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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 Thompson references, ascending

Showing 51–100 of 153 · Page 2 of 4

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
113 Mice Choose Cat as King Mice choose cat as king. 113A, 113B B342., K815.13.
75 The Help of the Weak The mouse gnaws the net and liberates the captured bear (fox, lion). 75 B371.1.
285 The child and the snake The snake drinks from the child's milk-bottle. 285, 285B*, 285D, 285E B391.1., B784.2.1.1., J15., J552.3.
295 The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean The coal burns the straw in two and falls into the water. The bean laughs till it splits. 295 F1025.1.
123 The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids The wolf comes in the absence of the mother and eats up the kids . The old goat cuts the wolf open and rescues them . Cf. Type 333. , 122E, 123, 123B F913., K1832., K553.2., K828.1., Q426.
71 Contest of Frost and the Hare The hare lies on the frozen snow and says, »Oh, how warm!» 71 H1541.1.
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.
93 The Master Taken Seriously She-fox and her children do not flee from the vineyard until owner begins in earnest to root it out. (Also told of other animals.) 93 J1031.
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.
62 Peace Among the Animals – The Fox and the Cock The fox tries to beguile the cock by reporting a new law establishing peace among the animals. Dogs appear and the fox flees saying that the dogs have not yet heard of the new law. 62 J1421.
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.
60 The Fox and the Crane Invites Each Other The crane (heron) has his food in a deep dish, the fox his on a flat plate. The crane injures his beak. 60 J1565.1.
211 The hog who was so tired of his daily food Schwarzer Tod im "Stipelloch" gefangen (entkommt später) 211 J1612.
105 The fox and the cat The cat has only one trick and saves herself in a tree. The fox who knows a hundred tricks is captured. 105, 105* J1662., K522.
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.
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.
34 The Wolf Dives into the Water for Reflected Cheese The wolf and the fox think the reflection of the moon in the water is a cheese. The fox lowers the wold into the water, the wolf fall into the water and the cheese disappears. 34, 34A J1791.3., J1791.4.
150 The Bird's Three Precepts A man releases a fox (bird) if the latter will give him three counsels: "When you have a fox, don't let him loose." , 150 J21.12., J21.13., J21.14., K604.
112 Town Mouse and Country Mouse Country mouse visits town mouse. Former prefers poverty with safety. 112 J211.2.
68 The Jackal Trapped in the Animal Hide
  • I. Entering the Elephant. (a) An elephant lets his friend the jackal enter his body to drink water. The jackal eats the internal organs and the elephant dies. The jackal is trapped in the carcass. (b) A jackal eats its way into a carcass which it finds and is trapped inside when the skin dries.
  • II. Jackal and the God. (a) A god passes and the jackal challenges him to a rain-making contest. The god sends rain, the carcass swells, and the jackal escapes. (b) The jackal pretends to be a god and frightens people into bringing sacrifice and pouring water over the carcass.
    		•  , 68, 68*, 68A J2131.5.7., J655.2., K1022.1.1., K565.2.
    214 Ass Tries to caress his Master like a Dog He is driven off. 214, 214A, 214B J2133.1., J2413.1., J951.1.
    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.
    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.
    154 The Jackal and the Farmer The fox helps the man; his reward. He converses with his members. 154 J2351.1.
    225 The Tortoise That Wanted to Fly Lets him fall to the earth 225, 225A J2357., K1041.
    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.
    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.
    293 Debate of the Belly and the Members Debate as to their usefulness. All are mutually useful. 293 J461.1.
    85 The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage The mouse, the bird, and the sausage keep house together each with appropriate duties. When they exchange roles, all goes ill. 85 J512.7.
    292 Ass Tries to Get a Cricket's Voice Asks cricket what they eat to get such a voice. They answer, >>dew.>> He tries it and starves. 292 J512.8.
    100 The Wolf as the Dog's Guest Sings The wolf as the dog's guest sings. Has drunk too much. Sings in spite of the dog's objections. Is killed. 100 J581.1.
    72 The Rabbit Rides Fox A-Courting The fox is the favorite suitor of the girl the rabbit wants. The rabbit tells the girl that the fox is his horse. She refuses to believe him. She agrees to marry if he will ride to her house. He persuades fox to carry him—usually by feigning lameness—and wins the girl. (Sometimes told of human beings.) Cf. Type 4. 72, 72* J61., K1241.
    50 Curing a Sick Lion The fox pretends to seek a remedy for the lion; advises him to skin the wolf . , 50, 50A, 50C J644.1., K961., W121.2.1.,           ,            
    278 Rat and Frog Tie Paws Together A rat and a frog get their paws entangled and get c arried off by a falcon. 278, 278A*, Frog J652.1., J681.1., J752.1.
    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.
    110 Belling the Cat The mice buy a bell for the cat but no one dares tie it on her. 110 J671.1.
    43 The Bear Builds a House of Wood; the Fox, of Ice In summer the fox wants to drive the bear out of his house Cf. Types 81, 1097, 1238. 1097, 43 J741.1.
    51 The Lion's share The ass divides booty equally between himself, the fox, and the lion. The lion eats the ass. The fox then divides: gives the lion meat and keeps bones. 51 J811.1.
    298 Wind and sun Sun by warmth causes traveler to remove coat, while the wind by violent blowing causes him to pull it closer around him. 298, 298C* J832., L351.
    53 Reynard the Fox at Court The fox is summoned to appear before the court of justice, but he does not come and laughs at the messengers. When he is caught at last and about to be hanged, he escapes again. 53 J864.2.
    59 Fox and the Sour Grapes Pretends that the grapes he cannot reach are sour. 59 J871.
    70 More cowardly than the hare The hare finds a (sheep, fish, frog, etc.) who is afraid of him and laughs till his lip splits. 70 J881.1.
    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.
    8 "Painting" on the Haycock The bear (wolf) wants to be painted like the birds. The fox persuades him to lie on a haycock and sets fire to it. 8, 8A K1013., K1013.2
    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.
    41 The Wolf Overeats in the Cellar The fox persuades the wolf to enter a cellar (smokehouse or kitchen) and steal food. The wolf eats so much that he cannot escape through the hole he has entered by. He is killed. Cf. Types 33*, 33**. 33*, 33**, 41, 41* K1022.1.
    49 The bear and the honey The fox leads the bear to a wasp-nest. 49 K1023.
    20 Animals Eat One Another Up The fox persuades them to begin with the smallest. 20, 20A, 20C, 61A K1024., K2027., Z43.3.
    21 Eating his own Entrails The fox persuades the wolf (bear) to eat his own entrails. 21 K1025.
    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.

    Showing 51–100 of 153 · Page 2 of 4





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