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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A2380 | Animal characteristics: other bodily features. |
| A2236.2 | Animal characteristics: punishment for carrying devil into paradise. |
| A2231.1 | Animal characteristics: punishment for discourteous answer to God (saint). (Cf. A2411.2.6.)—Jewish: Neuman; Maori: Clark 53. |
| A2234 | Animal characteristics: punishment for disobedience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2238 | Animal characteristics: punishment for greed. |
| A2231.2 | Animal characteristics: punishment for hostility at crucifixion. (Cf. A2221.2.)—Dh II 202ff.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 251f., 264. |
| A2232 | Animal characteristics: punishment for immoderate request. Dissatisfied animal finds that when his request is granted he is worse off than before.—*Dh III 176ff. |
| A2231 | Animal characteristics: punishment for impiety. (Cf. A2221, A2311.8, A2422.2, A2302.2, A2355.1.2, A2542.1.)—Dh II 252f. (fish).—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 17 No. 97, XXXIII 54 No. 97 (hazelcock). |
| A2233 | Animal characteristics: punishment for laziness. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS 79. |
| A2236 | Animal characteristics: punishment for planning man's downfall. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2231.3 | Animal characteristics: punishment for working on holy day. |
| A2250 | Animal characteristics: result of contest. *Dh III 141ff.—Arawak and Carib: Alexander Latin American 274; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A2245 | Animal characteristics: stolen from another animal. (Cf. A2313.3, A2375.2.2.)—Dh III 127f.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2420 | Animal characteristics: voice and hearing. |
| A2377 | Animal characteristics: wings. |
| B299.10 | Animal christening. German Grimm No. 74. |
| B252 | Animal churchmen. |
| F987 | Animal controls sex of offspring. |
| B579.3 | Animal corrects examination paper for his rescuer. Chinese: Graham. |
| B238 | Animal council assigns place and work to all. |
| A2275.1 | Animal cries a lament for person lost when animal was transformed. (Cf. A2260, A2425.)—Dh III 387.—Benga: Nassau 163 No. 21; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2275.2 | Animal cries a lament over animal's transformation. (Cf. A2425, A2426.2.5.)—*Dh III 376ff. |
| J1811 | Animal cries misunderstood. |
| A2275.4 | Animal cries recall ancient adventure. The ancient animal cries out in difficulty. The present animal has the same cry. (Cf. A2426.1.1, A2426.4.1.)—India: Thompson-Balys; Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 139; Angola: Chatelain 217 No. 38. |
| A2275.3 | Animal cries reminiscent of former life as man. (Cf. A2261.1, A2426.2.3, A2426.2.4.)—Dh III 394ff., 398ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2272.1 | Animal cries: imitation of sounds. (Cf. A2425.)—*BP II 283, III 365. |
| A2231.7.1 | Animal cursed for betraying holy fugitive. (Cf. A2221.5.)—Dh II 51ff.; Child V 491 s.v. "partridge"; Ireland: Baughman. |
| A2231.7.2 | Animal cursed for refusing to carry holy fugitive across stream. (Cf. A2371.2.1.)—Dh II 88ff.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 286. |
| B256.0.1 | Animal deluded by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B155.3 | Animal determines burial place of saint. Günter Christliche Legende des Abendlandes 55; Sloet De Dieren in het Germanische Volksgeloof in Volksgebruik 153f.; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B151 | Animal determines road to be taken. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F981.6 | Animal dies of broken heart. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K1825.1.5 | Animal disguised as doctor. (Cf. K1822.) Africa (Angola): Chatelain 190 No. 23. |
| K1822 | Animal disguises as human being. (Cf. K1825.1.5.) India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 395 No. 18. |
| F989.13 | Animal dives into lake and disappears. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B295 | Animal drives carriage. *Type 2021; *BP II 146 (Gr. No. 80); Fb "kok" II 248b. |
| J2413.4 | Animal dupe cuts off limb. Thinks he is imitating another animal. |
| B579.7 | Animal earns money for master. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 166. |
| B1 | Animal elders. Mythical ancestors of the present animals.—Irish myth: Cross.—N. A. Indian: *Alexander N. Am. 292 No. 40, ibid. 69 (Cherokee), 81 (Pawnee), 156 (Navaho). |
