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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.

509 motifs

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Thompson reference Description ▲
R151.1 Husband rescues stolen wife. (Cf. H1385.3, R11.1.) Krappe Revue Celtique XLVIII (1931) 94—123; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 46 No. 316; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 342 n. 235; Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 399 No. 1.
R151.2 Husband rescues wife from burning at stake. (Cf. R175.) *Dickson 78.
R151.3 Husband rescues wife from cannibal. (Cf. G10.) Chinese: Graham.
R151 Husband rescues wife. Irish myth: Cross.
R115.1 Husband transformed into mouse so he can enter cave-prison of his wife. India: Thompson-Balys.
R325.2 Idol cracks open to grant refuge to fugitive in answer to prayer; then closes again. India: Thompson-Balys.
R74.3.1 Imprisoned king's son released when he promises to be a faithful subject and pay tax. Icelandic: *Boberg.
R45.2 Imprisonment in lion's den. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 5; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: Neuman.
R131.20 Indians rescue abandoned children. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule.
R165.2 Innocently hanged person saved by saint. Icelandic: Boberg.
R217 Inscription accidentally seen tells hero how to escape captivity. Africa (Swahili): Steere 331ff.
R111.7 Joint rescuers quarrel over rescued princess. Type 653; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Konde): Gemuseus und Berger ZsES XXIII 1ff., (Tanga): Nassau JAFL XXVIII 30ff. No. 5, (Vai): Ellis 200f. No. 18.
R191 King (prince) returns home (from exile) and rescues his native country. Icelandic: *Boberg.
R311.2 King escapes pursuers through hollow tree in his hall. Icelandic: Boberg.
R9.6 King imprisons all living creatures. India: Thompson-Balys.
R3 King imprisons another king's embassy. Thien Motive 10.
R131.11.2 King rescues abandoned child. Dickson 170 n. 24; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R115 King transformed to parrot frees captured parrots. (Cf. D641.) *Fischer-Bolte 209.
R31 Light extinguished and woman stolen. (Cf. R10.1.) Icelandic: *Boberg; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 343 n. 237.
R341.1 Lightning strikes branch on which man is being hanged. Delay gives him chance to prove his innocence. (Cf. R175.) U.S.: *Baughman.
R13.1.2 Lion carries off child. Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
R121.6.2 Locks marvelously open for person. Irish myth: Cross (F1088.4); Jewish: Neuman.
R133.2 Lost wife restored by conjurer. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 246.
R10.1.2 Lover abducts maiden from cruel father and brother. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
R161.1 Lover rescues his lady from abductor. Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 80 (Sir Tristrem); India: Thompson-Balys.
R161.3 Lover rescues his lady from drowning. Icelandic: *Boberg.
R161.4 Lover rescues his lady from the gallows. England, U.S.: *Baughman, Child No. 95.
R161 Lover rescues his lady. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; West Indies: Flowers 571.
R12.3 Lovers abducted by pirates. Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
R225.2 Lovers elope to prevent girl's marriage to undesired fiancé. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 98.
R352 Lovers fleeing from slavery are recaptured. (Cf. R211.4.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
R121.7 Lovers ransomed from prison. Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
R262 Magic eel pursues man over land. Irish myth: Cross.
R112 Magic rescue of prisoner from mound. (Cf. R45.) *Fb "höj" I 740b; Irish myth: Cross; Spanish: Espinosa III No. 140; India: Thompson-Balys.
R12.1 Maiden abducted by pirates (robbers). (Cf. R10.1.) *Reinhard PMLA XXXVIII 465; Irish myth: *Cross; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 981.
R10.1.1 Maiden abducted by soldiers. Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
R16.1 Maiden abducted by transformed hero. (Cf. D658, D2121.7, R10.1.) *Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 112; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 57 No. 425.
R111.1.11 Maiden rescued from rakshasa. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R12.2 Man abducted by pirates. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; Italian Novella: *Rotunda.
R219.2 Man and wife escape from land of dead upon a vine. (Cf. E481.) Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 185.
R212.1.1 Man buried alive escapes from tomb when thief tries to rob it. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
R212.2 Man buried alive with beloved escapes, as thieves break open the tomb. Icelandic: Boberg.
R212.1 Man buried alive with king escapes from the tomb. Follows noise made by sea animal and finds way out to sea. Chauvin VII 19 No. 373D n. 3.
R219.1 Man carried off on bed escapes by grasping tree limbs as he passes under tree. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R45.1 Man confined under roots of tree. N. A. Indian (Seneca): CurtinHewitt RBAE XXXII 705 No. 135.
