Folklore Database · Browse
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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| R135 | Abandoned children (wife, etc.) find way back by clue (bread-crumb, grain, pebble, etc.). They have dropped the objects while being led away. *Types 327, 431, 620, 955; *BP I 115ff., 124, 370; Köhler-Bolte I 134; *Penzer III 104 n. 2; Fb "ært" III 1153b, "gryn" IV 187a; *Saintyves Perrault 310. — Irish myth: Cross; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: *Dixon 227 n. 35, DeVries's list No. 147; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 442; Lkuсgen: Hill-Tout JAI XXXVII 334; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 145; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 120. |
| R143 | Abandoned man befriended by a Centaur. (Cf. B21.) Greek: Grote I 109. |
| R41.5 | Abducted princess fettered in hall with 100 doors. Bridal bed for her and giant in the midst. (Cf. R111.2.3.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R35 | Abducted princess gives birth to child. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R165.3 | Abducted wife brought back by fakir. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13 | Abduction by animal. Chinese: Graham. |
| R13.2.3 | Abduction by cat. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R11.2.2 | Abduction by demon. India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 507, 1053; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1386). |
| R11.2 | Abduction by devil. |
| R13.2 | Abduction by domestic beast. |
| R11.2.2.1 | Abduction by Echo. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R16.5 | Abduction by elephant-man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.1.10 | Abduction by elephant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.1.11 | Abduction by fox. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R11.3 | Abduction by giant. (Cf. F531, G100.) English romance: Malory V 5; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 166 No. 72; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Benedict II 334. |
| R22.1 | Abduction by giving soporific and rolling up in a cloak. *Chauvin V 23 No. 13 n. 2. |
| R22 | Abduction by giving soporific. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R13.2.3.1 | Abduction by goddess's cat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.1.9 | Abduction by leopard. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R39.1 | Abduction by magician. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R22.2 | Abduction by means of sleep-giving music. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R13.1.7 | Abduction by monkey. |
| R11 | Abduction by monster (ogre). (Cf. G440.) **Feilberg Bjærgtagen (København, 1910); Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 133—135, III Nos. 141f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 129, 1060; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 39. |
| R39.2 | Abduction by old woman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R12 | Abduction by pirates. |
| R13.1.8 | Abduction by rabbit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.3.1 | Abduction by ravens. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R18 | Abduction by rejected suitor. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R13.4 | Abduction by reptile. |
| R13.4.1 | Abduction by snake. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R32 | Abduction by stealing clothes of bathers. Africa (Cameroon): Lederbogen Märchen II 122f. No. 9. |
| R16.4 | Abduction by tiger-man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.1.4 | Abduction by tiger. |
| R16 | Abduction by transformed person. |
| R17 | Abduction by whirlwind. (Cf. D1520.28.) Hartland Science 175; Icelandic: Boberg; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 160 No. 23. |
| R13.1 | Abduction by wild beast. |
| R10.4.1 | Abduction of bridegroom and killing of his bride planned as giantess's revenge. Icelandic: Lagerholm 56—58, Boberg. |
| R11.1.1 | Abduction of girl by half bestial man (hair on body, nails of dog). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.1.4.2 | Abduction of woman by tiger. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 142. |
| R25 | Abduction through underground passage. |
| R23 | Abduction with aid of magic mask which renders invisible. (Cf. D1361.32.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| R39 | Abduction—miscellaneous. |
| R10 | Abduction. **Feilberg Bjærgtagen (København, 1910), Nissens Historie; **Hdwb. d. Märchens I 541ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 86, (Zuсi): Benedict II 334. |
| R24 | Abductor in disguise. (Cf. K1310.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R111.0.1 | All man's property offered to rescuer of stolen daughter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.16 | Angel rescues abandoned child. Jewish: Neuman. |
| R168 | Angels as rescuers. Irish myth: Cross (R169.12); Jewish: *Neuman. |
| R214 | Animal eludes bird watchman and escapes from his hole. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 112. |
