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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| B151.1.1.2 | Ass determines road to be taken. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J212.1 | Ass envies horse in fine trappings. Horse killed in battle; ass content. Jacobs Aesop 220 No. 78; Scala Celi 135a No. 744; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N626 | Ass falls into water and catches fish in his ear. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 744. |
| J952.2 | Ass follows after lion and is punished. Ass and cock are surprised by lion. Cock crows and scares lion, who runs. Ass thinks that he has scared lion and pursues. Wienert FFC LVI 57 (ET 174), 92 (ST 53); Halm Aesop No. 323. |
| J833 | Ass foolish to kick against the pricks. Wienert FFC LVI 71 (ET 357), 140 (ST 468). |
| N255.2 | Ass gets progressively worse masters. Finally the farmer beats him living and will not spare his hide when he is dead. Wienert FFC LVI 77 (ET 435), 109 (ST 214, 390); Halm Aesop No. 329. |
| A2239.6 | Ass has cross on shoulders from being struck by Balaam. (Cf. A2356.2.7.)—England: Baughman. |
| J2413.1.1 | Ass imitating dog brays so as to wake master when thieves are robbing him. Beaten for his pains. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J951.1 | Ass in lion's skin unmasked when he raises his voice. **DeCock Volkssage 184ff.; Wienert FFC LVI 57 (ET 175, 176), *91 (ST 38), 93 (ST 69); Halm Aesop Nos. 333, 336; Jacobs Aesop 211 No. 49; *Chauvin II 224 No. 22. — Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer V 99 n. 3. |
| J973 | Ass in the potter's shop. (Bull in china shop.) Only breaks the pots *Wienert FFC LVI 40; Halm Aesop No. 190. |
| U151 | Ass indifferent to enemy's approach: he could be no more miserable than now. Wienert FFC LVI 71 (ET 352), 144 (ST 498). |
| B259.1 | Ass insists upon payment of tithes. When stolen by thieves, the ass refuses to eat for three days because the thieves' provender has not been tithed. —Hebrew: Gaster Exempla 228 No. 235; Jewish: Neuman. |
| W121.2.1 | Ass insults dying lion. Wienert FFC LVI 56 (ET 166), 112 (ST 233); Jacobs Aesop 202 No. 9; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| L452 | Ass is jealous of the horse until he learns better. |
| L452.1 | Ass jealous of horse, but sees horse later working in a mill. *Chauvin III 50 No. 2; Wienert FFC LVI *56 (ET 171), 94 (ST 78). |
| L452.2 | Ass jealous of war-horse until he sees him wounded. Wienert FFC LVI 58 (ET 191), 124 (ST 327); Halm Aesop No. 328; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J1881.2.1 | Ass loaded and commanded to go home. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 272 No. 281; Spanish: Espinosa III 147. |
| U11.1 | Ass punished for stealing mouthful of grass; lion and wolf forgiven for eating sheep. Wesselski Mönchslatein 71 No. 61. |
| J133.2 | Ass refuses to drink after it has had enough. Thus teaches lesson to master. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 239. |
| J1754 | Ass thought to be hare. Type 1316****. |
| J1785.3 | Ass thought to be the devil. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J512.4 | Ass tries in vain to play lyre. *Wienert FFC LVI 45 (ET 26), 130 (ST 373). |
| J2413.1 | Ass tries to caress his master like the dog. He is driven off. *Crane Vitry 139 No. 15; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 79; Jacobs Aesop 202 No. 10; Wienert FFC LVI 46 (ET 45), *90 (ST 19); Halm Aesop No. 331; Spanish Exempla: Keller; West Indies: Flowers 489f. |
| J512.8 | Ass tries to get a cricket's voice. Asks crickets what they eat to get such a voice. They answer, "dew." He tries it and starves. Wienert FFC LVI 46 (ET 43), 90 (ST 24); Halm Aesop No. 337. |
| J2413.2 | Ass tries to jump on the roof like the ape. Wienert FFC LVI 46 (ET 44), *90 (ST 18); Halm Aesop No. 338. |
| J683.1 | Ass turns on his driver who would save him from falling over the precipice. Wienert FFC LVI 72 (ET 375), 118 (ST 283); Halm Aesop No. 335. |
| J953.4 | Ass who carried divine image thinks people bow before him. Wienert FFC LVI 57 (ET 177), 94 (ST 74); Halm Aesop No. 324. |
| J952.4 | Ass who has worked with ox thinks himself equal to ox. Wienert FFC LVI 57 (ET 178), 91 (ST 39); Halm Aesop No. 104. |
| B22.2 | Ass with human intelligence. German: Grimm No. 144. |
| V1.8.10 | Ass worship. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A132.3.3 | Ass-god. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B141.3 | Ass's behavior predicts the weather. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1608 | Ass's charter in his hoof. The ass absents himself from the parliament of beasts. The lion sends the fox and the wolf to summon him. He pleads his charter of exemption and invites the fox to read it in his hoof. (Cf. K551.18.) Herbert III 53; Crane Vitry 147 No. 33; Baum MLN XXXVII 350; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| A1310.2 | Assembling the body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A167 | Assembly of gods. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 310, II 958, 1098. |