R167 Master rescues disciple. India: Thompson-Balys.
R121 Means of rescue from prison.
R111.3 Means of rescuing princess.
R7 Men held captive in the Land of Women. (Cf. F112.) India: Thompson-Balys.
R131.7 Merchant rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N851.) Dickson 104 n. 13; Jewish: *Neuman.
R138.1 Mermaid rescues hero (boy) from shipwreck. Icelandic: Lagerholm 164f., Boberg.
R137 Mermaid rescues heroine who has been thrown overboard. (Cf. B81.) Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 7; India: Thompson-Balys.
R6 Messenger of Death imprisoned. India: Thompson-Balys.
R351.1 Milk drops from woman's breast on tiger's leg and reveals her hiding place in tree. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 156, 161.
R131.2 Miller rescues abandoned child. *Types 707, 930; BP II 380ff.; *Aarne FFC XXIII 61; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 116.
R131.2.1 Miller rescues drowning princess. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule.
R131.11.5 Minister's son recovers prince's lost wife for him. India: Thompson-Balys.
R131.0.2 Miraculous rescue of all exposed children. Jewish: Neuman.
R122 Miraculous rescue. Irish myth: Cross.
R51 Mistreatment of prisoners. Irish myth: Cross.
R185.1 Mortal deceives Angel of Death. (Cf. V233.) Jewish: Neuman.
R185 Mortal fights with "Death". (Cf. R169.16.) *BP III 293; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 92 n. 3, Fox 38, 107 (Alcestis, Sisyphus); India: Thompson-Balys.
R153.4.2 Mother hides twin (triplet) sons to keep them from death. (Cf. S314.) Africa (Fang): Tessman 90, Einstein 56.
R153.4.1 Mother rescues fettered son. Icelandic: Boberg.
R153.4 Mother rescues son.
R323.2 Murderer escapes to sky in magic chariot. Greek: Euripides' Medea.
R323.1 Murderer escapes to sky on sky rope. (Cf. F51.) India: Thompson-Balys.
R314 Negro takes refuge under princess's throne. Malone PMLA XLIII 407.
R111.5 Nobleman rescues lady from treacherous servant. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
R131.0.1 Nurse begs alms from door to door so as to keep child and nurture him. India: Thompson-Balys.
R231 Obstacle flight—Atalanta type. Objects are thrown back which the pursuer stops to pick up while the fugitive escapes. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 526; Köhler-Bolte I 430; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 122—25; Greek: Roscher Lexikon s.v. "Absyrtos"; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 860; Japanese: Anesaki 224; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 342 n. 232; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 74; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 99 No. 18, 125 No. 22, (Zulu): Callaway 145, (Angola): Chatelain 101 No. 6, (Kaffir): Theal 46 No. 2, (Yoruba): Ellis 269 No. 4.
R49.3 Ogre seizes girl and puts her in a drum. Africa (Luba): DeClerq ZsKS IV 225.
R231.1 Ogre tries to retain fugitive by tempting him with gold ring; but he takes ring by cutting off the hand. Icelandic: Boberg.
R9.3 Ogress captured and reformed. India: Thompson-Balys.
R153.3.3 Old robber frees his three sons: relates frightful adventures. In order to free them he must relate three adventures, each more frightful than the last. *Type 953; *BP III 369; Wesselski Märchen 217 No. 29.
R49 Other places of captivity.
R169 Other rescuers.
R131.8 Other workmen rescue abandoned child.
R131.13 Palmer rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N846.1.) English: Wells 118 *(Octovian).
R153.1.1 Parents rescue son from lower world on rope. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 86 No. 13.
R153.1 Parents rescue son.
R153 Parents rescues child. (Cf. S351.)
R131.6 Peasant rescues abandoned child. Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 139; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Babylonian: Spence 17, 157; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R13.3 Person carried off by bird. German: Grimm No. 51; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 183, 201; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 79; Africa (Yoruba): Frobenius Atlantis X 222ff. No. 14.
R131.3.3.1 Person pushed into well by wife rescued by cowherd. India: Thompson-Balys.
R61 Person sold into slavery. *Types 506, 888; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Fang): Einstein 151.
R131.18 Pious woman rescues abandoned child. Irish myth: Cross.
R40 Places of captivity. Missouri French: Carrière.
R131.9 Porter rescues abandoned child. English: Wells 126 (Lai Le Freine).
