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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.
All
A
Mythological Motifs
B
Animal Motifs
C
Motifs of Tabu
D
Magic
E
The Dead
F
Marvels
G
Ogres
H
Tests
J
The Wise and the Foolish
K
Deceptions
L
Reversals of Fortune
M
Ordaining the Future
N
Chance and Fate
P
Society
Q
Rewards and Punishments
R
Captives and Fugitives
S
Unnatural Cruelty
T
Sex
U
The Nature of Life
V
Religion
W
Traits of Character
X
Humor
Z
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Thompson reference | Description ▲ |
|---|---|
| B11.8 | Dragon as power of good. Smith Dragon 82, 97.—Chinese: Werner 208ff., Graham. Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.7 | Dragon as rain-spirit. Smith Dragon 1, 78, 82, 90.—Chinese: Werner 208. |
| B11.12.6 | Dragon can hear a child cry even at great distance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.12.1 | Dragon cannot be killed with weapons. Wesselski Mönchslatein 171 No. 136; Irish myth: Cross; Eng.: Baughman; Gaster Oldest Stories 69. |
| B11.7.1.1 | Dragon causes deluge. China: Eberhard FFC CXX 233 No. 181. |
| B11.11.3 | Dragon combats attack with showers of fiery spines. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.7.1 | Dragon controls water-supply. Hindu: Keith, Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B11.1.3.1.1 | Dragon develops from small worm placed on gold. It grows together with the gold. De Vries Studien over Faerosche Balladen 122ff.; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 384f.; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.10.3 | Dragon devours children. India: Thompson-Balys; Eng., U.S.: Baughman. |
| B11.12.1.2 | Dragon dips wounded part in holy well, is healed immediately. England: Baughman. |
| B11.11.8 | Dragon doubles his demand after men's rebellion. Africa (Fang): Einstein 42. |
| B11.6.7 | Dragon eats an ox at every meal. Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.10.2 | Dragon eats people for his rent. Chinese: Graham. |
| B11.2.8.1 | Dragon encircles city with its tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.6.3 | Dragon feeds on treasure. Oberwallis: Jegerlehner 321 No. 75; Chinese: Werner 210. |
| B11.11.6 | Dragon fight in order to free lion. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.11.5 | Dragon fight in order to free man. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.11.4 | Dragon fight in order to free princess. Icel.: *Boberg. (See also R111.1. and most of the references to B11.11.). |
| B11.11.1 | Dragon fight: respite granted and dragon returns with renewed strength. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXXIX 21; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| B11.6.8.1 | Dragon flies away with lion. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.6.8 | Dragon flies to its nest with human being. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B765.24.1 | Dragon fly acts as doctor to injured snakes. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.24 | Dragon fly serves as snake's servant, feeds snake; it is called snake-feeder. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B11.1.1 | Dragon from cock's egg. (Cf. B12.1.)—*Fb "drage"; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 600—603. |
| B11.1.2 | Dragon from transformed horse. White horse plunges into water and is changed into a dragon. Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.1.3 | Dragon from transformed man lying on his treasures (Fáfnir). (Cf. B11.6.2.)—Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 367; Eisen Esthnische Mythologie 74ff.; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.1.3.1 | Dragon from worm. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.6.9 | Dragon gnaws the roots of tree. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 332. |
| B11.6.6 | Dragon guards bridge to otherworld. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.6.5 | Dragon guards hermit's food, frightens off robbers. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B11.6.4 | Dragon guards holy land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.7.2 | Dragon guards lake. Penzer VII 235 N. 2; Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.6.2 | Dragon guards treasure. *Norlind Skattsägner 77f.; Gould Scandinavian Studies and Notes IX (1917) 170 No. 4; Penzer III 133; Smith Dragon 157—165; Finnish-Swedish; Wessman 76, 78 Nos. 632, 657; Icel.: Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 133ff., (1928) 119ff., III (1895) 454ff., (1931) 311ff.; Greek: *Grote I 219; U.S.: Baughman; Wienert FFC LVI 37; Phaedrus IV 21; Chinese: Werner 209. |
