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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| J416.1 | Bird refuses to maintain friendship with bird of different habits. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B594.1 | Bird rejuvenates person. (cf. B172).—*Chauvin VI 73f. No. 239. |
| B375.3 | Bird released: grateful.—*Chauvin II 117 No. 97; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B541.3 | Bird rescues man from sea. (Cf. B542, B450.)—*Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte 94.—N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Thompson CColl II 408. |
| B575.2 | Bird rests on person's shoulders. Type 709.—Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 2 (and note 2). |
| B131.4 | Bird reveals dead rider. Calls out in human voice at seeing living woman riding behind dead man.—English: Child V 65. |
| B122.1.2 | Bird reveals druidic secrets. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B131.1 | Bird reveals murder. *Type 781; *BP I 275 n. 1; Hdwb. d. deutschen Märchens s.v. "Ibycus".—English: Child II 144, 146—155; Irish: Beal XXI 336.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 312, (Zulu): Callaway 219, 299, (Thonga): Junod 242, (Basuto): *Jacottet 56 n. 1.—Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 266 No. 73.—Japanese: Ikeda.—S. A. Indian (Carib): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 129, 147, (Chiriguano): ibid. 162, Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 484, (Yuracare): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 144. |
| B131.2 | Bird reveals treachery. (Cf. B133.2.)—*Type 707; *BP II 380ff. (Gr. No. 96); Köhler-Bolte I 277; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1021.2 | Bird scouts sent out from ark. *Dh I 283.—Irish myth: Cross; Hebrew: Genesis 8:7ff., Neuman; Babylonian: Spence 176. |
| B292.2.2.1 | Bird servant to deity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B736.1 | Bird sheds tears. (Cf. D1505.5.1.)—Spanish Boggs FFC XC 59 No. 425D.; Irish myth. Cross. |
| B151.2.0.1 | Bird shows way by dropping feathers every seven steps. —Hdwb. d. deutschen Märchens s.v. "Ariadnefaden" n. 14. |
| B151.2.0.3 | Bird shows way by singing. South Africa: Bourhill and Drake Fairy Tales from South Africa 237ff. No. 20. |
| B292.5 | Bird sings to console man. Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi (swan); Irish myth: Cross. |
| K131.2 | Bird sold as messenger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B172.11 | Bird steals island. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B122.6 | Bird summarizes history. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2273.1 | Bird thinks that the sky will fall if he does not support it. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 606; *Chauvin II 112 n. 2; Liebrecht *Zur Volkskunde 102; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J955.1.2 | Bird tries to puff itself up to look like peacock. Kills itself. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| U148.1 | Bird wants sunshine, worm clouds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J551.1.1 | Bird warns mistress against committing adultery: gets neck wrung. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B131.8 | Bird warns to hurry. Chinese: Graham. |
| B282 | Bird wedding. *RTP V 15; *Fb "ørn" III 1183b; *Hdwb. d. Aberglaubens s.v. "Vogelhochzeit"; Mélusine I 193, 287, 553; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B15.7.13.1 | Bird with beak of iron. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B731.13 | Bird with changing color. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B49.1 | Bird with crocodile head. Jewish: Neuman; |
| B15.7.13 | Bird with fiery beak. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101.1.2 | Bird with golden feet. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B101.1 | Bird with golden head. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B15.7.3 | Bird with head of gold and wings of silver. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B172.4 | Bird with magic bones and feathers. Persian: Carnoy 290. |
| B122 | Bird with magic wisdom. (Cf. A1904, B130, B211.3.)—Persian: Carnoy 291; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B15.7.14 | Bird with tail of fire. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101.1.1 | Bird with wings of silver. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V1.8.7 | Bird worship. (Cf. A132.6.1.) Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 313f. |
| B44 | Bird-bear. Icel.: Herrman Saxo II 174ff., *Boberg. |
| B49 | Bird-beasts—miscellaneous. |
