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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| H1557.1 | Obedience of sons tested by offering them apple. They are each offered a slice of apple. The king says, "Open your mouth and receive what I give you". Eldest son insulted; youngest obeys and receives kingdom as reward. (Cf. H1558.0.1.1.) *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 368; *Crane Vitry 187 No. 123; BP III 236; Wesselski Mönchslatein 8 No. 3; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 93a n. 7. |
| H1248 | Object sought brings about death of assigner of quest. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1239.2 | Objects of quest found in deserted castle where hero is served by unseen hands. Type 425; Tegethoff 14.—Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1558.1.1 | Of three friends the least loved proves true in emergency. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 32, 275; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1401.2 | Ogress assumes frightful guises to frighten messengers. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 174, 194. |
| H1557.3 | Old man contented till forbidden to leave city. Immediately disobeys. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 319; Wesselski Märchen 220 No. 33. |
| H1233.1.2 | Old man helps on quest. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1233.1 | Old person as helper on quest. |
| H1556.4.4 | Old uncle tests nephew's fidelity by sleeping with his beloved. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1221.1 | Old warrior longs for more adventure. Refuses to rest in old age. Chauvin II 152 No. 16, 157 No. 37; cf. Tennyson's "Ulysses." |
| H1233.1.1 | Old woman helps on quest. Type 400, 425; English: Wells 68 (The Weddynge of Sir Gawen and Dame Ragnell); India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H495.3 | Old woman suckles all babies at son's circumcision to prove she has borne child. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H1556.4.5.1 | Old woman's willingness to die for daughter disappears when Death seems to arrive. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H586.5 | One traveler to another (as they see corpse borne by): He is not entirely dead. (Has left good property.) Wesselski Märchen 197 No. 7. |
| H586.6 | One traveler to another (when asked how he crossed an unbridged stream): I cross on an ashen bridge. (Found a ford with an ashen staff.) Wesselski Märchen 197 No. 7; Nouvelles de Sens No. 8. |
| H586.7 | One traveler to another: Is this cup valuable or not? (Is your daughter married or not?) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H586.3 | One traveler to another: Let us carry each other and shorten the way. (Let us tell tales and amuse ourselves on the way.) *Wesselski Märchen 197 No. 7; Nouvelles de Sens Nos. 3, 8; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H586.4 | One traveler to another: That field (uncut) is already harvested. (Belongs to spendthrift who has already spent the money.) Wesselski Märchen 197 No. 7. |
| H31.4 | Only one man can lift small pot from ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H31.12 | Only one man is able to pluck fruits from tree. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H31.7.2 | Only one man is able to read magic book. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H316.1 | Orange (lemon) thrown to indicate princess's choice. Cosquin Contes Indiens 317ff. |
| H226 | Ordeal by balance. Defendant is weighed twice. He must be lighter second time. *Penzer VIII 195 n. 3. |
| H221.4 | Ordeal by boiling water. Basset RTP VII 281, 616, VIII 561; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 50, Beal XXI 318; Icelandic: Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H232 | Ordeal by bread and cheese. Declaration: if I am not innocent may I choke on bread and cheese. Kittredge Witchcraft 237f., 543 nn. 85—91; England: *Baughman. |
| H221.1 | Ordeal by burning coal. Basset RTP VII 284; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H221.3 | Ordeal by burning oil. Basset RTP VII 282, VIII 20; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 22. |
| H228 | Ordeal by creeping under a sod partially detached from the earth without its falling down. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H224 | Ordeal by crocodiles (snakes). Judgment depends on whether person is devoured or rejected by crocodiles. Basset RTP VII 286; English: Child V 490 "ordeal." |
| H236 | Ordeal by exposure. (Cf. S141, S331.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H221 | Ordeal by fire. Suspected person must pass through or jump over fire to determine guilt or innocence. Basset RTP VI 631; Scala Celi 6b, 46b Nos. 38, 259; Herbert III 605f., Alphabet Nos. 69, 221, 434; *Gaster Exempla 191 No. 28.—Irish: O'Suilleabhain 71; English: Child V 490 s.v. "ordeal"; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Keith 128; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Ehrenreich Int. Cong. Americanists XIV 661; Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 248 No. 42; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 238 No. 9. |