R131.8.6 Potter rescues abandoned child(ren). India: *Thompson-Balys.
R169.8 Predestined rescuer. South Africa: Bourhill and Drake 237ff. No. 20.
R10.2 Pretended abduction. Adulterous wife plots own abduction by paramour. Irish myth: Cross.
R24.1 Prince disguised as holy man abducts princess. India: Thompson-Balys.
R213.1 Prince escapes from home in order to see world. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R131.11.3 Prince rescues abandoned child. Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8.
R24.2 Princely suitor in minstrel disguise carries princess away. India: Thompson-Balys.
R11.1 Princess (maiden) abducted by monster (ogre). (Cf. R10.1.) *Types 301, 302, 311, 312; *BP I 398, 404, II 301, 317, III 434; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 544b, 547a nn. 60—79, 140—174; *Fb "brud" IV 64b.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Korean: Zong in-Sob 221 No. 98; Japanese: Dixon 215 n. 17; Eskimo (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 167; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 341f. nn. 228, 228a, 231, 235.
R10.1 Princess (maiden) abducted. (Cf. R11.1, R12.1, R13.1, R16.1, R17.1, R25.1, R31.) *Types 301, 302, 311, 312; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 553b nn. 296—315; Feilberg Bjærgtagen (København 1910).—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "princesse"; Spanish: Espinosa II No. 133—135; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Grote I 156; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 220.
R111.1 Princess (maiden) rescued from captor. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R25.1 Princess abducted through underground passage. (Cf. R10.1.) *Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 102; BP I 46ff.; Icelandic: Boberg.
R313 Princess hides in straw. *Fb "halmstrе" I 540.
R121.1 Princess pulled through prison window by hand and freed. Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 280 No. 91, 283 No. 92.
R111.1.6 Princess ransomed from slavery. (Cf. R61.) *Type 506A; India: Thompson-Balys.
R161.2 Princess rescued by blind man restores his sight and marries him. India: Thompson-Balys.
R111.1.12 Princess rescued from captivity of elephant. India: Thompson-Balys.
R111.2.3 Princess rescued from giant's cave where she is fettered to a chair by the hair. (Cf. R41.5.) Icelandic: *Boberg.
R111.2 Princess rescued from place of captivity. India: Thompson-Balys.
R111.1.2 Princess rescued from robbers. *Types 506B, 970**; *BP III 490ff.; *Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte; Icelandic: Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 7; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R111.2.4 Princess rescued from temple where she is imprisoned. Icelandic: Bуsa saga 30ff ch. 8, 114ff ch. 12, Boberg.
R111.1.9 Princess rescued from undesired suitor. Icelandic: *Boberg.
R131.11.1 Princess rescues abandoned child. Sparnaay 33; Dickson 37, 170; Jewish: *Neuman; China: Eberhard FFC CXX 99ff. No. 58, FFC CXXVIII 76f. No. 34.
R111.2.1 Princess(es) rescued from lower world. *Type 301; *BP II 300; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 25; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II 133—135; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: Dixon 215.
R41.3.1 Prison filled with snakes. (Cf. Q465.1.) *Boje 92; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 436b nn. 183—198; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
R41.3.3 Prison floor with spikes in it. Boje 91ff.
R41.3.2 Prison with stream of water in it. Boje 93.
R122.2 Prisoner carried off in cloud. (Cf. D2121.7.) Irish myth: Cross.
R51.4 Prisoner massacred. Jewish: Neuman.
R122.1 Prisoner whirled away in blaze of fire. Irish myth: Cross.
R84 Prisoner's sustenance from outside prison. (Cf. R81.) Jewish: *Neuman.
R51.2 Prisoners confined in chains. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
R51.3 Prisoners mutilated. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
R51.1 Prisoners starved. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
R265 Pursuer (witch, giant) pulls out tail of fugitive's horse. Fb "hale" IV 197b; cf. Burns "Tam O' Shanter"; India: Thompson-Balys.
R272 Pursuer follows successive night campfires (each brighter than last). Chinese: Graham.
R243.1 Pursuer misdirected by animal to help fugitive. India: Thompson-Balys.
R236 Pursuers aided by magic weather phenomenon. Jewish: *Neuman.
R271 Pursuit by fire. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 82.
