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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| H543.1 | Devil held off from person by answering his riddles. St. Andrew the Bishop, and the Devil. The Devil, in form of beautiful maiden visits a holy bishop. St. Andrew appears as a pilgrim, answers the questions through which the devil seeks to keep him at a distance and discomfits the devil. (Cf. B302.22.3.) Anderson FFC LXII 353; Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 45; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H1232.5 | Directions on quest given by child(ren) still in mother's womb. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 484. |
| H1232.1 | Directions on quest given by herdsmen (peasants). Type 432; MPh. X 625; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1232.3 | Directions on quest given by maiden or woman in castle. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1232.4 | Directions on quest given by peasant and his wife. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1232.2 | Directions on quest given by queen. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1232 | Directions on quest given by sun, moon, wind, and stars. *Types 425, 451; *Tegethoff 44; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 71 No. 551, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 106, 114; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1482 | Dirk stuck into thigh in order to keep from sleeping. Japanese: Mitford 245ff. |
| H931.2 | Disagreeable tasks set hero to do so that he will disobey and be killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H607.1 | Discussion between priest and Jew carried on by symbols. E.g., priest raises three fingers (Trinity); Jew raises arm (one God); etc. *Anderson FFC XLII 354 n. 4; Köhler-Bolte II 479ff.; *Loewe Zs. f. Vksk. XXVIII 126; Penzer VI 249; Irish myth: Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 922A*; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H607.2 | Discussion between two poets (sages?) carried on in poetic obscure language. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H607 | Discussion by symbols. Sign language. *Penzer I 80f. n.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 32; W. Coland Zs. f. Vksk. XXIV 88; Hertel ibid. XXIV 317; Loewe ibid. XXVIII 126; *Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 206; Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H452 | Disguise to test bride's chastity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H151.13 | Disguised hero's golden hair discovered by spying princess. Type 314. |
| H38.1 | Disguised king (noble) recognized by habitual speech. |
| H173 | Disguised man recognized by dog. Greek: Fox 139; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H58.1 | Disguised mistress identified by chalk marks left on back by lover. Heptameron No. 43. |
| H592.4 | Dogs in human shape: friends who seduce man's wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H592.5 | Donkey ruling a kingdom: king condemning man unjustly. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H105.1 | Dragon-tongue proof. Dragon slayer cuts out the tongues and uses them later to prove his identity as slayer. *Types 300, 303; *Hartland Perseus III 203ff.; **Ranke FFC CXIV 251ff.; *BP I 534ff., 548; Fb "tunge" III 893b; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 242a nn. 24—47; Schoepperle I 204 n. 3; Irish myth: Cross; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 7, 18f.; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 63 n. 4; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 323ff.; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 278 No. 90. |
| H411.4.1 | Drinking bitter water as chastity test. Water will poison the unchaste. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas II 119, 345, *Neuman. |
| H439.2 | Drinking-tube as chastity index: retains taste of another's lips. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1538 | Drowning test. Unavailing attempt to drown hero. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish: Kalevala rune 31; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 85; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 312 n. 124. |
| H561.7 | Druid as solver of riddles. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1573.1.3 | Druid attempts to shake king's faith by magic manifestation. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H343.1 | Dumb princess brought to speak by shepherd who insults her. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 105 No. 860; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H411.18 | Dust of Tabernacle as chastity test. (Cf. D935.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| H105.5 | Ears, fingers and noses of demons cut off as proof of killing them. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H171.1.1 | Elephant raises girl three times to be king's wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H151.6.1 | Enchanted heroine seen temporarily disenchanted: recognition follows. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 6. |