| H222.2 | Ordeal by holy water. If simpleton closes his eyes to holy water he is possessed; if he laughs he is merely an idiot. U.S.: Baughman; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H221.2 | Ordeal by hot iron. *Penzer VIII 195 n. 3, 196 n.; Basset RTP VII 284, 615, VIII 20, 431, 561; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H224.1 | Ordeal by kissing poisonous serpents. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 46. |
| H223 | Ordeal by poison. Penzer VIII 196 n.; Basset RTP VI 631, VII 278, 616; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H221.2.2 | Ordeal by red-hot iron applied by druids. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H225 | Ordeal by rope-walking. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 182, (Ekoi): Talbot 402; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 238 No. 9. |
| H221.5 | Ordeal by spitting. Extinguishing fire is proof of innocence. England: *Baughman. |
| H222.0.1 | Ordeal by water applied by druids. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H222 | Ordeal by water. Guilt or innocence shown by ability to swim. *Kittredge Witchcraft 232ff., 536ff.; Penzer VIII 195f.; Basset RTP VII 285; *Fb "svømme" III 695b, "vand" III 999b, "vandprøve" III 1005b; Loomis White Magic 41.—Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Frazer Pausanias III 388; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3664; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 456. |
| H221.1.1 | Ordeal: carrying live coals in robe or cloak without harm to garment or bearer. *Loomis White Magic 34. |
| H227 | Ordeal: carrying murdered man's blood. Must not spill it. Fb "blod" IV 47b. |
| H235 | Ordeal: cock under pot crows when guilty person touches pot. England: *Baughman. |
| H233.1 | Ordeal: names of suspected persons are placed in chalice on altar: the one to whom the lot falls is guilty. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H233 | Ordeal: taking stone out of bucket. Color indicates guilt or innocence. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H221.2.1 | Ordeal: virgin to pull on hot iron and name men. Only with guilty will she and he be burnt. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H225.2 | Ordeal: walking on eggs. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 22. |
| H225.1 | Ordeal: walking on ladder of knives. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 22. |
| H220 | Ordeals. Guilt or innocence thus established. **Patetta Le Ordalie (1890). *Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 994ff.; Penzer VIII 196 n.; Keith Encyc. Relig. Eth. s.v. "ordeal"; Basset RTP XVII 397, 597, XIX 156ff., XXIII 182.—Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 317; English: Child V 490 "ordeal"; Icelandic: Boberg; West Indies: Flowers 455. |
| H433 | Ornament as chastity index. |
| H939 | Other assigners of tasks. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1240 | Other circumstances of quests. |
| H599 | Other enigmatic statements. |
| H1049 | Other impossible tasks—miscellaneous. |
| H1030 | Other impossible tasks. |
| H440 | Other indications of chastity. |
| H251.3 | Other magic object tests truth. |
| H490 | Other marriage tests. |
| H840 | Other riddles. |
| H584 | Other riddling answers. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H359 | Other suitor tests. |
| H619 | Other symbolic interpretations. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H1109 | Other tasks requiring miraculous speed. |
| H1199 | Other tasks. |
| H1129 | Other tedious tasks. |
| H240 | Other tests of truth. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H467 | Other tests of wife's love or faithfulness. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1470 | Other vigilance tests. |
| H335.0.1.1 | Otherworld mistress instructs hero how to perform tasks (imposed by her mother). Irish myth: Cross. |
| H153 | Outcast wife (children) builds castle identical with king's, invites him, and is recognized. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H439.1.1 | Painting on wife's stomach as chastity index. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H1378 | Paradoxical quests. (Cf. H1050.) |
| H1050 | Paradoxical tasks. *Type 875; *BP II 362; *Gruffydd Math vab Mathonwy (U. of Wales Press, 1928) 307ff. |
| H105 | Parts of slain animals as token of slaying. *Hartland Perseus III 207; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 242b. nn. 37—47; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 7; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 343 No. 59. |
| H71.3 | Pearls from hair as sign of royalty. *Type 707; BP II 380, 393. |
| H38.2.2 | Peasant boy masking as prince betrays self by his answers. *Köhler-Bolte I 172. |
| H990 | Performance of tasks—miscellaneous. |
| H1236 | Perilous path traversed on quest. English: Wells 55 (Gawayne and the Grene Knight); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H64.3 | Person disenchanted from animal "unable to hide his tail." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H64.4 | Person disenchanted from animal unable to eat after manner of men. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H244 | Person magically disfigured when he speaks falsely. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H62.1.2 | Person transformed to animal recognized by ability to read. Scotch: Campbell-McKay. |
