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Aarne–Thompson–Uther index

About this index and how to read it

The ATU index classifies international folktales by type. Each row gives the type number, its title and summary, followed by the references it inherits: Arne Thompson is the earlier Aarne–Thompson type number, and Thompson lists the motif references from Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature associated with that type.

Cross-references inside a summary open the relevant tale-type or motif record. Thompson motif references in the final column are linked directly to the corresponding entry in the Stith Thompson Motif Index when that reference exists in the database. Any column heading can be clicked to sort by it, and clicking again reverses the order. Following a type number opens that type on its own page.

Animal Tales 1–299

153 tale types

Sorted by earlier references, ascending

Showing 51–100 of 153 · Page 2 of 4

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson ▲ Thompson
112 Town Mouse and Country Mouse Country mouse visits town mouse. Former prefers poverty with safety. 112 J211.2.
113 Mice Choose Cat as King Mice choose cat as king. 113A, 113B B342., K815.13.
120 The First to See the Sunrise Wager between the fox and the hog. In the contest the fox places himself on a hill facing the east; the hog in a lower place facing the high trees to the west. The sun shines on the top of the trees and the hog wins. (Sometimes told with human actors.) 120 K52.
121 Wolves Climb on Top of One Another to Tree Wolves climb on top of one another to tree. The hog (or man) in the tree. The lowest wolf runs away and all fall. Cf. Type 1250. 121 J2133.6.
122 The Wolf Loses His Prey The wolf loses his prey. Escape by false plea. 122, 122A, 122B, 122C, 122D, 122F, 122G K550., K551.8., K553., K553.1., K553.5., K561.2., K562.
124 The Three Little Pigs The goose builds a house of feathers; the hog one of stone. The wolf blows the goose's house in and eats her. Cannot blow down the hog's house. Finally he is allowed to enter. He is tricked into the chimney (or churn) where he is burned up. 124 Z81.
125 The Wolf Flees from the Wolf-head The sheep have found a sack and wolfhead. They make the wolf believe that they have killed a wolf. He flees in terror.Cf. Type 1149. 125 K1715.3.
131 Tiger as False Friend to the Cow A tiger and a cow become friends and both bear offspring. The tiger drinks water downstream from the cow, decides her flesh would be sweet, and kills and devours her. The calf has been forewarned (lifetoken: cup of milk). The cub, ashamed of its… 131 J427.
132 Goat Admires his Horns in the Water Goat admires his horns in the water, and says, "I needn't be afraid of the wolf." Wolf behind him asks him what he was saying. Goat: "One talks such foolishness when one is drinking." 132 K1775.
136 Wolf Surprises Pig in Apple Tree Wolf surprises pig in apple tree. Will release him in return for one of his harms. Pig throws down a piece of thorny wood instead, which splits wolf's gullet. 136 K1043.
137 The Filthy Hog and the Clean Fish The hog: "People will spit when they eat you, whereas in my case all will lick their fingers." 137 NA
15 Stealing the Partner's Butter The fox (the hen) pretends that he has been invited to be godfather and steals the butter stored by him and the bear (the cock) for the winter. He smears butter on the mouth (tail) of the sleeping bear. 15 K372.
151 Music lessons for wild animals He tricks them by catching their claws in a cleft tree. Similarly betrays many other animals. The freed animals try in vain for revenge. 151 K1111.0.1.
153 The Gelding of the Bear and the Fetching of Salve The man tells the bear that the horse is strong because he is gelded. The bear has the man geld him to make him strong. He is to geld the man the next day. The man substitutes his wife and sends her with salve; the bear in disgust throws the salve into the tree. Cf. Type 1133. 153 K1012.1.
154 The Jackal and the Farmer The fox helps the man; his reward. He converses with his members. 154 J2351.1.
155 Ingratitude Is the World's Reward A man rescues a serpent (or a bear), who in return seeks to kill the rescuer. Fox, as judge, advises the man to put the serpent back into captivity. 155 J1172.3.
156 Androcles and the Lion In gratitude the lion later rewards the man. 156, 156A B301.8., B381.
157 Learning to Fear Men The fox undertakes to persuade the wolf of the frightfulness of men. They see an old man. The fox says this was a man but is no longer one. Likewise a boy (will be a man). Next a man with a gun. The wolf approaches and is shot. He tells the fox he could have defeated the man but for the man's spitting fire. [J17]. 157, 157A J17., J22.1.
159 Captured wild animals ransom themselves Bring horses, cows, etc. to the man. 159A, 159B NA, W185.6.
160 Grateful Animals ; Ungrateful Man The rescue from the pit. A traveler saves a monkey, a snake, a tiger, and a jeweler from a pit. The monkey gives him fruit; the tiger a necklace of the princess he has killed. The jeweler accuses the rescuer before the king. The serpent saves him by biting the prince and then showing the man the proper remedy. 160 W154.8.
161 Peasant Betrays Fox by Pointing The peasant has hidden the fox in a basket, and promised not to tell. When the hunters come, he says, »The fox just went over the hill,« but points to the basket. [K2315]. 161, 161A* K2315., NA