| B11.6.1 | Dragon helps hero out of gratitude. Dickson Valentine and Orson 121 n. 64. |
| B11.12.4.1 | Dragon is fed great quantities of milk to keep him pacified. England: *Baughman. |
| B11.12.4 | Dragon is fond of milk. |
| B11.10.1 | Dragon keeps maiden tied with golden chain. Köhler-Bolte I 128. |
| B11.3.7 | Dragon lives beneath tree. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 179ff., (1928) 122ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319. |
| B11.3.8 | Dragon lives in isolated island. German: Grimm No. 129. |
| B11.3.1.1 | Dragon lives in lake. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.3.5 | Dragon lives under the ground. By his movements a building or village will be dislodged. (Cf. A1070.)—Zingerle Zs. f. deutsche Mythologie und Sittengeschichte II 347; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 890.—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B549.2 | Dragon makes bridge across stream for holy man. (Cf. B11.)—Jewish: Bin Gorion Born Judas II 170, 349. |
| B11.6.2.1 | Dragon must give up treasure when steel is thrown on him. Fb "stеl". III 647a; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 76 No. 632. |
| B11.2.12 | Dragon of enormous size. Jewish: Bin Gorion Born Judas II 170, 349, Neuman; Irish myth: Cross; African (Fang): Einstein 47. |
| B11.2.11.1 | Dragon spews venom. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B529.2 | Dragon swallows arrow (thunderbolt) intended for hero. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B11.4.4 | Dragon travels on sea or land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.12.1.1 | Dragon which cannot be killed with weapons is kicked in vulnerable spot. England: Baughman. |
| B11.2.2.1 | Dragon with golden feathers. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B11.2.14 | Dragon with jewel in head. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11 | Dragon. **Smith Dragon; *Fb Drager, lindorme, slanger i folkets tro (Særtryk af Naturen og Mennesket, 1894, pp. 164—196); *Nyrop Dania II 341ff.; *Rуheim Drachen und Drachenkämpfer; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 364 ff.; Meyer Germanische Mythologie (1891) 95ff.; **Du Bose The Dragon, Image and Demon (London, 1886); Norlind Skattsägner 44f., 77f., Solheim Register 17; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 133ff., 176ff., (1928) 119ff.—*Type 300; *BP I 547.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 216; Celtic: *Henderson Celtic Dragon Myth (Edinburgh, 1911), *Cross; Lettish: Auning Ueber den lettischen Drachenmythus; Armenian: Ananikian 76ff; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Ferguson 101; India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 169, No. 73. |
| B11.4 | Dragon's habits. |
| B11.3.2 | Dragon's home at top of mountain. His breath forms clouds to hide the mountain.—Smith Dragon 82.—Scotland: Baughman. |
| B11.3.1.2 | Dragon's home beneath waterfall. (Cf. F426.) Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.3.1 | Dragon's home in bottom of sea. Smith Dragon 82.—Chinese: Werner 210 (only in autumn and winter); Icel.: Boberg. |
| B11.5.4 | Dragon's miraculous speed. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18. |
| B11.5.3 | Dragon's miraculous vision. Can see a fly miles away.—Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18. |
| B11.6.2.3 | Dragon's pearl stolen. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 233 No. 181. |
| B11.5.2 | Dragon's power of magic invisibility. Chinese: Werner 209. |
| B11.5.1 | Dragon's power of self-transformation. Chinese: Werner 223. |
| B11.12.2 | Dragon's shriek makes land barren. Irish myth: Cross; MacCulloch Celtic 130. |
| B11.3.3 | Dragon's visit to sky. Chinese: Werner 210 (only in spring and summer). (Cf. B11.4.1.) |
| B11.3.4 | Dragons live beneath castle. Mediaeval Romance: Wells Manual of Writings 39 (Nennius's Historia Britonum) 42f. (Arthour and Merlin). |
| B11.3.6 | Dragons live in hell. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319, 352. |
| B237 | Drinking-bout assembly of animals. Dh II 298ff.; Riegler Wörter und Sachen VI (1914—15) 194f. |
| B53.1 | Drowning man rescued by siren. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "noyé". |
| B548.2.2.2 | Duck recovers lost key from sea. German: Grimm No. 62. |