| H1506 | Endurance test: hero maintains silence in the snake pit. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1501 | Endurance test: long dancing. Girl tires out many partners. English: Child II 102—110, IV 214f.; West Indies: Flowers 471. |
| H1503 | Endurance test: scalding mush scattered on heroine's naked body; rasp-tongued dogs lick wounds. N. A. Indian (Iroquois): Alexander N. Am. 35. |
| H588.21 | Enigmatic advice: take only salt and water as food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H585 | Enigmatic conversation of king and peasant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H599.5 | Enigmatic counsel: uproot old trees and plant new ones (dismiss old governors and appoint new). Jewish: Neuman. |
| H596.1 | Enigmatic counsels of a brother. Spanish: Childers. |
| H588 | Enigmatic counsels of a father. Taken literally bring trouble, but when properly interpreted are valuable. Icelandic: Hervarar saga 36—39, 116—18, *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys, (Kashmir): Knowles 243; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 232; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 256 No. 200. |
| H596.1.1 | Enigmatic counsels of older brother. Gray younger brother asks well-preserved older brother for the secret of his good health. Answer: A measured mouth, a close purse, and a knot on the trouser's fly. Spanish: Childers. |
| H596 | Enigmatic counsels of relatives (other than father). Spanish: Childers. |
| H587.0.1 | Enigmatic letter of king must be explained on pain of death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H582.2.1 | Enigmatic statement betrays incest. (Cf. T411.) Woman, recognizing cleric as her son by her father (Fiachna), gives him a drink of milk and says, "I give drink to my brother; he is Fiachna's son, he is Fiachna's grandson; his mother is Fiachna's daughter." The son's reply shows that he understands the situation. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H592 | Enigmatic statement made clear by experience. |
| H594.1 | Enigmatic statement: roof has no eaves. (Else it would give the beggar shelter.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H594.3 | Enigmatic statement: the flocks are only rocks and grass. (Else you would have given the beggar milk and curds.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H594.2 | Enigmatic statement: the tank (pond) does not belong to you. (Else you would have given the beggar fish to eat.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H599.2 | Enigmatic statements of a sham mad man (Hamlet). Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H580 | Enigmatic statements. Apparently senseless remarks (or acts) interpreted figuratively prove wise. *Wesselski Märchen 197; **De Vries FFC LXXIII; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 389, *Boberg; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 122 No. 1358; Jewish: *Neuman; Arab: Azov 411f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Batak: Voorhoeve 163 No. 169. |
| H595 | Enigmatic welcome of host. Sounds very inhospitable but properly interpreted makes guests welcome. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1377 | Enigmatical quests. |
| H543 | Escape from devil by answering his riddles. *Type 812; BP III 12ff.; Fb "spørgsmеl" III 524b; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 754; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 275 No. 86. |
| H301 | Excessive demands to prevent marriage. *Chauvin V 63 No. 19 n. 1; Irish myth: Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H614 | Explanation of enigmatic phenomenon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H614.1 | Explanation of phenomenon; a man who not only picks up wood but everything that lies in his path (a miser). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H614.2 | Explanation of phenomenon: large pond emptying itself into several smaller pools (man may spend without getting any return). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H263.1 | Exposure in boat as test of sin. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H316.5 | Expressing love by throwing little stones. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H591 | Extraordinary actions explained. Herrmann Saxo II 273. |
| H1233.4.1 | Fairies as helpers on quest. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H938 | Fairy assigns tasks. (Cf. H1219.4.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H313.2 | Fairy will marry king only if he will either cut off son's head or give up fasting on eleventh day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1233.3.2 | Fakir as helper on quest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H105.1.1 | False dragon-head proof. Impostor cuts off dragon heads (after tongues have been removed) and attempts to use them as proof of slaying the dragon. *Type 300; *BP I 534ff. and all references to H105.1; *Parsons FL XXXII 194ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H251.3.10 | False judgment by judge causes fruit to fall. Just judgment by judge causes fruit to be perfect. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H165 | Father recognizes son after having thrown him in oven. Marquesas: Beckwith Myth 482. |