| R121.4 | Ants carry silk threads to prisoner, who makes rope and escapes. They have thread tied to their feet. Fischer-Bolte 212. |
| R121.5 | Ariadne-thread. Prisoner given a thread as a clue to find his way out of the labyrinth in which he is being confined. *Herbert III 204; Oesterley No. 63; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 135 n. 3. |
| R13.1.1 | Baboons abduct boy. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 42. |
| R83 | Baker, disguised as old woman, substitutes for princess in cell when he brings bread to her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.8.8 | Barber rescues and befriends abandoned boy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.19 | Bard (poet) rescues abandoned child. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R45.3.1 | Bear keeps human wife captive in cave with stone at entrance. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R70 | Behavior of captives. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R123 | Boon granted after prayer and widow's son is released from prison. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R318.1 | Boy hidden under skin in order not to be seen and prophesied about. Icelandic: örvar-Odds saga 12—13. |
| R169.9 | Boy rescued by childless woman. Africa (Fang): Tessman 91. |
| R169.3 | Boy saved by werwolf. (Cf. D113.1.1.) English: Wells 19 (William of Palerne). |
| R169.2 | Boys rescued from beasts by hermit. (Cf. N843, R131.10.) Dickson 105. |
| R156 | Brother rescues sister(s). (Cf. G551.1.) Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa II No. 18; Greek: Grote I 156; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| R166 | Brothers having extraordinary skill rescue princess. *Type 653; BP III 45ff.; *Köhler-Bolte I 198, 439; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 7; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R155 | Brothers rescue brothers. Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.2.2 | Bull carries off devil after he has tried to deceive God. (Cf. A60.) Dh I 35. |
| R211.2 | Captive bores way out of prison. Icelandic: *Boberg; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 313 No. 98; Korean: Zong in-Sob 174 No. 75. |
| R212.1.2 | Captive buried alive to his neck fastens his teeth on jackal that comes to eat him and companions. Rest flee when they hear him howl. In struggles to get free jackal loosens earth around captive, who manages to free himself. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 570. |
| R211.5 | Captive hews through iron prison with sword. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R211.6 | Captive knocks prison roof off. (Cf. F627.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R71 | Captive prince joins captor out of gratitude for his freedom. (He had refused to promise that he would not fight again.) (Cf. W27.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| R85 | Captive protected by angel from abductor. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| R82 | Captive sends secret message outside (in orange or on handkerchief). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R53 | Captivity as refuge for the captive. Type 870. |
| R41.6 | Captivity in a pillar. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| R49.2 | Captivity in an oven. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| R41.2.2 | Captivity in bower. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R41.7 | Captivity in cages. (Cf. Q433.1.) Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Jewish: Neuman. |
| R41.1 | Captivity in castle. *Type 400; English: Wells 66 (Ywain and Gawain); Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R45.3 | Captivity in cave. |
| R41.3 | Captivity in dungeon. Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 22 (Sir Beues of Hamtoun); Jewish: Neuman. |
| R47 | Captivity in lower world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R45 | Captivity in mound (cave, hollow hill). *Type 870; *BP III 443ff., 450; *Fb "höj" I 740b, 741; **Liungman Traditionsstudie över sagan om prinsessan i jordkulan (Göteborg, 1925). — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 54 No. 405*A; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| R41.1.1 | Captivity in subterranean palace. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R42 | Captivity in sunken valley. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R41 | Captivity in tower (castle, prison). |
| R41.2 | Captivity in tower. *Type 310; Dickson 198 n. 8; Irish myth: *Cross; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 1, IV No. 6, Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R49.1 | Captivity in tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R41.3.4 | Captivity in well. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R43 | Captivity on island. Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R46 | Captivity under water. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R9 | Captivity—miscellaneous. |
| R0 | Captivity. |