| B548.4 | Ducks recover lost object from water. Madagascar (Marofotsy): Renel Contes de Madagascar I 65ff. No. 9. |
| B264.3 | Duel of buffalo and tiger. Buffalo arms self.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B854 | Each of grazing herd of cows eats same amount. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B147.2.2.5 | Eagle as bird of ill-omen. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B291.1.9 | Eagle as messenger. Africa (Upoto): Einstein 144; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B147.2.1.2 | Eagle as omen of victory. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B143.0.7 | Eagle as prophetic bird. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B535.0.12 | Eagle cares for baby while mother works in field. Africa (Fang): Tessman 134. |
| B542.1.1 | Eagle carries man to safety. *Type 301; BP II 300 (Gr. No. 91). See all references under B322.1.—Irish myth: Cross; Missouri-French: Carrière; Finnish: Kalevala rune 7; Japanese: Hartland Science 194, Ikeda.—Africa (Kaffir): Theal 47, 127, (Vai): Ellis 242 No. 49. |
| B522.4 | Eagle carries off condemned child. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B754.7.2 | Eagle catches gazelle's young as it is born. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B242.1.1 | Eagle king of birds. BP III 279; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B589.1 | Eagle regains throne for deposed king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.3.1 | Eagle released: grateful. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *320. |
| B758 | Eagle renews youth. Feathers fall off and regrow.—*Wensinck "Tree and Bird as Cosmological symbols in Western Asia" Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Akademie von Wetenschappen n.s. XXII no. 1 (1921) 38; Hdwb. d. Aberg. I 180 s.v. "Adler".—Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 69 (Odo of Cheriton); Gaster Oldest Stories 80. |
| B521.2.1 | Eagle saves man from falling wall. The grateful eagle swoops down and takes the man's hat, and thus gets him away from the wall that is about to fall.—Fable: Babrius No. 144, Halm Aesop No. 92, Wienert FFC 70 (ET 339), 127 (ST 353). |
| B299.1.1 | Eagle takes revenge on man. Chinese: Graham. |
| B751.3 | Eagle tests eaglets by having them gaze at sun. Herbert III 38 (Odo of Cheriton), Hervieux Fabulistes latins IV No. 10; Gaster Thespis 30. |
| B15.7.16 | Eagle with twelve wings and three heads. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (B172.6.) |
| B115.1 | Ear-cornucopia. Animal furnishes treasure or supplies from its ears.—*Cox Cinderella 475 n. 2.—*Fb "tyr" III 908a, "øre" III 1181a.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "oreille", "boeuf", "nourriture". |
| B722.4 | Earthworm has light in its tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B635.1.1 | Eaten meat of bear-lover causes unborn son to have bear characteristics. (Cf. B611.1.)—Hrolfs saga Kraka 53. |
| B29.2 | Echidna. Half woman, half serpent.—Frazer Apollodorus I 131. |
| B243.1.2 | Eel as king of fishes. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 6. |
| B612.1 | Eel paramour. Maori, Mangaia: Dixon 55; Samoa, Mangaia: Beckwith Myth 103; Hawaii: ibid. 136. |
| B15.7.12 | Eel with fiery mane. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.4.1.4 | Eight-eyed bat. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 233. |
| B15.1.2.7 | Eight-headed animal. |
| B239.1 | Election of fox as mediator to appease angry lion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B236.1 | Election of king of birds. (Cf. B232.)—*Type 221; *BP III 278 (Gr. No. 171); Penzer V 100ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; Panchatantra (tr. Ryder) 304; Bødker Exempler 293 No. 53; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B236.2 | Election of king of fishes. (Cf. B233, B243.)—*BP III 284 (Gr. No. 172); *Dh IV 192ff. |
| B240.14 | Elephant as king of animals. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Fang): Trilles 175, (Cameroon): Mansfield passim. |
| B151.1.4 | Elephant determines road to be taken. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 603. |
| B599.3 | Elephant draws plow to mark boundaries of empire. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 528. |
| B543.3.1 | Elephant rescues stolen girl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B791 | Elephants have power of bringing rain. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 41. |
