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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| H322.3 | Suitor test: bringing leg that fits into dragon claw left by the beloved of the princess. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H322.4 | Suitor test: bringing maiden's lost shoe. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H355.3 | Suitor test: bringing marvelous tree. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H359.1 | Suitor test: building causeway. (Cf. H1131.) Irish myth: *Cross (H345.3). |
| H324 | Suitor test: choosing princess from others identically clad. *Type 554; BP II 28; Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: Dixon 217; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H324.1 | Suitor test: choosing sweetheart's sedan chair from thirty others like it. Chinese: Graham. |
| H359.2 | Suitor test: clearing land. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H327 | Suitor test: cleverness and learning. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.1.1 | Suitor test: constructing automatic peacock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H312.6 | Suitor test: correct wearing of clothes. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.1 | Suitor test: duel with bride. Wesselski Archiv Orientální II 430. |
| H332.3 | Suitor test: duel with father-in-law. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H326.2 | Suitor test: eating a pomegranate without letting a single seed fall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H328.3 | Suitor test: enduring blow from spear. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H344 | Suitor test: entering princess's chamber. *Type 854. |
| H338 | Suitor test: faithfulness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H355.1 | Suitor test: finding a cow with silver horns. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H355.2 | Suitor test: finding a hog with silver bristles. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H355 | Suitor test: finding an extraordinary object. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H322.1 | Suitor test: finding object hidden by princess. *Type 507A; Irish myth: Cross. |
| H322 | Suitor test: finding princess. Type 590; Fb "skjule"; cf. Thompson CColl II 393; Filipino: Fansler MAFLS XII 183; Tuamotu: Stimson (z-G. 13/1241); West Indies: Flowers 457. |
| H342.1 | Suitor test: forcing princess to say, "That is a lie." *Type 852; BP II 506; *Fb "løgn" II 513a; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H316.4 | Suitor test: garland thrown indicates girl's choice. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H321 | Suitor test: hiding from princess. She has magic sight. *Types 329, 554; *BP II 365; Köhler-Bolte I 408. |
| H331.1.3.1 | Suitor test: jumping over high hedge. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H338.1 | Suitor test: keeping princess's secret. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1174 | Suitor test: killing monster. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H323 | Suitor test: learning girl's name. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 45 No. 5. |
| H345.1 | Suitor test: lifting strong princess's giant weapon. *Type 519. |
| H341 | Suitor test: making princess laugh. Sadfaced princess has never laughed. *Types 559, 571, 1642; *BP I 59, 61, II 39ff., 454 n. 1; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXVI 89 n. 1; Italian: Basile Pentamerone Introduction, I No. 3; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H313 | Suitor test: obedience and humility before bride. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H355.4 | Suitor test: obtaining flowers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H355.5 | Suitor test: obtaining for bride a necklace like her mother's. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H342 | Suitor test: outwitting princess. |
| H345 | Suitor test: overcoming princess in strength. *Type 519. |
| H328 | Suitor test: power of endurance. |
| H328.1 | Suitor test: resisting intoxication after much drinking. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H345.2 | Suitor test: riding strong princess's horse. *Type 519. |
| H1091.3 | Suitor test: scattering mountain of mustard seed in one watch gathering it together in another, pressing its oil out in another. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.1.2 | Suitor test: skill in archery. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.4 | Suitor test: skill in fishing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.3 | Suitor test: skill in hunt. Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17. |
| H326 | Suitor test: skill. |
| H328.4 | Suitor test: standing naked in river through a winter night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H312.7 | Suitor test: to be able to go through a wall. Chinese: Graham. |