| R214 | Animal eludes bird watchman and escapes from his hole. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 112. |
| K811.0.1 | Animal enticed into palace after it had long fed out of trickster's hand. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 851. |
| F1088.4 | Animal escapes by slipping out of skin. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1505.13 | Animal excreta cures blindness. (Cf. D1026.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B275.1 | Animal executed for crime. *Frazer Old Testament III 415—445; *Wesselski Märchen 231; **Evans The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals (New York, 1906); Grimm Rechtsaltertümer II 235; Sébillot France III 27; Wilken Verspreide Geschriften IV 181ff.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B870.1 | Animal extraordinarily heavy for size. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B299.5.2 | Animal fasts to express sympathy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B773.1 | Animal feels agitation at sight of native land. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K341.2.1 | Animal feigns death repeatedly and then entices owner from goods. Japanese: Ikeda; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 72 No. 15; (North Carolina): Parsons JAFL XXX 172, (Virginia): Bacon and Parsons JAFL XXXV 275f.; Andros Islands, Bahamas: Parsons MAFLS XIII 10 No. 8. |
| K1818.5 | Animal feigns lameness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B514 | Animal fetches remedy for man. Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B543.2 | Animal finds stolen goods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B543 | Animal finds stolen person. Scotch: Campbell I 1ff. (dog, hawk, otter). —India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 232 No. 34. |
| H173.3 | Animal first to recognize his returned master. *Boje 105, 108ff.; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F551.1 | Animal foot on human being. |
| B257 | Animal funeral. *Type 2021; *BP II 146 (Gr. No. 80). |
| K1115.1 | Animal gets bait from trap by luring another animal into it. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 35*; Prussian: Plenzat 6; Russian: Andrejev No. 30*; Africa (Hausa): Mischlich Lehrbuch der Hausa-Sprache (Berlin, 1911) 111f. No. 1. |
| E520 | Animal ghosts. Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Geist"; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 22 No. 201; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 243. |
| A2545 | Animal given certain privilege. |
| B501.3 | Animal gives jewel for summoning him when in need of help. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B584 | Animal gives man other gifts. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 29. |
| B501 | Animal gives part of body as talisman for summoning its aid. *Types 531, 552, 553; BP III 18ff., 424ff.; Malone PMLA XLIII 407; *Fb "fjer" I 301, "hеr" I 771b.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v "talisman"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15; Missouri-French: Carrière; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Persian: Carnoy 290, 331.—Africa (Kaffir): Theal 85, (Swahili): Steere 199; N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Dorsey MAFLS VIII 102. |
| B583 | Animal gives treasure to man. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Yoruba): Frobenius Atlantis X 222ff., No. 14, (Swahili): Stigand Black Tales for White Children 97ff. No. 15. |
| J133 | Animal gives wise example to man. Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B103.3 | Animal giving treasure as milk. |
| A2546 | Animal granted patent of nobility. |
| B391 | Animal grateful for food. *Types 300, 531, 550, 554; Warnke Quellen des Esope der Marie de France 221ff.; *BP II 21f., 463; Halm Aesop No. 173; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 347), 127 (ST 358); Ward III 208; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 141 (Cf. B335.1.)—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 387.—Danish: Fb "kalv"; Missouri-French: Carrière—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Mitford 185f., 270, Anesaki 313, Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 29.—Africa (Benga): Nassau No. 33. |
| B364 | Animal grateful for other rescue. |
