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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| H659.3 | Riddle: what are best and worst stones? |
| H861 | Riddle: what are the two combatants without hands or feet or words? (The bull and the buffalo.) Chauvin V 194 No. 114. |
| H851 | Riddle: what are the two fixed, the two moving, the two joined, the two separated by jealousy, the two eternal enemies? (Heaven and earth; sun and moon; night and day; soul and body; life and death.) Chauvin V 195 No. 114. |
| H826 | Riddle: what did Christ do in his 30th year? Answer: entered into his thirty-first. (Cf. H865.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H865 | Riddle: what do crows do when they are five years old? (They start their sixth year.) (Cf. H826.) Anderson FFC XLII 236 n. 8. |
| H797 | Riddle: what does God do? Anderson FFC XLII 200. |
| H827 | Riddle: what does the king of the world of the Devas do? Punishes the bad people. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H659.2 | Riddle: what four things are hardest to hold? Anderson FFC XLII 228. |
| H831 | Riddle: what house was full of dead? (Philistines in the building demolished by Samson.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| H659.5 | Riddle: what is best religion—Christian or Mohammedan? |
| H648 | Riddle: what is best? De Vries FFC LXXIII 95; *Krappe Revue Celtique XLVII 401ff. |
| H651 | Riddle: what is brightest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 88. |
| H638 | Riddle: what is costliest? BP III 233. |
| H662 | Riddle: what is dearer than gold? Mother love. (Cf. H651.2.) Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 311 No. 60. |
| H643 | Riddle: what is deepest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 92. |
| H659.14 | Riddle: what is easiest? |
| H659.7 | Riddle: what is greatest? |
| H646 | Riddle: what is greenest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 94. |
| H673 | Riddle: what is harder than stone? (Cf. H637.) BP III 16. |
| H642 | Riddle: what is highest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 93. |
| H878 | Riddle: what is it that one buys who does not want it or use it? (Coffin.) Fb "ligkiste" II 442b. |
| H644 | Riddle: what is longest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 93. |
| H641 | Riddle: what is most beautiful? *BP II 357; Köhler-Bolte I 457f. |
| H659.10 | Riddle: what is most general? |
| H659.13 | Riddle: what is most pleasant? |
| H659.12 | Riddle: what is most shameful? |
| H659.11 | Riddle: what is most useful? |
| H659.1 | Riddle: what is oldest? |
| H672 | Riddle: what is softer than swan down? (Cf. H652.1.) BP III 16. |
| H652 | Riddle: what is softest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 87; BP II 358. |
| H671 | Riddle: what is sweeter than honey? (Cf. H633.) BP III 16. |
| H633 | Riddle: what is sweetest? Type 875; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 79ff.; *BP III 233. |
| H661 | Riddle: what is swifter than a bird, the wind or lightning? The eye. (Cf. H632.2.) Gascon: Bladé I 9 No. 1. |
| H767.1 | Riddle: what is that thou passest over with haste? (The field of youth; the mountains of youth, etc.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| H824 | Riddle: what is that which has drunk water for its sustenance and eaten after its death? (Moses's staff, which became a serpent.) Chauvin V 194 No. 114. |
| H862 | Riddle: what is that which is neither man nor jinn nor beast nor bird? (Louse and ant.) Chauvin V 194 No. 114. |
| H659.4 | Riddle: what is the best fowl? |
| H659.17 | Riddle: what is the best time to eat? For the rich man, when he wishes; for the poor man, when he has something to eat. Spanish: Childers. |
| H681.3 | Riddle: what is the center of the earth? *Type 922; Anderson FFC XLII 157. |
| H762 | Riddle: what is the creature that is of all countries, that is loved by all the world, and that has no equal? (The sun.) Chauvin V 192 No. 113. |
| H875 | Riddle: what is the difference between a poor man and a rich? (Riches.) Anderson FFC XLII 229. |
| H653 | Riddle: what is the fattest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 75ff. |
| H659.15 | Riddle: what is the hardest to skin? |
| H637 | Riddle: what is the hardest? BP III 16. |
| H645 | Riddle: what is the heaviest? De Vries FFC LXXIII 94. |
| H822 | Riddle: what is the land that has seen the sun only once? (The bottom of the Red Sea during the passage of the Israelites.) Chauvin V 194 No. 114; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H647 | Riddle: what is the most beloved? De Vries FFC LXXIII 94. |
