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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 |
|---|---|
| F514.1 | Noseless person. Herbert III 238; Oesterley No. 175; Tobler 63; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F514.2 | Men with birds' beaks. DeCock Volkssage 105; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 599, Boberg. |
| F514.3 | Person with cat's snout. (Cf. F511.2.2.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F514.4 | Person with crook(s) on end of the nose. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F514.5 | Person grows a second nose. German: Grimm No. 201. |
| F515 | Person unusual as to his hands. (Cf. F552.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F515.0.1 | Person without hands. Siuts 218. |
| F515.0.2 | Persons with many hands. |
| F515.0.2.1 | Hundred-handed giants. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 3 n. 2. |
| F515.1 | Person with unusual fingers. |
| F515.1.1 | Person's fingers not separated from one another. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F515.2 | Person with unusual fingernails. |
| F515.2.1 | Fingernail that can conceal basin-load of food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F515.2.2 | Person with very long fingernails. Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 170. |
| F515.3 | Men with tails on their hands. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 79. |
| F515.4 | Boy with seal flippers. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XXII 20. |
| F515.5 | Tribe of left-handed people. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 99. |
| F516 | Person unusual as to his arms. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F516.1 | Armless people. Chinese: Werner 388. |
| F516.1.1 | Armless people have legs growing from their shoulders. Use toes in place of fingers. Chinese: Werner 388. |
| F516.2 | People with many arms. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F516.2.1 | Six-armed earthborn men. Greek: Fox 110. |
| F516.2.2 | People with four arms. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F516.2.3 | Man with a thousand arms. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 39. |
| F516.3 | Long-armed people. Irish myth: *Cross; Chinese: Werner 388f. |
| F516.4 | Man with elastic reach. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 263. |
| F517 | Person unusual as to his legs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F517.0.1 | Person with one leg. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Persian: Carnoy 298. |
| F517.0.2 | Long-legged people. Chinese: Werner 388f. |
| F517.0.2.1 | Man with legs so long he can steady boat as he stands in ocean. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 354. |
| F517.1 | Person unusual as to his feet. (Cf. F551.) |
| F517.1.1 | Person without feet. (Cf. F167.7.) Siuts 218. |
| F517.1.1.1 | Person with one foot. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F517.1.2 | Person with many feet. |
| F517.1.2.1 | Four-footed man. Sikes FL XX 421.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F517.1.3 | Men with sponge-feet. *Chauvin VII 24 No. 373E n. 1. |
| F517.1.4 | Person with claws on the feet. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F517.1.5 | Person with knees backwards. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F517.1.5.1 | Men whose feet turn backward so that they will not stub toes. Africa: Weeks Jungle 126ff. |
| F517.1.6 | Person with horse's hoofs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F517.1.7 | Person with feet like elephant's. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F517.1.8 | Soles of man's feet covered with hair. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 789. |
| F518 | Persons with tails. Chauvin V 7 No. 3.—Persian: Carnoy 298. |
| F521 | Person with unusual covering. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F521.1 | Man covered with hair like animal. *Williams 17ff.; Gaster Oldest Stories 43; Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 189; India: Thompson-Balys; Persian: Carnoy 298. |
| F521.1.1 | Woman with animal hair. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 189 No. 130; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 213. |
| F521.2 | Feathered people. Irish myth: *Cross; Chinese: Werner 390; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G 3/1353, z-G 13/380); Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 109. |