| B366 | Animal grateful for ransom from captivity. BP II 451 (Gr. No. 104a), *454 n. 1.; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 337), 127 (ST 354, 489); Halm Aesop No. 6.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B365.3 | Animal grateful for release of relative. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 65. |
| B380 | Animal grateful for relief from pain. Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B382 | Animal grateful for removal of bone lodged in its throat. India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 685. |
| B362 | Animal grateful for rescue from drowning. Wienert FFC LVI 59 (ET 201), 127 (ST 356), Halm Aesop No. 296 (dove rescues ant).—India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Korea: Ikeda. |
| B364.2 | Animal grateful for rescue from fire. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B364.5 | Animal grateful for rescue from mud. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B363 | Animal grateful for rescue from net. *Type 75; Crane Vitry 194 No. 145.—India: Thompson-Balys—Africa (Zanzibar): Bateman: 81 No. 6. |
| B364.1 | Animal grateful for rescue from trap. Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 336; India: Thompson-Balys—Africa (Lamba): Doke XXXII No. 15. |
| B365.1 | Animal grateful for rescue of its mate. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B365 | Animal grateful for rescue of its young. *Hartland Perseus III 194; Köhler-Bolte I 440, 545, 560, *561.—Japanese: Mitford 261, Ikeda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B370 | Animal grateful to captor for release. |
| B365.2 | Animal grateful to hero for preventing destruction of nest. |
| B576.4 | Animal guards master's dead body. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2275 | Animal habit a reminiscence of former experience. |
| B294.2 | Animal handles money. |
| A2231.7 | Animal harmful to holy person cursed. |
| A2219.1 | Animal has color spilled on him: cause of his color. (Cf. A2391.1, A2411.1.1.1, A2411.1.2.4, A2411.1.3.1, A2411.2.1.1, A2411.1.4.2, A2411.1.6.3, A2411.2.1.4, A2411.2.1.6, A2411.2.4.1, A2411.2.6.1, A2411.2.6.5, A2411.2.6.6, A2411.2.6.11, A2411.4.1.)—Dh III 64ff.—India: Thompson-Balys; Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 366 No. 17; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 685. |
| A2433.1.1 | Animal haunt established by contest (race). (See A2250.1, A2252.1.) |
| B315 | Animal helpful after being conquered. *Type 590; BP III 1.—Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B589 | Animal helps man to wealth and greatness—miscellaneous. |
| B580 | Animal helps men to wealth and greatness. *Type 671; BP I 322; *Ward Catalogue of Romances III 208, Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 141, *Warnke Quellen des Esope der Marie de France 221ff.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 189; Papua: Ker XLI 147. |
| B543.0.1 | Animal helps on quest for vanished wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B599.2 | Animal helps person pass test. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B582 | Animal helps person to success in love. |
| B596 | Animal helps saint by setting fire to neglected church. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B600.2 | Animal husband provides characteristic animal food. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 52, (Greenland): Thalbitzer 6. |
| B754.6.1.1 | Animal impregnated through mouth (ears). Jewish: Neuman. |
| H48 | Animal in human form recognized. (Cf. H64.) |
| B296.1 | Animal journeys to Rome. Cock, geese, or dog go to Rome to become Pope.—Fb "hund" I 678b, "gеs" I 528b, "Rom", "mus" II 634b. |
| K525.4 | Animal jumps out of skin so that only skin is caught. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B276 | Animal jury. Africa (Baukon): Ittman 89f. |
| K897.2 | Animal killed by axes (knives) left in tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K951.5 | Animal killed by forcing ball (of hide, wax, etc.) into throat. Greek: *Robinson Works of Chaucer 966; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G512.9 | Animal kills ogre. (Cf. B524.) |
| B236.0.1 | Animal king chosen as result of a contest. Type 221; *BP III 278; Dh IV 169ff.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 155 No. 30. |
| B220 | Animal kingdom (or community). Wienert FFC LVI 47 (classic fables). —Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "ville".—India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 348 n. 253a. |