| R5 | Capture on field of battle. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| R315.1 | Cave as eloping lovers' refuge. (Cf. R225, T35.) Schoepperle 391ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| R315 | Cave as refuge. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo, (Greenland): Rasmussen I 150. |
| R12.2.1 | Child abducted by robbers and brought up in their ways. Later becomes wealthy and law-abiding. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R16.2 | Child carried off by werwolf. (Cf. D113.1.1.) Hibbard 216. |
| R169.13 | Child rescued by nurse. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R131.15 | Children abandoned in a boat survive storm and are rescued. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R10.3 | Children abducted. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R13.0.1 | Children carried off by animals. *Hibbard 270 n. 10, 276; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R228 | Children leave home because their parents refuse them food. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R154.0.1 | Children rescue mother from lion's den. Dickson 57 n. 75. |
| R154 | Children rescue parents. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R315.2 | Christians crushed in cave where they take refuge from heathen. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R325 | Church (altar) as refuge. Fb "kirke" II 125b; Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 276 n. 4; Jewish: *Neuman; Gaster Thespis 303f.; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R345 | Cities of refuge. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| R50 | Conditions of captivity. |
| R9.5 | Cow imprisoned until it promises not to eat men. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.3.3 | Cowherd rescues abandoned child. Irish myth: *Cross; MacCulloch Celtic 74; English: Wells 20 (William of Palerne); Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 338 n. 1. |
| R131.17 | Coyote rescues abandoned child(ren). N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 89. |
| R246 | Crane-bridge. Fugitives are helped across a stream by a crane who lets them cross on his leg. The pursuer is either refused assistance or drowned by the crane. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 340 n. 227. |
| R245.1 | Crocodile-boat. Trickster props his jaws apart and leaves him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R135.1 | Crumb (grain) trail eaten by birds. Lost persons cannot find way back. *Types 327, 431; Missouri French: Carrière; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R154.3 | Daughter rescues father. Rumania: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 879*; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.16 | Death as rescuer. (Cf. R185.) Africa (Dahomé): Einstein 27. |
| R74.3 | Defeated enemy holds rank and country when he promises to pay tax to conqueror. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R74.1 | Defeated enemy turns conqueror's best friend. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R74.2 | Defeated enemy's son turns conqueror's man. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R75.1 | Defeated surrender their city. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R74 | Defeated warriors go into the conqueror's service. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R72 | Defiant prisoners refuse to accept grace even from their father unless it is granted them all. (Cf. M165.) Hdwb. d. Märchens II "Gnade ausbitten"; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R14 | Deity (demigod) abducts person. Greek: Grote I 35, 83, 261; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 183. |
| R131.11.4 | Deity rescues abandoned child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R181 | Demon enclosed in bottle released. *Type 331; *BP II 414ff., IV 321; Jewish: Neuman, **Levi Revue des études Juives LXXXV 137; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R181.1 | Demon imprisoned in tree released. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R11.2.1.1 | Devil carries off emperor because of his many murders. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| R11.2.1 | Devil carries off wicked people. Scala Celi 6b, 43a, 54b, 77b Nos. 39, 246, 306, 441; Fb "fanden" I 267a; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 55, Beal XXI 322; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 13 Nos. 116, 118; Spanish Exempla: Keller; West Indies: Flowers 571. |
| R325.1 | Devil chases ghost of wicked man until he puts his head into chapel window. (Cf. E754.) England: *Baughman. |
| R268 | Dew in footprints reveals man's way. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R152.1 | Disguised wife helps husband escape from prison. (Cf. R121.) *Types 880, 888, 890; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda; West Indies: Flowers 521. |
| R187.1 | Dord fían. A call used by members of a fían (warrior band) for summoning aid. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R13.3.2 | Eagle carries off youth. Greek: Fox 240 (Ganymede); Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R322 | Eagle's nest as refuge. Scottish: Campbell-McKay 1 n., 25; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 95. |