| H347 | Suitor test: to consort with princess without sleeping. Suitors are given sleeping potion. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.2.1 | Suitor test: to defeat bride at dice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.2 | Suitor test: to defeat bride in game. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.3 | Suitor test: to defeat bride in harping. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H322.2 | Suitor test: to get to imprisoned princess in a year's time. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H355.6 | Suitor test: to get wedding dress so fine that it will go through ring. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H351.1 | Suitor test: to live on as much food as can be piled on a leaf. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H351 | Suitor test: to live on small amount of food. |
| H352 | Suitor test: to make garden bloom in winter. (Cf. M261.1.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H315.1 | Suitor test: to make the princess fall in love with him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H353 | Suitor test: to plunge into a stream. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H315 | Suitor test: to whom the princess turns. Rival suitors sleep with princess. The one she turns to is to have her. They vie in enticements. *Type 621, 850; Köhler-Bolte I 428f. |
| H332.1.4 | Suitor test: tournament with bride. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H333.2 | Suitor test: tribute of his severed hands. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.5.3 | Suitor test: winning horse-race three times. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 229a n. 3. |
| H1406 | Suitor tested by apparent threats to his person. Heptameron No. 16. |
| H310 | Suitor tests. A suitor is put to severe tests by his prospective bride or father-in-law. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Wells 16 (Guy of Warwick); Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 187; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 324 n. 170, 328 n. 186; S. A. Indian (Tropical Forests): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (3) 55, (Carib): Alexander Lat. Am. 264; Africa: Werner African 153f., (Benga): Nassau 227 No. 34. |
| H314.1 | Suitor's sincerity tested by reporting girl's death. All but one make excuses for not helping with funeral. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 85 No. 14. |
| H314.2 | Suitor's sincerity tested by seven years' banishment. Heptameron No. 24. |
| H314 | Suitor's sincerity tested. Chinese: Werner 272. |
| H336 | Suitors assigned quests. *Types 513, 514; Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 115 (Sir Eglamore); German: Grimm Nos. 6, 62, 93, 96, 97, 106, 137, 163, 197; Icelandic: *Boberg; Africa (Fjort): Dennett 74. |
| H312.3 | Suitors chosen with feet as only part seen. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H331.4.1 | Suitors contest with bride's father in shooting. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 238 n. 1. |
| H593 | Suitors receive enigmatic answers. Girls answer in single words, which, when arranged in certain order, show that they accept. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H1558.7.1 | Sultan takes disguise of beggar to test friends. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1130 | Superhuman tasks. |
| H1233.4 | Supernatural creature as helper on quest. |
| H540.1 | Supernatural creatures propound riddles. (See also H541.1.1, H543, G681.) Child I 13ff., 484, II 495; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H411.17 | Swan as chastity test. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H435.1 | Sword as chastity index: will not spot while woman is faithful. (Cf. D1081.) English: Child I 268. |
| H215.1 | Sword magically changed to wood when executioner is to decapitate innocent person. Chauvin V 173 No. 96 n. 1. |
| H1558.8.1 | Sword too heavy to lift against a friend. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H619.1 | Symbolic interpretation of chairs in heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H619.2 | Symbolic interpretation of church and image therein. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H619.4 | Symbolic interpretation of ineffectual thatching of house and building of fire in otherworld. (Cf. F171.6.5, F171.6.6.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H602.2 | Symbolic interpretation of letters. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 7; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H602.3 | Symbolic interpretation of names. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H608 | Symbolic interpretation of official robes. |
| H603 | Symbolic interpretation of playing cards. Soldier reproved for playing cards during church says that playing cards are his prayerbook and calendar. Ace: one God, one Faith, one Baptism; 2: old and new Testaments; 3: Trinity; 4: evangelists; 5: wise virgins; 6: days of creation; 7: sabbath; 8. Noah's family; 9: ungrateful lepers; 10: commandments; knave (jack): Judas; queen (of Sheba); king: God; 12 face cards: 12 months; etc. *Type 1613; **Bolte Zs.v. Vksk. XI 376ff., XIII 84; Penzer IV 240 n. 1. |
| H608.1 | Symbolic interpretation of points on a bishop's hat. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 100. |