| D103 | Assembly or group transformed to animals. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 98. |
| H920 | Assigners of tasks. |
| T141 | Assignment of bride to another. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| A1440.1 | Assignment of crafts and professions: creator opens shop and from it distributes plough, pen, bottle, pair of scales, fishing-net and loom to various groups. India: Thompson-Balys.. |
| A1422 | Assignment of edible animals. Certain animals may be eaten by man.—Hebrew: Leviticus ch 11; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 78, 149, (Hottentot): Bleek 73 No. 34. |
| A2435.1 | Assignment of food to animal. Circassian: Nicolaides and Carnoy RTP I 80. |
| H1219 | Assignment of quests—miscellaneous. |
| H919 | Assignment of tasks in response to suggestion—miscellaneous. |
| H910 | Assignment of tasks in response to suggestion. |
| H940 | Assignment of tasks—miscellaneous. |
| J429.2 | Associating with a bad friend is fatal: swan and crow. Swan is blamed when crow drops filth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J427 | Association of cow and tiger: tiger eats cow as soon as she is hungry. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J410 | Association of equals and unequals. |
| J426.1 | Association of mouse with cat ceases as soon as mutual danger has passed. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J426 | Association of rat with cat ceases as soon as mutual danger has passed. The rat threatened by the weasel and the owl allies himself with a cat caught in a net. Saved by the cat, he rescues the cat with precaution and then prudently renounces further relations with her. Chauvin II 101 No. 61; Bødker Exempler No. 66; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J429 | Association of strong and weak—miscellaneous. |
| J420 | Association of strong and weak. |
| J429.1 | Association of swan and swallow: swan unable to fly away from danger. Type 246*. |
| J450 | Association of the good and the evil. |
| J428 | Association of tiger and crane. They soon quarrel. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1714 | Association of wise men with fools. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J440 | Association of young and old. |
| J1710 | Association with fools. |
| D1712.0.1 | Astrologer-magician. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P481 | Astrologer. Penzer X 77a s.v. "Astrologer"; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M302.4.1 | Astrology forbidden. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| P429.1 | Astronomers. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| U119.1.1 | At a funeral of a child a satyr reveals that the real father (officiating priest) sings while the cuckold weeps. (Cf. U15.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| U119.1.2 | At a hanging the witnesses are bigger thieves than the culprit. (Cf. U10.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| A1420.6 | At beginning people start to eat the earth. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 56. |
| T61.4.2 | At betrothal ceremony both parties drink out of the loving-cup. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T61.3 | At betrothal maid makes shirt for her lover. Child V 496 s.v. "Shirt"; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F933.3 | At certain time sheep thrown into well become crimson. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G285.1 | At communion witches spit out wine over shoulder. Fb "heks" I 580. |
| A722.9 | At dawn sun comes to play with the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N731.4 | At execution block condemned man discovered to be king's unknown son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| U135.1 | At feast cat chooses rat meat; other animals cannot eat it. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| P17.0.2.1 | At son's wedding king names him as successor. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| X421 | At the blessing of the grave the parson's ox breaks loose: "Now the devil has him." *Type 1840; *Fb "tyr" III 908b. |
| V323 | Atheists. |
| J241.1 | Athena chooses olive tree because of fruitfulness. Wienert FFC LVI 76 (ET 417), 143 (ST 488). |
| K10 | Athletic contest won by deception. |
| A842 | Atlas. A man supports the earth on his shoulders.—Greek: Fox 88, *Grote I 70; Gaster Oldest Stories 129.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 286 n. 56b; Chibcha: Alexander Lat. Am. 203. |
| K778.4 | Attack made on groom after he has been invited to female apartments to have meal with bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N335.6.1 | Attacking animal is killed by another in ambush. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1846.4.1 | Attainment of invulnerability through magic bath. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1846 | Attainment of invulnerability. (Cf. D1840.) *Fb "hеrd" I 772b; Icelandic: *Boberg; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 125, 138. |
