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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.

Anecdotes and Jokes 1200–1999

281 tale types

Sorted by Thompson references, ascending

Showing 151–200 of 281 · Page 4 of 6

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
1567 Hungry Servant Reproaches Stingy Master Cf. Type 1389*. , 1567, 1567F, 1567G J1341.1., J1341.11., J1341.4., J1341.6.
1574 The flattering foreman A tailor dreams that at Judgment Day he sees a flag made up of all the pieces of cloth he has stolen. Upon waking he asks his servants to warn him if they ever see him tempted to steal again. This happens. He replies, »The piece I am about to steal… 1574 J1401.
1628 The learned son and the forgotten language Having left the seminary, a son speaks only Latin, pretending to have forgotten his own language. When a rake strikes him in the forehead, he screams in his own tongue »Devilish rake!» [J1511.11]. Cf. Type 1641 C. 1628* J1511.11.
1592 The Iron-eating Mice The trustee claims that mice have eaten the iron scales confided to him. The host abducts the trustee's son and says that a falcon has carried him off. [J1531.2]. 1592, 1592B J1531.2., J1531.3.
1410 Four Men's Mistress A husband disguises as a priest to hear his wife's confession. She says that she has been the mistress of a servant, a knight, a fool, and a priest; i.e., her husband when he was her servant, and later her knight. He had then been a fool for… 1410 J1545.2.
1408 The man who does his wife's work Does everything wrong [J2431]. Lets cow graze on the roof; cf. Type 1210. Ties the rope's end to his foot [J2132.2]. Lets the beer run out; cf. Type 1387. In the chimney. , 1408, 1408B, 1876 J1545.3., J1881.1.3., J2132.2., J2176.1., J2431., J2465.4., X1267.1.
1558 Welcome to the Clothes A man at a banquet is neglected because of his poor clothes. He changes clothes, returns, and is honored. »Feed my clothes,» he says, »for it is they that are welcomed.» [J1561.3]. 1558 J1561.3.
1347 Living Crucifix Chosen Peasants take their old crucifix to an artist for a new one. The artist asks them whether they want a living or dead crucifix. Argument: living God takes less for upkeep and he can be killed later. [J1738.2]. 1347, 1347* J1738.2., NA
1316 Rabbit Thought to be a Cow Servant sent to bring in cows is found chasing rabbits. [J1757]. Cf. Type 570. , 1316 J1751., J1754., J1755., J1757.
1317 Blind Man and Elephant Four blind men feel an elephant's leg, tail, ear, and body respectively, and conclude it is like a log, a rope, a fan, and something without beginning or end. [J1761.10]. NA J1761.10.
1319 Other mistaken identities No examples in the Database yet 1319, 1319A*, 1319J* J1761.11., J1772.1., J1781.2.
1310 Drowning the crayfish as punishment Eel, crab, turtle, etc. express fear of water and are thrown in. , 1310 J1762.1.2., K581.1.
1314 The Buttercask Taken for a Dead Man Fools knock it in two. [J1783.1]. 1315 J1771.1.
1335 The Eaten Moon The numskull sees a cow drink from a pool where the moon is reflected. The moon goes under a cloud. He thinks the cow has eaten the moon and slaughters her to recover it. [J1791.1]. 1335, 1335*, 1335A J1791.1., J1791.2., J1806.
1336 Diving for Cheese Man (animal) sees moon reflected in water and, thinking it a cheese, dives in for it. [J1791.3]. This is Type 34 with human actors. 1336A J1791.7.
1281 Burning the Barn to Destroy an Unknown Animal The cat (owl) is bought. Eats many mice. To kill it they set the house on fire. [J2101]. Cf. Type 1651. 1281, 1281A J1815., J2101.
1290 Swimming in the Flax-field Peasants go to visit the sea. They see a waving flax field, and thinking it is the sea, jump in for a swim. [J1821]. 1290 J1821.
1643 The Broken Image The fool sells his cow to a crucifix [J1853.1.1]. He knocks it to pieces because it will not pay him. He finds a treasure inside [N510]. 1643 J1853.1.1.
1386 Meat as food for cabbage The wife places pieces of meat on a growing cabbage. [J1856.1]. Cf. Type 1642. 1386 J1856.1.
1291 Sending One Cheese After Another One cheese falls and rolls down the hill. She sends the second to bring back the first. [J1881.1.2]. 1291, 1291B, 1291C J1871., J1881.1.2., J1881.1.3.
1242 Loading the wood A rider takes the meal-sack on his shoulder to relieve the ass of his burden. 1242, 1242A J1874.1., J2213.4.
1675 The ox (ass) as mayor The peasant has his ox study. The man who is to teach the ox [K491] slaughters it and tells the peasant that it has gone to the city and become a merchant (mayor). The peasant goes to visit him, meets a man who is named Peter Ox (or the like) and… , 1675 J1882.2., K491.