| H606 | Symbolic interpretation of sin. Priest drags heavy sack of sand behind him to show how men drag sin. (Cf. H604, H605.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H617 | Symbolic interpretations of dreams. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H600 | Symbolic interpretations. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H595.1 | Symbolic invitation to continued liberality. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H602.1.1 | Symbolic meaning of numbers one to seven (ten, twelve). E.g. One: sun; two: Moses' tablets; three: three Maries; etc. *Type 812; *BP III 15 n. 1; Irish myth: Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 156 No. 2045*; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H602 | Symbolic meaning of numbers, letters, etc. |
| H602.1 | Symbolic meaning of numbers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H604 | Symbolic meaning of spiced and bitter tongue served at dinner. (Cf. H605, H606.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H619.5 | Symbolical interpretation of fight between one-legged bird and twelve-legged bird. One-legged bird symbolizes innocence; twelve-legged bird, guilt. (Cf. B15.6.3.3.2.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H38.2.1 | Tailor married to princess betrays trade by calling for needle and thread. *Type 1640; BP I 148 ff. |
| H451 | Talking private parts betray unchastity. *Taylor MLN XXI 249 n. 2; Gering Hermes LI (1916) 632ff.; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 296 n. 83d. |
| H911.1 | Task (quest) assigned at suggestion of jealous co-wife. Chinese: Graham; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 234. |
| H913.2.1 | Task assigned at suggestion of jealous father (of prospective bride). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H913.1.1 | Task assigned at suggestion of jealous mother (of prospective bride). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H919.3 | Task assigned at suggestion of parrot. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H919.5 | Task assigned at suggestion of treacherous soldier. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H923.1 | Task assigned before wife may rescue husband from supernatural power. Type 316; German: Grimm No. 181. |
| H927.2 | Task assigned by angel on God's order. Moreno Esdras (H928). |
| H937 | Task assigned by dying child. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H946.1 | Task assigned from misunderstanding: search for prince named Sabr ("wait"). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H946 | Task assigned from misunderstanding. |
| H902 | Task assigned the Gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H950 | Task evaded by subterfuge. |
| H916.2 | Task imposed because of girl's foolish boast. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H934.4 | Task imposed by elder brothers. India: Thompson-Balys; Irish myth: Cross (H913.1.3.) |
| H1187 | Task left by departing husband for virgin wife to accomplish: have a son whose real mother she is and whose real father he is. She accomplishes this by disguising as a girl. Köhler-Bolte II 647ff. *Liungman Tvе Folkminnesundersökningar 25 n. 1; FSS 7ff. (H922); India: *Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H975.0.1 | Task performed by deity in answer to prayer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H973.3 | Task performed by dwarfs. (Cf. F451.5.1.) German: Grimm Nos. 13, 55, 64, 91, 113. |
| H973.1 | Task performed by fairy. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H976 | Task performed by mysterious stranger. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H987 | Task performed with aid of magic object. German: Grimm Nos. 28, 91, 122, 133, 165, 181. |
| H983 | Task performed with help of angel. (Cf. N810.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H985 | Task performed with help of druid. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H971.2 | Task performed with help of little old men. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H974.1 | Task performed with help of mistress. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H971 | Task performed with help of old person. Tonga: Gifford 159f. |
| H974 | Task performed with help of supernatural wife. Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Grote I 219; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 357, Ikeda. |
| H921.1 | Task set by king to sons to determine heir to kingdom. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H913.1.2 | Task suggested by jealous co-wife of mother. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H919.1.1 | Task upon suggestion of barber. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1138.1 | Task: "to turn low stream and fill the high stream." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1355.4 | Task: achieving kingship by bringing silk from bazaar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1135 | Task: annihilating (overcoming) army single-handed. Type 513; Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Fox 112 (Jason). |
| H1113 | Task: bailing out a pond. Type 313; German: Grimm No. 113; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "étang"; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 369, 377; Africa (Benga): Nassau 216 No. 33. |
| H1191.1 | Task: beheading witch, and bringing head to king. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H1137 | Task: binding waves of the sea. Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 236; Filipino: Fansler MAFLS XII 62. |