| B754.2 | Elephants have sexual desire only after eating mandrakes. English: Wells 182 (The Bestiary). |
| B801 | Elephants in folktales. *Penzer I 134. |
| B530.2 | Elephants look after ascetic in jungle. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 44. |
| B15.6.2 | Empousa. Monster with one foot of brass and another of an ass.—Greek: Fox 278. |
| B541.1 | Escape from sea on fish's back. (See also B551.)—*Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 868; *Chauvin V 4 No. 2. |
| B542.2 | Escape on flying horse. (Cf. B41.2.)—*Chauvin V 227f. No. 130; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B19.9 | Eternal bats. S. A. Indian (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93. |
| B275.2 | Excommunication of animal. *Saintyves RTP XXVII 155. |
| B301.2 | Faithful animal at master's grave avenges his murder. English: Wells Manual of Writings 121 (Sir Triamour).—*Hibbard 286. |
| B301.1 | Faithful animal at master's grave dies of hunger. *Type 75*; *Pauli (ed Bolte) No. 428; cf. Alphabet No. 270; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.1.3 | Faithful animal doesn't allow anybody to come near to master's corpse. Þiðriks saga II 154, 386. |
| B335.5 | Faithful animal killed in battle. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.3 | Faithful animal plans suicide when it thinks master dead. English: Wells Manual of Writings 66 (Ywain and Gawain); Icel.: Boberg. |
| B301 | Faithful animal. Köhler-Bolte I 534; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.5 | Faithful animals resuscitate master. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B301.6 | Faithful cattle fight at master's grave until they cast their horns. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.6.1 | Faithful cattle shed horns in grief for death of man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.6.2 | Faithful cow refuses to move for grief at master's death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.6.3 | Faithful cows lose milk at king's death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.1.1 | Faithful dog follows master's dead body when cast into river. Supports body.—Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B301.7.1 | Faithful dog helps open mistress' grave and dies on it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B301.1.2 | Faithful dog helps open mistress' grave—dies on it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B579.6 | Faithful dog is offered as security for a debt. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B331.2.2 | Faithful dog killed by overhasty master: thinks mistakenly he has returned home against orders. (Cf. Llewellyn and his dog.)—*Emeneau "The Faithful Dog as Security for a Debt; A Companion to the Brahman and Mongoose Story-Type" Journal of American Oriental Society LXI 1—17; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B524.7 | Faithful dog kills would-be murderer of sleeping master. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B331.1 | Faithful falcon killed through misunderstanding. Tries to warn the king against drinking water poisoned by snake.—*Chauvin II 122 No. 115, V 289 No. 173.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B301.4.4 | Faithful horse allows only its master to catch and ride it. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4.7 | Faithful horse dies together with its master. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4.8 | Faithful horse fights together with its master. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4 | Faithful horse follows dead master to grave. *Fb "hest" IV 212a. |
| B301.4.3 | Faithful horse joins in keen at hero's death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B331.1.1 | Faithful horse killed through misunderstanding. Tries to warn king against drinking water poisoned by snake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B301.4.3.1 | Faithful horse lays his head in lap of dead master's wife. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.1 | Faithful horse lays his head on slain master's breast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.5 | Faithful horse lies down in order that its mutilated master can mount it. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B511.3 | Faithful horse pushes sleep thorn out of its master's head, so that he awakes. Icel.: Boberg. |
