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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| H1292.2.1 | Question (propounded on quest): Why does no one desire to eat fruits of a certain tree? Answer: Tree in its last birth had been a very learned man who gave his knowledge away. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1292.1.1 | Question (propounded on quest): Why does no one ever drink water of two certain wells? Answer: In their last birth they had been two Brahman women and whenever they wanted to give alms they gave only to each other. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1292.2 | Question (propounded on quest): Why does not a certain tree flourish? Answer: Gold is hidden under it (or a serpent is under its roots). Types 460, 461; *Aarne FFC XXIII 133, 136; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 256a n. 13; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 8; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H1292.1 | Question (propounded on quest): Why has spring gone dry? Answer: Animal to be removed from its water-vein. Types 460, 461; *Aarne FFC XXIII 144f.; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 345b. n. 120; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1292.16 | Question (propounded on quest): Why is the cow so severely beaten every day by her calf? Answer: in her last birth she had been the young of her present calf and had treated it the same way. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H526 | Question: "What is under my cloak?" Questioner has branch of blackthorn laden with berries under her cloak. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1388.1 | Question: What is it women most desire. Answer: Sovereignty. English: Wells 68 (The Weddynge of Sir Gawen and Dame Ragnell), Child I 289—294, Chaucer's "Wife of Bath's Tale." |
| H1291 | Questions asked on way to other world. *Type 461; Irish: Cross Beal XXI 318f., O'Suilleabhain 50—52; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| H1211 | Quests assigned in order to get rid of hero. *Type 650; Dickson 51; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 116, 139—141; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1319 | Quests for the unique—miscellaneous. |
| H1300 | Quests for the unique. |
| H1286 | Quests to fairyland. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1280 | Quests to other realms. |
| H1290 | Quests to the other world—miscellaneous motifs. |
| H1250 | Quests to the other world. *Siuts Jenseitsmotive 226—232; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1229 | Quests voluntarily undertaken—miscellaneous. |
| H1220 | Quests voluntarily undertaken. Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 318, 320; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H331.5.1 | Race with princess for her hand. *Types 513, 514; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 8; Greek: Fox 59. |
| H11.1.1 | Recognition at inn (hospital, etc.) where all must tell their life histories. *Type 304; *BP II 255 n. 1, 505; bin Gorion Born Judas I 189, 374; *Chauvin V 90 No. 28 n. 1; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2. |
| H151.6.2 | Recognition because of imperfection of disguise. Type 510; German: Grimm No. 152. |
| H175 | Recognition by "force of nature". Unknown member of family immediately and magically recognized. *Dickson 16f., 69 n. 17; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 86. |
| H19.1 | Recognition by ability to identify property. |
| H151.1.3 | Recognition by ability to perform marvels. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H31.7.1 | Recognition by ability to shed pearls for tears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H19.2 | Recognition by answer to conundrum (known only to two persons). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H57.5 | Recognition by artificial hands. *Type 706; *BP I 295ff. |
| H51.1 | Recognition by birthmark. *Types 400, 850; Dickson 49 nn. 58, 59; cf. Shakespeare's Cymbeline II, 2, 38; BP II 318, 528; German. Grimm No. 92; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 140; N. A. Indian (Blackfoot): Wissler and Duvall PaAM II 109. |
| H50 | Recognition by bodily marks or physical attributes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H95 | Recognition by bracelet. Chinese: Graham. |
| H57.1 | Recognition by broken tooth. New Zealand: Dixon 84. |
| H16.1 | Recognition by brother king of lost brother brought about by model of their father's palace which lost brother builds of clay. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H133 | Recognition by calabash. Slave recognizes calabash and knows that girl lives. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 27. |