| H1191 | Task: blinding a witch. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 4. |
| H1116 | Task: breaking huge rock to pieces. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 208. |
| H1116.2 | Task: breaking iron with wooden axe. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1149.6 | Task: breaking pigeon's egg on parapet of castle. Pigeon in ferocious serpent. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H1021.10 | Task: brewing ale from sweet milk. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1022.8 | Task: brewing impossible amount of ale from one grain of corn. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1154.3 | Task: bridling a wild animal. |
| H1154.3.1 | Task: bridling a wild horse. Finnish: Kalevala rune 14; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 74. |
| H1154.3.2 | Task: bridling ferocious bear. Finnish: Kalevala rune 19. |
| H1151.11 | Task: bringing a baby lion's tail to use as broom. Africa (Hausa): Mischlich 80ff. No. 5. |
| H1041 | Task: bringing a plantain leaf from the garden without tearing it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1023.25 | Task: bringing a well (pond, lake) to king. Hero asks for another lake to tie to it and overawes king. Types 1045, 1650; Zachariae Kleine Schriften 93; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1172 | Task: bringing an ogre to court. Köhler-Bolte I 306. |
| H1117 | Task: bringing as many horses as there are days in the year. (Brings one for each week-day.) Anderson FFC XLII 227 n. 1. |
| H1136.1 | Task: bringing back flour scattered by wind. Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 171. |
| H1174.1 | Task: bringing back two heads of a giant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1023.3 | Task: bringing berries (fruit, roses) in winter. *Type 403B, 480, *Roberts 134; BP I 99ff., II 232; *Saintyves Perrault 20; De Vries FFC LXXIII 269 n. 2; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 159; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 313 n. 126c. |
| H1023.3.1 | Task: bringing berries in winter. Reductio ad absurdum: father is sick from snake-bite (impossible in winter). (Cf. H952.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 269 n. 2. |
| H1065 | Task: bringing best friend, worst enemy, best servant, greatest pleasure-giver. (Brings dog, wife, ass, little son respectively.) Köhler-Bolte I 415, 455; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 423; Herbert III 201; Ward II 231; Oesterley No. 124; *Chauvin VIII 199 No. 244; *BP II 365; cf. Type 875; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 220ff.; *Anderson FFC XLII 357 and n. 2; *Wesselski Märchen 237 No. 48; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H1151.10 | Task: bringing branch from tree guarded by ghosts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1023.19 | Task: bringing bundle of faggots without rope to tie them. Helpful snake coils himself about them. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1107 | Task: bringing documents from distant city in one day. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 68 No. 513. |
| H1154.0.1 | Task: bringing head(s) of animal(s). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1154.12 | Task: bringing in fierce lion alive. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1047 | Task: bringing melon 12 cubits long with seed 13 cubits long. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1026.2 | Task: bringing past time to present. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (H1023.17). |
| H1022.9 | Task: bringing quantity of mosquito bones within month; countertask: furnishing scales with wind as beams and heat as pans. (Cf. H951.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1151.26 | Task: bringing ruby in head of devastating serpent. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1075 | Task: bringing something ever-increasing (ambition); something ever-decreasing (life); something which neither increases nor decreases (one's fated lot); and something which both increases and decreases (universe). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1049.1 | Task: bringing the foam of the ocean in a large piece of cloth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1154.3.7 | Task: bringing tigers. |
| H1129.1.1 | Task: bringing twelve cartloads of mud without the use of buffaloes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1109.1 | Task: bringing water from distant fountain more quickly than a witch. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 68 No. 513. |
| H1023.25.1 | Task: bringing well to king; countertask: sending his own well to accompany it. (Cf. H951.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1136 | Task: bringing winds from the whole world. Fb "vind" III 1059a. |
| H1129.5 | Task: building a fire; whole tree burns up while man is bringing another. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1104.3 | Task: building a house of iron in one night. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H1104.1 | Task: building a lodge entirely of bird's feathers in one night. S. A. Indian (Carib): Alexander Lat. Am. 264. |