| H734 | Riddle: what is the mother who devours her children when they grow up? (Ocean and rivers.) Chauvin V 192 No. 113. |
| H636 | Riddle: what is the richest? Types 461, 875; BP III 357; Aarne FFC XXIII 129. |
| H631 | Riddle: what is the strongest? *Types 461, 875, 922; *BP II 357; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 84, Aarne FFC XXIII 129; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H634 | Riddle: what is the sweetest song? *Type 922; *Anderson FFC XLII 233; Irish myth: Cross. |
| H635 | Riddle: what is the sweetest sound? Anderson FFC XLII 233; De Vries FFC LXXIII 90; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H632 | Riddle: what is the swiftest? *Type 875; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 69ff. |
| H663 | Riddle: what is whiter than a swan? An angel. *Fb "engel". |
| H659.9 | Riddle: what is wisest? |
| H659.6 | Riddle: what kind of work occupies most men? |
| H871 | Riddle: what six things are not worth doing? (Sowing salt, mowing pebbles, drinking from an empty jug, making signs to a blind man, wooing at mealtime, playing a harp in a mill.) Anderson FFC XLII 227, *228 n. 1. |
| H821 | Riddle: what was the walking tomb with the living tenant? (Jonah and the whale.) Chauvin V 194 No. 114; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H812 | Riddle: what were the clothes of Adam and Eve? (Their hair.) Chauvin V 195 No. 114. |
| H883 | Riddle: where is the root of the floor? Below. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H722.1 | Riddle: white brother, black sister: every morning brother kills sister; every evening sister kills brother; they never die. (Day and night.) Köhler-Bolte I 116; Gascon: Bladé I 9 No. 1. |
| H726 | Riddle: who are the real travellers? The son and the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H811 | Riddle: who first spun and when? (Eve.) Chauvin V 195 No. 114. |
| H817 | Riddle: who has had, here below, two names? (Jacob-Israel.) Chauvin V 195 No. 114. |
| H751 | Riddle: who of fourfold beard is he, of azure foot and neck so ruddy? Arrow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H815 | Riddle: who, having had father and mother, is not dead like other mortals? (Lot's wife.) Chauvin V 195 No. 114; Scala Celi No. 821. |
| H814 | Riddle: who, having had father and mother, is not dead? (Elias.) Chauvin V 195 No. 114; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H813 | Riddle: who, having neither father nor mother, are dead? (Adam and Eve.) Chauvin V 195 No. 114. |
| H772 | Riddle: why are there more days than nights? (The moon turns some nights into days.) Chauvin V 38 No. 365. |
| H773 | Riddle: why are there more living than dead? (There are some of the dead of whom we still speak.) Chauvin V 38 No. 365. |
| H774 | Riddle: why are there more women than men? (Some women make women [i.e., weaklings] of their husbands.) Chauvin V 38 No. 365. |
| H771 | Riddle: why is the hair gray before the beard? (It is twenty years older.) *Wesselski Arlotto II 270 No. 222. |
| H841 | Riddle: worth of the animal. |
| H885 | Riddles about flax. Taylor English Riddles from Oral Tradition (Berkeley, California, 1951) 250; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H886 | Riddles about naphtha. Jewish: Neuman. H900—H1199. |
| H810 | Riddles based on the Bible or legend. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H790 | Riddles based on unusual circumstances. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H660 | Riddles of comparison. Boberg Danske Studier 1945, 1ff., and øst og Vest, Afhandlinger til Arthur Christensen (Kbhvn. 1945) 192.—Irish myth: Cross. |
| H680 | Riddles of distance. |
| H770 | Riddles of explanation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H682 | Riddles of heavenly distance. (Cf. A658.) |
| H696 | Riddles of measure. |
| H700 | Riddles of numbers. |
| H681 | Riddles of terrestrial distance. |
| H659 | Riddles of the superlative—miscellaneous. |
| H630 | Riddles of the superlative. |
| H710 | Riddles of value. |
| H690 | Riddles of weight and measure. |
| H691 | Riddles of weight. |
| H509.4.2 | Riddles proposed as tests of poetic ability. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H540.3.1 | Riddles sent to Solomon by King Hiram. (Cf. H548.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| H574 | Riddles solved with aid of propounder's wife. (Cf. G530.2, H335.0.1, H974.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| H881 | Riddles with "none" as answer. Fb "ingen" II 27. |