| H480 | Father tests. Test as to who is unknown father of child. Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "père", "enfant"; Arabian: Burton Nights S V 236 n. |
| H588.0.1 | Father-in-law gives daughter-in-law enigmatic permission to go home. Chinese: Graham. |
| H588.9 | Father's counsel: dam up the outlets. (Keep expenditures down—not outlets of rice-field as son-in-law thinks). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H588.10 | Father's counsel: don't stay too late with a concubine, nor tell her any secret. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H588.6 | Father's counsel: dress up the trunks of trees, cover the road. (Plant the road with fruit trees and betel between the trees.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Batak: Voorhoeve 164f. No. 169. |
| H588.7 | Father's counsel: find treasure within a foot of the ground. (Sons dig everywhere and thus loosen soil of vineyard, which becomes fruitful.) Wienert FFC LVI 82 (ET 490), 126 (ST 346); Halm Aesop No. 98; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 914*; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H588.5 | Father's counsel: if you want to gamble, then gamble with experienced gamblers. (If you see how wretched professional gamblers are you will not want to gamble.) *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 376; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H588.2 | Father's counsel: let pilav be your daily food. (Eat frugally.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H588.3 | Father's counsel: marry a new wife every week. (Do not see your wife too much.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H588.4 | Father's counsel: on wishing to drink wine go to the vat and drink it. (Stench in vat so great that desire for wine is turned to loathing.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H588.8 | Father's counsel: the four wells. Three empty and one full (3 sons and father). Full one can fill the three empty but the three when full cannot fill the one when empty (sons when scattered will not support the father). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H588.1 | Father's counsel: walk not in sunshine from your house to your shop. (Attend to business, rising early and retiring late.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1405 | Fear test: behaving as if enemy is coming in order to see who will flee and who will stay and fight. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1423.3 | Fear test: bringing from a hill, seized by a demon, the fattest of goats. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1422 | Fear test: cutting devil's fingernails. Type 326; BP I 22ff.; Christiansen Norske Eventyr 42. |
| H1434 | Fear test: eating and drinking from skulls. Irish myth: Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 47 No. 326. |
| H1435 | Fear test: fetching skulls from a charnel house. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 324 No. 146. |
| H1423 | Fear test: fighting with spirits. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1412.1 | Fear test: going into the church at night and ringing the bell. German: Grimm No. 4. |
| H1436 | Fear test: keeping goal in hurling-match for corpses. Irish: Read FL XXVII 277f., Knortz Irländische Märchen (Zürich, 1886) 23. |
| H1411.2.1 | Fear test: night watch with magic cats. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1423.1 | Fear test: passing through door guarded by savage hound and armed soldier. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1421 | Fear test: playing cards with devil in church. Type 326; BP I 22f.; Christiansen Norske Eventyr 42. |
| H1433 | Fear test: playing game with reassembled dead man. (Cf. H1411.1, H1421.) Type 326; BP I 22ff. |
| H1407 | Fear test: serpent put in flour so that fearless youth kneads it into the dough. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1416 | Fear test: spending night by grave. Fb "først" I 404; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1412 | Fear test: spending night in church. Fb "kirke" II 126a. |
| H1411.4 | Fear test: spending night in house (hall) haunted by demon (monster). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1411.3 | Fear test: staying in enchanted castle at night where the devil gives a moral speech and prophesies. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1410 | Fear test: staying in frightful place. |
