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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| M205.3 | A man who breaks his oath to a woman cannot be king with right. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M371.0.1 | Abandonment in forest to avoid fulfillment of prophecy India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M301.7.3 | Abraham as prophet. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M341.0.2 | All forty of man's sons to die at once. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M375.1 | All male children killed for fear that they will overcome parent. Africa (Zulu): Callaway 41. |
| M305 | Ambiguous oracle. Dickson 132 n. 108; Frazer Apollodorus I 285 n. 4; Gaster Oldest Stories 205; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M301.5.1 | Anchorite prophesies at childbirth. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M301.10 | Angels as prophets. (Cf. V230.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| M205.1 | Animal punishes broken promise. |
| M411.8.4 | Animals cursed by saint. (Cf. M471.) *Loomis White Magic 100f. |
| M414.8 | Animals cursed. |
| M302.4.1 | Astrology forbidden. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M108.1 | Babylonians do not keep their oaths. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M301.6.1 | Banshees as portents of misfortune. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M164 | Bard vows that none of his profession will make a request of any man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M202.0.1 | Bargain or promise to be fulfilled at all hazards. English romance: Malory VIII 30; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M295 | Bargain to keep secret. |
| M237 | Bargain to save face. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M210 | Bargain with devil. Types 310, 313A, 316, 360, 400, 425C, 441, 500, 502, 706, 710, 756B, 810—812, 1170—1199; BP II 164, 329f., 427, 561ff., III 12, *Andrejev FFC LXIX 222ff.; *Fb "djævel" IV 99a, "blod" IV 47b.—England, U.S.: Baughman; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 562. |
| M201.0.1 | Bargain with God (by holy man). Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M244.1 | Bargain with king of mice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M219.1 | Bargain with the devil for an heir. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M241 | Bargain: to divide all winnings. |
| M235 | Bargain: woman rides naked through streets to obtain freedom for citizens. Godiva. Liebrecht 104; Hartland FL I 207. |
| M242 | Bargains and promises between mortals and supernatural beings. (Cf. M221, M222, M223.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M290 | Bargains and promises—miscellaneous. |
| M200 | Bargains and promises. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M244 | Bargains between men and animals. |
| M411.2 | Beggar's curse. Beggar is refused request. "May your bread turn to stones!" *Kittredge Witchcraft 132, 452 n. 52; England: Baughman; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 183; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M221 | Beheading bargain. Giant allows hero to cut off his head; he will cut off hero's later. **Kittredge Gawain and the Green Knight; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M301.7 | Biblical worthy as prophet. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M414.8.4 | Birds cursed. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M364.7.3 | Bishop foretells birth of saint. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M321.1 | Blessing of saint to descend from generation to generation. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M223 | Blind promise (rash boon). Person grants wish before hearing it. English romance: Malory X 22; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M201.1 | Blood covenant. Contract written (or signed) with blood. Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 272ff., 1026; *Wilken Verspreide Geschriften I 539ff.; *W. Robertson Smith Religion of the Semites@3 270ff.; *Penzer I 98 n.; *Fb "skrive"; "blod" IV 47b; ** H. C. Turmbull The Blood Covenant (London, 1887). — Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "sang", "pacte"; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M201.1.1 | Blood of contractors mixed to seal bargain. Irish myth: *Cross; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 268. |
| M219.2.5 | Body of devil's disciple is removed from coffin by devil. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M146.2 | Boy vows to marry none but girl born under the same circumstances as he. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.14.3 | Brahmin's curse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M205 | Breaking of bargains or promises. India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 561. |
| M340.4 | Bridegroom to meet with disaster if he rides a certain elephant which comes to meet him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M101.4 | Broken oath causes girl's hand to wither. (Cf. D2062.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M101.2 | Broken oaths cause of maimed people. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 487. |
| M146.4 | Brother and sister arrange marriage of their unborn children to each other. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M13.2 | Captain hangs own son for violating order not to enter enemy city. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M244.2 | Captured bird promises to deliver fifteen birds in exchange for freedom. Africa (Cameroon): Lederbogen 73. |
| M205.1.2 | Cat witness to betrothal punishes violator. Kills the man's son when he has married a different woman. Hebrew: *bin Gorion Born Judas I 368. |
| M261.1 | Chaste woman promises herself to her lover when he can make a garden bloom in winter. (Cf. H352.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M261 | Chaste woman promises herself to her lover when the rocks leave the coast. (They are moved by magic.) Robinson Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (Cambridge, Mass., 1933) 826 (Franklin's Tale); **Dempster and Tatlock in Bryan and Dempster Sources and Analogues of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales 333—56; Irish myth: Cross; cf. Type 976. |