| H1131.1 | Task: building bridge over land and sea. *Fb "guldæble" I 516a. |
| H1133 | Task: building castle (fort). Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| H1133.2 | Task: building castle in air. Fb "slot" III 377a; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 5. |
| H1104 | Task: building castle in one night. Type 313; Fb "slot" III 377a. |
| H1133.3 | Task: building castle in sea. Fb "slot" III 377a; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1104.0.1 | Task: building castle in three days. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1036 | Task: building castle suspended between heaven and earth. *Chauvin VI 38 No. 207 n. 3. |
| H1129.6 | Task: building causeway, clearing land, etc. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1131 | Task: building enormous bridge. (Cf. H359.1.) Irish myth: Cross; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H1104.2 | Task: building entire village in one night. Africa (Fang): Einstein 70ff. (= Trilles 190ff. No. 11.) |
| H1133.6 | Task: building exact replica of castle in wax. German: Grimm No. 107. |
| H1104.5 | Task: building granary full of grain overnight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1077 | Task: building house neither on ground nor in sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1133.1 | Task: building magic castle. *Type 554; BP II 19ff. |
| H1133.5 | Task: building palace and city. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1133.4 | Task: building palace of gold (crystal). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1165 | Task: bullfight (buffaloes). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1185.1 | Task: buying a coin's worth of eggs and another of "ay, ay." Servant puts nettles in bag with eggs, and master cries "Ay, ay" when he touches the nettles. Spanish: Childers. |
| H1154.3.3 | Task: capturing and binding ferocious boar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1154.10 | Task: capturing badgers. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1154.7 | Task: capturing bird. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1154.7.2 | Task: capturing blackbird (yearly). Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1154.2 | Task: capturing deer from herd watched by giant. English: Wells 115 (Sir Eglamour). |
| H1154.5 | Task: capturing elk. Finnish: Kalevala rune 13. |
| H1154.8 | Task: capturing magic horse. Type 313. |
| H1154.1 | Task: capturing magic pig carrying scissors, comb, and razors between its ears. Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 187. |
| H1154.2.1 | Task: capturing ninety pigs, ninety horses, and one hundred wild oxen. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1154.9 | Task: capturing pair of every wild animal in the land. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1154.6 | Task: capturing squirrel and rattlesnake. American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 203 No. 35. |
| H1154.3.4 | Task: capturing wild elephant. Africa (Fang): Einstein 70ff. (= Trilles 190ff. No. 11). |
| H1155.4 | Task: caring for mad elephant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1183 | Task: carrying a wagon axle which has broken a wheel. *BP III 16. |
| H1114.2 | Task: carrying ever-increasing burden up mountain. German: Grimm No. 179. |
| H1129.11 | Task: carrying fuel. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1111 | Task: carrying hundreds of sheep across stream one at a time. *BP II 209; cf. Type 2300; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H1146 | Task: carrying mountain on head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1127 | Task: carrying off huge quantity of money. *Type 513. |
| H1129.3 | Task: carrying soil to cover stony ground. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1023.2 | Task: carrying water in a sieve. *Types 480, 1180, Roberts 138, 165; *BP I 5, 215, III 16, 477 n. 1; *Fb "sеld" III 750a; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 354; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; S. A. Indian (Ackawoi): Alexander Lat. Am. 269. |
| H1023.2.1.2 | Task: carrying water in leaky vessel; frog sits in hole. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1023.2.1.1 | Task: carrying water in leaky vessel; vessel repaired with clay or gum. Africa (Mpongwe): Nassau 32 No. 4, (Basuto): Jacottet 15 No. 10. |
| H1023.2.1 | Task: carrying water in leaky vessel. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cruche"; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Mpongwe): Nassau 32 No. 4; (Zulu): Callaway 16, (Basuto): Jacottet 15 No. 10, 202 No. 30, (Kaffir): Theal 15, (Angola): Chatelain 163, 171, 179 No. 21. |
| H1023.2.0.2 | Task: carrying water in sieve; pious child able to do so. BP III 477 n. 1. |
| H1023.2.0.1 | Task: carrying water in sieve; sieve filled with moss. *BP I 5, 215, III 477 n. 1; England: Baughman; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 107 No. 22. |
| H1046 | Task: carrying woman across river without wetting feet. Hero fails. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1023.13 | Task: catching a man's broken wind. Type 1176; BP III 16. |
