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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 251–281 of 281 · Page 6 of 6

ATU Title Summary Arne Thompson Thompson ▲
1551 The Wager that Sheep are Hogs A trickster wagers with a sheep driver that the sheep he is driving are hogs. The next man to overtake them will act as umpire. The trickster's confederate now arrives and declares that they are hogs. [K451.2]. 1551 K451.2.
1526 The Old Beggar and the Robbers The robbers dress an old beggar up in fine clothes. They take him in front of the shopkeeper's house. Get many goods on the credit of the fine gentleman. Disappear with the goods and leave the old man behind. [K455.3]. Cf. Types 1531, l920E. , 1526A K455.1., K455.2.
1556 The Double Pension (Burial Money) A husband and wife are jointly under a pension from the king. She reports her husband dead and gets the whole pension. He likewise reports her dead and gets the whole money. [K441.1]. (Sometimes concerned with money for the burial.) (K482.1). 1556 K482.1.
1589 The Lawyer's Dog Steals Meat The lawyer tells the butcher that the dog's owner (himself) is liable for damages. He asks double the amount of the damages as fee. [K488]. 1589 K488.
1527 The Robbers are Betrayed The master and servant exchange places for a day. The servant in tar and feathers. Has his former master take him to the robbers' house. They flee in terror and leave their treasure behind. Cf. Types 1525H, 1650, 1653, 1654**. [K335.1, K335.1.8]. , 1527A K630., K724.
1650 The Three Lucky Brothers Their inheritances: a cock, a scythe, a cat. The fortunate sales. I. The Inheritances. (a) The eldest brother inherits a cock, the second a scythe (see Type 1202), the youngest a cat (see Type 1651); or (b) they inherit a millstone, a musical… , 1650 N411., N411.1.1., N411.2., N411.2.1.
1577 Blind Men Duped into Fighting: Money to be Devided Trickster says that he is giving one of them money to be divided with the others. Gives it to none. They quarrel and fight. [K1081.1]. (Cf. K1883.6.) 1577* N455.1.
1241 The tree is to be pulled down Fools try to save tree on cliff. All on rope pull out tree. It pulls them down into pit. 1241A na
1342 Hot and Cold with the Same Breath No examples in the Database yet 1342 NA
1533 The wise carving of the fowl A clever person divides it symbolically head to head of house, neck to wife, wings to daughters, legs to sons; keeps rest for himself. (Cf. Type 875 II e.) [H601]. 1533 NA
1535 The Rich Peasant and the Poor Peasant I. (a) Twee broers, (a1) mannen, (a2) boeren, (a3) neven, (a4) een boer en een jongen, (a5) zijn arbeider, (a6) een woonwagenbewoner. (b) Grote en Kleine Doeke, (b1) Klaas, (b2) Obe, (b3) Oege, (b4) Grote Arend en Kleine Hendrik, (b5) Hearke en… 1535 na
1600 The fool as murderer The brothers put a he-goat in place of the body and thus save their brother. [H472.1, K661.1]. Cf. Type 1381B, C, E. 1600 NA
1891 The Great Rabbit-Catch The rabbits freeze their feet fast to the ice at night [X1115.1]. 1891B*, 1893A* NA, X1114.1.
1920 Contest in lying The one says, - and yet lies [X905.4]. The great catch of fish [X1150.1]. Cf. Type 1960C. , 1920, 1920A, 1920B, 1920D, 1920E*, 1920F*, 1920H, 1920H* NA, X1215.8., X904.1., X904.2., X905., X905.4., X908.
1678 The boy who had never seen a woman When he sees a girl and asks his father what it is, the father tells him it is Satan. Asked what he most likes, he says »The Satans». [T371]. 1678 T371.
1950 The three lazy ones Who is the laziest. Each recounts a proof of his laziness. [W111.1]. , 1950 W111.1., W111.1.1., W111.1.2., W111.1.3.
1561 The boy 'loses his sight' No examples in the Database yet 1561 W111.2.6.
1951 Is Wood Split? A lazy man asks if wood is split before he accepts it as a gift [W111.5.12]. Sometimes, if rice is cooked. 1951 W111.5.10.
1348 The Imaginative Boy No examples in the Database yet 1348 W211.2.
1894 The man shoots a ramrod full of ducks No examples in the Database yet 1894 X1111.
1895 A man wading in water catching many fish in his boots No examples in the Database yet 1895 X1112.
1916 The Breathing Tree A hunter cuts down a tree packed so full of animal that a crack opens as the animals inhale, closes when they exhale. 1916 X1116.
1890 The lucky shot Discharge of gun kills the heath-cock, which falls on the sprouts on the tree, which kills the bear, etc. [X1124.3]. 1890, 1890D, 1890E, 1890F X1122.2., X1122.3., X1124.3.
1896 Hunting the wolves with rod and line No examples in the Database yet 1896 X1132.1.
1875 The Boy on the Wolf's Tail He hides himself in the mill and frightens the robbers from their treasure; cf. Type 1653. Is hidden in a barrel. Holds fast to the wolf's tail through a hole in the barrel. [X1133.3]. Cf. Types 169H*, 1229, 1900. 1875 X1133.3.
1229 If the Wolf's Tail Breaks Trickster and companion are wolf hunting. The companion goes into the wolf hole. The wolf comes out. The other catches the wolf by the tail and the wolf scratches dust into the companion's eyes. »What a dust.» - »If the wolf's tail breaks, you… 1229 X1133.3.2.
1940 The Extraordinary Names The place where animals and things have extraordinary names. 1940 X1506.
1927 The Cold May Night A very cold night comes in May. Hearing of a much colder night long ago, a man sets out to find about it. In his travels he comes to (a) an otter lying in a deep hole on top of a rock: he has been so long lying there that the rock has been worn… 1927 X1620.
1911 Cart as Legs Small cart serves as back legs for crippled sow. Pigs have also these carts. (Similar stories about other animals.) [X1202.1]. 1911A X1721.1.
1882 The Man who Fell out of a Balloon Buried in the earth, he goes to get a spade to dig himself out. 1882 X1731.2.1., X1757.
1965 Lying tales No examples in the Database yet 1965 X1791.

Showing 251–281 of 281 · Page 6 of 6