of agriculture. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Greek: *Grote I 163; Jewish: Neuman; Marquesas: Handy 128; Kai of New Guinea: Beckwith Myth 104; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 177.—S. Am. Indian (Guarayu): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 437, (Guaporé R.): Lévi-Strauss ibid. (3) 379, (Tupinamba): Métraux ibid. (3) 132, (Cubeo): ibid. (3) 798, (Tapirape): Wagley-Galvao ibid. (3) 178, (Cashinawa): Métraux ibid. (3) 685.
A1426.2 Acquisition of ale. Irish myth: Cross.
A1460 Acquisition of arts.
A1427.1 Acquisition of brandy. Devil teaches how to burn brandy. (Cf. A1456.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 7 No. 31, XXXIII 52 No. 31; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 87 No. 54; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3291; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1432.3 Acquisition of brass. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1445 Acquisition of building crafts.
A1437 Acquisition of clothing. India: *Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 456.
A1432.4 Acquisition of copper. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1459 Acquisition of crafts—miscellaneous.
A1440 Acquisition of crafts. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 137; Icel.: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1490 Acquisition of culture—miscellaneous.
A1412.3 Acquisition of daylight by culture hero. S. Am. Indian (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (3) 724.
A1420 Acquisition of food supply for human race. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1426 Acquisition of food supply—miscellaneous.
A1429 Acquisition of food supply—miscellaneous.
A1432.2 Acquisition of gold. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1435.1 Acquisition of guest-houses. Irish myth: Cross.
A1435 Acquisition of habitations. Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys.
A1446.5 Acquisition of household implements. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1400 Acquisition of human culture.
A1410 Acquisition of livable environment.
A1423.4 Acquisition of manioc. Africa (Bushongo): Tardau 249.
A1439.1 Acquisition of marble. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1432 Acquisition of metals.
A1433 Acquisition of money. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1461 Acquisition of music. Wallaschek Sagen und Märchen über den Ursprung der Musik (Leipzig 1903).—Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1430 Acquisition of other necessities.
A1439 Acquisition of other necessities.
A1464.1 Acquisition of poetry. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg.
A1423.2 Acquisition of rice. (Cf. A2685.)—India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 130f. No. 86.
A1429.4 Acquisition of salt. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Jivaro): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627.
A1459.2 Acquisition of seamanship (sailing, etc.). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 86.
A1459.3 Acquisition of sorcery. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 115.
A1427 Acquisition of spiritous liquors. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 636: S. Am. Indian (Guarayu): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147.
A1446 Acquisition of tools. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A1423 Acquisition of vegetables and cereals. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Samoa: Beckwith Myth 439; Isabel Island: ibid. 504; Hawaii: ibid. 61, 63; Tonga: Gifford 194; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 364; African (Angola): Chatelain 249, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 179 No. 35, (Ekoi): Talbot 240, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 348 No. 3; S. Am. Indian (Guarayu): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147.
A1436 Acquisition of vehicles. Irish myth: Cross.
A1429.3 Acquisition of water. (Cf. A1111.)—Irish Myth: Cross.
A1459.1 Acquisition of weapons. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A1428 Acquisition of wine. Greek: Fox 47, 222; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.—Africa (Tshi): Ellis 337, (Fang): Einstein 44, Trilles 162.
A1480 Acquisition of wisdom and learning.
A1285 Activities of first man.
A1281.6 Adam at first nameless. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A2571.0.1 Adam gives name to all animals. Jewish: Neuman.
A1577.1 Adam named from first letters of four stars. Irish myth: Cross.
A2571.0.2 Adam names male animals, Eve, female. Jewish: Neuman.
A1260.1.3 Adam's body made of eight (four) things. Body, earth; bones, stones; veins, roots; blood, water; hair, grass; thoughts, wind; spirit, clouds—or warmth, fire; cold, air; dryness, earth; instability, water.—*Dh I 111ff.; Köhler-Bolte II 1ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 326f.; Siberian: *Holmberg Siberian 376.