| H530 | Riddles. Only such riddles are treated in this work as appear in tales, ballads, myths, or the like. **J. B. Friedreich Geschichte des Räthsels (Dresden, 1860); **Taylor English Riddles in Oral Tradition (Berkeley, 1951), A Bibliography of Riddles (FFC CXXVI); R. Petsch Das deutsche Volksrätsel (Strassburg, 1917); *Anderson FFC XLII 3ff.; *Chauvin VI 42 No. 207; Jewish: *Neuman. A classification of riddles will be found in Lehmann-Nitsche Zs. f. Vksk. XXIV 240ff. and in Von Sydow and Christiansen Iriska gеtor (Folkminnen och Folktankar, II 65—80, VI 120—48). |
| H582.1 | Riddling answer betrays theft. |
| H582.2 | Riddling answers betray adultery. BP I 198; *Wesselski Märchen 197; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H582 | Riddling answers betray theft or adultery *BP I 198, II 361f.; Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 59 (to Gonzenbach No. 1); *Wesselski Märchen 197. |
| H586 | Riddling remarks of traveling companion interpreted by girl (man) at end of journey. De Vries FFC LXXIII 43ff.; *Wesselski Märchen 197 No. 7; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1155.1 | Riding and taming a wild horse. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H242.1 | Riding speckled horse as credential test. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H361 | Ring (jewel) bride test. Hero will marry girl possessing certain ring or jewel. Cox 505. |
| H433.1 | Ring as chastity index. Indicates faithfulness by color. (Cf. D1076.) Penzer I 168; Child I 269; Zingerle Zs. f. Deutsche Myth. und Sittenkunde II (1855) 353. |
| H82.4 | Ring sent from husband to wife as token that he has been baptized, and that she should also be. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H86.3 | Ring with names inscribed on it. German: Grimm No. 101. |
| H619.3 | Roots and branches of World-tree explained symbolically. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H432.1 | Rose as chastity index. Fading rose indicates unfaithfulness. (Cf. D975.2.) G. Paris Romania XXIII 102ff.; Bédier Fabliaux 465; Köhler-Bolte II 444; Penzer I 165. |
| H1556.4.6 | Rose given by supernatural wife to husband when he leaves for home will shed as many petals as times he thinks of her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H71.4 | Roses from lips as sign of royalty. Princess laughs roses. *BP I 100. |
| H86.1 | Saber with king's name inscribed on it. German: Grimm No. 111. |
| H55.2 | Sacred animals branded by conjurer. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 327. |
| H540.4 | Saint as propounder of riddles. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H561.10 | Saint as solver of riddles. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1573.3.1 | Saint drinks poison without injury as proof of power of Christianity. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1573.2.2 | Saint tested by visit of deity in disguise. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1573.3.2 | Saint's horse miraculously preserved as proof of power of Christianity before fairy. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H221.1.3 | Sanctity of books tested by throwing them into fire. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H222.4 | Sanctity of books tested by throwing them into water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H221.1.2 | Sanctity of person tested by survival in burning house. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H234 | Scales test: weighing witch against Bible. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| H1239.5 | Seductive women attempt to divert quester. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1174, 1386; z-G. 13/221, 1241). |
| H151.15 | Seller of trinkets tells of heroine's address of son as "tiger's son" and brings about recognition of true bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1241 | Series of quests. One quest can be accomplished when a second is finished, etc. (Cf. H1235.) *Type 550; BP I 503ff.; Wesselski Mönchslatein 91 No. 77; Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 187; Scotch: Campbell II 344; Icelandic: Lagerholm 58—63, 115—118, *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H939.4.1 | Serpent-king assigns task. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H317.1 | Seven years of service imposed on suitor. Frazer Old Testament II 342—368; English: Wells 149 (The Squyr of Low Degre), Child I 204—6, 255, V 212b; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Cowell Jataka VI 164. |
| H57.2.1 | Severed finger as sign of crime. Robber bridegroom thus detected. *Type 955. |
