Aarne–Thompson–Uther index · Tale type

ATU 326 — The Youth Who Wanted to Learn What Fear Is

326
ATU tale-type number
3
Arne Thompson references
4
Thompson motif references
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Summary

Tale type

Various episodes: in the church tower, under the gallows, etc. Cf. Types 1159, 1160.

  • I. Quest: To Meet Fear. A youth who does not know what fear is goes out to find it.
  • II. Experiences. He tries various frightful experiences: (a) playing cards with devil in church; (b) stealing clothes from a ghost; (c) staying at night under a gallows, (d) in a cemetery, or (e) in a haunted house where a dead man's members fall down the chimney; (f) vanquishing ghost like cats; (g) playing ninepins with a reassembled dead man; (h) being shaved by barber-ghost; (i) cutting devil's finger nails.
  • III. Learning Fear. After his wedding he learns fear when cold water is thrown on him or eels are put down his back while he is asleep.

    • Earlier references

    Concordance

    Arne Thompson: 326, 326A*, 326B*

    Thompson motif index: H1376.2.2., H1411., H1441., K335.1.10.1.10.





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