163 The singing wolf By his singing the wolf compels the old man to surrender his cattle, his children and grandchildren, and finally his wife. The old woman goes into the wolf's service. She returns home bringing butter, etc. [Z33.4.2]. 163 Z33.4.2.
170 The fox eats his fellow-lodger The fox spends the night with a cock in a house. He eats the cock but in the morning he accuses the sheep of having eaten it. In the next inn likewise the ox has eaten the sheep, etc. In compensation he demands a larger animal each time. .… 170, 171 K443.7., NA
173 Man and animals readjust span of life Cf. 828 AT first, 30 years are given to all animals and to man. For the animals it is too long, for man too short. Man is given a portion of animal's lives. [A1321]. 173 A1321.
175 The Tarbaby and the Rabbit The rabbit, who has been stealiug fruit from a garden, is captured by means of a tarbaby, an image with tar. The rabbit tries to make the tarbaby talk and finally becomes so angry that he strikes it. He sticks to the tarbaby and is captured. Usually… 175 K741.
178 The Faithful Animal Rashly Killed See AT 0178A and AT 0178B. 178, 178A B331.2., NA
179 What the bear whispered in his ear Paid guide climbs tree and leaves traveler to mercy of a bear. Traveler feigns death and the bear sniffs at him and leaves. The guide: »What did the bear say to you?« »He said, never trust a coward like you.« 179 J1488.
2 How the bear lost his tail The bear (wolf) is persuaded to fish with his tail through a hole in the ice. His tail freezes fast. When he is attacked and tries to escape, he loses his tail. 2, 2A, 2B, 64 K1021, K1021.1., K1021.2.
20 Animals Eat One Another Up The fox persuades them to begin with the smallest. 20, 20A, 20C, 61A K1024., K2027., Z43.3.
200 The Dog's Certificate Through the cat's carelessness it is lost. Since then dogs and cats are enemies. 200, 200A, 200B, 200C* A2232.8., A2275.5.5., A2281.1., A2494.4.4.
201 The Lean Dog Prefers Liberty to Abundant Food and a Chain Sie hielt allein Prozession, als die Menschen dies versäumten (als über den Prozessionsweg Streit war). 201 L451.3.
204 Sheep, duck and cock in peril at sea The duck swims; the cock flies to the mast and crows that he sees the shore. 204 J1711.1.
206 Straw Threshed a second Time The animals eating at night say they have good food because the straw has not been well threshed. The master hears and threshes it a second time. They grow hungry. (Animals' voices imitated in telling story.) Cf. Types 106, 2075. 206 J2362.
207 Rebellion of the Work Animals Cock as leader punished. 207, 207A, 207B, 207C B271.3., J2413.1., K1633., NA
21 Eating his own Entrails The fox persuades the wolf (bear) to eat his own entrails. 21 K1025.
210 The Traveling Animals and the Wicked Man The animals and objects hide themselves in various parts of a house. They punish with their characteristic powers the owner of the house and finally kill him. Cf. Type 130. 210 K1161.
211 The hog who was so tired of his daily food Schwarzer Tod im "Stipelloch" gefangen (entkommt später) 211 J1612.
212 The Lying Goat A father sends his sons one after the other to pasture the goat. The goat always declares he has had nothing to eat. The father angrily sends his sons from home and learns, when he himself tries to pasture the goat, that he has been deceived. Cf.… 212 K1151.
214 Ass Tries to caress his Master like a Dog He is driven off. 214, 214A, 214B J2133.1., J2413.1., J951.1.
221 The Election of Bird-King Wren wins by cleverness. 221 B236.1.
222 The Willow-Wren and the Bear Birds win by cleverness. The fox's lifted tail is to be the signal. The gnats stick him under the tail. He drops it and the quadrupeds flee. Cf. Type 104. It often serves as introduction to Type 313. 222, 222A B261., B261.1.
225 The Tortoise That Wanted to Fly Lets him fall to the earth 225, 225A J2357., K1041.
227 The geese's eternal prayer The fox attacks a group of geese. They ask his if they can make one last prayer. The fox agrees. The geese make so much noise that the farmer hears them and saves them. 227 K551.1.
228 The Titmouse Tries to be as Big as a Bear She ruffles up her feathers but does not succeed in fooling her young. But in her own form she flies into the bear's ear and kills him. 228 L315.1.
231 The Heron (Crane) Transports the Fish A heron (crane) tells the fish in a lake that is drying up that it will transport them one by one to another lake, but eats them instead. A crab sees through the deception, seizes the heron by the throat and kills it. 231  J657.3.
232 The Heathcock and the Birds of Passage The former prefers to remain at home amid hardships than to go to foreign lands. 232D* J101.
234 The Nightingale and the Blindworm No examples in the Database yet 234, 234A* , A2241.5.
235 The Jay Borrows the Cuckoo's Skin No examples in the Database yet 235 A2241.
236 Imitating bird sounds, The dove keeps saying >>I know>> and persists in building her small nest. (Imitation of bird's sounds.) Cf. Type 2075. 236, 236* A1952., A2271.1.
237 The Parrot That Talked Too Much A magpie is punished by his master, who throws him into a mud puddle. The magpie sees a muddy sow. He says, "You also must have had a quarrel with your master." 237 J2211.2.

Showing 51–100 of 153 · Page 2 of 4





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