| H106.2 | Severed head as proof of killing. Type 507B (H. C. Andersen Rejsekammeraten); Icelandic: *Boberg; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H105.7 | Sex organs of enemy as proof of slaying. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H248.5 | Sham dead detected by batting eyes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H248.3 | Sham dead tested by pricking. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H248.2 | Sham dead tested by stinging insects down back. Africa (Yaunde): Heepe 253ff. No. 31. |
| H248.1 | Sham-dead person tested by hot lead poured on hand. *Wesselski Märchen 197. |
| H431.1 | Shirt as chastity index. Remains white as long as woman (man) is true (Cf. D1056.) *Type 888; BP III 517ff.; Penzer I 44, 165; Oesterley No. 69; Herbert III 233; English: Child I 268. |
| H332.1.5 | Shooting contest with bride-to-be. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1591 | Shooting contest. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 74. |
| H175.3 | Sick prince's pulse beats violently when his loved one passes by. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H611.2 | Sign message sent by girl to enamored prince; interpreted by prince's friend. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H343.2 | Silent princess gives right answer when talking monkey is given wrong one by suitor-prince. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1561.2 | Single combat to prove valor. *Chauvin V 21 n. 1; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H934.2 | Sisters-in-law impose tasks. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H621 | Skillful companions create woman: to whom does she belong? Woodcarver carves a doll, tailor clothes her, gardener gives her speech (or the like). (Answer sometimes given: her father, her mother, or her husband). *Type 945; *BP III 53ff.; Tille FFC XXXIV 254; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 199; Africa (Fjort): Dennett 33 No. 3; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 112 No. 39. |
| H621.1 | Skillful companions resuscitate girl: to whom does she belong? India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H38.3 | Slave recognized by his conversation, habits, and character. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1247 | Sleep forbidden until quest is accomplished. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H36.1 | Slipper test. Identification by fitting of slipper. *Type 510; *Cox Cinderella 504ff.; *BP I 187; *Fb "sko" III 288a; Cosquin Contes Indiens 48ff.; Saintyves Perrault 115ff., 156.—Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 6; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; New Mexican: Rael Mod. Lang. Forum XVIII (1933). |
| H1511.3 | Smoke test. Attempt to kill hero by smoke. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 312 n. 120a. |
| H1511.4 | Smoking test. Attempt to kill hero by having him smoke fatal pipe. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 330 n. 191d. |
| H1574.0.1 | Social rank determined according to portion taken from cauldron of food. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H561.3 | Solomon and Marcolf. Witty questions and answers between youth and servant. *BP II 359 n. 2; Fb "Salomon"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 317 No. 146. |
| H561 | Solvers of riddles. |
| H1228.2 | Son goes out to avenge father's death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1381.2.2.1 | Son seeks unknown father. *Type 707; BP II 380ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 134 (Sir Degare); India: Thompson-Balys; Marquesas: Handy 61, 131; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 86, 514, 479; Tonga: Gifford 112. |
| H503.1 | Song duel. Contest in singing. Irish myth: *Cross; Eskimo: Alexander N. Am. 282 n. 21. |
| H500.1 | Sons tested for skill. Types 653, 660. |
| H501.3 | Sons tested for wisdom; given same amount of money. What will they do with it? India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H413.1 | Special power of chaste woman: blowing out candle with one puff and relighting it with another. English: Child I 270. |
| H413.3 | Special power of chaste woman: carrying water in sieve. English: Child I 270; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H413.2 | Special power of chaste woman: making ball of water. English: Child I 270; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H413.4 | Special power of chaste woman: raising fallen elephant. India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 166. |
| H413 | Special powers of chaste woman. |