| H1411.2 | Fear test: staying in haunted house infested by cats. Type 326; BP I 22ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1411.1 | Fear test: staying in haunted house where corpse drops piecemeal down chimney. Dead man's members call out to hero, "Shall we fall, or shall we not?" *Type 326; *Taylor MPh XVII 321 n. 1; Scott "Marmion" note H; BP I 30 n. 1; Köhler-Bolte I 130; Fb "menneske" II 577b; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 241 n. 1. |
| H1411.1.1 | Fear test: staying in haunted house where horse carcass drops down chimney. *Taylor MPh XVII (1919) 321 n. 1; Scott "Marmion" Note H; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 41 No. 46**. |
| H1411 | Fear test: staying in haunted house. Type 326; Irish: Cross, O'Suilleabhain 53, Beal XXI 319; England: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 686; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 73. |
| H1415 | Fear test: staying under gallows at night. Type 326; Norwegian: Christiansen Norske Eventyr 42. |
| H1431 | Fear test: stealing clothes from ghosts. Type 326; BP I 34 n. 1. |
| H1418 | Fear test: taking boy to frightful enemy's tent. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1423.2 | Fear test: undergoing terrifying experience out of doors on Hallowe'en. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1400 | Fear test. A person is put to various tests in the attempt to make him show fear. *Type 326; *BP I 22ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H1441.1 | Fearless hero frightened by being awakened by eels put down his back. Type 326. |
| H1441 | Fearless hero frightened by being awakened with cold water. Type 326. |
| H1420 | Fearless traffic with devils. |
| H1430 | Fearless traffic with ghosts. |
| H1149.5 | Feat on spear point. Hero performs it as task set by otherworld amazon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H466.1 | Feigned absence to test wife's faithfulness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H466 | Feigned death to test wife's faithfulness. *Type 1350; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 92 n. 2; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 144. |
| H467.1 | Feigned illness to test wife's love. Husband feigns loss of genitalia. Italian Novella: Rotunda (H384.1.1.) |
| H1556.4 | Fidelity in love tested. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1556.0.1 | Fidelity of servant tested. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1561.2.2 | Fight with father's old friend, though only to mention who he is would assure the youth a friendly reception. Icelandic: Þiðriks saga I 222—32, Boberg. |
| H541.2.1 | Fine for failure to solve riddle. Jewish: Neuman |
| H175.4 | Fire issues spontaneously from fireless hearth when man approaches. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H84.3 | Flail substantiates story of witnessing threshing in heaven. Type 852; German: Grimm No. 112. |
| H41.4 | Flame issuing from mouth as sign of royalty. English: Wells 14f. (The Lay of Havelok). |
| H432 | Flower as chastity index. (Cf. D975.) Fb "brudekrans" IV 65b; English: Child I 268; India: *Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 165. |
| H316.2 | Flowers thrown to indicate princess's choice. Cosquin Contes Indiens 317ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1594.1 | Foot-race between fairy and mortal. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1594.2 | Foot-race between giant and mortal. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1594 | Foot-racing contest. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H264 | Footsteps in manure (dust) as proof that dead man has walked. Chinese: Graham. |
| H1244 | Forgiveness the reward of successful quest. Icelandic: Boberg; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 164. |
| H807 | Formerly I was daughter, now I am mother; I have a son who was the husband of my mother. (Girl has nursed her imprisoned father through a crack in the prison wall.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 111 No. 927*A. |
| H561.1.2 | Found mortar taken to king reveals peasant girl's wisdom. Peasant finds mortar in his field and against his daughter's advice takes it to the king, who demands the pestle as well. Peasant laments that he has not followed daughter's advice. King summons her. *Type 875; De Vries FFC LXXIII 15ff., 62ff. |
| H411.11.2 | Fountains as chastity tests. One fountain of clear water, other muddy. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H48.2 | Fox (in man's form) betrays identity when he procures fox-food for human wife. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 123. |
| H48.1 | Fox (in man's form) cries out like a fox in his sleep. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 122. |
| H1558.7.2 | Friends desert when man reports loss of his money. England: Baughman. |
| H1558.8 | Friends refuse to fight against each other. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1558.10 | Friendship kept up even during sons' jealousy and enmity. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1567.1 | Frightful meal as test of leadership. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H71.10.3 | Frogs croak at prince's command. De Vries FFC LXXIII 330. |