| H151.4 | Recognition by cup in sack: alleged stolen goods. Cup is placed in the sack of Joseph's brethren, they are accused of theft; this gives occasion for recognition. *BP I 489; *Fb "sæk" III 720b, "bæger" IV 83a; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 10; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H125.4 | Recognition by dart. Maori: Beckwith Myth 482. |
| H16 | Recognition by describing or producing object of common knowledge. |
| H16.4 | Recognition by describing unique bed. Greek: Homer Odyssey XXIII 183ff. |
| H57.4 | Recognition by description of woman with missing hands. Nouvelles de Sens No. 12. |
| H94.11 | Recognition by earrings. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 35. |
| H35.3.2 | Recognition by embroidery. Chinese: Graham (H141.). |
| H36 | Recognition by exact fitting of clothes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H32 | Recognition by extraordinary prowess. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H78 | Recognition by feather. |
| H91.2 | Recognition by gold wrapped in mantle. *Hibbard 9. |
| H75.4 | Recognition by golden hair. Types 314, 502; BP II 275.—Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H61.4 | Recognition by grain of gold under skin. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H75.3 | Recognition by hair found in a fish which has swallowed it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H56.1 | Recognition by hole burned in hand when woman removes glove. *Wesselski Märchen 198. |
| H132 | Recognition by knife. Man who is werwolf recognized by knife which was carried away by the wolf. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 46 No. 74; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 131 No. 74. |
| H79.6 | Recognition by large breasts that woman in bed is not husband's wife. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 35. |
| H11.1.3 | Recognition by life history sung. (Cf. H12.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H35.5 | Recognition by manner of throwing cakes of different weights into faces of old uncles. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H12.2.1 | Recognition by matching a couplet together. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H61.3 | Recognition by means of ring enclosed in wound. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 104. |
| H94.8 | Recognition by medallion (plaque). Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H184 | Recognition by miraculous sight of seer (saint). Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 119 (Cassandra). |
| H57.2 | Recognition by missing finger. *Hartland Perseus III 207ff.; Dickson 42 n. 42; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "doigt"; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. 120, 121. |
| H75.6 | Recognition by missing hair. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 187, 189, Thalbitzer 7. |
| H57 | Recognition by missing member. *Hartland Perseus III 208f.; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 150, 168, 171. |
| H57.3 | Recognition by missing toe. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H14 | Recognition by observing emotional reactions of another to object of common experience. |
| H35.4.1 | Recognition by ogam carving on withe (rod, tree). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H61 | Recognition by ornaments under skin. |
| H13 | Recognition by overheard conversation (usually with animals or objects). Person not daring to reveal self directly thus attracts attention and recognition. *Types 313, 533, 706, 870; *BP I 19, III 445ff.; *Fb "hest" I 598b, "ovn" II 774a; **Liungman Jordkulan passim; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 62, 69 Nos. 445*B, 515*; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Thonga): Junod 231. |
| H13.1 | Recognition by overheard conversation with animal. |
| H13.2.1 | Recognition by overheard conversation with bridge. Bridge which will trip up bridal party if king is not marrying an equal. Disguised princess praises bridge for its recognition of her equality with the king. *Type 870. |
| H13.2.4 | Recognition by overheard conversation with churchdoor. *Type 870. |
| H13.1.3 | Recognition by overheard conversation with cow. Chinese: Graham. |
| H13.2.5 | Recognition by overheard conversation with cups (or other utensils). *Type 710; *BP I 19 n. 2. |
| H13.1.2 | Recognition by overheard conversation with dog. Type 533; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 307b. |
| H13.2.6 | Recognition by overheard conversation with flax. By comparing her fate with that of the flax the heroine is able to reveal herself. *Type 710; BP I 19 n. 2; *Köhler-Bolte I 131. |