| F521.3 | Men of metal. |
| F521.3.1 | Man of bronze. (Talos). Has single vein from neck to ankle and bronze nail at end of vein. This is the only vulnerable spot. Frazer Apollodorus I 118 n. 1. |
| F521.3.2 | Man of iron. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F521.3.3 | Person with body of gold. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 214, 468, 742, 761, 1293; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F521.3.3.1 | Girl's body-dirt is golden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F521.3.3.2 | Person with golden anus. Africa (Hausa): Equilbecq II 83 No. 24. |
| F521.3.4 | Person with body of silver. |
| F521.3.4.1 | Silver king with silver attendants. Is on a silver horse accompanied by silver cock, bird, and dog. Czech: Tille FFC XXXIV 96. |
| F522 | Person with wings. Greek: Grote I 216; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 390; Persian: Carnoy 298. |
| F522.1 | Person with wings on feet (head). Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 106 n. 1. |
| F523 | Two persons with bodies joined. Siamese twins. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 248 n. 2. |
| F524 | Person with several bodies. |
| F524.1 | Person with three bodies. Body of three men grown together in one at waist but parted in three from flanks and thighs. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 211 n. 2, Fox 86 (Geryoneus). |
| F525 | Person with half a body. As if body has been split in two. *DeCock Volkssage 99ff.; Votiak, Ostiak: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 181f.; Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 166; Dixon 216; Chinese: Werner 389; Marquesas: Handy 137; N. A. Indian: Hatt Asiatic Influences 87ff., *Thompson Tales 357 n. 287d; Africa: Werner 244, (Basuto): Jacottet 160 No. 23, (Zulu): Callaway 202, (Luba): De Clerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 187, 190. |
| F525.1 | One-sided man. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 13, III 75, Rink 237, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 171. |
| F525.1.1 | Man with one side of stone (iron). Fb "jærn" IV 249b; Hawaii: Dixon 89 (stone); Africa (Kaffir): Theal 129 (iron). |
| F525.2 | Man splits into two parts. Chauvin VII 40 No. 153 n. 1; Tonga: Gifford 32. |
| F525.3 | Tribe of one-eyed, one-footed, one-handed men. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F525.3.1 | Person with one foot (one hand, and one eye). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F525.4 | Person (Antichrist) with flat body. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F525.5 | Giant with limbs and organs only on his left side. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F525.6 | Person without back. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 49 (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 179, 181. |
| F526 | Person with compound body. |
| F526.1 | Typhon. Human down to thighs; coil of vipers below. Dragon heads from his hands. Bigger than mountains. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 47 n. 4. |
| F526.2 | Scylla. Breast and face of woman. From flanks has six heads and twelve feet of dogs. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 293 n. 4. |
| F526.3 | Gorgon. Head turned about, scales of dragon, tusks of swine brazen hands, golden wings. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 153 n. 3. |
| F526.4 | Beast-like anchorite. Walks on all fours; covered with hair like beast; has horns like beast. (Cf. F521.1.) Williams 17ff., 25. |
| F526.5 | Men with two faces, three legs, and seven arms (or other such combinations). Hindu: Keith 41f. |
| F526.6 | Cecrops. Body compounded of man and serpent. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 76 n. 3. |
| F527 | Person of unusual color. |
| F527.1 | Red person. Africa (Fang): Einstein 179. |
| F527.1.1 | Red knight. Types 300, 303; *Ranke FFC CXIV 236; Fb "Ridder Rod"; Hartland Perseus III 207ff.—Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 73 (Sir Percyvelle of Galles); Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F527.2 | Green knight. *Kittredge Gawain passim; BP II 262f.; Dickson 180ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| F527.3 | Blue man. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 547. |
| F527.4 | Brown man with white back. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F527.5 | Black man. (Cf. F548.1, F573.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F527.6 | Half red and half blue strong man. Icelandic: Hálfdanar saga Br. 561, Boberg. |