| B301.4.6 | Faithful horse refuses to go before its master mounts it, even when already loaded with two chests with gold.—Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4.1.1 | Faithful horse weeps for coming death of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.2 | Faithful horse weeps tears of blood for master. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.7 | Faithful lapdog dies when mistress dies. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B301.8 | Faithful lion follows man who saved him. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B842 | Faithful old dog to be killed. *Type 101. |
| B842.1 | Faithful old horse to be abandoned. German: Grimm No. 132. |
| B331.3 | Faithful parrot killed by mistake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B291.1.4 | Falcon as messenger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B143.1.4 | Falcon saves master from drinking poisoned water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B768 | Fancied nourishment of animals. |
| B752 | Fanciful behavior of animal at death. |
| B720 | Fanciful bodily members of animals. |
| B731 | Fanciful color of animal. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B739 | Fanciful color, smell etc. of animals—miscellaneous. |
| B730 | Fanciful color, smell, etc. of animals. |
| B766 | Fanciful dangers from animals. |
| B750 | Fanciful habits of animals. |
| B740 | Fanciful marvelous strength of animals. |
| B710 | Fanciful origin of animals. |
| B710.1 | Fanciful origin of the jackal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B765 | Fanciful qualities of snakes. (Cf. B91.3, B751.1, B752.2.)—Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B700 | Fanciful traits of animals. |
| B731.7 | Fancifully colored deer. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B5 | Fantastic beasts, birds, etc., in art. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B731.7.2 | Fawn with golden lustre. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.4.2 | Feet of dragon—nature. Cloven hoofs: Smith Dragon 137.—Claws: Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.2.4.1 | Feet of dragon—number. Irish myth: Cross; Japanese: Smith Dragon 101f.; Chinese: Werner 368. |
| B11.2.4 | Feet of dragon. |
| B725 | Female bears have no breasts to nurse their young; suck paws. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B754.3.1 | Female rattlesnakes mate with black snakes rather than with male rattlesnakes. U.S.: Baughman. |
| B765.25 | Female snake seven years pregnant. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B17.1.1 | Ferocious animals loosed against attackers. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B299.7 | Festival of animals. Jewish: Neuman; S. A. Indian (Tenetehara): Wagley-Galvao BBAE CXLIII (3) 148. |
| B16.6.2.1 | Fierce black chafer. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.12.3 | Fiery dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B19.4.2 | Fiery serpent. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B264.1 | Fight between animal and houndpack. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B264.5 | Fight between ape and tortoise. Africa (Togo): Einstein 15f. |
| B264.2 | Fight between eagle and fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B264.4 | Fight between snake and millipede. Chinese: Eberhard 32 No. 18. |
| B11.11 | Fight with dragon. *Type 300; *BP I 547; *Smith Dragon 79ff., 104; *Rуheim Drachen und Drachenkämpfer; *Norlind Skattsägner 67f., *Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 70; **von Sydow Sigurds Strid med Fеvne; *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt I 204 nn. 1, 2; Clouston Pop. Tales and Fictions I 155ff.; *Spence 80; *E. Siecke Drachenkämpfe; Fb "Jörgen" II 67a (St. George and the Dragon).—Germanic: Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 371; Heusler Altnordische Dichtung und Prosa von Jung Sigurd (Sitzungsberichte der Berliner Akad. v. Wissenschaften, 1919, 162—195); **H. Sandkühler Der Drachenkampf des heiligen Georg in englischer Legende u. Dichtung vom 14. bis 16. Jahrhundert (Diss. München 1914); *Loomis White Magic 65, 119; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus 27 no. 4 (Apollo and Python), I 153 n. 1 (Bellerophon and Chimera); Celtic: MacCulloch Celtic 130ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman, Gaster Thespis 140 ff., 326ff.; Egyptian: Müller 127; Persian: Carnoy 266, 270, 273, 322, *325, 329f.; Hindu: Keith 33 (Indra); India: *Thompson-Balys; Armenian: Ananikian 77; Japanese: Anesaki 228; Chinese: Werner 224, 361, Eberhard FFC CXX 105, 138; Arabian: Burton I 172.—English: Wells Manual of Writings 16 (Guy of Warwick), 115 (Sir Eglamour), 117 (Torrent of Portyngale); Missouri French: Carrière; Africa (Fang): Einstein 44, 47.—Cf. *Olrik Ragnarök 57ff. (fight with giant serpent). |