| H541.1.1 | Sphinx propounds riddle on pain of death. **Laistner Rätsel der Sphinx; Fb "menneske" II 578a; Gascon: Bladé I 3 No. 1; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 349 n. 1; Persian: Carnoy 335; Hindu: Penzer IX 143. |
| H1531 | Spine test. Attempt to kill hero by throwing him on sharp spine or spike. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 324 n. 168. |
| H71.1 | Star on forehead as sign of royalty. *Type 707; *BP I 102, II 380, 393; *Fb "stjærne" III 577b, "guldstjærne" I 515a; Köhler-Bolte I 119; Dickson 48; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 311 No. 56; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 137; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H251.3.4 | Stick with money in it breaks and betrays thief who swears his innocence. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 248a; *Zachariae Zs. f. Vksk. XXXIII 78; Chauvin II 129; BP IV 323, 389; Jewish: Gaster Exempla No. 121, *Neuman. |
| H84.4 | Stolen ring as proof of daring theft. German: Grimm No. 192. |
| H411.1.1 | Stone breaks when unchaste woman looks at it. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H251.2.1 | Stone cannot be moved by one who speaks falsehood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H171.5 | Stone of destiny (Lia Fáil). Roars out under rightful king. (Cf. H71.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H251.2 | Stone of truth. When one stands on it he must utter truth. Fb "sten" III 554b; *Loomis White Magic 132.—Irish: Plummer clvii, *Cross. |
| H251.2.3 | Stone on which saint was born pours forth water when perjury is committed under it. "But if (the) oath be true, the stone remains in its proper nature." Irish myth: Cross. |
| H71.10.6 | Stone screams under feet of legitimate king. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1572.1 | Stone under fertile woman produces milk; under barren woman produces blood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1596.2 | Strangers umpire beauty contest. Africa (Madagascar): Sibree Madagascar before the Conquest (London, 1896) 239ff. |
| H1562.7 | Strength contest: contestants stand with back to rock on opposite side, an iron ring around neck of each connected by chain. They tug until ring severs neck of one. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H38.2.5 | Substitution of low-caste boy for promised child detected when he prefers long road to short one through jungle (swimming instead of ferry, etc.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H312.5 | Successful suitor must have cheeks like blood, skin like snow and hair like a raven. (Cf. Z65.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H312.2 | Successful suitor must have gold teeth. *Fb "tand" III 771a; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 93; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 1. |
| H312.4.1 | Successful suitor must have the prettiest hands; not whitest, but dark with scars and gold rings. Köhler-Bolte I 90; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H312.4 | Successful suitor must have whitest hands. Blacksmith qualifies because of frequent washing of hands. Herbert III 86. |
| H312.1 | Successful suitor to be without blotches. Africa (Mpongwe): Nassau 69 No. 15; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 272 No. 85. |
| H1235 | Succession of helpers on quest. One helper sends to another, who sends to another, etc. (Cf. H1241.) Types 400, 425, 516, 756B; *BP II 400; *Wesselski Archiv Orientální IV 1; Clouston Tales II 96; W. R. Halliday Indo-European Folk-Tales and Greek Legend (Cambridge, 1933) 132f.; Gaster Oldest Stories 51; Tegethoff 44; Rösch FFC LXXVII 110; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 225 n.—Irish: Cross, Beal XXI 326, O'Suilleabhain 74; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone Introduction, IV No. 8, V Nos. 4, 9; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 336 n. 211. |
| H1023.24 | Suitor asked to bathe in great cauldron of boiling water without making water lukewarm. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H384.0.1 | Suitor chooses kindly girl. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 75. |
| H332.2 | Suitor contest with brother-in-law. Icelandic: *Boberg; S. A. Indian (Chincha): Alexander Lat. Am. 231. |
| H331.7 | Suitor contest: aiming with missile. Jamaica: Beckwith: MAFLS XVII 269 No. 82. |
| H331.15 | Suitor contest: animal fight. |