| F529 | Other monstrous persons. |
| F529.1 | Persons with punctured bodies. May be carried on a pole put through the orifice; may be hung up on a peg. Chinese: Werner 390. |
| F529.2 | People without anuses. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F529.2.1 | People without anuses make them by sitting on pegs. Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 364; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 79, 204, Holm 89, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 171, 538, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 89. |
| F529.3 | Man with grass growing from his joints. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 488. |
| F529.4 | Person has small animal within his body. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F529.5 | Person with transparent body. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F529.6 | Person with enormous belly. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 155. |
| F529.7 | Boneless person. Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F529.7.1 | Person without joints. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F529.8 | Monkey-like little people. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F530 | Exceptionally large or small men. Krappe Neuphilologische Mitteilungen XXIV 1—10. |
| F531 | Giant.1 A person of enormous size. (For giants who are primarily ogres see G100 and G400—G599.) *BP III 375; *Fb "kjæmpe" II 149, "Langben Rise" II 377b; Lorenz Das Titan-Motiv in der allgemeinen Mythologie (Imago II 1913] 22—72); Weinhold Die Riesen des germanischen Mythus (Sitzungsberichte d. kais. Akad. d. Wiss. XXVI [1858] 225—306); Laistner Nebelsagen (Stuttgart, 1860); Schoning Dödsriger i Nordisk Hedentro (København, 1903); **Von Sydow Jätterna i Mytologi och Folktro (F och F [1919] 52—96); Ahrendt Die Riese in der mittelhochdeutschen Epik (Rostock, 1923); **F. Wolgemuth Riesen u. Zwerge in den altfranzösischen erzählenden Dichtung (Tübingen, 1906); **V. Höttges Typenverzeichnis der deutschen Riesen; und riesischen Teufelssagen FFC CXXII (Helsinki, 1937); Tegethoff Schweiz. Archiv f. Vksk. XXIV (1922) 137ff.; Borgese Giganti e Serpenti (Archivio per lo studio delle Tradizioni popolari XX 507ff., XXI 90ff., 161ff.); *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 1120—1138.—Irish myth: *Cross; U.S. (lumbermen): *Folk-Say I 62 (bibliography of "Paul Bunyan" stories); Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 66 Nos. 565—592; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 465—490; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3720; Germanic: Meyer Germanen 226ff.; French: Sébillot France IV 455 s.v. "Géants", >>Gargantua", Sébillot **Gargantua dans les Traditions Populaires; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 32f.; Jewish: *Neuman Arabian: Burton Nights I 65n., V 316, VI 24n., 84, 265n., 268ff., VII 84n.; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 47, 430, Holm 7, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 656, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 167; N. A. Indian (Tahltan): Teit JAFL XXXIV 346ff. Nos. 69, 70, 73, (Kaska): Teit JAFL XXX 446 No. 7, (Aztec): Alexander Lat. Am. 92f. |
| F531.0.1 | Biblical worthy as giant. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F531.0.2 | Giant as Creator's servant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.0.3 | Generation of men at the Deluge gigantic. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.0.4 | Giant woman. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.1 | Appearance of giant. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.0.1 | Beauty of giant. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.1.0.1.1 | Beautiful giantess. Broderius § 37; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 329, *Boberg; Swedish: Nyare Bidrag till Kännedom om de svenska Landsmеlen och svenskt Folklif IX 35 No. 80; Denmark: Thiele Danmarks Folkesagn X 164. |
| F531.1.0.2 | Hideous giant. Broderius § 37; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Þiðriks saga I 360, *Boberg; Tirol: Zingerle Nos. 172, 181. |
| F531.1.1 | Eyes of giant. *Höttges FFC CXXII 184. |