| B40 | Bird-beasts. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "ailes". |
| A132.6.1 | Bird-god. Irish myth: Cross.—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 91ff., 370. |
| B41 | Bird-horse. |
| B50 | Bird-men. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E696.1 | Bird, reincarnated murdered girl, resumes her original form when persecutor's blood is poured on her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K648 | Bird's call attracts attention of pursuer so that trickster escapes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1301.4 | Bird's head (when eaten) teaches animal languages. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G252.3 | Bird's neck broken: rakshasa dies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z41.6 | Bird's pea gets stuck in socket of mill-handle. She goes to carpenter, king, queen, who refuse to help. She asks snake to bite queen, stick to beat snake, fire to burn stick, etc. Final formula: cat eats mouse, mouse cuts plant creeper, creeper snares elephant, elephant drinks up sea, sea quenches fire, fire burns stick, stick beats snake, snake bites queen, queen speaks to king, king chides carpenter, carpenter cuts mill handle, and pea is extracted. Questions in rhyme. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F989.2 | Bird's red eye cooks meat. Looks so intently at it that it heats and cooks. N. A. Indian (Maidu): Dixon BAM XVII 65. |
| D1505.5.1 | Bird's tears restore sight. (Cf. B736.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 59 No. 425D. |
| B259.5 | Bird's wings drip blood when birds hear of Day of Judgment. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B252.2 | Birds (in otherworld) call at canonical hours. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A165.2.2 | Birds as messengers of the gods. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Pawnee: Alexander N. Am. 81; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 177. |
| B122.2 | Birds as reporters of sights and sounds. Sit on Odin's shoulder and report what they see and hear.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 65, Krappe Etudes 29ff. |
| B563.6 | Birds as scouts. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 466. |
| B251.2.5 | Birds beat waters with wings as welcome to saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B572.2 | Birds build canoe for master. Maori: Clark 98. |
| K756.1 | Birds captured by imitating their song. Irish myth: Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1065. |
| F62.2 | Birds carry person from upper world. N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 460 No. 98. |
| F62.1 | Birds carry person to upper world. *Chauvin VII 84 No. 373bis n. 2.—India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 18. |
| K581.4.1 | Birds caught in net fly away with it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2211.7 | Birds cling to sky in flood: cause of tail colors. (Cf. A2412.2.)—N. Am. Indian: *Thompson Tales 287 n. 57a. |
| M414.8.4 | Birds cursed. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J655.1 | Birds discuss the trap. One of them is caught in it. Type 245*; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 110. |
| B159.1 | Birds drop quill when man requires pen. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K711.0.1 | Birds enticed into bag. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 296 n. 82a. |
| K687 | Birds escape death by flying away with net. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1065. |
| Z49.6.1 | Birds fight and cause series of accidents to other animals and people. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1028.2 | Birds fill sea with dirt and overcome flood. S. Am. Indian (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473. |
| J645.1 | Birds flee from cuckoo who, they believe, will later become a hawk. Wienert FFC LVI 55 (ET 149), 119 (ST 290); Halm Aesop No. 198. |
| K2351.5.1 | Birds frighten enemy's horses so that they throw their riders down. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| B147.2 | Birds furnish omens. *Frazer Fasti II 203, III 378ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B501.4 | Birds give hero feather to burn if he is in difficulty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F662.1.1 | Birds hatched from broken eggs repaired by skillful tailor have red line around necks. This indicates where eggs were broken. *Type 653; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J65 | Birds having learned their possible dangers are forced from nest by mother. Nouvelles Récréations No. 87. |