| H13.1.1 | Recognition by overheard conversation with horse. *Type 870; **Liungman Jordkulan passim; *BP III 444ff.; Fb "hest" I 598b. |
| H13.2 | Recognition by overheard conversation with objects. *Type 870; *BP III 444ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 8; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H13.2.3 | Recognition by overheard conversation with plant. *Type 870. |
| H13.2.2 | Recognition by overheard conversation with stone. *Types 710 870; BP I 19 n. 2; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 62 No. 445B*, Espinosa Jr. No. 114. |
| H13.2.7 | Recognition by overheard conversation with stove. *Type 533; *BP II 275; *Fb "ovn" II 774a; K. Ranke Festschrift f. W.-E. Peuckert, Berl. 1955, 46. |
| H18 | Recognition by password. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 236 No. 40. |
| H44 | Recognition by perfume. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H79 | Recognition by physical attributes—miscellaneous. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H15.2 | Recognition by recalling common experiences. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H17 | Recognition by reminders of what has been said. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 3; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H20 | Recognition by resemblance. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "reconnaissance"; Greek: Homer Odyssey IV 144, 150. |
| H94.7 | Recognition by ring springing off finger. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 9. |
| H51 | Recognition by scar. (Cf. H56.) *Type 314; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 9, *Rotunda; Greek: Odyssey, books XIX, XXIV; Arabian: Burton Nights I 248; Jewish: *Neuman; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 158; Chinese: Werner 281; N. A. Indian (Ponka): Dorsey CNAE VI 606, (Blackfoot): Wissler and Duvall PaAM II 109, (Eastern Cree): Skinner PaAM IX 92. |
| H14.1 | Recognition by seeing husband shed tears on sight of bird (main character in a former experience common to both husband and wife). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H187 | Recognition by servant: saves master from death. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H36.1.1 | Recognition by shoes with which the father had once beaten his son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H93.0.1 | Recognition by smell of jewels worn about neck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H79.4 | Recognition by smile. Sultan frees prisoner when he recognizes him as a former aid. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H12 | Recognition by song (music). Person is recognized because the song is sung only by him or because he is the only one besides the listener who knows it. Thien Motive 9; Norse: De la Saussaye 137; Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *452f.; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chanson"; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 3 and the legend of Richard Coeur de Leon and Blondel; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 359; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 530, 539; New Zealand: Dixon 83; West Indies: Flowers 455. |
| H192 | Recognition by supernatural manifestation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H55.3 | Recognition by tatoo. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 370. |
| H151.14.1 | Recognition by tear falling from tree where girl has been abandoned. India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 77. |
| H14.2 | Recognition by tears at recital of own exploits. Greek: Homer Odyssey VIII 94. |
| H11.1 | Recognition by telling life history. *Type 506; Köhler-Bolte II 351ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 19; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H147 | Recognition by tobacco-pipe. Chinese: Graham (H107). |
| H142 | Recognition by token—mouth-harp left by bed. Chinese: Graham. |
| H88 | Recognition by tokens left as trail. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H11.1.4 | Recognition by tracing ancestry. Greek: Homer Iliad VI 215, Aeschylus Suppliants 290. |
| H135.1 | Recognition by trimmed leaf thrown from tree hiding place. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Africa (Nyanja): Rattray Some Folk-Lore Stories (London, 1907) 149ff. No. 24, (Chaga): Stamberg ZsES XXIII 296ff. |