| B742.4 | Fire-breathing dogs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.11 | Fire-breathing dragon. *Type 300; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 391; Fb. "drage", "gloende" (glowing eyes and tongue), "ild" (fire from mouth). Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B742.3 | Fire-breathing horses. Hartland Science 243. |
| B212.0.2 | First animals knew human language. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B625 | Fish as wooer. |
| B631.3 | Fish bears men-children. Has swallowed rinsings of man's mouth. —India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B548.2 | Fish brings lost object from bottom of sea. |
| B551.1 | Fish carries man across water. See also B541.1; also all references in R246.—Gunter Die Christliche Legende des Abendlandes 17, 56, 80 (dolphin). —Chinese: Werner 366.—*Dixon 72 n. 56 (Hawaii, Tahiti, Celebes). |
| B551.1.0.1 | Fish carries man to upper world. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 42 No. 302* A. |
| B251.2.7.1 | Fish come in great numbers to the bank of a stream in order to hear Anthony of Padua preach. *Loomis White Magic 70. |
| B767.1 | Fish follow sound of music. Jataka II 157. |
| B375.1.2 | Fish grateful for being transferred from tank to river. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B576.3.1 | Fish guards cow for master. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B102.4.1 | Fish of silver. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B612 | Fish paramour. (Cf. B603.)—*Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 140 n. 1.—Japanese: Ikeda.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 187. |
| B251.2.2 | Fish perform races as welcome to saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B527.1 | Fish promises to spare man in coming flood. (Cf. B375.1.)—Hindu: Keith 99; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B548.2.2 | Fish recovers key from sea. *Type 554; *BP II 19ff.; *Fb "haj" I 534, "fisk" I 296, "ring" III 61a.—Irish myth: Cross, Beal XXI 308; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B548.2.3 | Fish recovers lost fish-hook from sea. Hatt Asiatic Influences 90f.; *Dixon 157 n. 6 (Indonesian, Japanese, N. Pac. Coast Am. Indian, Micmac); Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B548.2.5 | Fish recovers lost urn from sea. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B548.2.4 | Fish recovers pen from sea. *Type 531. |
| B548.2.1 | Fish recovers ring from sea. *Type 554; *BP II 19ff.; *Fb "gjedde" I 440a, "ring" III 61a; Wünsche (A.) Die Sage vom Ring des Polykrates in der Weltliteratur (Beilage zur Allgemeinen Zeitung, 1893, Nos. 179, 180, 185, 188); Chauvin V 17; Köhler-Bolte II 209; Clouston Tales I 398ff.; Saintyves Essais de folklore biblique 402.—Irish myth: Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Fox 101; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 69 No. 515; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. Cf. L412.1. Woman casts ring into sea. |
| B541.5 | Fish rescues ship. (Cf. B470.)—*Charpentier Kleine Beiträge 34 n. 1. |
| B375.1 | Fish returned to water: grateful. *Fb "fisk"; Hartland Science 174.—India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.—Two special forms of this motif are common; in both the fish is returned to the water and rewards the captor. (1). The "King of the Fishes" form: a man captures the king of fishes (B243) who as a reward for the release tells the man to feed parts of his body (when he is later captured) to his wife and parts to certain animals. As a result the hero and congenital helpful animals (B311) are born: *Type 303; BP I 528 (Gr. Nos. 60, 85); Sébillot Incidents s.v. "poisson", Gaster Exempla 251 No. 373.; Missouri French: Carrière.—For other references see B243.—(2) The "Fisher and his Wife" form. The king of the fishes in this case grants the man's wife the power of fulfilling all her wishes; *Type 555; BP I 138 (Gr. No. 19); see C773.1.2. |
| B541.1.1 | Fish swallows man to rescue him from sea. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B771.4 | Fish trained to answer person's call. Africa: Stanley 54. |