| H331.4.2 | Suitor contest: bending bow of woman's absent husband. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 300 n. 3; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H315.2 | Suitor contest: bride offered to suitor giving the token of the greater love. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H331.2.1.1 | Suitor contest: bride offered to the one distinguishing himself most in battle. Girl loves both suitors equally. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.15.2 | Suitor contest: bullfight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.10 | Suitor contest: carrying one hundred jugs of water from sea to castle in one day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.13 | Suitor contest: cheating. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.15.1 | Suitor contest: cockfight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1 | Suitor contest: difficult riding. |
| H331.17 | Suitor contest: eating one hundred carcasses at a sitting. (Cf. H1141.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.6.1 | Suitor contest: jumping ditches and hedges of spears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.2.1 | Suitor contest: jumping horse over palace. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.6 | Suitor contest: jumping river on horseback. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.3 | Suitor contest: prize to one whose staff blooms. Told of Joseph in contest for Virgin Mary. *Dh II 265; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H331.5.2 | Suitor contest: race with bride's father. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 181; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 157 n. 4. |
| H331.5 | Suitor contest: race. Dh III 145; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 23 n. 5, 160 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Salishan): Hill-Tout British North America 229, (Shuswap): Teit JE II 684 No. 22, (Thompson River): Teit MAFLS VI 36 No. 7, (Skykomish): Haeberlin JAFL XXXVII 383 No. 9, (Achomawi): Curtin JAFL XXII 284 No. 2, (Arapaho): Dorsey and Kroeber FM V 105, (Ponca): Dorsey CNAE VI 333, (Menomini): Skinner and Satterlee PaAm XIII 396 No. 25, (California): Gayton and Newman 92; Africa (Vai): Ellis 189 No. 5; West Indies: Flowers 458. |
| H331.1.4 | Suitor contest: riding across pit. *BP III 113 n. 2. |
| H331.1.5 | Suitor contest: riding through fire. *Panzer Sigfrid 110; Krappe Waberlohe (Archiv fur das Studium der neueren Sprachen CLXXII 10ff.); Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H331.1.2 | Suitor contest: riding to fourth story of tower. *Type 530; *BP III 112 n. 1. |
| H331.1.1 | Suitor contest: riding up glass mountain. *Type 530; *BP III 111 n. 3; Köhler-Bolte I 67; Hdwb. d. Märchens II 627ff.; **Boberg Prinsessen pе Glasbjærget (Danske Studier [1928] 16ff.); *Fb "glarbjærg" I 459; Krappe The Glass Mountain (Modern Language Quarterly VIII 139—145); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.3 | Suitor contest: riding up mast (spear). *BP III 113 n. 3; N. A. Indian (Chilcotin): Farrand JE II 43. |
| H331.4 | Suitor contest: shooting. Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 295, Ikeda; N. A. Indian (Kutenai): Boas BBAE LIX 199 No. 64, (Sahaptin): Farrand MAFLS XI 157 No. 9, (Tsimshian): Boas BBAE XXVII 137, (Wichita): Dorsey CI XXI 130 No. 19, Dorsey Contributions to N. A. Ethnology VI 604, (Pawnee): Grinnell 87 No. 1, Dorsey MAFLS VIII 113 No. 31, 239 No. 60, (Crow): Simms FM II 292 No. 13, (Dakota): Zitkala-Sa Old Indian Legends 77; (Menomini): Skinner and Satterlee PaAM XIII 396 No. 25, (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 139, 318, 513, 567, (Wyandot): Barbeau GSCan XI 212, (Zuсi): Cushing 215; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 126. |
| H331.8 | Suitor contest: splitting antlers. N. A. Indian (Snohomish): Hill-Tout British Assn. Adv. Science (70th meeting) 525. |
| H331.12 | Suitor contest: splitting block of wood. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H331.2.1 | Suitor contest: success in battle. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.16 | Suitor contest: throwing ball up to princess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.16.1 | Suitor contest: throwing iron ball. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.2 | Suitor contest: tournament. *Type 508; Cosquin Contes Indiens 329ff.; *Liljeblad 39ff.; Dickson 181; English: Wells 147 (Ipomedon); Icelandic: Boberg; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H331.9 | Suitor contest: trapping. N. A. Indian (Shoshoni): Lowie JAFL XXXVII 237 No. 18, (Pawnee): Dorsey MAFLS VIII 178 No. 45, (Gros Ventre): Kroeber PaAM I 80 No. 19. |