| L421.1 | Attempt to climb to heaven punished. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| L421 | Attempt to fly to heaven punished. Car supported by eagles. Persian: Carnoy 336. |
| T382 | Attempt to keep wife chaste by carrying her in box. In spite of all precautions she meets men. *Hertel Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 83ff.; Wesselski Märchen 185; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1053; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| K2388 | Attempt to kill by throwing knife. *Boje 90; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| P16.3.1.1 | Attempt to kill old king by suffocating him in bathroom. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D830.1 | Attempt to learn about magic object by spying. Chinese: Graham. |
| H1515.1 | Attempt to poison by druids. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| T52.5 | Attempt to purchase wife. Chinese: Graham. |
| K756.2 | Attempted capture by causing animal to make noise. |
| K756.2.1 | Attempted capture by causing owner's pig to squeal at night. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| K756.2.2 | Attempted capture by ringing cowbell to sound as if cow has wandered far away. (Cf. K341.7.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| K561.0.1 | Attempted escape by persuading captor to talk fails. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K82.1.2 | Attempted intoxication avoided by boring a hole in the bottom of cup. Marquesas: Handy 119. |
| S112.4 | Attempted murder by live coals in garments. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E186.1 | Attempted resuscitation fails because of overanxiety. S. A. Indian (Kaiguá): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 139. |
| Q243.2.1 | Attempted seduction punished. (Cf. Q424.3, Q431.5.1, Q469.10.1.) Icelandic: Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J2171.1.3.1 | Attempts to make canoe of sand. (Cf. H1021.3.) Marquesas: Handy 45, 91. |
| Q57 | Attendance on the sick rewarded. Africa (Duala): Lederbogen JAS IV 66, Märchen 83. |
| D790 | Attendant circumstances of disenchantment. |
| A165 | Attendants and servants of the gods. Greek: Grote I 10, 67; Icel.: *Boberg (A165.3); Jewish: *Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 964f.; Hindu: *Penzer I 200, X 158 s.v. "Ganas", "Gandharvas". |
| A152.4 | Attendants around God's throne. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D799.3 | Attendants of disenchanted person automatically disenchanted. German: Grimm Nos. 50, 106, 127, 169, 179. |
| F531.6.16 | Attendants of the giants. |
| H151.5 | Attention attracted by hints dropped by heroine as menial: recognition follows. *Type 510; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T26 | Attention distracted by sight of beloved. |
| H151 | Attention drawn and recognition follows. |
| H151.1.2 | Attention drawn by gold and silver decorated mouse: as princess turns after it, suitor recognizes her. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H151.2 | Attention drawn by helpful animal's theft of food from wedding table; recognition follows. *Type 301, 900; BP I 443ff.; *Philippson FFC L 53; *Fb "mad" II 525a. |
| H151.1 | Attention drawn by magic objects: recognition follows. *Type 707; *BP II 380ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone Introduction; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H151.1.1 | Attention drawn by playing marbles with remarkable jewel. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K477 | Attention secured by trickery. |
| J1050 | Attention to warnings. |
| A1651.0.1 | Attitude to untouchables. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B279.2 | Attitudes of animals toward oath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2074 | Attracting by magic. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| A738 | Attributes of sun. |
| X145.1 | Audience of one hired to listen to egoistic dismal-voiced singer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K477.1 | Audience secured with the pope by rudeness. A woman bribes a man to get her an audience with the pope. By turning his back to the sacrament and saying that the woman had instructed him to do so, he brings it about that she is summoned into the presence. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 347. |
| D1812.5.0.8.1 | Auguries from movement of animal. (Cf. B563.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| P294 | Aunt. *Rivers "The Father's Sister in Oceania" FL XXI 42. |
| F152.1.8 | Aurora as bridge to otherworld. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 153. |
| F451.5.10.9 | Ausgelohnt. When dwarfs are paid in full for their work they cease helping mortals. *Hdwb. d. Märch. s.v. "Ausgelohnt"; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 96ff., (1928) 70ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 40 No. 326; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3490. |