| R327 | Earth opens to rescue fugitive. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R236.3 | Earthquake saves fugitive. Jewish: Neuman. |
| R155.2 | Elder brother rescues younger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R225.1 | Elopement on winged horse. Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 110. |
| R225 | Elopement. *Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 106; *Thien Motive 27; *Boje 110ff.; *Krappe Revue Hispanique LXXVIII (1930) 489—543. — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus II 174 n. 1 (Helen); India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 860. |
| R355 | Eloping girl recaptured by parents. (Cf. R225.) Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 111. |
| R5.1 | Enemy host imprisoned by earthen walls thrown up by hero's chariot wheels. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R4.1 | Enemy surprised while bathing: taken. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R341 | Escape by intervention of Providence. (Cf. F942.1.) |
| R324.1 | Escape from battle by flying in air. Irish myth: *Cross; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 81, 86, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 315, 541f., (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 151, (Greenland): Rasmussen III 99f., Rink 320, 455, 460. |
| R215.2 | Escape from death by boiling oil. Irish myth: Cross. |
| R215.3 | Escape from execution on flying wooden horse. (Cf. D1626.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 839. |
| R215.1 | Escape from execution pyre by means of wings. *Type 575. |
| R215.1.2 | Escape from execution pyre through underground passage. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 600b. nn. 17—18. |
| R215 | Escape from execution. |
| R218 | Escape from fairyland. (Cf. F210.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R212 | Escape from grave. |
| R213 | Escape from home. |
| R253 | Escape from nest of giant bird by seizing two young birds and jumping. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 201. |
| R211.7 | Escape from pit of snakes by means of rope. (Cf. Q465, R41.3.1.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R211.9 | Escape from prison because of bribed guards. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 355. |
| R211 | Escape from prison. Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| R175.1 | Escape from sacrificial altar on ram with golden fleece. Greek: Grote I 117. |
| R216.1 | Escape from ship by jumping into the sea. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R216 | Escape from ship while captors quarrel. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R211.4 | Escape from slavery (pirates). (Cf. R61.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| R211.3 | Escape through underground passage. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 7. |
| R326 | Escape to fairyland. (Cf. F210.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R321.2 | Escape to moon. Pursued hero escapes to moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R321 | Escape to the stars. Fugitives rise in the air and become stars. (Cf. R324.) Greek: Fox 250; Hindu: Keith 76; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 218 No. 98; Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 360; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 291f. nn. 71, 71a; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158, 164, (Jivaro): ibid. 149. |
| R200 | Escapes and pursuits. |
| R219 | Escapes—miscellaneous. |
| R210 | Escapes. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.11 | Exalted person rescues abandoned child. Dickson 170. |
| R176 | Executioner miraculously blinded: condemned man saved. Jewish: *bin Gorion Born Judas I 39, 361, Neuman. |
| R142 | Exposed children swallowed by earth; vomited up when grown. (Cf. F900.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| R131 | Exposed or abandoned child rescued. Gaster Oldest Stories 171; Icelandic: *Boberg; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II No. 19, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 138—41; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R121.8 | Fairy mound destroyed to rescue person confined in it. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R33 | Fairy physician abducted to heal wounded mortals. (Cf. F344.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| R131.12 | Fairy rescues abandoned child. (Cf. F311.) Krappe Balor 3; Irish myth: Cross. |
| R53.4 | Faithful servant locks his master and his friend up in a little house built from wood from their wrecked ships; they falsely think themselves betrayed. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R153.2.1 | Father hides children from murderous mother. After many years they come forth and she dies of fright. *Type 765. |
| R153.3.6 | Father hides son from Satan. Jewish: Neuman. |