| M301.20 | Child as prophet. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M375.3 | Child mutilated to avoid fulfillment of prophecy. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M393.1 | Child pronounces blessing according to which countries are to be filled with what they are later famous for. India. Thompson-Balys. |
| M376.3 | Children swallowed one after the other as they are born for fear one of them will overcome father. Greek: Grote I 6. |
| M364.7 | Coming (birth) of saint prophesied. (Cf. M363.1.2.) Loomis White Magic 17; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M363.1.1 | Coming of Antichrist prophesied. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M363.1 | Coming of Christ (Christianity) prophesied. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M363 | Coming of religious leader prophesied. (Cf. M300.1.) |
| M364.7.2 | Coming of saint (Christianity) prophesied by heathen. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M364.7.1 | Coming of saint prophesied by druids. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M372.1 | Confinement in iron house below surface of earth to avoid fulfillment of prophecy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M372 | Confinement in tower to avoid fulfillment of prophecy. Type 932*; Köhler in Gonzenbach II 222; *Wesselski Mönchslatein 91 No. 77; Chauvin V 253 No. 150, VIII 105 No. 80; Irish myth: *Cross; Russian: Andrejev No. 932*; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda, Basile Pentamerone III No. 3, IV No. 6; Jewish: Neuman. |
| M242.2 | Contract between hungry god and untouchable: to give gods food it they will eat from his hands. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M218 | Contract with the devil destroyed. Dh I 140; Alphabet Nos. 64, 467; Irish: Beal XXI 311, O'Suilleabhain 33. |
| M201.0.2 | Covenant between heathen and Israelites. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M201.0.1.1 | Covenant between Israel and God. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M201.4 | Covenant between saints confirmed by cutting off their thumbs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M201.2 | Covenant confirmed by eating together. Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 272ff.; U.S.: Baughman; Africa (Fang): Nassau 242 No. 9. |
| M201.6 | Covenant confirmed by hostages. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M201.5 | Covenant confirmed by marriage. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M246.1 | Covenant of friendship between animals. |
| M246.1.1 | Covenant of friendship between elephant and jackal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M246.1.2 | Covenant of friendship between louse and crow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M246.2 | Covenant of friendship: no matter how poor son of one is, daughter of other will accept him as groom. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M246.3 | Covenant of friendship: to secure brides for each other. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M246 | Covenant of friendship. |
| M293 | Covenant: one nation not to wrest city from inhabitants without their consent. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M301.5.2 | Cuchulinn prophesies birth of 50 women. Shall be loyal folk to God. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M205.2 | Curse as punishment for broken promise. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M418.1 | Curse by "building a fire of stones" in fireplace. The person who removes the stones is cursed. U.S.: Baughman. |
| M411.4.1 | Curse by a god. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M411.11.1 | Curse by amazon, "skjaldmær". (Cf. F565.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M411.14.2 | Curse by anchorite. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.19 | Curse by animal. |
| M411.10 | Curse by berserk, giant (ogre). Icelandic: Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.21 | Curse by disguised deity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.1.2 | Curse by foster mother. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M411.11 | Curse by girl in revenge of the murdering of her foster father. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M411.22 | Curse by head of religious order. England: *Baughman. |
| M411.17 | Curse by king. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M411.15 | Curse by monk. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M411.0.1 | Curse by oneself. The person in despair curses himself to sink with palace into the earth. Lithuanian: Balys Historical; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.23 | Curse by other wronged man or woman. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M411.1 | Curse by parent. Penzer IV 230 n. 2; Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3591; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Greek: Fox 50 (Oedipus), Grote I 247; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.18 | Curse by poet. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M411.14 | Curse by priest. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M411.7 | Curse by spirit. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M411.20 | Curse by spouse. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| M411.1.1 | Curse by stepmother. (Cf. S31.) Icelandic: *Boberg; Modern Icelandic: Rittershaus 34, 48, 50, 58, 66, 161, Sveinsson FFC LXXXIII xxviii ff. |