| F989.14 | Birds hover over battlefield. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B251.3.1 | Birds in otherworld sing religious songs. Patch PMLA XXXIII 626 n. 89; Irish myth: Cross. |
| F167.1.2 | Birds in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B155.2.3 | Birds indicate the place where a town (castle) is to be built. Krappe Revue de l'histoire des Religions CXIV (1936) 236—246. |
| V111.3.1 | Birds indicate the site where a church is to be built by making a model of the structure on the spot. *Loomis White Magic 68. |
| B251.2.9 | Birds lament saint's departure. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K730.5 | Birds led into trap by promise of a feast. Africa (Cameroon): Lederbogen 74. |
| A671.2.11 | Birds made of iron in hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2074.1.3 | Birds magically called. Irish: O'suilleabhain 86. |
| B787 | Birds mock ascetic's devotions. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.1 | Birds nest in saint's hand (cowl).—Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| A155.3 | Birds of the gods. (cf. A165.1.1.). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 36f., 115, 177. |
| A2217.1 | Birds painted their present colors. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3158; N. Am. Indian: *Boas RBAE XXXI 664, (Tahltan): Teit JAFL XXXII 208 No. 1 (10), (Cherokee): Alexander N. Am. 66 (robin redbreast). |
| B853 | Birds perch on ears of cows. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B256.1.1 | Birds perch on hands and head of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B563.2 | Birds point out road to hero. (Cf. B151.0.3.).—E. Norden P. Vergilius Maro æneis Buch VI p. 170; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 216 (ravens); Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.5.1 | Birds protect saint and serve him. *Loomis White Magic 68. |
| B131.7 | Birds reveal innocence of suspect. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B531.5 | Birds save man from hunger by pitching themselves to roast in fire he has made. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J513.1 | Birds seeking richer lands are nearly all killed. Survivors advise their friends to let well enough alone. *Wesselski Arlotto I 201 No. 31. |
| B562.1.3 | Birds show man treasure. Doves saved by monk from death show him where to dig for treasure.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Bødker Exempler 305 No. 77. |
| B151.2.0.2 | Birds show way to otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B742.2 | Birds spit fire. English: Wells 104 (Alexander and Dindimus); Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q597.2 | Birds take back their feathers from ungrateful wolf to whom they have lent them. (Cf. Q281.) Cape Verde Islands: *Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 310 n. 1; West Indies: Flowers 570. |
| B251.2.12 | Birds take part at saint's funeral. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B122.1.1 | Birds tell a secret. Chauvin II 107.—Icel.: *Boberg, Ragnars saga ch. 9 (8) p. 134, Völsunga saga ch. 19—20 (19). |
| B540.1 | Birds throw some of their feathers to the hero in danger and he flies off. Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *3270, *404. |
| B521.6 | Birds warn of enemy's approach. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 390. |
| B299.5.3 | Birds weep when man cuts off his hand. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2232.6 | Birds who aspire to blackbird's coat punished. (Cf. A2412.2.2.)—Ila (Rhodesia); Smith and Dale 351 No. 6. |
| A2431 | Birds' nests. (Cf. A2486.) |
| A511 | Birth and rearing of culture hero (demigod). Irish myth: Cross. |
| T543.1 | Birth from a tree. Greek: Fox 198; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 84; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 159. |
| T541.6 | Birth from an arm. Micronesia: Dixon 251 nn. 18—22; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 98. |
| T541.7 | Birth from an eye. Micronesia: Dixon 251 nn. 18—22. |
| T541.1.1 | Birth from blood-clot. Hatt Asiatic Influences 80ff.; Oceanic: *Dixon 109, 251 n. 25; Mono-Alu: Wheeler No. 01; New Hebrides: Codrington 406; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 322 n. 165, (California): Gayton and Newman 68; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 72, 105, (Kaffir): Theal 149. |
| T541.1 | Birth from blood. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 5 n. 4, Fox 6, 262; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole *15, 63, 71, 124. |
| T541.9 | Birth from contact of severed male genitals with ground. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 5 n. 4. |