| J1714.4 | Author believes that his book must be stupid. Stupid people and gossipers are praising it. Spanish: Childers. |
| V327 | Author of book against heretic honored by Virgin Mary and angels. Scala Celi 117b No. 652. |
| D1639.1 | Automata as door-keepers. Penzer IX 149; *Dickson 197 n. 84. |
| D1639 | Automata: other motifs. |
| D1601.30 | Automatic arrows. (Cf. D1092.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1620.2.9 | Automatic brazen serpent. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1601.9.1 | Automatic broom. (Cf. D1209.8.) German: Grimm No. 42. |
| D1601.5 | Automatic cudgel. (Cf. D1094.) *Type 563; BP I 349ff.; Aarne JSFO XXVII 1—96 passim; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1620.0.1 | Automatic doll. (Cf. D1268.) BP II 527.—Hindu: Tawney I 257. |
| D1620.2.5 | Automatic figures on harp—birds, serpents, hounds. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1601.24 | Automatic fire tongs. Scotland: Campbell-McKay No. 22. |
| D1620.0.1.1 | Automatic gold-spinning doll. Italian: Basile introduction. |
| D1601.5.2 | Automatic hammer kills enemy. (Cf. D1209.4.) Africa (Fang): Trilles Proverbes 202. |
| D1620.2.2 | Automatic hen and chickens of gold. Jones PMLA XXIII 563.—Italian: Basile introduction. |
| D1609 | Automatic magic objects—miscellaneous. |
| D1620.2.6 | Automatic metal (jewel) fish. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1523.2.1 | Automatic oar. (Cf. D1124.) Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "aviron". |
| D1600 | Automatic object. |
| F183.1 | Automatic service in otherworld: any sort of food desired furnished. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1601.15 | Automatic shovel. (Cf. D1205.) Fb "redskab" III 30a, "skovl" III 301b. |
| D1620.0.1.2 | Automatic singing doll. (Cf. D1615.) Italian: Basile introduction. |
| D1601.4.2 | Automatic spear. (Cf. D1084, D1400.1.7.) Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1620.2 | Automatic statue of animal. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1620.2.8 | Automatic statue of dog. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1620.2.1 | Automatic statue of horse. (Cf. D1626.1.) Chauvin V 200 No. 117; Jones PMLA XXIII 563; *Köhler-Bolte I 412.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1620.1.2 | Automatic statue of horseman. Chauvin V 200 No. 117. |
| D1620.2.4 | Automatic statue of lion. Jewish: Gaster Exempla 209 No. 115, Neuman. |
| D1620.1 | Automatic statue of man. Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 230f. |
| D1620.1.1 | Automatic statue of trumpeter. Jones PMLA XXIII 563. |
| D1601.4.1 | Automatic sword. (Cf. D1081, D1400.1.4.) MacCulloch Childhood 202; Icelandic: Boberg; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 354. |
| D1601.4 | Automatic weapon. (Cf. D1081.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1601.17 | Automatic whip. (Cf. D1208.) Africa (Benga): Nassau No. 11, (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 52. |
| E481.4.1 | Avalon. (Cf. F323.) Happy otherworld where dead are healed. Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 31 (Geoffrey of Monmouth), 33 (Layamon's Brut), 50 (Le Morte Arthure); Hartland Science 204 (Olger the Dane). |
| Q272 | Avarice punished. (Cf. Q552.3.5, Q589.1.0.1, W151.) *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 188 nn. 154, 166, 167; Crane Liber de Miraculis 86 No. 10; Icelandic: *Boberg; Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 774*; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 98, 760C*, 836C*, Keller; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 67, 196; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 268, 556, 1264; Tonga: Gifford 207; Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 504; Maori: ibid. 374; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 396; Africa (Wakweli): Bender 63, 106, (Fang): Tessman 117, (Jaunde): Heepe 247ff.; West Indies: Flowers 568. |
| Q272.2 | Avaricious man has neck broken when top of his treasure chest falls on him. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q272.3 | Avaricious miser tries to eat his adored money and chokes to death. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q272.4 | Avaricious woman and her gold consumed by hell's fires which burn in her grave. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| S123.4 | Avenger plans to let king starve in mountain chamber. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| V61.11 | Aversion to burial in "strange city". Irish myth: Cross. |
| P711.8 | Aversion to burial in foreign soil. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2071.1 | Averting Evil Eye. See references for D1070, Magic ornaments, a large number of which are used to keep off the Evil Eye. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J647.1 | Avoid enemies' revenge either by making peace and friendship or by killing them all. So says old man to conqueror. Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 544, 545. |