| H62.1.1 | Person transformed to animal recognized by his eyes. *Fb "öje" III 1166a; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H38 | Person's rank betrayed by habitual conversation. |
| H1553.1 | Philosopher teaches son to beg before stone statues. In this way he will acquire patience. Spanish: Childers. |
| H312 | Physical and mental requirements for suitors. Penzer III 66; Irish myth: *Cross; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 106 n. 1. |
| H439.1 | Picture as chastity index: indicates by its color. (Cf. D1266.2.) English: Child I 269; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H103 | Pieces taken from flags serve to identify. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "drapeau". |
| H251.3.11 | Pig that can be boiled only after four true stories are told. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H982.1 | Pigeons cover the sun's rays with their outstretched wings and lengthen night to six months so that hero's task can be completed in one night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1535.1 | Pit test. Hero thrown into pit. Africa (Benga): Nassau 217 No. 33, (Basuto): Jacottet 72 No. 11. |
| H252.1 | Placing hand on genitals as test of truth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1534 | Plank test. Attempt to kill hero by letting plank fall on him. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 47 No. 325A*. |
| H592.2 | Poison in nectar: wife who betrays husband to his enemies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1516 | Poisoned clothing test. Attempt to kill hero by poisoning clothing. *Type 516; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 124. |
| H1515.2 | Poisoned drink test. Attempt to kill saint by giving him poisoned drink. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1515 | Poisoned food test. Attempt to kill hero by feeding him poisoned food. Type 516; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 123; Hertz Gesammelte Abhandlungen "Die Sage vom Giftmädchen"; BP I 42ff.; Herrmann Saxo II 139; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 314 n. 140. |
| H152.1 | Poor people given alms: one of them recognized. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H171.6 | Pope selected by chair moving toward candidate. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 27 (b). |
| H1557.4 | Pope tests women's disobedience: not to look into box. (Cf. H1554.1.) They do so and are not allowed to hear confession. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 398. |
| H1233.6.3 | Porpoise as helper on quest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1573.3 | Power of Christianity tested. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1573.4.1 | Power of Judaism tested. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1573.4 | Power of other religions tested. |
| H1535 | Precipice test. Hero is pushed over a precipice. Irish myth: Cross; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 312 n. 122, (California): Gayton and Newman 95; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 72 No. 11. |
| H1558.9 | Pregnant wife left in charge of friend. Icelandic: Lagerholm 129ff., Boberg. |
| H1267 | Pregnant woman craving fish sends husband to heaven after lucky fishhook. (Cf. H936.) Samoa: Beckwith Myth 25. |
| H1222 | Prince a-hunting enters on quest. *Type 401; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1239.1 | Prince agrees to marry a servant girl if she will help him on a quest. Malone PMLA XLIII 400. |
| H71.7.2 | Prince born with bow of gold and string of silver. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1561.9 | Prince chooses shorter but more dangerous road. Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H384.1.2 | Prince disguised as a madman to test bride's character. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H931.1 | Prince envious of hero's wife assigns hero tasks. *Type 465.—Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 170; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H1212.3 | Prince sulks until quest is accomplished. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H188 | Princess appears before crane (who had demanded her in marriage) and is recognized by him despite loathly disguise. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H341.3 | Princess brought to laughter by foolish actions of hero. *Type 571; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXVI 89 n. 1; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 3. |
| H341.3.1 | Princess brought to laughter by indecent show made in quarrel with old woman at well. Italian: Basile Pentamerone Introduction. |
| H341.1 | Princess brought to laughter by people sticking together. *Type 571; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H341.2 | Princess brought to laughter by small animals. *Type 571; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 5. |