| H31.2 | Recognition by unique ability to bend bow. Greek: Fox 139; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H31.6 | Recognition by unique ability to break iron apple with first stone cast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.5 | Recognition by unique ability to cut (carve) tree, etc. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H31.1 | Recognition by unique ability to dislodge sword. Sword is stuck in a stone or tree. English: Wells 43 (Arthour and Merlin); Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Volsunga saga 7; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H31.9 | Recognition by unique ability to handle easily a heavy stone. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.7 | Recognition by unique ability to perform magic act. German: Grimm Nos. 76, 89; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Kordofan): Frobenius Atlantis IV 134ff. No. 13. |
| H31.10 | Recognition by unique ability to play chess. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.11 | Recognition by unique ability to read inscription. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H31.8 | Recognition by unique ability to shoot, swim, and drink. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H31.3 | Recognition by unique ability to swing spear. Greek: Roscher Lexikon "Achilleus" I 12. |
| H31 | Recognition by unique ability. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35.2 | Recognition by unique cookery. Only one person could have prepared the food in this way. *Chauvin VI 105 No. 270 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H35.4 | Recognition by unique manner of carving chips. These sent down stream for recognition. (Cf. H135.) *Schoepperle II 301ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35 | Recognition by unique manner of performing an act. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35.1.2 | Recognition by unique manner of playing flute. German: Grimm No. 181; Chinese: Graham. |
| H35.1.1 | Recognition by unique manner of playing harp. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H35.1 | Recognition by unique manner of playing lute. Chauvin V 152 No. 75; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H35.3 | Recognition by unique needle-work. *Type 506; von der Hagen I cxxxix; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H181 | Recognition by unmasking. *Type 900; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H12.2 | Recognition by verse of song. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H79.3 | Recognition by voice. Icelandic: Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H56 | Recognition by wound. (Cf. H51.) *Types 314, 502; *Cosquin études 447ff.; Dickson 42 n. 41; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 169, 170; India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 417. |
| H16.2 | Recognition by wounds on lip and finger received at common adventure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H24 | Recognition from dream. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H13.3 | Recognition from overheard conversation of two sons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H13.4 | Recognition from overheard conversation with flower-woman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H154 | Recognition of abandoned child when parent comes to him for relief from famine. Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H16.3 | Recognition of brothers brought about by bouquet of flowers tied as father's gardener used to do. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H45 | Recognition of deity. Tonga: Gifford 56. |
| H61.2 | Recognition of disenchanted person by ornaments under his skin. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 348 n. 249b. |
| H64 | Recognition of disenchanted person by physical attributes. |
| H64.1 | Recognition of disenchanted person by thread in his teeth. As werwolf he has torn woman's apron and caught thread in teeth. *Fb "varulv" III 1015a. |
| H162 | Recognition of disguised princess by bee lighting on her. Fb "bi" IV 36b; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H162.3 | Recognition of disguised princess by bull. Africa (Madagascar): Renel I 144ff. No. 26, 148ff. No. 27. |
| H35.3.1 | Recognition of false bride by inability to finish true bride's weaving. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1582.1 | Recognition of good health by hearing voice. Chauvin V 45 No. 18. |
| H1582.2 | Recognition of good health by smoke rising from chimney. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H38.2.3 | Recognition of maidservant substitute bride by her habitual conversation. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H192.1 | Recognition of man acceptable to God: knife leaps into his hand. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H62.0.1 | Recognition of man transformed to horse. Chinese: Graham. |
| H79.7 | Recognition of monk by his large organ. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 15. |