| M411.13 | Curse by thrall. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M411.12 | Curse by witch. (Cf. G269.4.) Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.19.1 | Curse by wounded animal. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M425 | Curse changed by God into blessing. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M412.1 | Curse given at birth of child. *Type 410; *BP I 434; Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 70 (to Gonzenbach No. 28); Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M413.1 | Curse given from a height. Will fall with full effect on objects at which it is aimed. Irish: Plummer clxxiv, Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M412.2 | Curse given on wedding night. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M416 | Curse given to negate good wish. Odin gives man life three times the normal; Thor ordains that in each he is to commit crime. Odin gives him the choicest weapons; Thor denies him landed property, etc. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 73. |
| M444.1 | Curse laid on unborn child; it is stillborn. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M428 | Curse mitigated by deity when superhuman task is performed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M464 | Curse of a woman against her caste: they should remain unclothed and untaught. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M444 | Curse of childlessness. |
| M403 | Curse of everlasting terror. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 318. |
| M458 | Curse of petrifaction. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M431.8 | Curse of sterility on wife of enemy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M475.1 | Curse on a city: never to grow. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 691. |
| M475 | Curse on a city. (Cf. M461.1.) Irish myth: *Cross (M430.0.1). |
| M414.13 | Curse on a deity. |
| M411.24 | Curse on city by sage. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M427 | Curse on everybody on earth who listens to the fatal mentioning of trolls' names, is evaded by person in cave, because he is in the earth. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M477.1 | Curse on lake: fire from lake will burn the forest around it. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M477 | Curse on lake. |
| M474 | Curse on land. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M476.1 | Curse on river or sea: no fish in it from that day. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M476 | Curse on river. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M463 | Curse on tribe (district). Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M461.1 | Curse on village: descendants never to exceed certain number. (Cf. M475.) Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| M414.9 | Curse on wife's lover. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M423 | Curse removed when victims reform. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M422 | Curse transferred to another person or thing. Irish: Plummer clxxiii, *Cross, Beal XXI 326, O'Suilleabhain 73. |
| M437.1 | Curse: "What I carry may you carry; what you carry may I carry." Cat thus causes ungrateful pregnant woman to bear cats and herself to bear twin girls. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M416.1 | Curse: appetite of twelve men. Given with the gift of twelve men's strength. Hartland Science 144. |
| M431.4 | Curse: arm to fall off. Irish: Plummer clxxiv, Cross. |
| M431 | Curse: bodily injury. Lagerholm 106—107; Irish myth: Cross. |
| M454 | Curse: change of sex. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M460.1 | Curse: children will be sick. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M453 | Curse: corpse to be put in three different places after person's death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M455.4 | Curse: couple to wander until new seat of race is pointed out. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M471.1 | Curse: cow will give red milk. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M451 | Curse: death. England, U.S.: *Baughman; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 126. |
| M442 | Curse: deformity. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M461 | Curse: descendants of nine robbers never to exceed nine. Irish: Cross, Plummer clxxiv. |
| M442.1 | Curse: descendants to be unshapely. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M416.2 | Curse: eternal life without eternal youth. Greek: Fox 246 (Tithonus). |
| M441 | Curse: failure in all undertakings. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M431.3 | Curse: fire to burn hands and feet. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 440. |
| M414.13.1 | Curse: god to live life of a cat for twelve full years in house of huntsman on earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M448.1 | Curse: ground shall swallow children. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M431.4.1 | Curse: hand of person cursed to drop off. U.S.: Baughman. |
| M431.9 | Curse: head to split in seven pieces. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 279. |
| M438.2 | Curse: hero not to be able to stand the sight of blood. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M438.4 | Curse: hero to remain as dead till the curser dies. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M471.3.1 | Curse: horse will be lame. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M471.3 | Curse: horses will die. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M438 | Curse: humiliation. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M452 | Curse: insanity. U.S., Wales: Baughman. |
| M443.1 | Curse: lack of food, shelter, good company. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M431.7 | Curse: leprosy. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1050. |
| M431.1 | Curse: loss of eye. *Type 1331; *BP II 219 n. 1; Irish myth: *Cross; and notes to J2074. |
| M438.1 | Curse: man (poet) to kiss a leper. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M441.1 | Curse: man's sword will fail in danger. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M471.1.1 | Curse: milk will not turn to butter. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M437 | Curse: monstrous birth. |
| M455.2 | Curse: not to be able to love the same woman more than twelve months. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M435 | Curse: not to taste food from own table. Food always seized by harpies. Greek: Fox 111. |