| R153.2 | Father rescues children. |
| R153.5 | Father rescues daughter. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Lagerholm 134ff., *Boberg; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 85, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 584, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 164. |
| R153.3.1 | Father rescues son captured by enemy. Type 899*; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| R153.3.4 | Father rescues son from prison. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R153.3.2 | Father rescues son stolen by animals. Africa (Bushmen, South of Zambesi): Theal 56. |
| R153.3 | Father rescues son(s). Icelandic: Lagerholm 170ff., *Boberg. |
| R153.3.5 | Fathers thrust sons above water even as they themselves drown. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| R135.1.1 | Feathers left to mark trail blown away by wind. S. A. Indian (Warrau): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 145. |
| R9.4 | Fire-maiden imprisoned in iron house. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.4 | Fisher rescues abandoned child. *Types 707, 930; BP II 380ff.; *Boje 65, 126; *Aarne FFC XXIII 62; English: Wells 14 (The Lay of Havelok); Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| R252 | Flight by vaulting on stick. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 92. |
| R242 | Flight carrying friend (girl) on back. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R227.2 | Flight from hated husband. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R251 | Flight on a tree, which ogre tries to cut down. **Parsons Zs. f. Ethnologie LIV 1-29; Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXXIII—XXXIV 38; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 9 No. 3; Africa (Togo): Einstein 12f.; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 121 n. 3, 125, 131f.; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 91 No. 12. Cf. Thompson Tales 341 n. 230. Most African references in B421. |
| R241 | Flight on skis; two on one pair. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R220 | Flights. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.10.1 | Fool rescues girl and wins her for his wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R312.1 | Forest as refuge of eloping lovers. (Cf. R225.) Schoepperle 391ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R312 | Forest as refuge. |
| R131.8.5 | Forester rescues abandoned child. *Boje 125ff.; Sparnaay 43; Chinese: Ferguson 41. |
| R255 | Formula for girl fleeing: behind me night, etc. "Behind me night and before me day that no one shall see where I go." *Type 510B; *BP II 46; Ainu: Ikeda (Type 175). |
| R236.1 | Fugitive aided by magic mist. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| R231.2 | Fugitive cuts tail of camel caught by pursuer and it turns into grass. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R351 | Fugitive discovered by reflection in water. *Type 408; *Cox 503; *Cosquin Contes indiens 85ff.; *Köhler-Bolte I 281; Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 64 to Gonzenbach No. 14; Malone PMLA XLIII 399.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 212, Dixon 140 n. 21, 226 n. 33; New Hebrides, Torres Straits, New Guinea: ibid. 140 n. 21; Melanesia: ibid. 226 n. 33; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 352 n. 270. |
| R236.4 | Fugitive has magic wind against him, pursuer with him (caused by goddess). Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R233 | Fugitive kills pursuer and takes his extraordinary horse to continue flight. Boje 96ff. |
| R243 | Fugitives aided by helpful animal. (Cf. B520.) |
| R235 | Fugitives cut support of bridge so that pursuer falls. Indonesia: Dixon 229. |
| R257 | Fugitives sustain selves on apples. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 90b no. 3. |
| R267 | Fugitives trailed by mustard seeds (ashes) dropped from bag. (Cf. R135.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 127ff. |
| R138.2 | Gam rescues hero as boy from shipwreck. Icelandic: Lagerholm 163—164. |
| R131.8.2 | Gardener rescues abandoned child. India: *Thompson-Balys; Palaung tribe: Scott Indo-Chinese 276. |
| R211.1 | Giant breaks from tower prison. Dickson 130 n. 102; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| R164.1 | Giant rescues maiden. Dickson 154. |
| R164.2 | Giant rescues woman from burning at stake. (Cf. R175.) *Dickson 130 n. 102. |
| R13.1.6 | Girl abducted by bear and made his wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.1.7.1 | Girl carried off by monkeys. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R13.2.1 | Girl carried off by ram. (Cf. R10.1.) Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bélier". |
| R12.4 | Girl enticed into boat and abducted. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R224 | Girl flees to escape incestuous brother. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R318 | Girl hidden in skin of her dead mother. Köhler-Bolte I 346. |
| R53.3 | Girl locked up in order to postpone wedding. Icelandic: Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 306. |