| H57.2.2 | Recognition of murdered person by severed fingernail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H75.7 | Recognition of murderers by their short hair. Tonga: Gifford 34. |
| H63 | Recognition of other transformed persons. |
| H163 | Recognition of own cow in herd of twenty thousand. Hornet helper. Africa: Werner African 154. |
| H161.0.1 | Recognition of person among identical companions. Irish myth: *Cross; Chinese: Graham. |
| H62.1 | Recognition of person transformed to animal. *Type 325; *BP II 60. |
| H19.1.1 | Recognition of reincarnated person by ability to identify former weapons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H57.0.1 | Recognition of resuscitated person by missing member. *Type 313; French: Cosquin Lorraine II 11. |
| H41 | Recognition of royalty by personal characteristics or traits. (Cf. H36.2, H71.) Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H175.1 | Recognition of son by gushing up of milk in mother's breasts. *Cosquin études 199ff., 238; *Chauvin V 13 No. 8; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H105.5.1 | Recognition of tiger-slayer by tips of ears, nose, and tail of tiger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H62 | Recognition of transformed person (animal). (Cf. H48.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H161 | Recognition of transformed person among identical companions. Prearranged signals. *Type 313, 325; *BP II 29, 516ff.; *Fb "hest" I 598b; *Köhler to Gonzenbach II 246.—Missouri French: Carrière; Hindu: Keith 142; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 340 n. 224. |
| H61.1 | Recognition of twins by golden chain under their skin. Köhler-Bolte I 119. |
| H94.0.1 | Recognition of wife's ring in friend's possession informs husband of her unfaithfulness. Heptameron No. 8. |
| H152 | Recognition through accidental encounter. |
| H94.6 | Recognition through arm-ring. Africa (Angola): Chatelain 227 No. 40. |
| H134 | Recognition through books. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H55.1 | Recognition through branding with hoof-marks. *Types 314, 502; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "marque", "mule". |
| H55 | Recognition through branding. *Types 314, 502, 883B; Dickson 41; Chauvin V 152; Tawney I 37, 92; Burton Nights VII 89 n.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H19 | Recognition through common knowledge—miscellaneous. |
| H10 | Recognition through common knowledge. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H91.1 | Recognition through gold found in eagle's nest. English: Wells 114 (Sir Isumbras). |
| H94.10 | Recognition through gold ring with owner's name engraved on it. (Cf. H88.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H22 | Recognition through image. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H30 | Recognition through personal peculiarities |
| H49 | Recognition through personal peculiarities—miscellaneous. |
| H21 | Recognition through picture. Picture is publicly displayed and brings about recognition of lost person. *Type 881; *BP II 505; Köhler-Bolte I 528; *Chauvin V 92 No. 196, 94 No. 30; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 223. |
| H91 | Recognition through precious metal. |
| H11 | Recognition through story-telling. Telling of a story known to both persons concerned brings about recognition. Icelandic: *Boberg; Arabian: Burton Nights III 96ff., S V 155, 164, S VI 34f., 476; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 224. |
| H151.3 | Recognition when parents come to son (priest, pope) to be confessed. *Type 933; *Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 173 (to Gonzenbach No. 85); *Baum PMLA XXXI 562 n. 59; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H11.1.2 | Recognition: life story painted on wall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H71.9 | Red teeth as sign of royalty. Africa (Thonga): Junod 231. |
| H572 | Reductio ad absurdum of riddle: stallions of Babylon. "Why is my mare restless when stallions of Babylon neigh?" Hero beats cat for having strangled a cock last night in Babylon (impossible distance away). BP II 372; Chauvin VI 39 No. 207 n. 4. |
| H952 | Reductio ad absurdum of task. When an impossible task is given, the hero responds with a countertask so absurd as to show the manifest absurdity of the original task. (Cf. H1023.3.1, H1024.1.1.1.) *Type 821B; BP II 368 n. 1; Child I 10f., 13; De Vries FFC LXXIII 265, 269 n. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 237; Chinese: Graham. |
| H1233.2 | Relation as helper on quest. |
| H795 | Relationship riddles arising from unusual marriages of relatives. *Köhler-Bolte I 218; Hertz Abhandlungen 416; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H934 | Relative assigns tasks. (Cf. H912—H914.) |