| J571 | Avoid hasty judgment. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J571.4 | Avoid hasty punishment. |
| T582.1 | Avoidance of evil spirits at childbirth. Armenian: Ananikian 88f. |
| J640 | Avoidance of others' power. |
| J647 | Avoiding enemy's revenge. |
| J644 | Avoiding places which have been fatal to others. |
| J645 | Avoiding power of future enemy. |
| T251.1 | Avoiding the shrewish wife. |
| J656 | Avoiding things which are harmful by nature. |
| D1385.5.2 | Axe driven into house entrance keeps werwolf out. (Cf. D1206.) Jijena Sanchez 35. |
| X986.1 | Axe of wax cuts jungle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N337.3 | Axe thrown at one animal misses but kills another. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1841.5.3 | Axe will not cut man, however much he strikes himself. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1141.1.12 | B warns A not to tie his horse near B's. Horses fight and A's is killed. In court B plays dumb. A says B could talk the day before, and repeats conversation. Judge blames A for not taking advice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1711.1.3 | Baalam as master of magicians. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B151.1.1.2.2 | Baalam's ass. Advises master that angel is barring the way. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1711.11.1 | Baalam's family as magicians. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B292.1.1 | Baboon as shepherd for man. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 44 No. 21. |
| A2213.2.3 | Baboon pressed on hot, flat rock: hence bald place on his back. (Cf. A2317.10.)—Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 39 No. 19; Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 74. |
| R13.1.1 | Baboons abduct boy. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 42. |
| H495.1 | Baby finds its mother, goes to her for suckling. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F531.2.14 | Baby giants four months old "two feet broad in the chest and twelve feet high." Irish myth: Cross. |
| S327.2 | Baby ordered killed because it pulls beard of father (raja). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H481.1.1 | Baby picks out his disguised father from a crowd by handing him a bow. S. A. Indian (Chaco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 369. |
| Q469.11 | Baby son hurled into battle as punishment for desertion of fairy mistress. (Cf. Q247, Q411.3.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F611.3.2.2 | Baby tied to a mill-stone by strap so he would not wander about; drags stone after him. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 31. |
| K341.7.0.1 | Baby's cry imitated to distract owner's attention from his goods. Japanese: Ikeda. |
| M108.1 | Babylonians do not keep their oaths. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G512.7 | Backbone of ogre's old mother broken. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D476.3.2.1 | Bacon changed to different foods. Loomis White Magic 79; Irish myth: *Cross (D479.5.1). |
| D476.3.2 | Bacon changed to iron. Irish myth: Cross (D479.5). |
| J452 | Bad associates bring death to bishop. Doctor loses his life for him and lawyer his soul. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K1822.3 | Bad breath and forked tongue reveal identity of snake-king in guise of human. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.3.9 | Bad breath magically cured. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1550.1 | Bad character shown by the eyes. Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J229.6 | Bad choice between poor and miserly man. Neither makes good leader. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 571. |
| D1812.5.1.2 | Bad dream as evil omen. (Cf. D1810.8, D1812.3.3, D1813.1.) Dickson 74, 225.—Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 9 (King Horn), 31 (Geoffrey's life of Arthur), 33 (Layamon's Brut), 48 (Lancelot of the Laik), 89 (The Sege of Melayne), 92 (The Song of Roland), 122 (The King of Tars); Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 233, *Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N250.4 | Bad luck banished and freed. The poor man in some way banishes his bad luck and becomes prosperous. Out of envy his rich brother sets it free; it then follows him. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 735A*; Russian: Andrejev No. 735 I*. |
| N250.1 | Bad luck follows man who shoots stork. *Fb "stork" III 592b. |
| N112 | Bad luck personified. |
| N112.1 | Bad luck put into a sack. Köhler-Bolte I 258. |
| D1812.5.1.8 | Bad omen for two bridal processions to meet. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 135 No. 91. |
| D1812.5.1.7.1 | Bad omen: greeting one before dawn. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1812.5.1.22 | Bad omen: seeing unusual sight on road home. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1812.5.1 | Bad omens. *Penzer III 46, 86, X 251 s.v. "Omen, evil."; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P262.1 | Bad relations between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| U210 | Bad ruler, bad subject. |