| T541.8.1 | Birth from excrement. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| T543.2 | Birth from flower. Irish myth: Cross; Armenian: Ananikian 45; Hindu: Penzer VI 15 n. 3. |
| T543.3 | Birth from fruit. *Penzer VI 15. n. 3; Armenian: Ananikian 45; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 313, Ikeda; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 134. |
| T543.4 | Birth from fungus. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 135. |
| T543.5 | Birth from gourd. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| T543.6 | Birth from grass (grain). |
| T545 | Birth from ground. Greek: Grote I 52; Hindu: Keith 127; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 314 n. 139. |
| T546.2 | Birth from hailstone. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T541.16 | Birth from knee. S. A. Indian (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (3) 724. |
| T541.11 | Birth from lotus issuing from a god's navel. Hindu: Keith 120. |
| T543.2.1 | Birth from lotus. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 299, II 135, 247, 527, 1150. |
| T541.13 | Birth from man's shoulder. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T541.5 | Birth from man's thigh. *Fb "barn" IV 27a; Gaster Oldest Stories 127. |
| T544 | Birth from mineral. |
| T541.4.1 | Birth from mouth. Jewish: Neuman. |
| T541.8.3 | Birth from mucus from the nose. Hindu: Keith 141; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 352 n. 269. |
| T541.12 | Birth from nine mothers. (Cf. A112.5.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 153 (Heimdall). |
| T543.3.1 | Birth from orange. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T541.4 | Birth from person's head. *Fb "barn" IV 27a; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 25 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Keith 121. |
| T543 | Birth from plant. Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 77 No. 12, (Ekoi): Talbot 133ff., (Ibo, Nigeria): Thomas 76. |
| T544.1 | Birth from rock. Ploss Das Kind I 33; Gaster Oldest Stories 125; Caucasian: von Löwis of Menar Archiv f. Religionwiss. XIII 509ff., XV 305; Greek: Fox 213; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 94 No. 52; Melanesia: Dixon 119, Codrington 156. |
| T546.1 | Birth from sea-foam. N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Stevenson RBAE XXIII 24. |
| T541.8 | Birth from secretions of the body. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 323 n. 166b. |
| T541.10 | Birth from semen thrown on ground. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 90 n. 1. |
| T541.8.2 | Birth from spittle. (Cf. T533.) S. A. Indian (Yana): Curtin Creation Myths 348. |
| T541.3 | Birth from tears. India: Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Keith 141; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 323 n. 166a. |
| T541 | Birth from unusual part of person's body. Irish myth: Cross; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| T543.7 | Birth from vegetable. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T547 | Birth from virgin. Saintyves Saints Successeurs 220ff., 271—77; Greek: Grote I 10, 55; S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 154. |
| T546 | Birth from water. |
| T543.6.1 | Birth from wheat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T541.5.1 | Birth from woman's thigh. Japanese: Ikeda. |
| T541.2.1 | Birth from wound or abscess on body of father. Cosquin études 257, Contes indiens 196ff.; Moe Samlede Skrifter I 43ff.; Greek: Grote I 10; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 18 n. 2, 30 n. 3, 38, 81, 87, 144, 151; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 341 nn. 228, 229; Africa (Mkulwe): Einstein 18f. |
| T541.2 | Birth from wound or abscess. *Type 705; Fb "orm" II 759b; Oceanic: Dixon 113, 234 n. 44, 251 nn. 18—22; Haiti: Alexander Lat. Am. 29; Africa: *Werner 156f., 222. |
| T548 | Birth obtained through magic or prayer. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1163, 1258; S. A. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 318. |
| T581.1 | Birth of child in forest. Dickson 168 n. 19; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q559.5.1 | Birth of child prevented until girl confesses slander. She has accused a bishop of fathering the child. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| A511.1 | Birth of culture hero. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 227. |
| A511.1.4.3 | Birth of culture heroes from human bones swallowed by jaguar's human wife. S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Levi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 347. |