A1281.6.1 Adam's name composed of initial letters of four stars from the four quarters of the heavens. Irish myth: Cross.
A2145.5 Adder harmful to holy person transformed to blindworm. (Cf. A1710, A1730, A2231.7.)—Dh II 7.
A671.2.1.1 Adders in hell. Irish myth: Cross.
A164.2 Adultery among the gods. Irish myth: Cross.
A1420.5 After Fall first parents fed and clothed from one palm-tree. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A625.2.5 After sky is lifted, plants and shrubs begin to grow. Maori: Clark 15.
A719.2 After world catastrophe, new sun reappears and starts new epoch. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 154ff.
A1006.9 After world-fire life recreated from tree. Africa (Fang): Trilles 132f.
A1704 All animals created in couples. Jewish: Neuman.
A1031.4.1 All countries burned while the wife of sun god pours fire from a small bowl. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1502 All customs for the year established. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1724.3 All living things from Jesus' spattered blood. Laguna, Zuсi: Parsons JAFL XXXI 257.
A2201 All qualities of animals appear with their creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A1425.1 All the kinds of seed in a bamboo that culture hero cuts down. India: Thompson-Balys.
A610.1 All things created in pairs (heaven and earth, etc.). Jewish: Neuman.
A1191 All things receive names. Chinese: Graham; Jewish: Neuman.
A102.2 All-seeing god. Jewish: Neuman; Greek: Aeschylus Suppliants line 138.
A671.3.3 Alternate heat and cold in hell. Irish myth: Cross.
A111.3 Ancestor of the gods. Tahiti: Henry 336.
A2213.1 Ancient animal squeezed: hence small size. (Cf. A2302.)—Dh III 2—7 (hazel-grouse, squirrel, eagle, wolf, snake's head.)
A478.6 Angel (demon) of blindness. Jewish: Neuman.
A17 Angel as creator. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.3 Angel Gabriel created from snow. Jewish: Neuman.
A430.0.1 Angel in charge of vegetation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.2 Angel Michael created from fire. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.1 Angel of death created by God. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.5 Angel of destruction created from hail and fire. Jewish: Neuman.
A400.2 Angel of earth. Jewish: Neuman.
A489.3.1 Angel of fear. Jewish: Neuman.
A493.0.1 Angel of fire. Jewish: Neuman.
A445.0.1 Angel of fishes. Jewish: Neuman.
A454.0.1 Angel of healing (Raphael). Jewish: Neuman.
A302 Angel of hell. Jewish: Neuman.
A472.0.1 Angel of insomnia. Jewish: Neuman.
A285.0.1 Angel of lightning. Jewish: Neuman.
A483.0.1 Angel of mercy. Jewish: Neuman.
A418.1 Angel of mountains. Jewish: Neuman.
A467.1 Angel of peace. Jewish: Neuman.
A473.0.1 Angel of poverty. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys (A489.3).
A425.0.1 Angel of rivers. Jewish: Neuman.
A54.1 Angel of sea rebels at world's creation; put to death by God. Jewish: Neuman.
A419.1.1 Angel of the bush. Jewish: Neuman.
A421.0.1 Angel of the deep. Jewish: *Neuman.
A419.2.1 Angel of the deserts. Jewish: Neuman.
A284.0.1 Angel of thunder. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.4 Angel Raphael created from water. Jewish: Neuman.
A182.3.0.1.1 Angel speaks to Patrick from bush that merely seems to burn. Irish myth: Cross.
A52.0.4 Angels are transformed souls of the pious. Jewish: Neuman.
A703 Angels arrange course of heavenly bodies. Jewish: Neuman.
A42 Angels as God's advisers. Dh I 3, 31ff., 55, 187; Jewish: Neuman.
A165.2.3 Angels as God's messengers. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.5 Angels created from three elements. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.6 Angels created from words uttered by God. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.5 Angels created on fifth day with other winged creatures. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.1 Angels created on first day of creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.2 Angels created on second day of creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.3 Angels created on third day of creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.1 Angels created to execute God's will. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.3 Angels existed prior to creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A1171.3 Angels of the day: Jewish: Neuman.