| H607.3 | Princess declares her love through sign language: not understood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H507.1.0.1 | Princess defeated in repartee by means of objects accidentally picked up. E. g., Hero: What red lips you have!—Princess: There is fire inside.—Hero: Then boil this egg (producing egg). Type 851; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 414ff. |
| H346 | Princess given to man who can heal her. *Types 610, 613; *Christiansen FFC XXIV 98; BP III 267ff.; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; S. A. Indian (Chincha): Alexander Lat. Am. 231. |
| H331.11 | Princess given to the one confessing all his treachery. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H511 | Princess offered to correct guesser. *Type 621; BP III 483; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 5; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H507.1.1 | Princess offered to man who can defeat her in argument. *Penzer VI 73 n. 3. |
| H507.1 | Princess offered to man who can defeat her in repartee. *Type 853; BP I 201; *Wesselski Der Islam XXII (1934) 114 n. 4; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H551 | Princess offered to man who can out-riddle her. *Types 725, 851, 900; BP I 188ff., 200; Philippson FFC L 22; *Chauvin V 192, 192 No. 113; Fb "bejler" IV 31b; Malone PMLA XLIII 414; von der Hagen Gesammtabenteuer III *lxi; Child V 493 s.v. "riddles".—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 851A*; India: Thompson-Balys; Filipino: Fansler MAFLS XII 278; Africa: Werner African 356. |
| H41.1 | Princess on the pea. Princess recognized by her inability to sleep on bed which has a pea under its dozen mattresses. *BP III 330; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 575b; Grimm No. 182a; *Fb "seng"; Penzer VI 288ff.; Wirth AA o.s. VII (1894) 367ff.; Arthur Christensen Acta Orientalia XIV 241—257; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H933.3 | Princess orders hero to bring her rings of another princess. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H933 | Princess sets hero tasks. (Cf. H335.) |
| H933.1 | Princess throws handkerchief high in tree; asks hero to get it. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 66 No. 554. |
| H328.6 | Princess to be married to man who withstands twelve years' fight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H344.1 | Princess to marry man who can give her correct account of what happened in her bedchamber. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H343.0.1 | Princess to marry man who can make her speak to him in all watches of the night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H313.1 | Princess will marry whoever will give her anything she wishes for a month. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.6.1.1 | Princess wins wrestling match with suitor by revealing her breast. He looks and is beaten. Köhler-Bolte I 561. |
| H573.2 | Problem of why certain person cannot sleep solved by trickery. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H41.6 | Prophecy for newborn princesses: the one who takes gold in the mouth will be married to a prince; the one who takes hawkweed, to a peasant. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H540 | Propounding of riddles. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H336.1 | Prospective father-in-law requires that suitor for his daughter's hand visit foreign country (otherworld?) to learn feats of arms. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1226.2 | Pursuit of magic arrow leads to adventures. Hawaii: Dixon 75. |
| H1226.4 | Pursuit of rolling ball of yarn leads to quest. Type 480; *Roberts 127. |
| H1226 | Pursuit of rolling cake leads to quest. Type 480; *Roberts 127; BP I 217, II 392, III 458. |
| H1226.3 | Pursuit of rolling golden apple leads to quest. Type 480; *Roberts 127. |
| H1226.1 | Pursuit of rolling hoop leads to quest. Hindu: Keith 196; N. A. Indian: Matthews MAFLS V 108, Goddard PaAM VIII 196 No. 3 and numerous other references in Thompson Tales 320 n. 156. |
| H933.5 | Queen of Sea sets hero tasks. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/441). |
| H540.2.1 | Queen of Sheba propounds riddles to Solomon. *Penzer VI 74; FL I 349ff.; Anderson FFC XLII 237 n. 2; Hertz Gesammelte Abhandlungen (1905) 412ff.; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 32, 297f., *Neuman; *Frazer Old Testament II 564. |
| H540.2 | Queen propounds riddles. Dickson 41 n. 40. |
| H1229.2 | Queen writes message on stone which hero finds: he goes in search of her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1239.3 | Quest accomplished by means of objects given by helpers. Type 425; Halliday Indo-European Folk-Tales (Cambridge, 1933) 135f. |