R261.1 Pursuit by rolling head. *Kittredge Gawain and the Green Knight 189 n. 1; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 343 nn. 238, 238a, *Alexander N. A. Myth. 290 n. 37; cf. JAFL II 69; (California): Gayton and Newman 79; S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684, (Chaco, Warrau, Shipaya): Lowie ibid. 54f., (Tenetehara): Wagley-Galvao ibid. 148; Africa (Congo): Weeks 207 n. 4.
R261 Pursuit by rolling object.
R260 Pursuits. Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys.
R41.5.1 Queen kept in palace of forty doors, each of them watched by a dog. Africa (Dahome): Einstein 25.
R111.1.6.1 Queen rescued from slavery. Irish myth: Cross.
R350 Recapture of fugitive.
R324 Refuge in air. Fugitive supernaturally rises in air to escape. (Cf. R321.) India: Thompson-Balys.
R323 Refuge in upper world.
R316.1 Refuge on island. Icelandic: Boberg.
R316 Refuge on rock in sea. Finnish: Kalevala rune 4.
R336 Refuge under kettle. Icelandic: Boberg.
R300 Refuges and recapture.
R310 Refuges. *Encyc. Rel. & Ethics s.v. "Asylum".
R175 Rescue at the stake. (Cf. R151.2, R154.1.1, R164.2, R215.) *Dickson 78 n. 40; *Boje 116ff.; English: Wells 97 (Chevalere Assigne); Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 572.
R162 Rescue by captor's daughter (wife, mother). Types 516, 975**; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 102; *Loomis White Magic 117; Basset RTP XVI 614; Irish myth: Cross; English: Wells 85 (The Sowdone of Babylone); Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus II 135 n. 3 (Ariadne); India: *Thompson-Balys.
R164 Rescue by giant. (Cf. G100.) India: Thompson-Balys.
R163 Rescue by grateful dead man. (Cf. E341.) *Types 505—508; **Liljeblad passim; India: Thompson-Balys.
R165 Rescue by saint (holy man). (Cf. R121.6.) Alphabet No. 560; *Loomis White Magic 93; Irish: Plummer cxlix, *Cross.
R169.15 Rescue by stranger. India: Thompson-Balys.
R117 Rescue from being burned. (Cf. R175.) Icelandic: Lagerholm 117—18, *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman.
R211.8 Rescue from prison by beheading giant keeper. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule.
R121.6 Rescue from prison by saint, who enters and breaks fetters. (Cf. R165.) Alphabet No. 436; *Loomis White Magic 89, 93; Icelandic: *Boberg.
R116 Rescue from robbers' den. (Cf. R111.1.2.) *Type 851; BP I 188ff.; French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R138 Rescue from shipwreck. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys.
R141 Rescue from well. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R130 Rescue of abandoned or lost persons.
R169.4.1 Rescue of bride from mysterious perils by hidden faithful servant. Type 516; *Rösch FFC LXXVII 128; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R111 Rescue of captive maiden. (Cf. H1385.1, R10.1.) *Sparnaay 45ff.; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 550a nn. 219, 220, 554b; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "princesse"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 133—35, III Nos. 140, 143; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 334ff.
R110 Rescue of captive.
R111.2.3.1 Rescue of earl's daughter from giant's cave where she is chained to the wall (a pillar). Icelandic: *Boberg.
R111.1.13 Rescue of girl from tigers. Chinese: Graham.
R169.4.2 Rescue of king's children by faithful servant. Icelandic: Boberg.
R111.1.8 Rescue of maidens from witches. (Cf. G200.) Icelandic: *Boberg.
R165.1 Rescue of poor girl by St. Nicholas. Saint keeps her from being sold into slavery. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
R111.1.3 Rescue of princess (maiden) from dragon. *Types 300, 303; *Hartland Perseus III 1—65 passim; **Ranke FFC CXIV; *BP I 534; *Loomis White Magic 119. See also references to B11.10 and B11.11. — Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 133—135, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 68f.; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 158 n. 3; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.
R111.1.4 Rescue of princess (maiden) from giant (monster). (Cf. G100.) *Dickson 132 n. 106; *Brown Iwain 50 n. 1; Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 117 (Sir Torrent of Portyngale); Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.
R111.1.7 Rescue of princess (maiden) from magician. (Cf. D1711.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg.
R111.1.10 Rescue of princess (queen, maiden) from supernatural being who has won her at game of chance. Irish myth: *Cross.
R111.2.2 Rescue of princess from mountain. *Type 530; *BP III 111; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 143, 144 (Siegfried and Brunhilde).