| B221 | Animal kingdom—quadrupeds. |
| B217 | Animal language learned. *Types 517, 670, 671, 672, 673, 670B*, 671*, BP I 132; **Aarne FFC XV; *Frazer "The Language of Animals" Archeological Review I (1888) 166 ff.; *Chauvin VIII 49 No. 17; Cox 496 n. 32.—Wesselski Morlini 314 No. 71; Gaster Exempla 248 No. 352; Wesselski Märchen 221 No. 35; Icel.: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| B165.1.2 | Animal languages from stolen serpent's crown. (Cf. B176.) —*Type 672A; cf. BP II 464. |
| B217.6 | Animal languages learned by exchanging tongues with helpful dragon. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B165.1.1 | Animal languages learned by having ears licked by serpent. (Cf. B161.1.)—*Penzer VII 3 n. 2; *BP I 133. |
| B165 | Animal languages learned from animal. |
| B217.4 | Animal languages learned from carrying churchyard mould in hat. Fb. "kirkegеrdsmuld". |
| B217.1 | Animal languages learned from eating animal. Irish myth: Cross, *MacCulloch Celtic 166. |
| B217.1.2 | Animal languages learned from eating dragon's heart. Smith Evolution of the Dragon 82; *BP I 131; *von Sydow Fеvne 35ff.; **Scott Thumb. |
| B217.2 | Animal languages learned from eating plant. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "herbe"; *Cox 496 n. 32. |
| B217.1.1 | Animal languages learned from eating serpent. (Cf. B176.) —*Type 673; *BP I 131 (Gr. No. 17); *Cox 496 n. 32; *Norlind Skattsägner 37ff.; **Scott Thumb; Philostratres Life of Apollonius (Loeb ed.) 57; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 17 No. 8; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B165.2 | Animal languages learned from frog. *Type 670B*; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B217.3 | Animal languages learned from ghosts (spirits). Gaster Exempla 248 No. 352.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 99. |
| B165.1 | Animal languages learned from serpent (not eaten). (Cf. B176.) —*Type 670; Aarne FFC XV 28ff.—Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 86 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B215 | Animal languages. The various animals have languages of their own. (Cf. B251.1.2.)—*Type 517, 670, 671; *BP I 131, 322, 323 n. 1; **Aarne FFC XV; *Chauvin V 180, 296. |
| B103.5 | Animal laying treasure in water. |
| B563.4 | Animal leads cleric to holy place. Irish myth: Cross (B549.7). |
| B563.4.1 | Animal leads lost man home. Irish myth: Cross (B549.7). |
| B157 | Animal leads searchers. |
| J17 | Animal learns through experience to fear men. In spite of the warning of another animal he approaches man and is shot. *Type 157; BP II 96; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 47 No. 23; American Negro: Harris Nights 33 No. 7, 330 No. 57; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 262 No. 62. |
| K896 | Animal left out of his element: dies or escapes. |
| D1505.14 | Animal liver cures blindness. (Cf. D1015.4.) Chinese-Persian: *Coyajee JPASB XXIV 187. |
| B784 | Animal lives in person's stomach. |
| K714.6 | Animal lured into lion's den. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B106 | Animal lying on treasure. Serpent with gold under him.—Fb "lindorm" II 433b. |
| K1023.4 | Animal made to believe sound of swarming bees is that of her children singing in school. Rushes to water to relieve stings and is drowned. Africa (Suto): Jacottet I 36ff. No. 5. |
| B251.7 | Animal makes religious oath. |
| B252.1 | Animal monks. Irish: Plummer Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae cxli.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B631.1 | Animal mother of man helps him. Burmese: Scott Indo-Chinese 274. |
| B299.5.1 | Animal mutilates self to express sympathy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B751.5 | Animal neglects its young. Jewish: Neuman (raven, jackal, ostrich). |
| K2153.1 | Animal nurse wounds self so as to throw blame for eaten young on other animal. Africa (Kaffir): Alexander and Mohl Mitteilungen des Seminars für orientalische Sprachen VIII (3) 24ff., (Vandau): Boas and Simango JAFL XXXV 170ff. No. 7, (Thonga): Junod 232ff. No. 2, (Lamba): Doke MAFLS XX (1927) 71 No. 31. |