| F531.1.1.1 | Giant with one eye in middle of forehead. (Cf. F512.1.1.) Broderius § 37; *BP III 375; *Höttges FFC CXXII 191; Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 191; Icelandic: Boberg; Faröe: Zs. f. Vksk. II 6; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 67 No. 573; Tirol: Zingerle (1891) No. 2; Greek: Fox 6, Grote I 5, 287; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 10. |
| F531.1.1.1.1 | Giant with one eye in the neck which he covers with his lower lip. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.1.2 | Giant with large gleaming eyes. Broderius § 37; *Höttges FFC CXXII 192; Icelandic: Boberg; Norway: Faye Norske Folke-Sagn (Christiania, 1814) 19; Tirol: Zingerle (1891) Nos. 193, 201. |
| F531.1.1.2.1 | Giant with eyes as big as cauldrons. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.1.1.2.2 | Giant with eyes like ponds. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F531.1.1.3 | Blind giant. Broderius § 37; Icelandic: *Boberg; Sweden: Runa III (1843) 41 No. 74, IV 37 No. 53; Hanover: Schambach u. Müller Niedersächsische Sagen (Göttingen, 1854) No. 165.1. |
| F531.1.1.4 | Giant sees great distance. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.1.1.5 | Giant with many eyes. |
| F531.1.1.5.1 | Giant with eight eyes. Polynesia: Beckwith Myth 210. |
| F531.1.1.6 | Giantess with green eyes. Icelandic: Illuga saga Gr. 653, Boberg. |
| F531.1.2 | Head of giant. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.1.2.0.1 | Gigantic head. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.1.2.1 | Headless giant. (Cf. F511.0.1.) Broderius § 37; Irish myth: Cross; Hanover: Kuhn u. Schwarz Norddeutsche Sagen (Leipzig, 1848) No. 167.3; Pomerania: Rosenow 51 No. 46; N. A. Indian (Navaho): Alexander N. Am. 163. |
| F531.1.2.2 | Many-headed giant. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 329, MacCulloch Eddic 87, 173, Boberg. |
| F531.1.2.2.1 | Two-headed giant. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.1.2.2.2 | Three-headed giant. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 111 *Boberg. |
| F531.1.2.2.3 | Five-headed giant. Irish myth: Cross; English: Child II 59. |
| F531.1.2.2.4 | Six-headed giant. English: Child V 184. |
| F531.1.2.2.5 | Nine-headed giant. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 91, Boberg; Korean: Zong in-Sob 166. |
| F531.1.2.2.6 | Ten-headed giant. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 125. |
| F531.1.2.2.7 | Many-headed giant—miscellaneous. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F531.1.2.3 | Giant's self-returning head. Korean: Zong in-Sob 72. |
| F531.1.2.4 | Giant with horse head. Tirol: Zingerle (1891) 26 No. 41. |
| F531.1.2.5 | Giant with stone head. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 83, 279, Boberg (Hrungnir); Oceanic: Beckwith Myth 88. |
| F531.1.3 | Feet (legs) of giant. |
| F531.1.3.1 | Giant with dragon-scales for feet. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 43 n. 2. |
| F531.1.3.2 | Giant with heels in front. (Cf. A526.8, F451.2.2.1, F517.1.5, G303.4.5.6.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.1.3.3 | One-footed giant. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.1.3.3.1 | One-legged giant. Irish myth: *Cross; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 170. |
| F531.1.3.4 | Giant's step leaves deep furrows. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.1.3.5 | Giant fleet of foot despite size. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.1.3.6 | Giant with feet so large they cannot be moved. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.1.4 | Lips of giant. |
| F531.1.4.1 | Giant with upper lip reaching heaven; lower earth. Olrik Ragnarök 94f.; Cosquin études 537; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.1.4.1.1 | Giant with lower lip reaching earth. Gaster Thespis 190. |
| F531.1.4.2 | Giant (giantess) with lips hanging down on the breast. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.5 | Breasts of giantess. |
| F531.1.5.1 | Giantess throws her breasts over her shoulders. Her two sons can run after her and suck. Fb "givkone" I 438; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V 4. |
| F531.1.6 | Other bodily characteristics of giant. |
| F531.1.6.1 | Giant with nails like claws. Icelandic: *Boberg; Chinese: Werner 387. |
| F531.1.6.1.1 | Giantess with iron nails. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.1.2 | Giant with crooked nails. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.2 | Giant with teeth like those of saw. Chinese: Werner 387. |
| F531.1.6.2.1 | Giants (giantesses) with long teeth. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.2.2 | Giant with very broad teeth. Chinese: Graham. |