| H765 | From wooden spring iron bucket makes stones from which water flows. (Metal stick picks stone from eye. If you rub lids with it, tears come.) Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 32, 297f., *Neuman. |
| H434 | Fruit as chastity index. |
| H1574.2 | Fruitfulness of nature as proof of kingly right. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H215.2 | Gallows rope breaks when innocent person is hanged. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 44. |
| H375.1 | Game of hide and seek with seven princesses to determine which is to be hero's wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H216.1 | Garden filled with flowers on innocent girl's approach. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H317.3 | Gardener's son to marry princess if he remains in prison twelve years. India: Thompson-Balys |
| H87 | Garlands (flowers) as token. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H36.2 | Garment fits only true king. (Cf. H41.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H151.12 | Geese tell of beauty of their mistress and bring about recognition. *Type 533; Köhler-Bolte I 347; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 7. |
| H175.5 | Ghost of unknown child passes over heads of parents and bursts in a spray of blood. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 183. |
| H939.4 | Giant assigns task. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H335.0.2 | Girl assigns tasks to her suitors. *De Vries FFC LXXIII 308; Irish myth: *Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H71.7.1 | Girl born with costly jewels: sign of royalty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H333 | Girl demands suitor's life (or mutilation). |
| H580.1 | Girl given enigmatic commands must do the opposite. Type 480; Roberts 176. |
| H621.2 | Girl rescued by skillful companions: to whom does she belong? *Type 653; *BP III 45; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H45.5 | Girl sleeping naked awakened: is she a goddess? If mortal, she will cover herself; if a goddess, will not. Tonga: Gifford 191. |
| H1149.8 | Girl to bring cloth as long as river and raise pig as big as mountain. (Countertask: measure river and weigh mountain.) Chinese: Graham. |
| H583.10 | Girl to king: Should it (the flood) come I shall not come; should it not come, I shall come. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H599.1 | Girl will not drink of water which had no father or mother (i.e., stagnant). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H599.6 | Give coals orange color, let glimmer of gold appear like expanse of heaven, prepare two heads of darkness. (Request for chickens for breakfast.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1593 | Goaling match between fairies and mortals as test of supremacy. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H45.4 | God in disguise recognized by tokens on his feet and hands. Greek: Homer Iliad XIII 71. |
| H45.1 | God recognized by his supernatural powers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1233.5.1 | Goddess as helper on quest. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.0.5 | Goddess assigns task to her mortal suitor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H71.2 | Gold (silver) hairs as sign of royalty. *Types 533, 707; *BP II 275, 380, 393; *Fb "hеr" I 771b; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H71.11 | Gold in stool as sign of royalty. India: Thompson-Balys: |
| H261 | Gold in the Bible. A man professes to be a great Bible reader. King leaves a piece of money in the Bible. On his next visit it is still there. Anderson FFC XLII 361. Cf. Type 1453. |
| H71.6.2 | Gold tint as sign of royalty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1596.1 | Golden apple as prize in beauty contest. Judgment of Paris. Scala Celi 22b, 27a Nos. 146, 175; Greek: Fox 124. |
| H71.2.1 | Golden body of boy as sign of royalty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H257.1 | Grade of holiness tested: one whose candle burns down first. *Loomis White Magic 129. |
| H1483 | Grains slowly munched in order to keep from sleeping. (Cf. H1471.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H215.3 | Grass refuses to grow: indication of innocence of man hanged there. (Cf. E631.2, F974.) U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| H1233.4.3 | Griffin as helper on quest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.4 | Groom and his army have to fight bride's army. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H515 | Guessing contest between kings. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H528 | Guessing sex of unborn child (or animal). |