| R111.6 | Girl rescued and then abandoned. Types 300, 303; *Ranke FFC CXIV. |
| R111.3.1 | Girl rescued by traveling through air. Jones PMLA XXIII 563; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R111.2.5 | Girl rescued from tree. Chinese: Graham. |
| R131.3.2 | Goatherd rescues abandoned child. Greek: Fox 280. |
| R2 | God holds the devil captive for three years. Dh. I 184. |
| R110.1 | Goddess delivers and restores goods of man thrown into jail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R8 | Gods captured. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.8.7 | Gold-washer rescues abandoned child. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R9.2 | Grain and pulse in human form imprisoned by wicked king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R41.4 | Groom as prisoner in his and giantess's bridal chamber. (Cf. R41.5.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R231.2.1 | Helpful animal's tail cut off so pursuers who hang onto tail are shaken off into river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.3 | Herdsman rescues abandoned child. (Cf. S351.2.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.10 | Hermit rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N843, R169.2.) English: Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne); Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| R10.4 | Hero abducted by witch who loves him. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R5.2 | Hero captured by being pressed between shields from all sides. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R133.1 | Hero finds his vanished wife and disenchants her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.1 | Hero in disguise of foolish knight, then of black knight, rescues lady. (Cf. R222.) English: Wells 147 (Ipomadon). |
| R54 | Hero locked up while his father is murdered. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| R169.5 | Hero rescued by friend. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| R161.0.1 | Hero rescued by his lady. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R169.12 | Hero rescued by sailors. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| R169.4 | Hero rescued by servant. (Cf. P361, R53.4.) *Type 519, 851; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R111.4 | Hero returns rescued princess to her betrothed. Type 506; BP III 490ff. |
| R331 | Hero takes refuge at king's court. *Dickson 143 nn. 140—42; Deutschbein 34; *Boje 74ff. |
| R169.5.1 | Hero's wife rescued by his faithful friend. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R221 | Heroine's three-fold flight from ball. Cinderella (Cap o' Rushes) after meeting the prince at a ball (church) flees before identification is possible. Repeated three times. *Type 510; **Cox 1—121, 437—446 passim; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 123f.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 6; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R187 | Horn of Roncevalles. Hero calls aid of waiting soldiers on horn. *Thien Motive 32; Old French: Chanson de Roland. |
| R131.8.1 | Horse-keeper rescues abandoned child. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 82 n. 2. |
| R121.3 | House burned (torn) down to deliver man imprisoned in it. *Chauvin VI 74 No. 239. |
| R131.1 | Hunter rescues abandoned child. *Type 930; *Aarne FFC XXIII 56, 59; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Fox 22 (Telephos), 57 (Atalanta). |
| R151.1.1 | Husband frees wife who has sold herself into slavery in order to ransom him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
If you wish to get access to data for projects and research, then please contact us, we do our best to help
How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
Please cite the relevant sources, catalogues, and classification systems, including the Folklore Database, Berezkin-Duvakin Catalogue, ATU, Thompson, alongside the page accessed and the last time accessed. Please respect copyright and licenses.
Editorial annotations and database enhancements © Jonathan Fielder-White licensed under CC BY 4.0. Berezkin-Duvakin derived narrative and metadata licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Full rights information can be found here.
All rights are reserved in the database structure, selection, arrangement, metadata, classifications, software, interface design, and original editorial content.
Important: The Folklore Database expressly reserves all rights in relation to text and data mining, automated extraction, scraping, machine learning, dataset creation, and the training, development, validation, or improvement of artificial intelligence technologies or systems. No part of this website or database may be scraped, copied, reproduced, harvested, downloaded in bulk, or otherwise used for AI training or commercial data extraction without prior written permission.
Designed and Developed by Jonathan Fielder-White.
© 2024–2026 Crecganford / Jonathan Fielder-White. All rights reserved.