| H1573.2 | Religious personages tested. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H1573 | Religious tests. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H83 | Rescue tokens. Proof that hero has succeeded in rescue. (Cf. H105, H105.1, H105.2.) *Types 300, 301, 304, 306; *Hartland Perseus III 203ff. (list of tokens). |
| H1243 | Riches the reward of questions solved on quests. *Type 461; **Aarne FFC XXII 165; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H542.1 | Riddle assigned defendant in action. If he solves it he wins suit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H548 | Riddle contests. *BP II 370; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 435b n. 150; Frazer Old Testament II 564; Child I 405; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 43ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 427, 458. |
| H707 | Riddle of dates. |
| H731 | Riddle of king and courtiers. |
| H725 | Riddle of the course of the sun. |
| H722 | Riddle of the day and night. (Cf. H721.1, H721.2, H721.4.) |
| H805 | Riddle of the murdered lover. With what thinks, I drink; what sees, I carry; with what eats I walk. (Queen has cup made from skull of her murdered lover; ring with one of his eyes; she carries two of his teeth in her boots.) *Type 851; *BP I 196, II 361; Köhler-Bolte I 350, 372; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H761 | Riddle of the Sphinx: what is it that goes on four legs in the morning, on two at midday, and on three in the evening. (Man, who crawls as a child, walks in middle life, and walks with a stick in old age.) **Aarne FFC XXVII 3ff.; **Laistner Rätsel der Sphinx; Gascon: Bladé I 10 No. 1.; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 349 n. 1 Köhler-Bolte I 115; Fb "menneske" II 578a. |
| H792 | Riddle of the unborn. I am unborn; my horse is unborn; I carry my mother on my hands. (A boy who has been taken from his dead mother's body digs up the body of his mother and makes gloves of her skin. He rides on a colt which has been taken from a dead mare's body.) *Type 851; BP I 196; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 112 No. 927*B; Africa (Swahili): Werner African 356. |
| H721 | Riddle of the year. **Aarne FFC XXVI 74ff. |
| H565 | Riddle propounded from chance experience. On way to riddle trial youth sees things that give him a clue for his riddles. *Type 851. |
| H541.1 | Riddle propounded on pain of death. (Cf. H512.) *Type 922; **Anderson FFC XLII 252; *BP III 230; *Oertel Studien zur vgl. Littgsch. VIII 121; Malone PMLA XLIII 398f.; Fb "bejler" IV 31b; English: Child V 493 "riddles"; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H541.3 | Riddle propounded on pain of loss of official position. *Anderson FFC XLII 252. |
| H541.2 | Riddle propounded on pain of loss of property. *Anderson FFC XLII 253; English: Child V 493 "riddles". |
| H541 | Riddle propounded with penalty for failure. *Anderson FFC XLII 252; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H573.3 | Riddle solved by listening to propounder talk in his sleep. German: Grimm No. 22. |
| H573.1 | Riddle solved with aid of hidden informant. Malone PMLA XLIII 400; Irish myth: Cross. |
| H741 | Riddle white field, black seed. (Paper with writing.) *Aarne FFC XXVI 35ff. |
| H791 | Riddle: a fish was my father; a man was my mother. (Man eats magic fish and becomes pregnant; a girl is taken from his knee.) *Type 705; *Fb "fisk" I 297; Norse: Christiansen Norske Eventyr 96. |
| H842 | Riddle: animal qualities. |
| H746 | Riddle: bill white, horns on feet, knob on head (cock). Zachariae 58. |
| H725.1 | Riddle: bird nests on top of one cypress in morning, on top of another in evening. (Bird is the sun.) Persian: Carnoy 349. |
| H764 | Riddle: bird without feathers flies on tree without leaves. (Snow falls on bare tree.) **Aarne FFC XXVIII 1ff. |
| H722.2 | Riddle: black and white horses chasing each other. (Day and night.) Persian: Carnoy 349. |
| H882 | Riddle: bottom and top of staff. Of the two ends which is the top and which the bottom? Zachariae 58. |
| H803 | Riddle: deaths from sleepiness, anger, and greed. Elephant sleeps before snake's hole. Snake bites elephant and kills it. Jackal eats hole in elephant and is caught inside. Snake can't get out of its hole. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H806 | Riddle: drink this wine which a bird took to nest. (Stork took bunch of grapes to nest; boy makes wine from them.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 112 No. 927B*. |
| H743 | Riddle: four hang, four walk, two show the road, one wags behind. (Cow's teats, feet, eyes, tail.) (Other answers: cat, dog, horse, hog, etc.) **Aarne FFC XXVII 60ff. |