| H1233.2.2 | Quest accomplished with aid of brother in disguise. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1233.4.2 | Quest accomplished with aid of giantess. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1233.3.3 | Quest accomplished with aid of prophet (sage, druid). Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1233.2.1 | Quest accomplished with aid of wife. *Type 465C; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1219.1 | Quest assigned as payment for gambling loss. (Cf. H942.) Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1219.7 | Quest assigned as payment for hospitality. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1219.1.1 | Quest assigned as payment for magic object. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1219.3 | Quest assigned as punishment by father of abducted girl. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1219.8 | Quest assigned as punishment for curiosity. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1219.2 | Quest assigned as punishment for murder. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1219.6 | Quest assigned as result of slander. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1217 | Quest assigned because of dream. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1212.1 | Quest assigned because of feigned dream. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 330 n. 191g. |
| H1212 | Quest assigned because of feigned illness. Lion's milk (or the like) said to be necessary as cure; hero therefore sent on dangerous quest. *Type 590; BP III 1f; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 14; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 49 No. 17. |
| H1215 | Quest assigned because of hero's boast. Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Fox 33 (Perseus). |
| H1214 | Quest assigned because of hero's knowledge of animal languages. BP I 325; Köhler-Bolte II 340. |
| H1212.4 | Quest assigned because of longings of pregnant woman. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1219.4 | Quest assigned by fairy. (Cf. H938.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1210.1 | Quest assigned by father. *Types 402, 550; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 105; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chile: Pino Saavedra 399, 403, 404; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 350. |
| H1210.2 | Quest assigned by king. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H933.4 | Quest assigned by scorned princess. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H1212.2 | Quest assigned by wife through appeal to husband's love for her. He is sent for liver of dangerous animal. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 2 No. 1. |
| H1219.5 | Quest assigned prisoner. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1210 | Quest assigned. |
| H1331.8 | Quest for a large-headed worm. Irish myth: Cross (H1349.4). |
| H1225 | Quest for a strong adversary. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1221 | Quest for adventure. *Type 650; Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 66 (Ywain and Gawain), 134 (Sir Degare); Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "aventures"; Arabian: Burton Nights VI 1—83, S IV 420, 509ff. This motif is prominent in Romances of Chivalry. |
| H1332.4 | Quest for animal with golden chain. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1333.3.1.3 | Quest for apple of life. Type 590; BP I 513, II 400, III 1. |
| H1333.3.1.6 | Quest for apples that are under the sea. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1392 | Quest for armor from a grave mound. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1338 | Quest for axe which sticks in beam outside a tower. *Fb "økse" III 1171b. |
| H1376.4 | Quest for bag of truths (lies). Types 513, 570; BP III 267ff., 273. |
| H1333.5.3 | Quest for bakali flower. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1331.3.1 | Quest for bald, white-headed cow. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1361.2 | Quest for bear's milk. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1214.1 | Quest for beautiful girl about whom parrots are heard speaking. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1355.2 | Quest for beautiful saree for the queen. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1333.3.3 | Quest for berries from tree guarded by giants. Irish: *Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 176. |
| H1319.2 | Quest for best cap. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1305.2 | Quest for best-cooked dish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1306.1 | Quest for best-worked handkerchief. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1331.1.1 | Quest for Bird of Truth. *Type 707; India: *Thompson-Balys. See all references to B131. |
| H1331.4.1 | Quest for blue-eyed horse. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1377.2 | Quest for bouquet of all flowers. (Beehive.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 105 No. 860. |
| H1333.6 | Quest for branches of tree guarded by dragon. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1301.1.1 | Quest for bride as handsome as the hero. *Type 516; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 100. |
| H1381.3.1.3 | Quest for bride for dwarf. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1381.3.1.1 | Quest for bride for king (prince). *Type 531; *Schoepperle I 188 n. 3; Thien Motive 7; BP III 18; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Bуsa saga 49, *Boberg; Hindu: Tawney I 380; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 218. |