| F531.1.6.3 | Giants with shaggy hair on their bodies. Broderius § 37; Icelandic: Arnason Legends of Iceland (London, 1864) I 150, Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 153, Boberg; Tirol: Zingerle (1891) Nos. 180, 186, 190; Babylonian: Gilgamesch-epos I 86ff., cf. 95ff. |
| F531.1.6.3.1 | Giant (giantess) with particularly long hair. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.3.2 | Giant without hair. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.4 | Giant with long beard. Broderius § 37.—Icelandic: *Boberg; Swedish: Runa IV (1843) 41 No. 71; Finnish-Swedish: Landtmann Finlands Svenska Folkdiktning VII 537; Tirol: Zingerle (1891) No. 193. |
| F531.1.6.5 | Giant with golden hair on forehead. *Fb "guldhеr". |
| F531.1.6.6 | Giant with peculiar nose. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.6.1 | Giant with crook on end of his nose. Icelandic: *Boberg; Herrmann Saxo II 599. |
| F531.1.6.7 | One-armed giant. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.1.6.7.1 | Three-armed giant. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.1.6.7.2 | Giant with six or eight arms. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 422, MacCulloch Eddic 277, *Boberg; Polynesia: Beckwith Myth 210 (eight). |
| F531.1.6.7.3 | Giantess with burned arms. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.8 | Giant's peculiar cheeks. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.9 | Giant rooted to ground because his nails and hair have grown into the earth on account of his great age. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.1.6.10 | Giant with unusual heart. |
| F531.1.6.10.1 | Giant with stone heart. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 279. |
| F531.1.6.11 | Giant (giantess) with hump. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.6.12 | Giant with one hand and one foot. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.1.6.13 | Giant's strength in hair. (Cf. D1831, G221.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.1.6.14 | Giantess with a tail (many tails). Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F531.1.7 | Color of giant. |
| F531.1.7.1 | Green giant. *Kittredge Gawayne 195ff. |
| F531.1.7.2 | Black giant. BP II 253; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 588, 593, 599, MacCulloch Eddic 276, *Boberg. |
| F531.1.8 | Giant in animal form. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 279. |
| F531.1.8.1 | Giant as wolf. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 279f., Boberg. |
| F531.1.8.2 | Giant as serpent. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 279f., Boberg. |
| F531.1.8.3 | Giant as eagle. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 179, 276, 279, Herrmann Saxo II 599, Boberg. |
| F531.1.8.4 | Giantess in crow's shape. Icelandic: Völsungasaga ch. 1, Boberg. |
| F531.1.8.5 | Giantess transforms self to fly in order to tear woman's stomach. Icelandic: Egils saga ok Asm. ch. XII 9f., Boberg. |
| F531.1.8.6 | Giant in a gam's shape. Icelandic: Hjálmtèrs saga ok ölvers 506, Egils saga Einhenda ch. I 4, II 6, XIV 4, Boberg. |
| F531.1.8.7 | Giant as eagle. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.8.8 | Giant (giantess) as sea-mammal. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.1.9 | Frost-giants. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 580, MacCulloch Eddic 278f., 324, Boberg. |
| F531.1.10 | Fire giants. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 592. |
| F531.1.11 | Giants and giantesses dressed as human beings. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F531.1.12 | Giant bride's equipment. Icelandic: Thrymskvida, MacCulloch Eddic 79, *Boberg. |
| F531.2 | Size of giant. *Broderius § 37.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Arnason Legends of Iceland (London, 1864) I 120 ff.; MacCulloch Eddic 277, *Boberg; Norwegian: Norske Folkminnelag XIII 26; Finnish-Swedish: Landtmann Finlands Svenska Folkdiktning VII 537; Swiss: Henne-Am Rhyn No. 454. |
| F531.2.1 | Extremely tall giant. (Cf. F533.) Jewish: *Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 736; Fiji: Beckwith Myth 210. |
| F531.2.1.1 | Giant fifteen feet tall with three feet between the eyes. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F531.2.1.2 | Giants fifty feet tall with footprints six feet long. Chinese: Werner 387. |