| H1023.12 | Task: catching a noise. Type 1177*. |
| H1023.22 | Task: catching a sunbeam. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1191.2 | Task: catching devastating witch who haunts king's best garden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1154.4 | Task: catching huge fish without nets or tackle. Finnish: Kalevala rune 19. |
| H1193 | Task: causing dry spring to flow again. *Type 613; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 346a nn. 121—22. |
| H1199.2.1 | Task: causing sickness to come to certain tribe. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1194.0.1 | Task: causing silent person to speak. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1026 | Task: changing the course of time. |
| H1024.3 | Task: chasing a hare into every trap in a high tree. *Type 1171; BP III 16. |
| H1115 | Task: chopping down large tree with blunt (fragile) implements. (Cf. H1095.) Type 313; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "arbres"; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 208; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 251 No. 29. |
| H1102 | Task: cleaning Augean stable. Stable has not been cleaned in years. Must be done in one night. River turned through it. Type 313; Köhler-Bolte I 170; *Fb "stald" III 534a; Greek: Fox 82, Frazer Apollodorus I 195 n. 2; New Zealand: Dixon 71. |
| H1102.1 | Task: cleaning cowshed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1097.2 | Task: cleaning enormous cistern in one day. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 7; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1199.14 | Task: climbing extraordinary (high, thin) cliff. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1114 | Task: climbing glass mountain. *Type 425; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1022.2.1 | Task: clothing an army from one hank of flax; countertask: making horseshoes for cavalry from one needle. (Cf. H951.) Köhler-Bolte I 459. |
| H1149.4 | Task: collecting enormous amount of material (number of rare objects, etc.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1095.1 | Task: collecting firewood quickly, sufficient to last remainder of one's life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1192 | Task: combing hair of fairies. Type 480; Roberts 168; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 10. |
| H1054.4 | Task: coming "neither in softness nor in hardness." (Comes clad in garments of mountain down.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1064 | Task: coming laughing and crying at once. (Rubs eyes with a twig to simulate crying.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 212. |
| H1055 | Task: coming neither barefoot nor shod. (Comes with one shoe on, one off; or in soleless shoes.) Type 875; *BP II 362; De Vries FFC LXXIII 200. |
| H1057 | Task: coming neither by day nor by night. (Comes at twilight.) *De Vries FFC LXXIII 202; *BP II 362; Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1063 | Task: coming neither hungry nor satiated. (Eats a thin soup, a leaf, a single grain, or the like.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 210; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1054.2 | Task: coming neither naked nor clad. (Comes clothed in own hair.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 181. |
| H1054.3 | Task: coming neither naked nor clad. (Comes with part of body clothed.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 181. |
| H1054.1 | Task: coming neither naked nor clad. (Comes wrapped in net or the like.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 182; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| H1054 | Task: coming neither naked nor clad. *Type 875; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 181; BP II 349ff.; Fb "klæder"; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1053 | Task: coming neither on horse nor on foot (riding nor walking). *Type 875; *BP II 362; Köhler-Bolte I 446ff.; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 186ff.; Fb "kjöre", "ridende"; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 423; Filipino: Fansler MAFLS XII 63. |
| H1053.1 | Task: coming neither on horse nor on foot. (Comes on another animal.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 187; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| H1053.2 | Task: coming neither on horse nor on foot. (Comes sitting on animal but with feet reaching ground.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 188; Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1053.3 | Task: coming neither on horse nor on foot. (Comes with one leg on animal's back, one on ground.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 188. |
| H1053.4 | Task: coming neither on horse nor on foot. (Coming drawn by an animal on net, trough, or sledge.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 189. |
| H1053.6 | Task: coming neither on horse nor on foot. (Crawls on all fours.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 190. |
| H1053.5 | Task: coming neither on horse nor on foot. (Walks on a stick horse.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 190. |
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