| B535 | Animal nurse. Animal nourishes abandoned child.—*Frazer Fasti II 369ff., especially 369 n. 3, 375; Dickson Valentine and Orson 36, 103, 107, 112, 169; *Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 17ff.; *Nutt FLR IV 1ff.; Penzer II 294; *Fb "ulv" III 971 a (Wolf); *BP II 317, III 60ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 22 (doe), 56 (bear), 118, 155 (goat, crow, sow), 280, Frazer Apollodorus I 397, II 47 n. 2, Roscher s.v. "Achilleus"; Roman: Fox 307 (Romulus and Remus) (wolf); Persian: Carnoy 330; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chien" (dog); Missouri-French: Carrière; McCartney Papers of Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters IV (1924) 15—42; Wesselski Theorie 19; Icel.: Þiðriks saga I 302—03 (hind), Boberg; English: Wells 118 (Octovian) (lion); Chinese: Ferguson 41.—N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 387 (Mt. 707), Thompson Tales 316 n. 146b; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Ehrenreich International Congress of Americanists XIV 662.—Indonesian: De Vries Volksverhalen I Nos. 22, 89; India: *Thompson-Balys;—Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 104 No. 15, 190 No. 28, (Wakweli): Bender 49f. |
| B535.2 | Animal nurses fight with real parent for children. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B102 | Animal of precious metal (jewels). |
| B632 | Animal offspring from marriage to animal. *Fb "kvinde" II 339b, "menneske" II 577b; *MacCulloch Childhood 263ff.; Cox 487.—Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 413, 465, Holm 56, 82, Rasmussen I 363, III 200, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 167, 226, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 637, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 80.—N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin Hewitt RBAE XXXII No. 9; cf. Thompson Tales 347 n. 247, 248.—Africa (Zulu): Callaway 79, 349. |
| G350 | Animal ogres. |
| J1860 | Animal or object absurdly punished. |
| J1881 | Animal or object expected to go alone. |
| J1760 | Animal or person mistaken for something else. |
| B524 | Animal overcomes man's adversary. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B610 | Animal paramour. |
| B236 | Animal parliament elects king. *Type 221; *Dh IV 192ff.; *BP III 278, 284 (Gr. Nos. 171, 172); Wienert FFC LVI 47 (ET 59—63); Penzer V100 n. 1.—Africa (Ibo, Nigeria): Basden 280, (Angola): Chatelain 211 Nos. 32, 33. |
| A2284.1 | Animal persuaded to amputate limb: therefore lacks it. (Cf. A2371.2.10, A2377.1.)—Australian: Dixon 146 (kangaroo's forepaws), 288 (emu's wings). |
| K713.1.3 | Animal persuaded to be tied by promise of food. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 32 No. 4, (Kaffir): Kidd 242 No. 9, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 397 No. 18, (Jaunde): Nekes 201. |
| K713.1.4 | Animal persuaded to be tied through curiosity to learn secret names. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.6 | Animal physician. Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 69, Meinhof 33, 36. |
| B298 | Animal plays game. |
| B297.1 | Animal plays musical instrument. Africa (tribes of Western Sudan): Tauxier Le Noir du Yatenga 457 No. 56. |
| S352.1 | Animal preserves fire for abandoned children in a clam shell. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 347, 349 nn. 247, 255. |
| A2213.2 | Animal pressed: hence facial or bodily marks. (Cf. A2412.4.)—Dh III 54, (cf. I 201f., 248, II 195); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B103.7 | Animal producing treasure at death. |
| B103.6 | Animal producing treasure by bite. |
| A2239.8 | Animal punished for hardheadedness (frog toothless, mole sightless). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2236.5 | Animal punished for not heralding dawn. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2236.3 | Animal punished for not warning of devil's temptation in Eden. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B275 | Animal punished. Wesselski Nasreddin I 208 No. 11, II 186 No. 356.—*Von Amira Tierstrafen und Tierprozesse (Innsbruck, 1891); Jewish: Neuman. |
| M205.1 | Animal punishes broken promise. |
| B594 | Animal rejuvenates person. |
| D2072.0.2 | Animal rendered immovable. |
| B540 | Animal rescuer or retriever. Rescue person or retrieve lost object. —Japanese: Anesaki 320. |
| B549 | Animal rescuer—miscellaneous. |
| B544 | Animal rescues captive. *Fb "höj" I 741 b (fox); Missouri-French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 17 No. 8.—Africa (Zulu): Callaway 147, 241 (dog, frog), (Cameroon): Meinhof 88, 102. |
| B549.4 | Animal rescues from cave. Chinese: Eberhart FFC CXX 180. |