| F575.1.1 | Birth of daughter so beautiful mother is frightened and abandons her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A112 | Birth of gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T584.0.3 | Birth of holy person painless. Loomis White Magic 16, 20; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| T542 | Birth of human being from an egg. (Cf. F611.1.11.) *Type 650; Christiansen Norske Eventyr 92; *Fb "æg" III 1142b; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 23 n. 7, 25 n. 1, Fox 24f., 203; India: *Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Keith 139; Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 276, 292; Chinese: Graham; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 757, 787; Korean: Zong in-Sob 5 No. 2; S. A. Indian (Chincha): Alexander Lat. Am. 230; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 110. |
| A1070.1 | Birth of monsters as sign at end of world. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (M307.7). |
| T551.11 | Birth of one-eyed child. (Cf. F512.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V222.0.1 | Birth of saint predicted by visions of miracles. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| T587.1 | Birth of twins an indication of unfaithfulness in wife. (Cf. T586.3.) *Harris Cult of the Heavenly Twins 10ff.; Krappe "Tyndare" Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni XV (1939) 23—29; English: Child II 67 n., 511a, Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne), 126 (Lai Le Freine), *Hibbard 295; Greek: Fox 79; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T587 | Birth of twins. (Cf. T685.) Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| P37 | Birth rites confer royalty on infant prince. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 59. |
| T541.15 | Birth through the back. Africa (Upoto): Einstein 122. |
| T541.14 | Birth through the ear. Africa (Upoto): Einstein 122. |
| T584.1 | Birth through the mother's side. *Hartland Primitive Paternity I 21; Toldo I 340; English: Child I 83, II 309ff., 373ff.; V 227ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Egyptian: Müller 390 n. 34; Persian: Carnoy 290, 331; Hindu: Keith 33; Malagasy: Sibree FLJ II 50; Haiti: Alexander Lat. Am. 29; Bakairi: ibid. 312. |
| T589.3 | Birth trees. Spring forth as hero is born; act as life tokens, etc. (Cf. T589.7.1.) Type 303; Köhler-Bolte I 179; Fb "træ" III 865b; *Kittredge Arthur 171 n. 1; Irish myth: Cross. |
| T589.4 | Birth with veil brings luck. (Cf. T552.5.1.) Fb. "sejrsskjorte". |
| T563 | Birthmarks. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| P233.11 | Birthright transferred by father from the oldest son to another. (Cf. P251.7.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| J1289.2 | Bishop and prince. Peasant tells bishop, who rides by with forty horses, that he wonders if St. Kilian at Würzburg is also riding with forty horses. Bishop excuses extravagance by saying that he is also a prince and that it is the prince, not the bishop, who is using the horses. "If the prince should become a fool, what would the bishop do then?" Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 158. |
| K1826.5.1 | Bishop disguised as priest. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W16 | Bishop exchanges places with prisoner so as to have him return to his mother. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J552.2.1 | Bishop fond of lawsuits is ordered by king to settle them: bishop pleads for a few to be left so that he will have something to live for. Nouvelles Récréations No. 34. |
| M364.7.3 | Bishop foretells birth of saint. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J1161.8.1 | Bishop orders priest to wear his beard and his robe "not too long and not too short." Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 94. |
| J1823.2 | Bishop struck for breaking the peace. At a wedding after a period of silent prayer the bishop begins an antiphony. The fools walks up and strikes the bishop: "You have made this shouting in the church." Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 49. |
| X457.1 | Bishop willing to admit castrated man as monk: wishes all were in the same condition. Nouvelles Récréations No. 15. |
| B535.0.1.1 | Bison as nurse for child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Z49.6.2 | Bite (prick) causes series of accidents. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B766.4 | Bite of white she-mule causes certain death. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E501.15.6.3 | Bite of wild huntsman's dogs drives other dogs mad. *Fb "hund" I 676a, "Odins jæger" II 732a. |