| H1381.3.1.1.1 | Quest for bride for king like picture he has seen. (Cf. H1381.3.1.2.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1381.3.1.2 | Quest for bride for oneself. Type 585; BP III 355; Fb "hеr" I 771b; Dickson 184; Irish myth: *Cross; Finnish: Kalevala runes 5, 11; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 9; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/900); N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Thompson CColl II 403. |
| H1311.2 | Quest for bride richest and poorest. Type 585; BP III 355. |
| H1381.3.1 | Quest for bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1343 | Quest for castle of jewels. Arabian: Burton Nights V 358. |
| H1271 | Quest for Cerberus in hell: to be brought to earth. Greek: Fox 88. |
| H1361.6 | Quest for cheese made from milk of wild white buffaloes. (Cf. H1362.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1381.3.3 | Quest for clever woman. De Vries FFC LXXIII 43ff. |
| H1347 | Quest for comb. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 22. |
| H1348.1 | Quest for covering that is kept in an emerald box by the well. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1331.3.2 | Quest for cow with liver of tallow. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1331.7 | Quest for creature with a single horn mounting to heaven with single red hair on its head. Chinese: Graham. |
| H1333.3.1.2 | Quest for dancing apple. *Köhler-Bolte I 118. |
| H1321.4 | Quest for dancing water. Köhler-Bolte I 143; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H1360 | Quest for dangerous animals. Irish myth: Cross; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 312 n. 126; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 2 No. 1. |
| H1381.3.1.2.3 | Quest for dangerous maiden as bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1364 | Quest for demon-owned cows. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1362 | Quest for devastating animals. |
| H1362.1 | Quest for devastating buffaloes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1272 | Quest for devils in hell; hero brings them back with him. *Type 650. |
| H1324.2 | Quest for draught of healing. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1377.4 | Quest for dusty cloth. (Barren woman assigns quest. Dusty cloth is one made dusty by the feet of a child.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1397 | Quest for enemies. |
| H1397.2 | Quest for enemy's children. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1217.1 | Quest for explanation of dream. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1333.3 | Quest for extraordinary fruit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1333.2.3 | Quest for extraordinary herb. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1333.2 | Quest for extraordinary plant. |
| H1333 | Quest for extraordinary plants (fruits, trees). Bödker Exempler 274 No. 8; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1301.1.2 | Quest for faraway princess. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1331.1.5 | Quest for fat of water blackbirds. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1344 | Quest for ferule to fit staff. Irish myth: *Cross (H1317). |
| H1333.5.0.2 | Quest for flower of a tree inside the seventh of a series of forts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1333.5.0.1 | Quest for flower that sends forth its fragrance for hundred miles around. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1355.1 | Quest for garment of spider web. Irish myth: *Cross (H1349.1). |
| H1381.3.1.2.2 | Quest for girl hero has seen in dream. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1377.1 | Quest for glass of all waters. (Sea water.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 105 No. 860. |
| H1381.3.2 | Quest for Glass Princess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1333.5.0.3 | Quest for gold flower. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1392.1 | Quest for gold from a grave mound. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 153, 160, 165, 355ff., (1928) 107, 115, 117, 231ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1335.1 | Quest for gold mouth-harp. Fb "guldmundharpe" |
| H1331.1.3 | Quest for golden bird. *Type 550; BP I 503; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1331.3.3 | Quest for golden calf. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1332.1 | Quest for golden fleece. Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 94 n. 1. |
| H1331.1.3.2 | Quest for golden peacock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1359.2 | Quest for golden spinning equipment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1332.3 | Quest for Gorgon's head. Greek: Fox 33 (Perseus), *Frazer Apollodorus I 155 n. 3. |
| H1359.3 | Quest for great tank of Indra (god). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1376.6 | Quest for happiness. Gesta Romanorum No. 101. |
| H1361.5 | Quest for hare's milk. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H1333.3.1.5 | Quest for healing apple. BP III 267; Irish myth: *Cross. |
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