1218 Numskull Sits on Eggs to Finish Hatching Cautions people to be quiet and not frighten the eggs. (Sometimes puts on honey and feathers before sitting on the eggs.) [J1902.1]. Cf. Type 1677. , 1218 J1902.1., K1253.
1213 The Pent Cuckoo Fools build an enclosure to keep in the cuckoo. She flies over the hedge. They say that they have not built the hedge high enough. [J1904.2]. 1213 J1904.2.
1682 The groom teaches his horse to live without food It dies. [J1914]. 1682 J1914.
1543 The man without a member No examples in the Database yet 1543*, 1543A*, 1543C* J1919.8., NA
1278 Marking the place on the boat An object falls into the sea from a boat. Numskulls mark the place on the boat-rail to indicate where it fell. [J1922.1]. 1278, 1278* J1922.1., J1922.2.
1200 The Sowing of Salt The numskull sows it like grain and expects it to produce salt [J1932.3], or plants a cow's tail to produce calves [J1932.4.1]. , 1200 J1932.1., J1932.2., J1932.3., J1932.4.
1255 A hole to throw the earth in Numskull plans to dig a hole so as to have a place to throw the earth from his excavations. [J1934]. 1255 J1934.
1260 Jumping into the sea for fish They put meal into the ice hole and then, one after another, all jump in to taste the porridge. [J1938]. 1260 J1938.
1383 A Woman Does Not Know Herself No examples in the Database yet , 1383 J2012.2., J2012.3.
1406 The merry wives wager . . . No examples in the Database yet , 1406 J2013.2., J2301., J2311.0.1., J2312., J2314., J2315., J2316., J2317., J2324., K1545.
1288 'These are not my feet' A stranger helps them with a switch. [J2021]. 1288 J2021.
1287 Numskull unable to count their own number No examples in the Database yet 1287 J2031., J2031.1.
1430 Air Castles They make great plans for success but disagree over the conclusion. They quarrel over details and lose everything. Cf. Type 1681*. , 1430, 1430A J2060., J2060.1., J2061., J2061.1., J2061.1.2., J2061.2.
1327 Emptying the Meal Sack To convince arguers of the emptiness of their quarrel he empties sack of meal (pot of oil). [J2062.1]. 1327 J2062.1.
1450 Clever Elsie The girl is to get beer from the cellar. Falls into a study as to what her first child's name shall be. Likewise the girl's father and mother. The suitor departs. [J2063]. Cf. Types 1384, 1387, 1430A. 1450 J2063.
1415 Trading Away One's Fortune Foolish bargains. He trades his horse for a cow, the cow for a hog, the latter for a goose, until finally he has nothing left [J2081.1]. Wins the wager when his wife does not get angry [N11]. 1415 J2081.1.
1385 A Woman Loses Her Husband's Money The wife sells cows. Gets one of them back as pledge for the unpaid purchase price [J2086]. Cf. Types 1382, 1384. 1385, 1385* J2086., na
1214 The Persuavive Auctioner The auctioneer praises the man's worthless cow so much in his speech that the man takes her back himself [J2087]. 1214 J2087.
1294 Getting the Calf's Head out of the Pot A calf gets its head caught in the pot. A fool cuts off the calf's head and then breaks the pot to get it out. [J2113]. 1294 J2113.
1270 The Drying of the Candle The candle is laid in the stove to dry; melts [J2122]. 1270 J2122.
1245 Sunlight carried in a bag into the windowless house When this plan does not succeed they gradually pull down the house in order to get light. 1245 J2123.
1240 Man sitting on branch of tree cuts it off Een poep wil een klokketouw stelen. Hij klimt erin en snijdt het boven zijn hoofd af [cf. J2133.4]. 1240 J2133.4.
1250 Bringing Water from the Well A log is laid across the top of the well. One man holds to the log with his hands, the next climbs down and holds to his feet, and so on; the uppermost man becomes tired and lets go to spit on his hands. [J2133.5]. Cf. Type 121. 1250, 1250A J2133.5., J2133.6.1.
1692 The Stupid Thief Cf. Type 177. A fool accompanies a group of thieves, who send him into the house while they wait outside. I. Following Directions Literally. (a) Told to bring out something »heavy» (i.e., valuable), he brings out a heavy mortar, or the like… , 1692 J2136., J2136.5.5., J2136.5.6., J2136.5.7., J2461.1.7., J2461.1.7.1.
1286 Jumping into the Breeches The woman tries to pull on her husband's breeches for him on both legs at once. 1286 J2161.1.
1201 The plowing Four men carry the horse in order not to tramp up the field [J2163]. 1201 J2163.
1276 Rowing without going forward One woman rows in one direction, another in the opposite; or rowing in a boat which is tied up. [J2164.1, J2l64.2]. , 1276 J2164.1., J2164.2.
1263 The Porridge Eaten in Different Rooms The porridge in one, the milk in another [J2167]. 1263 J2167.

Showing 151–200 of 281 · Page 4 of 6





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