R111.1.1 Rescue of princess from ogre. See references to R11.1. Type 590; BP III 1; *Basset RTP III 562; English: Wells 64 (The Avowynge of King Arthur), 66 (Ywain and Gawain), 70 (Libeaus Disconus); Irish myth: *Cross: Spanish: Espinosa III No. 143; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 3; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 307, 359; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Benedict II 341.
R112.3 Rescue of prisoners from fairy stronghold. Irish myth: *Cross.
R111.1.13.1 Rescue of woman from bear's cave. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; India: Thompson-Balys.
R111.1.5 Rescue of woman from snake-husband. (Cf. B604.1.) Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 272 No. 85.
R170 Rescue—miscellaneous motifs.
R188 Rescued person horrifies rescuers: e.g., they swoon on seeing him. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 2. and note.
R111.8 Rescued person stolen from rescuer.
R111.8.1 Rescued woman stolen from rescuer by demon. India: Thompson-Balys.
R111.8.2 Rescued woman stolen from rescuer by other men. India: Thompson-Balys.
R121.2 Rescuer impersonates captive and deceives blind guardian while captive escapes. Mangaia (Cook Group): Dixon 75.
R150 Rescuers. Missouri French: Carrière.
R100 Rescues.
R13.1.3 Rhinoceros carries off man. India: Thompson-Balys.
R112.2 Riding three times around hill to free captive confined within. Fb "ride" III 52b.
R335 Roof as refuge for pursued animals. West Indies: *Flowers 573 —75, Parsons MAFLS XVIII (3) 26 No. 6.
R169.7 Royal minister rescues abandoned queen(s). (Cf. P110.) India: Thompson-Balys.
R131.14 Sailors rescue abandoned child. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2.
R121.6.1 Saint appears to captor in vision and demands prisoner's release. (Cf. R165.) Irish myth: Cross.
R325.3 Saint offers murderer refuge. Irish myth: Cross.
R131.5 Servant rescues abandoned child. Irish myth: *Cross, Icelandic: Gunnlaugs saga Ormstungu ch. 3, Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda.
R131.3.1 Shepherd rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N841.) *Type 930; Hartland Perseus III 3 ff.; *Aarne FFC XXIII 56ff.; Dickson 101, 170; *Nutt FLR IV 1ff. — Roman: Fox 307 (Romulus and Remus); Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Longus Daphnis and Chloe, Fox 43 (Zethos and Amphion), 48 (Oedipus), 118 (Paris).
R244 Ships burned to prevent flight. Icelandic: Boberg.
R321.1 Sister escapes to the stars to avoid marrying brother. He is the thunder and her face is Lightning. India: Thompson-Balys.
R158 Sister rescues brother(s). *Type 707; Icelandic: *Boberg; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVII No. 879*; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R157 Sisters rescue sisters. (Cf. G551.2.)
R41.2.1 Slandered wife is locked in tower for forty days. If no champion appears, she is to be burned. Former suitor rescues her. Spanish: Childers.
R131.8.4 Smith rescues abandoned child. (Cf. N855.) Krappe Balor 3; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: De la Saussaye 143.
R245.2 Snake king takes fleeing captives across river. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 785.
R154.2.1 Son frees father by bringing riddle the king cannot solve. (Cf. H542.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 112 No. 927*B.
R154.2.2 Son recovers father's bones. Hawaii: Beckwith myth 259, 263, 346f.; Tahiti: ibid. 266; Maori: ibid. *249.
R154.2 Son rescues father. Type 301C*; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R154.1.1 Son rescues mother from burning at stake. (Cf. R175.) *Dickson 128ff. nn. 98, 99.
R154.1 Son rescues mother. Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 207.
R154.2.3 Sons rescue father. India: Thompson-Balys.
R311.3 Stolen child found in hollow tree. India: Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.1 Stolen wife makes trail of speaking spittle for husband. Spittle speaks and directs him. Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 263 No. 67.
R111.2.1.1 Stolen woman rescued from lower world. India: Thompson-Balys.
R246.1 Stone bridge appears for fugitives. Disappears and drowns pursuers. Loomis White Magic 130.
R121.9 Stream carries communication between prisoner and rescuer. Irish myth: Cross.
R311.4 Stretching tree refuge for fugitive. (Cf. D482.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys.
R9.1.2 Sun and Moon captured by creditor, thus causing eclipse. India: Thompson-Balys.
R9.1.3 Sun and Moon imprison each other. India: Thompson-Balys.
R9.1.1 Sun captured during visit to earth. India: Thompson-Balys.
R9.1 Sun captured.