| Z49.8 | Biting a grain in half. Final formula: Forester attacks bear, the bear the wolf, the wolf the dog, the dog the cat, the cat the mouse, the mouse the grain—the grain is bitten in two. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2006*. |
| F1041.13 | Biting fingers to see if one is dreaming. Chauvin V 261 No. 154. |
| K1015.1 | Biting on stone given as remedy for toothache. Teeth injured. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K543 | Biting the foot. Fox to bear, who is biting his foot: "You are biting the tree root." Bear lets loose. *Type 5; *BP II 117 n. 2; Krohn Bär (Wolf) und Fuchs (JSFO VI) 62ff.; *Fb "bjørn" IV 43b; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia, Malay Peninsula: *Dixon 190 n. 11, *DeVries's list No. 1; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Hartt Amazonian Tortoise Myths (Rio de Janeiro, 1875) 29; Africa: Werner African 296, 299, (Kaffir): Theal 187, (Mpongwe): Nassau 17 No. 1, 45 No. 6, (Zulu): Callaway 6, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 395 No. 18, (Nakami): FL X 386; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 58 No. 12; West Indies: Flowers 514; Bahama: Parsons MAFLS XIII 103. |
| J1391.3.1 | Bitten by the sheep. Man caught just as he knocks sheep in the head: The sheep bit me (or: I'm not going to let sheep butt me to death). U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D1658.1.3 | Bitter water grateful for being praised. (Cf. D1242.1.) Type 480; *Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 63 (to Gonzenbach No. 13). |
| A1965.1 | Bittern from Pilate transformed. (Cf. A1710.)—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 148 No. 56. |
| A1965.2 | Bittern from transformed shepherd. (Cf. A1710, A2261.1.)—*BP III 286 (Gr. No. 173); Dh III 394. |
| A2426.2.3 | Bittern's song. (See A2261.1, A2275.3.) |
| D2071.1.4 | Black as guard against Evil Eye. Penzer I 212, 217. |
| D1293.4 | Black as magic color. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Z143.1 | Black as symbol of grief. *Fb "sort" III 407a; *Dickson 94 n. 75. |
| J1291.1 | Black beans, white soup. Question: How can black beans make a white soup? Answer: How can a white whip on the naked flesh make black welts. *Wesselski Arlotto II 252 No. 168. |
| F610.3.2 | Black berserk. (Cf. F527.5.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| B33.1.3 | Black birds destroy crops. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B172.10 | Black birds. |
| B292.6 | Black cat as servant of giant. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chat". |
| D2091.11 | Black cloud magically blown upon enemy. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1812.5.2.10 | Black dog as good omen. Argentina: Jijena Sanchez 121. |
| E501.4.1.5 | Black dogs in wild hunt. Schweda 25; England: Baughman. |
| Z174.1.1 | Black dummy to indicate banishment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.1.7.2 | Black giant. BP II 253; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 588, 593, 599, MacCulloch Eddic 276, *Boberg. |
| A123.7.2 | Black god(dess). Icel.: *Boberg, MacCulloch Eddic 304; W. Golther Deutsche Myth. (1895) 473f. (Hell); Hindu: Keith 126 (Krsna). |
| E501.4.2.2 | Black horse in wild hunt. Schweda 25. |
| F527.5 | Black man. (Cf. F548.1, F573.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D57.2 | Black man's color altered to white. *Loomis White Magic 81. |
| T494 | Black nipples of girl's breasts reveal her loss of virginity. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 154, 159. |
| J1785.7 | Black sheep thought to be the devil. Christensen DF XLVII no. 64. |
| F985.1 | Black sheep turn white. (Cf. H1023.6.) Types 425, 428, 756C*; Andrejev FFC LIV passim; Boberg Classica et Medievalia I 1938. |
| A1614.8 | Black tribe because woman is put on fire. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 175. |
| G219.7 | Black witch. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| A13.2.3 | Black-winged bird as creator. Greek: Fox 4. |
| K481.1 | Blackbird to avenge capture of his wife carries rope, club, cat, ants and river in ears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1565 | Blades (broken glass) to wound and detect wife's lover. (Often on window.) Type 432; *Krappe Balor 35ff.; *Schoepperle I 218ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| F1099.4.1 | Blades of corn grow through hair of saint as reward for guarding cornkiln. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K401 | Blame for theft fastened on dupe. *Penzer IV 191f. n. 1; Boccaccio Decameron VIII No. 6 (Lee 257); Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 129. |