| H512 | Guessing with life as wager. *Type 500, 922; *Anderson FFC XLII 252; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H527 | Guessing: whether more of a certain stone is above or below ground. A test set by heathen king for a saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H210.1 | Guilt or innocence of souls tested by bridge. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H222.3 | Guilt or innocence shown by effect of enchanted water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H431.2 | Handkerchief as chastity index. Will not soil as long as woman (man) is true. *Type 888; BP III 517ff. |
| H86.4 | Handkerchief with name on it. German: Grimm No. 60. |
| H1533 | Hanging test. Unavailing attempt to kill hero by hanging. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 44, 50, Beal XXI 316, 318; Finnish: Kalevala rune 31. |
| H565.1 | Happenings before feast give Samson clue for riddles. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H625 | Hare and pig race across ditch. Each fails in his own way, pig behind hare. Which is winner? India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1574.3.2 | He who wins maiden queen is king. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H105.4 | Head of monster as token (proof) of slaying. Africa (Ronga): Junod Les Chants et les Contes des Ba-Ronga (Lausanne, 1897) 317ff. No. 30. |
| H901.1 | Heads placed on stakes for failure in performance of task. Unsuccessful youths are beheaded and heads exposed. Hero sees them when he sets out to accomplish his task. *Types 329, 507A; *BP III 368; *Taylor Romanic Review IV 21ff.; *Brown Iwain 137 n. 1; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Fox 119, Frazer Apollodorus II 160 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H1582 | Health test. Penzer III 272 n. 1. |
| H1511.1 | Heat test: swallowing red-hot stones. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 312 n. 120c. |
| H1511 | Heat test. Attempt to kill hero by burning him in fire. Type 513; German: Grimm No. 71; Finnish: Kalevala rune 31; Chinese: Graham; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 311 n. 120; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 72 No. 11. |
| H1573.1.1 | Heathen swallowed by earth. Proof of his belief. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H986 | Help in performance of tasks: invisible hands. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H970 | Help in performing tasks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1235.1 | Helpers on quest demand pay for advice. Chinese: Graham. |
| H1233 | Helpers on quest. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1092.1 | Helpful animal performs spinning task. (Cf. B571.) Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 71; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 453*, 481*. |
| H945.2 | Hero goes north to fight with trolls. (Cf. F455.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H151.11 | Hero is served at table by his unknown son: recognition of his wife follows. English: Wells 130 (Emare). Cf. Chaucer's Man of Law's Tale. |
| H81.1 | Hero lies by sleeping girl and leaves identification token with her. *Types 304, 550, 551; *BP II 505; *Fb "sove" III 472a; Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 26; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1421.1 | Hero plays skittles with demons. German: Grimm No. 4. |
| H1507 | Hero pursues and kills fugitive in spite of bleeding wounds. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1241.1 | Hero returning from successful quest sent upon another. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1241.1.1 | Hero returning with berries sent back to bring tree. (Cf. H561.1.2.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1381.5 | Hero seeks his equal. (Cf. H1311.1.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1023.2.2 | Hero sets wife to task of filling water-bottle with spout turned downward. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 417. |
| H186 | Hero spits twice at his wife as sign of recognition. Chinese: Graham. |
| H81.1.1 | Hero takes token from sleeping princess. Type 304; BP II 505; German: Grimm No. 111. |
| H1301.1.3 | Hero visits all islands to see if he can find woman to rival wife's beauty. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 539. |
| H331.5.1.1.1 | Hero's confederate slows down princess with his breath. Extraordinary blower blows against her so that she is retarded and loses race. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H151.7 | Hero's power to transform girl to carnation brings about recognition. *Type 652. |
| H1395 | Heroes seek judgment as to which is greatest. (Cf. H1311.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H151.6 | Heroine in menial disguise discovered in her beautiful clothes: recognition follows. *Type 510; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H41.2 | High-spitting the test of a chief. N. A. Indian (Quileute): Farrand-Mayer JAFL XXXII 253 No. 1, (Chinook): Boas BBAE XX 160, (Nootka): Boas RBAE XXXI 919. |