| H804 | Riddle: from the eater came forth meat and from the strong sweetness. (Swarm of bees and honey in lion's carcass.) Jewish: Judges 14:14. |
| H681.2 | Riddle: how deep is the earth (or how far to lower world)? Anderson FFC XLII 140. |
| H681.4 | Riddle: how deep is the sea? *Type 922; *Anderson FFC XLII 130. |
| H682.1 | Riddle: how far is it from earth to heaven? *Type 922; BP III 231; Anderson FFC XLII 113; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H685 | Riddle: how far is it from happiness to misfortune? Anderson FFC XLII 215. |
| H681.1 | Riddle: how far is it from one end of the earth to the other (east to west)? *Type 922; *Anderson FFC XLII 146ff.; Fb "jord"; BP III 232. |
| H691.2 | Riddle: how heavy is the earth? Anderson FFC XLII 143. |
| H706 | Riddle: how many days have passed since the time of Adam? Anderson FFC XLII 227. |
| H881.1 | Riddle: how many dead mice go to a feast? (None.) Fb "ingen" II 27. |
| H704 | Riddle: how many drops in the sea. (Cf. H696.1.1.) |
| H703 | Riddle: how many hairs are in the head? *Types 922, 926**; BP III 231; Anderson FFC XLII 230. |
| H705 | Riddle: how many leaves are on the tree? Anderson FFC XLII 175; West Indies: Flowers 459. |
| H701 | Riddle: how many seconds in eternity? Anderson FFC XLII 232. |
| H702 | Riddle: how many stars in the heavens? *Type 922; BP III 231; Anderson FFC XLII 162ff.; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 116 No. 970. |
| H711 | Riddle: how much am I (the king) worth? Anderson FFC XLII 194; cf. Aarne FFC XXIII 129. |
| H691.1 | Riddle: how much does the moon weigh? Anderson FFC XLII 172. |
| H715 | Riddle: how much does the sun earn for his daily work? Anderson FFC XLII 226. |
| H716 | Riddle: how much is a certain crucifix worth? Twenty-nine pieces of silver. (Cf. H711.1.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H713 | Riddle: how much is a golden plow (throne, crown, palace) worth? *De Vries FFC LXXIII 160ff.; *Anderson FFC XLII 180ff. |
| H712 | Riddle: how much is my beard (king's) worth? *Type 875; De Vries FFC LXXIII 160; BP II 359. |
| H696.1 | Riddle: how much water is in the sea? Anderson FFC XLII 134. |
| H682.2 | Riddle: how wide is heaven? Anderson FFC XLII 227. |
| H731.3 | Riddle: king in red; courtiers in different colors. (Spring and flowers.) Chauvin VI 39 No. 207 n. 1. |
| H731.1 | Riddle: king in red; courtiers in white. (Sun and its rays.) Chauvin VI 39 No. 207 n. 1. |
| H731.2 | Riddle: king in white; courtiers in white. (Moon and stars.) Chauvin VI 39 No. 207 n. 1. |
| H802 | Riddle: one killed none and yet killed twelve. (Horse is poisoned; raven eats of him and dies; twelve robbers eat raven and die.) *Type 851; BP I 188ff.; *Fb "hest" I 598b, "ravn" III 23a; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 172 No. 34; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 284 No. 116. |
| H721.4 | Riddle: palace consisting of 8760 stones; twelve trees, thirty branches, each with black and white cluster of grapes. Year, months, days, hours. *Chauvin VI 40 No. 207. |
| H793 | Riddle: seven tongues in a head. (A horse's head in which a bird's nest is found with seven birds in it.) *Type 927; Köhler-Bolte I 46; *Fb "hestehoved". |
| H744 | Riddle: six legs, four ears, two faces, etc. (Horse and rider.) **Aarne FFC XXVII 173ff. |
| H763 | Riddle: the father not yet born, the son already at the top of the house. (Flame and smoke.) Köhler-Bolte I 268. |
| H825 | Riddle: the king is surrounded by his nobles; what is this like? (The idol Bel surrounded by the priests of the god.) Chauvin VI 39 No. 207. |
| H721.2 | Riddle: tree with leaves white on one side and black on other. Year made up of nights and days. Chauvin V 192 No. 113. |
| H721.1 | Riddle: tree with twelve branches, each with thirty leaves, black and white. Year, month, days and nights. *Chauvin V 195 No. 114; *BP II 355 n. 1. |
| H721.3 | Riddle: twelve cypresses with thirty boughs each. Years and months. Persian: Carnoy 348. |
| H761.1 | Riddle: two are better than three (two legs better than man with staff in old age). Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H742 | Riddle: two legs, three legs, four legs. (Man, three-legged stool dog.) **Aarne FFC XXVII 24ff. |
| H841.2 | Riddle: what animal is good dead but not living? (Hog.) *Wesselski Arlotto I 215ff. No. 64. |
| H841.3 | Riddle: what animal is good living and dead? (Cow.) *Wesselski Arlotto I 215ff. No. 64. |
| H841.1 | Riddle: what animal is good living but not dead? (Ass.) *Wesselski Arlotto I 215ff. No. 64. |
| H841.4 | Riddle: what animal is not good living or dead? (Wolf.) *Wesselski Arlotto I 215ff. No. 64. |
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