A1130.1 Angels set over clouds, winds, and rains. Jewish: Neuman.
A1128.1 Angels' wings protect earth from winds. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.17 Anger of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A13 Animal as creator.
A33 Animal as creator's companion. India: Thompson-Balys.
A522 Animal as culture hero.
A2221.5 Animal blessed for helping holy fugitive. (Cf. A2231.7.1.)—Dh II 53ff.—Irish: Beal XXI 306; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 93 No. 100.
A2221.6 Animal blessed for obedience to deity.
A2230 Animal characteristics as punishment.
A2229 Animal characteristics as reward—miscellaneous.
A2220 Animal characteristics as reward.
A2286.1.0.1 Animal characteristics because creator had not enough time to finish what he began. S. Am. Indian (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 474.
A2235 Animal characteristics caused by animal's lateness at distribution of qualities. (Cf. A2378.2.5.)—Dh III 182ff.—India: Thompson-Balys; Mpongwe: Nassau No. 11 (hog lacks horns); Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 145 No. 28 (leopard cannot catch game that passes him on right side); Congo: Weeks 213 No. 9 (water snake lacks poison): Zulu: Callaway 355 (hydrax lacks tail); Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 19 (zebra lacks horns); Marshall Islands: Davenport 222.
A2213.4 Animal characteristics changed by stretching.
A2252 Animal characteristics determined by race. *Dh III 142ff.
A2286 Animal characteristics established by deity. Yunca (Peru): Alexander Lat. Am. Myth 229.
A2213.5 Animal characteristics from being struck.
A2218 Animal characteristics from burning or singeing. (Cf. A2378.8.4, A2411.1.2.5, A2411.1.3.2, A2411.1.4.1, A2411.1.6.5, A2411.2.1.1, A2411.2.1.4, A2411.2.1.9, A2411.2.1.7, A2411.2.1.11, A2411.2.5.2, A2411.2.5.1, A2411.2.1.15, A2411.2.6.8, A2411.4.2, A2411.4.3, A2411.5.3.)—Dh III 71ff; Chinese: Graham.
A2251 Animal characteristics from contest in carrying.
A2256 Animal characteristics from contest in watching.
A2214 Animal characteristics from dropping ancient animal from air.
A2257 Animal characteristics from duel.
A2212 Animal characteristics from great fear. *Dh III 243ff.
A2253 Animal characteristics from jumping contest.
A2270 Animal characteristics from miscellaneous causes.
A2239 Animal characteristics from miscellaneous punishments.
A2213 Animal characteristics from squeezing or stretching ancient animal. (See A2231.9).
A2215 Animal characteristics from throwing members at ancient animal.
A2261 Animal characteristics from transformation of animal.
A2262 Animal characteristics from transformation of implement (or other object). (Cf. A2335.3.1, A2378.3.3, A2378.4.1.)—*Dh III 14ff.
A2260 Animal characteristics from transformation.
A2271 Animal characteristics learned from another animal.
A2291 Animal characteristics obtained during deluge. Jewish: Neuman; Achawoi: Alexander Lat. Am. 270.
A2237 Animal characteristics punishment for meddling.
A2286.2 Animal characteristics result of contest between God and devil.
A2255 Animal characteristics result of lawsuit.
A2223 Animal characteristics reward for helpfulness.
A2222 Animal characteristics reward for hospitality.
A2221 Animal characteristics reward for pious act. (Cf. A2231.).
A2500 Animal characteristics—miscellaneous.
A2211 Animal characteristics: accidental action of ancient animal.
A2258 Animal characteristics: as a result of quarrel. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2460 Animal characteristics: attack and defense.
A2367.3 Animal characteristics: blood.
A2367.1 Animal characteristics: bones.
A2241 Animal characteristics: borrowing and not returning. Animal borrows a member (or quality) from another and refuses to return it. (Cf. A2242, A2313.3, A2345.1, A2351.3, A2375.2.1, A2421.4, A2435.4.1.)—*Dh III 130 ff.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 268ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.