| B545 | Animal rescues from trap (net). *Type 75. See references to B363.—Penzer V 79 n. 2 (mouse); Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B547 | Animal rescues man from dangerous place. |
| B541 | Animal rescues man from sea. Type 506; BP III 494ff.; Liljeblad Tobiasgeschichte 94; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B547.1 | Animal rescues man from well. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B548 | Animal retrieves lost object. |
| A2237.1 | Animal reveals mistress's adultery: punished by master. (Cf. A2411.2.1.5, A2422.1.1.).—Greek: Fox 280 (raven becomes black).—Zuсi: Handy JAFL XXXI 464 No. 17 (dog loses power of speech). |
| V11.6.2 | Animal sacrifice in connection with funeral. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B526 | Animal saves man from death by burning. |
| B527 | Animal saves man from death by drowning. Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi (sea birds); Irish myth: Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 747. |
| B522 | Animal saves man from death sentence. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| B523 | Animal saves man from pursuer. Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B529 | Animal saves person's life—miscellaneous. |
| A2218.1.1 | Animal scorches self while putting out fire in land of fire, woe and darkness. Wales: Baughman. |
| B546 | Animal searches for dead man. Breton: Sébillot s.v. "mort" (dog). |
| B152 | Animal selects unknown person. |
| J1881.2 | Animal sent to go by itself. |
| K366.1.3.1 | Animal shams death and is sold. Returns to master. Japanese: Anesaki 329. |
| B736 | Animal sheds tears. |
| J512 | Animal should not try to change his nature. |
| B562.1 | Animal shows man treasure. Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 78 No. 651.—India: *Thompson-Balys; *Norlind Skattsägner 37ff., 41ff.; Chauvin II 109 No. 73, *117 No. 97.—Chinese: Graham, Werner 380; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Swahili): Steere 13ff. |
| F949.1 | Animal sinks into earth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K131 | Animal sold as messenger. |
| B268 | Animal soldiers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B525 | Animal spares man he is about to devour. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 851.—See all references to B381. |
| B103.4 | Animal spitting (vomiting) treasure. |
| K1643 | Animal strangled by victim which he tries to eat. B[ö]dker Exempler 281 No. 26; Chauvin II 88 No. 24. |
| K512.2.1 | Animal substituted for child served at meal. BP III 137 (Grimm No. 141); English: Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne), Alphabet No. 593; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 5; S. A. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| A1545.2 | Animal substituted for human sacrifice. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B620 | Animal suitor. Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| F911.3 | Animal swallows man (not fatally). *Types 123, 333, 700; Fb "kat" II 108b; Saintyves Perrault 227ff.; Persian: Carnoy 302; Hindu: Penzer IX 49. |
| B299.1 | Animal takes revenge on man. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| B771.2 | Animal tamed by holiness of saint. Saint's legend: Plummer cxlvi; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B771.1 | Animal tamed by maiden's beauty. Penzer VII 52 n. 2, VIII 111; Herbert III 234; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 115; Dickson Valentine and Orson 198 n. 86.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B771.2.2 | Animal tamed by saint's prayer. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B505.2 | Animal tells hero where to find magic object. (Cf. B560.)—French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| D412.5.4 | Animal that is hound by day, sheep by night. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J1144.2 | Animal thief of eggs detected when he comes to a spring to drink. All animals must tell why they are thirsty. Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 27 n. 1. |
| J1762 | Animal thought to be a person. |
| J1761 | Animal thought to be object. |
| B2 | Animal totems. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D43.1 | Animal transformed to a god. |
| B650.1 | Animal transformed to man wants to marry woman. Indonesian: De Vries' list No. 156. |
| K730.1 | Animal trapped through curiosity as to what the trap is. Wienert FFC LVI 47 (ET 59), 66 (ET 307), 90 (ST 23), 94 (ST 73), 97 (*ST 111, 114); Halm Aesop Nos. 44, 340. |