| F531.2.1.3 | Waters of Deluge reach to giant's ankles. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.2.1.4 | Giant extends across whole island. Head against stone in west and feet against another in east. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 150, *Cross. |
| F531.2.1.5 | Giant reaches to the sky. Must lean over to keep from touching. N. A. Indian: *Boas BBAE LIX 289 n. 2, (Kaska): Teit JAFL XXX 445 No. 6. |
| F531.2.1.6 | Giantess is twice as tall as tall man. Icelandic: övar-Odds saga 121. |
| F531.2.2 | Giant with three spans between brows and three yards between shoulders. English: Child I 332, II 394. |
| F531.2.2.1 | Giant girl's face is an elbow length wide. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.2.2.2 | Giant's ears six hundred feet long. Korean: Zong in-Sob 15. |
| F531.2.3 | Giant's skull holds a man seated. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.2.3.1 | Giant's skull so large fowl can pass through eye-hole. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F531.2.3.2 | Giant's skull holds three hounds. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.2.4 | Giant's large footprints. (Cf. F531.2.1.2.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.2.5 | Extremely fat giant. (Cf. F532.) German: Grimm No. 134. |
| F531.2.5.1 | Giantess is more broad than tall. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.2.6 | Giant lies underground with trees growing all over his body. When his mouth is opened man falls into it and is swallowed. Finnish: Kalevala rune 17. |
| F531.2.7 | Giant so large he cannot be carried by a horse. Dickson 173 n. 33. |
| F531.2.8 | Giant can find only one horse able to carry him. Dickson 173 n. 33; Icelandic: Þiðriks saga II 380f., Boberg. |
| F531.2.9 | Giant occupies space of thrice nine men. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.2.10 | Giant must rest on elbow while speaking to be audible to mortal. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.2.11 | Demon looks like a mountain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.2.12 | Man with eyes the size of brass pots, teeth like axeheads, ears like elephant's ears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.2.13 | Giantess so heavy that boat almost sinks. Icelandic: Sturlaugs saga St. 620, Boberg. |
| F531.2.14 | Baby giants four months old "two feet broad in the chest and twelve feet high." Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.2.15 | Sack of earth in giant's hand looks no bigger than a pea in hand of a man. Scotland: Baughman. |
| F531.3 | Gargantuan feats. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.3.1 | Giant wades the ocean. *Krappe études 79ff.; Broderius § 21.—England: Baughman; Icelandic: *Boberg; Norwegian: Norske Folkminnelag I 65 No. 47, IX 99; German: Grimm Deutsche Sagen (Berlin, 1905) No. 319; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 31 n. 4; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 737. |
| F531.3.1.1 | Water enters into giant's boots from above. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 66 No. 571; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 62; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 128 No. 62. |
| F531.3.1.2 | Giant's leg stops ship at sea. Hindu: Penzer II 72. |
| F531.3.1.2.1 | Giant holds back water of river with his foot. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.3.1.3 | Thor carries giant in basket across icy stream. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Skaldsk XVII, Boberg. |
| F531.3.1.4 | Giant blows to prevent approach of ship. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.3.2 | Giant throws a great rock. Broderius § 8; **Höttges FFC CXXII 21ff., 196f.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 590, *Boberg; Norwegian: Norske Folkminnelag VI 142; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 61; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 47 No. 67; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 127 No. 61; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 32f. |
| F531.3.2.1 | Giants throw stones after churches. *Fb "sten" 552ab; **Höttges FFC CXXII 31ff., 199ff.; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 27ff., (1931) 17ff., Schmidt DF XXXIX 70 ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 70 No. 598, 71 No. 604. |
| F531.3.2.2 | Giant slings stone with his garters (hair ribbon, etc.) Broderius § 20.—Swedish: Hofberg Svenska Folksägner (Stockholm, 1882) 132; Danish: Thiele Danmarks Folkesagn (København, 1843) I 46; Holstein: Müllenhoff Sagen der Herzogthümer Schleswig-Holstein u. Lauenborg (Kiel, 1921) No. 423. |