A2440 Animal characteristics: carriage. Dh III 219ff.
A2292 Animal characteristics: change for convenience. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A2210 Animal characteristics: change in ancient animal. (Cf. A2311.)—Dh III 7ff.
A2376 Animal characteristics: claws and hoofs.
A2410 Animal characteristics: color and smell.
A2430 Animal characteristics: dwelling and food.
A2247 Animal characteristics: exchange of qualities. (Cf. A2313.2, A2326.1.2. A2326.1.4, A2326.2.1, A2332.6.5, A2345.4, A2378.1.3, A2378.1.4, A2421.2, A2421.3, A2431.3.3, A2431.3.4, A2435.3.1, A2435.3.2.)—Dh III 123—126. —Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 307, (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 159.
A2370 Animal characteristics: extremities.
A2400 Animal characteristics: general appearance.
A2272 Animal characteristics: imitation of other animal or object.
A2367 Animal characteristics: inside of body.
A2367.2 Animal characteristics: internal markings.
A2243 Animal characteristics: lending and refusing to receive back. Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 117.
A2216 Animal characteristics: members bitten or cut off. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z—G 13/441).
A2240 Animal characteristics: obtaining another's qualities. Jewish: Neuman.
A2242 Animal characteristics: obtaining for feast and not returning. (Cf. A2378.1.5, A2378.2.6.)—*Dh III 133ff.
A2380 Animal characteristics: other bodily features.
A2236.2 Animal characteristics: punishment for carrying devil into paradise.
A2231.1 Animal characteristics: punishment for discourteous answer to God (saint). (Cf. A2411.2.6.)—Jewish: Neuman; Maori: Clark 53.
A2234 Animal characteristics: punishment for disobedience. India: Thompson-Balys.
A2238 Animal characteristics: punishment for greed.
A2231.2 Animal characteristics: punishment for hostility at crucifixion. (Cf. A2221.2.)—Dh II 202ff.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 251f., 264.
A2232 Animal characteristics: punishment for immoderate request. Dissatisfied animal finds that when his request is granted he is worse off than before.—*Dh III 176ff.
A2231 Animal characteristics: punishment for impiety. (Cf. A2221, A2311.8, A2422.2, A2302.2, A2355.1.2, A2542.1.)—Dh II 252f. (fish).—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 17 No. 97, XXXIII 54 No. 97 (hazelcock).
A2233 Animal characteristics: punishment for laziness. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS 79.
A2236 Animal characteristics: punishment for planning man's downfall. Jewish: Neuman.
A2231.3 Animal characteristics: punishment for working on holy day.
A2250 Animal characteristics: result of contest. *Dh III 141ff.—Arawak and Carib: Alexander Latin American 274; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.
A2245 Animal characteristics: stolen from another animal. (Cf. A2313.3, A2375.2.2.)—Dh III 127f.—India: Thompson-Balys.
A2420 Animal characteristics: voice and hearing.
A2377 Animal characteristics: wings.
A2275.1 Animal cries a lament for person lost when animal was transformed. (Cf. A2260, A2425.)—Dh III 387.—Benga: Nassau 163 No. 21; India: *Thompson-Balys.
A2275.2 Animal cries a lament over animal's transformation. (Cf. A2425, A2426.2.5.)—*Dh III 376ff.
A2275.4 Animal cries recall ancient adventure. The ancient animal cries out in difficulty. The present animal has the same cry. (Cf. A2426.1.1, A2426.4.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys; Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 139; Angola: Chatelain 217 No. 38.
A2275.3 Animal cries reminiscent of former life as man. (Cf. A2261.1, A2426.2.3, A2426.2.4.)—Dh III 394ff., 398ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys.
A2272.1 Animal cries: imitation of sounds. (Cf. A2425.)—*BP II 283, III 365.
A2231.7.1 Animal cursed for betraying holy fugitive. (Cf. A2221.5.)—Dh II 51ff.; Child V 491 s.v. "partridge"; Ireland: Baughman.
A2231.7.2 Animal cursed for refusing to carry holy fugitive across stream. (Cf. A2371.2.1.)—Dh II 88ff.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 286.