| M436 | Curse: prince to fall in love with witch's daughter. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 7. |
| M443 | Curse: privation. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M462 | Curse: race to lose sovereignty. Irish myth: *Cross; U.S.: Baughman. |
| M455 | Curse: restlessness. (Cf. K1837.4.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Lagerholm lxi—ii. |
| M442.2 | Curse: she-wolf to carry off man's genitals. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M432 | Curse: to be carried off by evil spirit. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 456; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 547a nn. 127—139. |
| M431.10 | Curse: to be plagued by nightmares. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 925. |
| M434 | Curse: to be swallowed by a siren. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M448 | Curse: to sink into the earth. Tupper and Ogle Walter Map 91; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 585. |
| M431.2 | Curse: toads from mouth. *Type 403; *Roberts 208; *BP I 99ff. *Fb "tudse" III 889a; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M446 | Curse: undertaking dangerous quest. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M446.1 | Curse: undertaking dangerous revenge of father. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M441.1.1 | Curse: when brothers' swords bite the very best, they will all be killed by a single man. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M459.1 | Curse: woman will not travel far. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M431.5 | Curse: wound not to heal. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M471 | Curses on animals. (Cf. M411.8.4.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| M460 | Curses on families. Irish: Plummer clxxiv, *Cross; England, Wales, U.S.: Baughman; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Fox 120 (Tantalus), Grote I 244f. (Oedipus); Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 108. |
| M470 | Curses on objects or animals. |
| M430 | Curses on persons. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M411.8.3 | Curses on places because of offensive answer to saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M490 | Curses—miscellaneous. |
| M400 | Curses. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics s.v. "Cursing and Blessing"; Icelandic: *Boberg; Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 326, 328, O'Suilleabhain 73, 88; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 205ff.; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M401 | Cursing match (flyting). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M471.2 | Cursing to make pigs lean. Irish myth: Cross; French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| M301.7.2 | David as prophet. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M101.3 | Death as punishment for broken oath. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M341.1.7.1 | Death at sight of son before twelve years. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M341.2.3.1 | Death by drowning: man strangles to death on drinking water. Irish: Beal XXI 328, O'Suilleabhain 87; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 136 No. 95; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M451.2 | Death by drowning. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M451.1 | Death by suicide. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| M101.3.1 | Death caused by elements (exposure, drowning, etc.) as punishment for broken oath. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M341 | Death prophesied. Penzer IV 175f.; Ward II 620 No. 24; Alphabet Nos. 266, 305; Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 333; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M255 | Deathbed promise concerning the second wife. Promises his dying wife that he will not marry unless the bride meets the specifications the dying wife imposes. *Type 510B; *Cox 53—79 passim; De Vries Studien over Færösche Balladen 133; Icelandic: Boberg; Danish: Grundtvig No. 135. |
| M92 | Decision left to first person to arrive. Type 613; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 604b n. 31ff.; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 118, Beal XXI 335; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M51 | Decree that hero must wed only a virgin. English: Wells 22 (Sir Beues of Hamtoun). |
| M93 | Deity grants woman two sons, one to be wise and ugly and the other a fool and handsome. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 964. |
| M4 | Deity settles disputes between races. Africa (Fang): Trilles 142. |
| M411 | Deliverer of curse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M376.4 | Delivery of child fated to rule retarded in order to avoid fulfillment of prophecy. Greek: Grote I 88. |
| M359.8 | Deluge prophesied. Chinese: Graham. |
| M204.1 | Demanding of promised boon postponed until an auspicious moment. Granted anything he may ask, the recipient waits to announce his choice. English romance: Malory VIII 15; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M204 | Demanding of promised boon postponed. |
| M302.3 | Descent into hell to learn future. Vergil Aeneid Book 6; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 127. |
| M364.10 | Destruction and rebuilding of church foreseen by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M212 | Devil agrees to help man with robberies. |
| M219.2.1 | Devil appears in great storm, takes away soul of person contracted to him. (Cf. D2141.0.4, D2141.0.5, Q550.1.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M212.1 | Devil as helper of robber refuses to let women's ornaments be stolen. They are his own weapons. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 86. |
| M213 | Devil as substitute for day laborer at mowing. He mows with a magic sickle. The evil overseer tries to keep up with him and dies of overexhaustion. Type 820. |