| H331.14 | Suitor contest: trial of strength. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.6.1 | Suitor contest: wrestling with bride. N. A. Indian (Wasco): Curtin PAES II 290 No. 2. |
| H331.6 | Suitor contest: wrestling. (Cf. H1562.9.) India: Thompson-Balys Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17. |
| H331 | Suitor contests: bride offered as prize. *Types 513, 514, 900; Philippson FFC L 12f.—Icelandic: Egils saga einhendsa ok ásmundar Berserkjabana (FAS III) 366; Finnish: Kalevala rune 3; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 9, *Rotunda; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 420; Japanese: Ikeda; Oceanic (New Zealand, Tahiti, Cook Group, Society Group): Dixon 61, 64; Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17; N. A. Indian: *Thompson-Tales 328n. 186; West Indies: Flowers 457. |
| H332 | Suitor in contest with bride or member of her family. See H331.4.1, H331.5.1, H331.5.2, H331.6.1. |
| H332.1 | Suitor in contest with bride. |
| H511.1.2 | Suitor must prefer princess to treasures. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H318 | Suitor preferred who will pay enormous sum for bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H336.2 | Suitor required to catch wild animals. (Cf. H335.3.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H335.1 | Suitor task: avenging bride's father's death before marriage. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H335.1.1 | Suitor task: avenging bride's former fiance before marriage. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H335.6.1 | Suitor task: controlling violent tide. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/730). |
| H335.2 | Suitor task: cutting open magic gourd. Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 290. |
| H335.3 | Suitor task: killing ferocious animal. |
| H335.3.2 | Suitor task: killing lion guarding girl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.3.6 | Suitor task: killing tiger demons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.6 | Suitor task: making weather calm. (Cf. D2141.0.8.1.) Tonga: Gifford 176. |
| H335.0.2.2 | Suitor task: prince to learn a trade. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 949*. |
| H335.5 | Suitor task: to bring back food as a marriage present. Chinese: Graham. |
| H335.4.1 | Suitor task: to bring enemy's head. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H335.4 | Suitor task: to defeat enemies. Icelandic: *Boberg; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H335.4.4 | Suitor task: to kill (defeat) unwelcome suitor. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H335.4.3 | Suitor task: to kill all earlier suitors. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H335.3.1 | Suitor task: to kill dragon to whom the princess is to be sacrificed. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H335.3.7 | Suitor task: to kill other monsters. Icelandic: *Boberg; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/317). |
| H335.3.4 | Suitor task: to kill treasure-guarding snake lying around the princess's chamber. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1177.1 | Suitor task: to make fairies dance before princess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.4.2 | Suitor task: to overcome robbers. Chinese: Graham. |
| H335.3.3 | Suitor task: to slay thieving boar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.0.2.1 | Suitor task: to study philosophy for five years. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H335.0.4 | Suitor tasks announced by inscription on statue. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H316 | Suitor test: apple thrown indicates princess's choice. (Often golden apple.) *Type 502; *BP III 111; Cosquin Contes Indiens 317ff.; Chauvin VI 3, *201, VIII 151, *Galtier RTP XIV 65; Fb "guldæble" I 516a; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 93a. |
| H326.1 | Suitor test: aptness in handicrafts. |
| H328.5 | Suitor test: bathing in boiling water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H328.2 | Suitor test: being swung by mustache without shedding tears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.5.4 | Suitor test: boat race. Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17. |
| H343 | Suitor test: bringing dumb princess to speak. *Type 945; BP III 53ff.; *Gründwald Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXX 317; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 263; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 279 No. 95; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 277 n. 1. |