A2545 Animal given certain privilege.
A2546 Animal granted patent of nobility.
A2275 Animal habit a reminiscence of former experience.
A2231.7 Animal harmful to holy person cursed.
A2219.1 Animal has color spilled on him: cause of his color. (Cf. A2391.1, A2411.1.1.1, A2411.1.2.4, A2411.1.3.1, A2411.2.1.1, A2411.1.4.2, A2411.1.6.3, A2411.2.1.4, A2411.2.1.6, A2411.2.4.1, A2411.2.6.1, A2411.2.6.5, A2411.2.6.6, A2411.2.6.11, A2411.4.1.)—Dh III 64ff.—India: Thompson-Balys; Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 366 No. 17; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 685.
A2433.1.1 Animal haunt established by contest (race). (See A2250.1, A2252.1.)
A2284.1 Animal persuaded to amputate limb: therefore lacks it. (Cf. A2371.2.10, A2377.1.)—Australian: Dixon 146 (kangaroo's forepaws), 288 (emu's wings).
A2213.2 Animal pressed: hence facial or bodily marks. (Cf. A2412.4.)—Dh III 54, (cf. I 201f., 248, II 195); India: Thompson-Balys.
A2239.8 Animal punished for hardheadedness (frog toothless, mole sightless). Jewish: Neuman.
A2236.5 Animal punished for not heralding dawn. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A2236.3 Animal punished for not warning of devil's temptation in Eden. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A2237.1 Animal reveals mistress's adultery: punished by master. (Cf. A2411.2.1.5, A2422.1.1.).—Greek: Fox 280 (raven becomes black).—Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 464 No. 17 (dog loses power of speech).
A2218.1.1 Animal scorches self while putting out fire in land of fire, woe and darkness. Wales: Baughman.
A1545.2 Animal substituted for human sacrifice. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A2512 Animal useful because of power of scenting.
A2515 Animal useful for bearing burdens.
A2218.3 Animal who steals fire scorched: cause of his color. (Cf. A1415.)—Dh III 93ff.—India: Thompson-Balys.
A2468 Animal's behavior at death.
A2301 Animal's body made larger. (See A2213.3.)—India: Thompson-Balys.
A2302 Animal's body made smaller. (See A2213.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys.
A2433 Animal's characteristic haunt. *Dh III 204ff.
A2450 Animal's daily work.
A2441.1 Animal's gait or walk—mammals.
A2441 Animal's gait or walk.
A2462 Animal's habits when attacked.
A2466 Animal's habits when caught.
A2470 Animal's habitual bodily movements.
A2428 Animal's hearing.
A2463 Animal's means of attack.
A2461 Animal's means of defense. Dh III 234ff.
A2444 Animal's method of swimming.
A2456 Animal's occupation: boring.
A2451 Animal's occupation: carrying.
A2453 Animal's occupation: collecting.
A2452 Animal's occupation: hunting. *Dh III 272ff. (For animal's favorite prey, see A2494, Why certain animals are enemies.)
A2457 Animal's occupation: rolling.
A2455 Animal's occupation: stealing. Dh III 255.
A2489 Animal's periodic habits—miscellaneous.
A2423.2 Animal's pleasing voice.
A2275.5 Animal's seeking attitude from ancient loss. The ancient animal loses something. Its descendants are forever seeking for the lost object. This explains the characteristic bearing of certain animals. (Cf. A2471.)
A2495 Animal's treatment of its excrements (urine).
A2423.1 Animal's ugly voice.
A2441.1.0.1 Animals (and men) hop because ground is often so dry that it cracks: they have to jump over the cracks. Canada: Baughman.
A165.1 Animals as attendants of god.
A165.2.1 Animals as messengers of the gods.
A2232.5 Animals ask for goddess's perfume: punishment, bad odor. (Cf. A2416.1.)—Tshi: Ellis 338.
A878.3 Animals at earth-tree.
A2221.2 Animals blessed for good services at crucifixion. (Cf. A2231.2.)