| B737 | Fish with coat of wool. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B103.4.1 | Fish with coin in mouth. Dh II 180. |
| B101.6 | Fish with gold and silver heads. *Fb "fiske". |
| B83 | Fish with human face. *Chauvin 8 No. 373A n. 2. |
| B107.1 | Fish with ingot of gold inside it. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B70 | Fish-beasts. *Loomis White Magic 64f. |
| B154.3 | Fish-eagle as soothsayer. Ila of Rhodesia: Smith and Dale 354. |
| B80 | Fish-men. Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 98. |
| B15.1.2.4 | Five-headed animal. |
| B521.3.3 | Flea's bite alarms king. Robber tells flea of plan to rob king. During the robbery the flea bites and awakens the king.—*Chauvin II 197 No. 29. |
| B184.1.6.1 | Flight on invisible horse. Cox Cinderella 476 n. 6. |
| B184.1.6 | Flight on magic horse. *Type 314; BP III 94ff. (Gr. No. 136). Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| B878.1.1 | Flock of birds so numerous that it shakes trees upon which it perches. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B251.2.4 | Fly habitually buzzes when cleric returns from matins. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B587.2 | Fly helps loathly suitor pass suitor test. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B152.2 | Fly indicates successful suitor. Girl to marry man on whom specially marked fly lights.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B483.1.0.1 | Fly warns saint against devil hidden in a cup with liquor. *Loomis White Magic 66. |
| B256.10 | Fly, wren, fox live with cleric. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B49.2 | Flying ape. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 235. |
| B43.1 | Flying buffalo. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B48 | Flying crustacean. (Cf. B62, B94.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B11.4.1 | Flying dragon. (cf. B11.2.1.11.)—BP III 423; *Fb "drage" (flies over the mountain).—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319, 345; *Boberg; Greek myth: *Frazer Apollodorus I 38 n. 2 (air-going chariot and dragons); Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B62 | Flying fish. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B49.3 | Flying fox. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 235. |
| B41.2 | Flying horse. Sometimes represented as having wings, sometimes as going through the air by magic.—*Chauvin V 228 No. 130; Fb "hest" IV 211a; BP II 134; *Hdwb. d. deutschen Märchens s.v. "Arabische Motive"; Penzer II 224; Rösch FFC LXXVII 110—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 43 (Sleipnir), 185 (Hofvarpnir).—Arabian: Burton I 160, V 246 n., VI 8, VII 46, 53, S II 85; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 838, 1358; Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 314. |
| B11.2 | Form of dragon. *Smith Dragon, passim.; Chinese: Werner 208ff. |
| B210.3 | Formerly animals and man spoke the same language. God took the power of speech from the animals because men refused to kill speaking beasts.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B161.2 | Fortune learned from serpent. Fb "orm" II 759b. |
| B244.1.4 | Four royal families of snakes. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 231. |
| B15.4.1.3 | Four-eyed jaguar. S. A. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| B15.4.1.2 | Four-eyed tiger. S. A. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 144. |
| B15.1.2.3 | Four-headed animal. |
| B15.1.2.3.1 | Four-headed monster. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B121.2 | Fox as alchemist. Chinese: Werner 381, Krappe CFQ III (1944) 125f. |
| B147.1.2.1 | Fox as beast of ill-omen. Chinese: Werner 370; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B294.1 | Fox as divider of dying man's gifts. Fb "ræv" III 113b. |
| B240.8 | Fox as king of animals. Wienert FFC LVI 47. |
| B291.3.1 | Fox as messenger. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B151.1.3 | Fox determines road to be taken. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B275.1.2 | Fox executed for thefts. Nouvelles Récréations No. 29. |
| B253.3 | Fox fasts as penance. (cf. B251.4.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B584.1 | Fox holds in its mouth a beautiful flower which he gives to hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B215.3 | Fox language. Nouvelles Récréations No. 29. |
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