| F531.3.2.3 | Giants throw tools back and forth. Explains rocks, etc. Broderius § 14; England: Baughman. |
| F531.3.2.4 | Giant hurls mountain. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F531.3.3 | Giant astride a church-roof. Rides it like a horse. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 61**. |
| F531.3.4 | Giant eats (drinks) prodigious amount. Broderius § 23.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 86, 89, 171, 275, *Boberg; Norwegian: Norske Folkminnelag II 28, XIII 23; Swedish: Sydow Jättarna; Westphalia: Kuhn No. 129; Swiss: Henne-Am Rhyn 2 No. 596; Tirol: Zingerle (1891) No. 217; Gaster Thespis 329; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.3.4.1 | Giant eats a thousand cattle. Type 701*. |
| F531.3.4.2 | Giant drinks up a river (lake, sea). German: Grimm No. 134; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.3.4.3 | Giant eats whales as small fry. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 449, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 638, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 196, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 66. |
| F531.3.5 | Giant steps prodigious distance. Broderius § 21; *Höttges FFC CXXII 165ff., 281f.—Irish myth: Cross; England: Baughman; Norwegian: Norske Folkeminnelag I 61, 65, II 30, 118, IV 101, XIII 26; Finnish-Swedish: Landtmann Finlands Svenska Folkdiktning VII 539, 540, 549, Wessmann 66 No. 570; Danish: Ohrt Danmarks Folkeminder XXI 22; Jewish: Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 474; Eskimo (Central): Boas RBAE VI 638. |
| F531.3.5.1 | Giant bestrides mountain. Chinese: Graham. |
| F531.3.5.2 | Giant's mighty stride spans earth's width. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.3.5.3 | Giant stands astride river. England: Baughman. |
| F531.3.6 | Giants carry church across a stream. Broderius § 22; Westphalia: Kuhn No. 387a; Hanover: Schambach u. Müller Nos. 165.1, 165.2. |
| F531.3.7 | Giant comes to bake too soon; spills dough. Giant who has common oven with another thinks he hears companion in next valley scraping the kneading trough. He bakes his dough but finds he is too early and that he has only heard himself scratching. He spills the dough: hence fruitful soil. (Cf. F451.7.2, F455.3.5.) Broderius § 15; *Höttges FFC CXXII 124. Westphalia: Grässe I 835, Zaunert Westfälische 6. |
| F531.3.8 | Giants' shouts are storms or great noise. Broderius § 16.—Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Arnason Legends of Iceland (London, 1864) I 166; Norse; Norsk Folkekultur IX 99; Swedish: Feilberg Jul II 56; Westphalia: Zaunert Westfälische 6, 11. Cf. Rip Van Winkle. |
| F531.3.8.1 | Giant's snoring as thunder or storm. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Gylf. XLVI, MacCulloch Eddic 92, *Boberg. |
| F531.3.8.2 | Giant's snoring felt as rain. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.3.8.3 | Homecoming giant heard far away. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.3.8.4 | Giantess sings so that it gives echo in all cliffs. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F531.3.8.5 | Earthquake as giant falls down. Icelandic: Þiðriks saga II 384, Boberg. |
| F531.3.8.5.1 | Earthquake by giant's wrestling. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F531.3.9 | Giants sit on mountains and wash feet in stream below. Broderius § 21; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 285, *Boberg; Danish: Danmarks Folkeminder No. 40 (1933) 71; Norse: Norsk Folkminnelag XIII 28; Swiss: Henne-Am Rhyn No. 611; French: Sébillot France I 232. |
| F531.3.10 | Giants carry trees. (Cf. F631.) Irish myth: Cross; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 12; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| F531.3.11 | Giant swallows men. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F531.3.12 | Giant's hunting (fishing). |
| F531.3.12.1 | Giant threads an elephant on a fish-hook. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.3.12.2 | Giant fishes whales. Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 233, MacCulloch Eddic 277, Snorra Edda Skalksk XLVI, Boberg; Maori: Clark 51. |
| F531.3.12.3 | Giantess kills monstrous bear. Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 197. |
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