| J953.2 | Bad singer thinks he is talented: driven from theatre. Wienert FFC LVI 82 (ET 481), 93 (ST 72); Halm Aesop No. 193. |
| A2416.1 | Bad smell of goat. (See A2232.5.)—Dh III 233; Fb "gjedebuk" IV 178b.—Ibo (Nigeria): Thomas 125; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 226, (Cameroon): Mansfield 227. |
| A2416.3 | Bad smell of skunk. Dh III 233.—Central America: Krickeberg Märchen der Azteken und Inkaperuaner 254. |
| Q313 | Bad temper punished. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E692.1 | Bad woman cursed to be reborn as bat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1371.1 | Bad women because of head exchanged with devil. Devil (serpent) and woman fight. St. Peter cuts off their heads and exchanges them.—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 83 No. 11b.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3047, Balys Legends Nos. 82-93. |
| A1371.2 | Bad women combination of nine different animals. Stiefel Zs. f. Vksk. VIII 163. |
| A1371.3 | Bad women from transformed hog and goose. Peter, having only one daughter, foolishly promises her to three men. He asks the Lord to create two others. This request is granted. The first creature he meets on two successive mornings he is to greet, and they will be transformed. He meets a hog and a goose. His two new daughters have these characteristics.—*Dh II 191ff.; Fb "sø" III 449b.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 411. |
| J953.2.1 | Bad writer who praises himself reprimanded. Wienert FFC LVI 85 (ET 515), 91 ST 41). |
| K2023 | Badgers treacherously slain in violation of pledge given by prince. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W33.1 | Badly wounded warrior continues fighting. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J1251 | Baffling malice with ready answers. English: Child I 20—22, 485, III 496, IV 440. |
| A751.9.2 | Bag in the moon. Samoa: Clark 89. |
| K444.2 | Bag of cakes said to be full of cobras. Boy eats cakes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D565.9 | Bag of stones becomes auks on touching ground. Eskimo (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 172. |
| C322.1 | Bag of winds. Wind is confined in a bag. Man breaks prohibition against looking into bag and releases winds.—Greek: Fox 137, 266, Frazer Apollodorus II 285 n. 2; Estonian: FFC XXV 140 No. 9; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 81 No. 13.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 292 n. 72.—Oceanian: Dixon 55 (Samoan, coconut filled with winds; Chatham Islands, basket); Australian: ibid. 296f. (bag of waters.)—Cf. H. C. Andersen "Paradisets Have." |
| H1113.1 | Bailing out pond with thimble. German: Grimm No. 193. |
| P442.1 | Baker and devil walking together. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "boulanger". |
| R83 | Baker, disguised as old woman, substitutes for princess in cell when he brings bread to her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P442 | Baker. *Sébillot Métiers Nos. 2, 3; *Nyrop Dania VIII 174ff. |
| B733.1 | Balaam's ass perceives angel. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J2102.3 | Bald man aims at a fly: hurts his head. Jacobs Aesop 204 No. 18; Wienert FFC LVI 67 (ET 313), 128 (ST 361). |
| J1062.2.1 | Bald man tries to sell hair restorer. Scorned. Penzer V 83f. |
| J1061.2 | Baldheaded man finds the comb: it is useless. Wienert FFC LVI 45 (ET 29), 130 (ST 374). |
| C949.2 | Baldness from breaking tabu. Irish myth: Cross; Tahiti: Henry 143. |
| D2161.3.4 | Baldness magically cured. |
| H316.3 | Ball (goblet) thrown indicates princess's choice. Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 216; Persian: Carnoy 341. |
| G423 | Ball falling into water puts person into ogre's (witch's, water spirit's) power. *Type 440; BP I 226. |
| E494 | Ball game in lower world. (Cf. E577.1.) N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Alexander N. A. Myth 137; *Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F839.5 | Ball made of human brains as weapon. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E530.1.2 | Ball of fire haunts murderer. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| A435.1 | Bamboo goddess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F813.6.1 | Banana large as tooth of elephant. Africa (Baholoholo): Einstein 217. |
| D1612.1.2 | Banana tree tells who cut its branches. (Cf. D950.) Easter Island: Métraux Ethnologie 364. |
| D1641.16 | Bananas run and hide when stone is thrown at them. (Cf. D981.13.) Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 375. |
| P551.0.1 | Band of professional warriors. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| B535.0.2 | Bandicoot (large rat) as nurse. Cares for children.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
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