| M212.2 | Devil at gallows repudiates his bargain with robber. Ring turns to rope. The judge cannot find a rope and is about to release the thief because of the miracle. But the ring in the box presented by the devil as a bribe turns out to be a rope. The man is hanged. *Krappe Archivum Romanicum VII 470ff.; *Wesselski Märchen 244 No. 54; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M216 | Devil bargains to help man become priest. He must not later exorcise him from people. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 50 No. 332. |
| M217 | Devil bargains to help man win woman. *Loomis White Magic 113; Alphabet No. 64; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 66 No. 508A*, Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. Cf. Cosquin études 545ff. (sale of self to magician). |
| M219.2.4 | Devil carries off hunt-loving priest. (Cf. G303.17.2.4.) England: *Baughman. |
| M219.2 | Devil fetches man contracted to him. |
| M219.2.2 | Devil flays corpse of person contracted to him. (Cf. Q457.2.) England: Baughman. |
| M219.2.6 | Devil puts body of convert on a sea monster which takes it away. U.S.: Baughman. |
| M214 | Devil to help gambler in exchange for one task yearly. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 55 No. 408A*. |
| M241.1 | Dividing the winnings: half of the bride demanded. When the hero shows that he is willing to carry out the bargain, his helper relents. *Type 505—508; *BP III 490; Köhler-Bolte I 11, 444; *Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte; English: Wells 160 (Sir Amadace); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M241.2 | Dividing the winnings: presents (favors) from man's own wife. After the agreement to divide all winnings the first man receives favors (presents, kisses) from the second's wife. He faithfully delivers them. *Type 1364; Wesselski Märchen 187 No. 2; English: Wells 55 (Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight). |
| M294 | Divine promise not to destroy sinful city if righteous live there. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M312.0.1 | Dream of future greatness. *Type 725; *BP I 324; Cox 500; MacCulloch Childhood 354; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.6.1 | Druid's curse makes land sterile. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M411.6 | Druid's curse. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M301.3 | Druids as prophets. Irish: Plummer clxii, *Cross. |
| M438.5 | Dying father condemns weak son to be servant of his brothers. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M257.1 | Dying hero's request and promise to disciples. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M411.3 | Dying man's curse. Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Aeschylus Agamemnon 235. |
| M251 | Dying man's promise will be kept. Fb "love" II 452a. |
| M257 | Dying monster's request and promise. Hero is to drink his blood, suck his eyes and brains, and give his heart to his loved one to eat. He will become marvelously strong and his wife will have three sons and four daughters with great powers. Köhler-Bolte I 117; Gascon: Bladé I 3, 181; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M414.12 | Earth cursed. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M312.3 | Eater of magic bird-heart will become rich (or king). *Type 567; *BP III 3; **Aarne MSFO XXV 176; Chauvin VI 170; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1138; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 190. |
| M312.3.1 | Eater of magic fish will have power to spit up treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M433 | Endless sleep given Endymion. Greek: Fox 245. |
| M420 | Enduring and overcoming curses. |
| M306.4 | Enigmatical prophecy: "He that is to kill you shall grow up in Braja (a place). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M306.5 | Enigmatical prophecy: "He who will kill your child is not here, but in the village." Africa (Fang): Tessman 187. |
| M306.3 | Enigmatical prophecy: princess will wed physician, fisherman and prince all in one. Man puts on the guise of all three, one on top of another. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M306.1 | Enigmatical prophecy: what thou sowest thou shalt not reap, etc. (Thou shalt have children and they shall not die, etc.) Jewish: Neuman, Gaster Exempla 217 No. 144, Gaster Oldest Stories 205. |
| M306 | Enigmatical prophecy. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M301.2.1 | Enraged old woman prophesies for youth. He has accidentally knocked her over (broken water pot, etc.). Type 516; *Cosquin études 555; *Köhler in Gonzenbach I 209ff.; *BP IV 189; *Penzer Pentamerone of Basile (London, 1932) I 11; Penzer Ocean V 171; Rösch FFC LXXVII 100; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M105 | Equivocal oaths. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M106 | Escape from vengeance caused by broken oaths. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M364.11 | Everyone buried in saint's soil shall go to heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M358.1 | Evil predictions concerning journeys. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M371.1 | Exposure (murder) of child to avoid fulfillment of prophecy of future greatness. Parent fears that the child will overcome him. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 167; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 142; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Greek; Fox 6f.; India: Thompson-Balys |
| M371.2 | Exposure of child to prevent fulfillment of parricide prophecy. *Type 931; Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Fox 48 (Oedipus); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M371 | Exposure of infant to avoid fulfillment of prophecy. *Type 930; **Aarne FFC XXIII 56, 91; *Encyc. Religion and Ethics s.v. "Abandonment and exposure"; *Krappe Revue de l'Histoire des Religions CVII (1933) 126ff.; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman, bin Gorion Born Judas I 165, 372; Greek: Fox 5, 118; India: Thompson-Balys. |
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