| H257 | Holiness of saint tested: asked to perform miracles. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H217.3 | Holmgang to decide owner of gold. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H217.4 | Holmgang to decide who is to be king. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1561.2.1 | Holmgang. Single combat on an island. *Schoepperle II 338ff.; English: Wells 32 (Layamon's Brut); Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1233.3 | Holy man as helper on quest. |
| H425.2 | Horns grow on cuckold. *New English Dictionary V 385c s.v. "horn"; Dunger Germania XXIX 59; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 122. |
| H1233.6.1 | Horse helper on quest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H171.3 | Horse indicates election of emperor. *Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 157; Penzer IV 104, V 176; Herodotus II cap. 84—87; Herbert III 210; Oesterley No. 270. |
| H62.2 | Horse recognizes kol transformed to look like his master and throws him off. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H172.1 | Horse will permit only certain man to ride him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H681.2.1 | How deep is the earth? It is deep: my grandfather went into it (died) years ago and has not yet returned. Anderson FFC LXII 141. |
| H681.2.2 | How deep is the earth? My father went five years ago to measure it (died); when he returns I shall tell you the result. Anderson FFC XLII 142. |
| H681.4.1 | How deep is the sea? A stone's throw. *Type 922; Anderson FFC XLII 130; BP III 231. |
| H681.4.2 | How deep is the sea? At first, knee-deep; further on, waist-deep, neck-deep; and beyond that over the head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H682.1.7 | How far from earth to heaven? A calf's (fox's) tail, if it were long enough. *Anderson FFC XLII 121; BP III 231; cf. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 96; Fb "kalvehale". |
| H682.1.8 | How far from earth to heaven? A leg's length, for it is written, Heaven is my throne and earth my footstool. Anderson FFC XLII 121. |
| H682.1.9 | How far from earth to heaven? One step, for they say, He stands with one foot in the grave and one in heaven. Anderson FFC XLII 122. |
| H682.1.10 | How far from earth to heaven? The devil knows for he has fallen this distance. Alphabet No. 67. |
| H682.1.1 | How far is it from earth to heaven? A day's journey, since Christ went to heaven in one day. (A half-day's journey, similar reason). *Anderson FFC XLII 119; Wesselski Bebel I 36 No. 75. |
| H682.1.2 | How far is it from earth to heaven? A day's journey, since there is no inn to stop at on the way. *Anderson FFC XLII 119. |
| H682.1.5 | How far is it from earth to heaven? As far as from heaven to earth. *Anderson FFC XLII 120. |
| H682.1.4 | How far is it from earth to heaven? As far as you can see. *Anderson FFC XLII 120. |
| H682.1.6 | How far is it from earth to heaven? Not far; when it thunders there it can be heard here. Anderson FFC XLII 120. |
| H682.1.3 | How far is it from earth to heaven? So and so high, and if you don't believe it, measure it yourself. *Anderson FFC XLII 118. |
| H685.1 | How far is it from happiness to misfortune? One day; yesterday I was herdsman and now I am abbot. (Cf. H561.2.) Anderson FFC XLII 216. |
| H681.1.1 | How far is it from one end of the earth to the other? A day's journey, since the sun makes it daily. *Type 922; Anderson FFC XLII 147.—Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H691.2.1 | How heavy is the earth? Take away all the stones and I will weigh it. Anderson FFC XLII 143. |
| H706.1 | How many days have passed since the time of Adam? The seven days of the week. Anderson FFC XLII 227. |
| H682.3 | How many exits from paradise? Moreno Esdras; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H703.1 | How many hairs are there in the head? As many as are in the tail of my ass; if you don't believe it we will keep pulling out one hair from your beard and one from his tail. Anderson FFC XLII 230. |
| H705.1 | How many leaves are on the tree? As many as there are stems for. *Anderson FFC XLII 176. |
| H705.3 | How many leaves are on the tree? Counterquestion: how many stars in the sky? (Cf. H702.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 116 No. 970. |
| H705.2 | How many leaves are on the tree? So and so many; and if you don't believe it, go count them. *Anderson FFC XLII 176. |
| H696.1.4 | How many measures of water are in the river? India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H701.1 | How many seconds in eternity? A bird carries a grain of sand from a mountain each century; when the whole mountain is gone, the first second of eternity has passed. (Cf. D791.1.2, H1583, X950.2, Z61.) *Type 922; BP III 232; *Anderson FFC XLII 232. |
| H702.1.1 | How many stars in the heaven? Two million; if you don't believe it, count them yourself. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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