| B744 | Animal travels extraordinary distance. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K952.3 | Animal tricked into seizing hollow log. Man reaches through and pulls animal's heart out. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B272.2 | Animal tried for crime. *Evans (E.P.) The criminal Prosecution and Capital punishment of Animals (New York 1926), von Amira (K). Tierstrafen und Tierprozesse (Innsbruck, 1891); *Mittheilungen d. Instituts f. öster. Geschichtsforsch. XII (1891) 545; *H. A. Berkenhoff Tierstrafe, Tierbannung und rechtsrituelle Tiertötung im Mittelalter (Strassburg 1937, diss.); Fb "stævne". |
| B291.0.1 | Animal tried out as messenger. Hen (cock) the only one successful.—Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 188. No. 27, (Kaffir): Theal 63. |
| B212 | Animal understands human speech. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.1 | Animal unusual as to his head. |
| B15.3 | Animal unusual as to his horns. |
| B15.5 | Animal unusual as to his nose (snout). |
| B15.7.10 | Animal unusual as to skin. Irish myth: Cross. |
| X1133.3.1 | Animal unwittingly puts tail into man's hands and is caught. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2512 | Animal useful because of power of scenting. |
| A2515 | Animal useful for bearing burdens. |
| B211 | Animal uses human speech. *Chauvin VIII 126 No. 113; *BP I 331.—Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 13; Hindu: Tawney II 599; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 40 No. 28. See also references given under B200. |
| B15.3.4 | Animal usually harmless has horns. |
| B785 | Animal wards off spirits. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B260 | Animal warfare. Wienert FFC LVI 48 (ET 64—68). |
| B521.2 | Animal warns against accident. |
| B521.1 | Animal warns against poison. Fable: Halm Aesop No. 120, Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 338), 127 (ST 353), (eagle).—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 76 No. 12 (ox). |
| B521.1.2 | Animal warns man against drinking. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B521 | Animal warns of fatal danger. India: *Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman; U.S.: Baughman; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen Märchen 75, (Fang): Trilles 138, (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 109. |
| B280 | Animal weddings. RTP V 16, VIII 552, JAFL XXXV 392ff.—Japanese: Anesaki 334f.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B214 | Animal whistles (sings, etc.) Chinese: Graham. |
| B571.2 | Animal who arrives late performs tasks for man. (Cf. L147.1.) —Cosquin I 49f.; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| A2218.3 | Animal who steals fire scorched: cause of his color. (Cf. A1415.)—Dh III 93ff.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H172 | Animal will serve only certain man. |
| B587 | Animal wins contest for man. |
| B582.1.2 | Animal wins husband for mistress. *Type 545A; *BP I 325ff., III 487.—Indonesian: De Vries' List Nos. 180, 209 (monkey, bird). |
| B582.1.1 | Animal wins wife for his master (Puss in Boots). *Type 545B; BP I 325, III 487; Fb "kat" IV 255b.—Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Korean: Zong in-Sob 89 No. 48; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 336. |
| B15.3.2 | Animal with a gold (silver) horn. |
| B14.2 | Animal with body of horse, legs of hound. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.7.10.2 | Animal with hair of iron pins. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.1.3 | Animal with head of bone. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B115 | Animal with horn of plenty. *Cox Cinderella 473 n. 2.—Greek: Fox 93.—India: *Thompson-Balys.—Africa (Kaffir): Theal 169, (Basuto): Jacottet 240 No. 35. |
| B15.3.5 | Animal with horn on his head pointing to the sky. Chinese: Graham. |
| B15.7.10.1 | Animal with horny skin. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B15.4.4 | Animal with human eyes (transformed man). Icel.: *Boberg. |
| D682.3.2 | Animal with human eyes. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J1782.5 | Animal with lighted candle thought to be ghost. (Cf. K335.0.5.1.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| F911.3.3 | Animal with men in its belly playing cards, etc. Reinhard PMLA XXXVIII 447 n. 81. |