R236.2 Sun sets at high noon to hide fugitive. (Cf. F965.) Jewish: *Neuman.
R227.3 Supernatural wife finds garment stolen from her by husband and leaves him. India: Thompson-Balys.
R4 Surprise capture. Irish myth: *Cross.
R75 Surrendering.
R131.3.4 Swineherd rescues abandoned child. Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R311.1.1 Thorn-brake as refuge. Irish myth: Cross.
R112.1 Three blasts on horn before sunrise to rescue prisoner from mound. *Fb "höj" I 740b.
R13.1.4.1 Tiger abducts man. India: Thompson-Balys.
R13.1.4.2.1 Tigers abduct princess to be wife of their human ward. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.6 Trail of ashes. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.7 Trail of flowers. India: Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.2 Trail of grain (seeds). (Cf. R267.) India: *Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.3 Trail of jewels. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.2.1 Trail of rice husks. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.4 Trail of shreds of dress. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R135.0.5 Trail of thread. India: *Thompson-Balys.
R152.5 Transformed wife takes husband out of captivity. India: Thompson-Balys.
R311 Tree refuge. Type 162*; *Fb "træ" III 865a; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 199a; BP I 429, II 195f.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "arbres"; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 341 n. 230; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 62; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 145, 346.
R311.1 Trees magically hide a fugitive. Dh II 40ff.; N. A. Indian: Kroeber JAFL XXI 225.
R182 True rescuer hidden by girl when he arrives to claim her. India: Thompson-Balys.
R169.11 Unknown helper(s) emerge(s) in the last moment and turn(s) out later to be well known. (Cf. R222.) Icelandic: *Boberg.
R222 Unknown knight. (Three days' tournament.) For three days in succession an unknown knight in different armor wins a tournament and escapes without recognition. Finally identified by tokens. **Weston The Three Days Tournament; *Types 314, 502; *BP III 111; *Child V 44ff.; *Webster Kittredge Memorial Volume 227; Bruce MLN XXIV 257; *Hibbard 226 n. 2; *Fb "hest" I 598a; Zs. f. Vksk. IV 98; RTP VIII 82. — English: Wells 48 (Lancelot of the Laik), 147 (Ipomadon); Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson CColl II 349ff., 407, (Wichita): Dorsey JAFL XVI 160, (Skidi Pawnee): Dorsey MAFLS VIII Nos. 40, 41.
R169.10 Unpromising hero as rescuer. (Cf. L100.) India: Thompson-Balys.
R133 Vanished wife rescued.
R75.2.1 Warriors flee after chief's death. Icelandic: Boberg.
R75.2 Warriors surrender after chief's death. Icelandic: Boberg.
R131.8.3 Washerman rescues abandoned child. Palaung tribe: Scott Indo-Chinese 277.
R317 Well (spring) as refuge. Fb "kilde" II 118b; Irish myth: Cross; Africa (Benga): Nassau 225 No. 33, (Kaffir): Theal 129, (Basuto): Jacottet 160 No. 23.
R245 Whale-boat. A man is carried across the water on a whale (fish). (He usually deceives the whale as to the nearness of the land or as to hearing thunder. As a consequence the whale runs into the shore or is killed by lightning.) *Loomis White Magic 91; cf. Aarne FFC XXIII 137; Maori: Dixon 8; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 327 n. 179; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 256f. Nos. 38, 39, 275 No. 86; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 310 n. 1.
R17.1 Whirlwind carries princess away. (Cf. R10.1.) *Fb "hvirvelvind" I 708.
R227.1 Wife flees from animal husband. India: Thompson-Balys.
R227 Wife flees from husband. (Cf. P210, T200.) India: Thompson-Balys.
R152.4 Wife gets back her husband from land of serpents by charming him with her beautiful dance. India: Thompson-Balys.
R152 Wife rescues husband. Type 316; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Grote I 462f.; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
R1 Wild man captured and tamed. *Dickson 116 n. 44, 122; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 319 n. 152.
R121.10 With her teeth woman files away chain tying up husband. India: Thompson-Balys.
R152.3 Wives change clothes with their imprisoned husbands when allowed to visit them. Husbands escape. Greek: Grote I 463.
R13.1.5 Wolf abducts person. Irish myth: *Cross.
R16.3 Woman abducted by (transformed) fairy. Irish myth: *Cross.
R131.10.1 Woman disguised as hermit rescues abandoned child. (Cf. K1837.3.) Italian Novella: Rotunda.