| K419.10 | Blame for theft fastened on fairies. Maori: Clark 196. |
| K419.9 | Blame for theft fastened on inanimate objects. Japanese: Ikeda (K402). |
| X681 | Blason populaire. Despiteful names used by one city for another. P. Sébillot and H. Gaidoz Le Blason Populaire de la France. |
| V254.3.1 | Blasphemer paralyzed in all members except tongue which had once said "Ave Maria". Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q558.4 | Blasphemer stricken dead. (Cf. Q221.3.) England: Baughman; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller (Q221.3.3); Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q221.3 | Blasphemy punished. (Cf. Q551.1.8, Q558.4.) *Loomis White Magic 98f.; Spanish: Keller, Espinosa Jr. No. 190; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F964.4 | Blazing stick continues to burn even in water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F991.2 | Bleeding bone. Man cuts into dry bone that bleeds. Fb "høle" I 747a; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F991.3 | Bleeding cake. Bleeds when cut. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| C949.4 | Bleeding from breaking tabu. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 164. |
| F991.1.1 | Bleeding knife. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F991.1 | Bleeding lance. Stream of blood flows from it into silver cup. (Cf. D1086.) *Brown PMLA XXV (1910) 1; *Gaster FL II 57; Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 202. |
| F991.3.1 | Bleeding loaf of bread. German: Grimm No. 205. |
| F991.5 | Bleeding rock. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F809.4 | Bleeding rock. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F811.20 | Bleeding tree. Blood drops when tree is cut. *Loomis White Magic 124. |
| A1002.2.2 | Bleeding wood as sign of Doomsday. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (M307.3.). |
| T550.5 | Blemished children born of monstrous parent. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1261.4 | Blessing not worth a penny. Beggar woman asks pope for shilling and, being refused, for a penny. Finally asks for his blessing, which he gives. Old woman: "If your blessing had been worth a penny, you wouldn't have given me that." *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 344. |
| M321.1 | Blessing of saint to descend from generation to generation. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G303.16.2.3.5 | Blessing reveals seemingly pure stream to be devil's trap which kills whoever drinks from it. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q195 | Blessings. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2195 | Blighted garden magically restored to beauty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N642.1 | Blind and deaf cure each other by blow on head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K333.4 | Blind beggar overheard telling that his money is kept in a stick. Thief exchanges sticks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K333.1 | Blind Dupe. A blind man's arrow is aimed for him by his mother (or wife) who deceives him into thinking that he has missed his aim. She eats the slain game herself. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 78, 202; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 354 n. 278. |
| K1984.5 | Blind fiancée betrays self. Mistakes one object for another. *Type 1456; BP III 237; *Fb "bejler" IV 31b. |
| G121 | Blind giant ogre. *Type 1165*; *Hackman Polyphemsage; Icelandic: *Boberg; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 57. |
| F531.1.1.3 | Blind giant. Broderius § 37; Icelandic: *Boberg; Sweden: Runa III (1843) 41 No. 74, IV 37 No. 53; Hanover: Schambach u. Müller Niedersächsische Sagen (Göttingen, 1854) No. 165.1. |
| T125.2 | Blind girl marries lame man. (Cf. H886.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A128.1 | Blind god. Hödhr.—Icel.: Boberg, De la Saussaye 268.—India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 284. |
| J2133.9 | Blind leading blind falls into pit. Chauvin II 157 No. 34; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| F655.1 | Blind man able to recognize real pearls by their smell, diamonds by touch, a good horse by screwing its ears, and raja of noble birth by his generosity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| X123 | Blind man and the bull. Man asks bull if he is on the right road. Bull butts him and knocks him down. The man says that all that was not necessary, simply to say yes or no. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 140 No. 1699. |
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