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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.

Tales of Magic 560–749

73 tale types

Sorted by summary, ascending

Showing 51–73 of 73 · Page 2 of 2

ATU Title Summary ▲ Arne Thompson Thompson
560 The Magic Ring The grateful animals (cat and dog) recover it for him. See analysis below: I a, b; II; III; IV a. - ANALYSIS: Types 560 and 561. I. Magic Object Received. The hero receives a magic ring (stone) which will perform all the wishes of the owner, from (a)… , 560 B360., D1131.1., D1470.1.15., D1662.1., D2136.2., D810., D812., D861.5., D882.1.1.
620 The Presents The haughty sister misuses her gift and loses it. Of two sisters the haughty one disdains to help an old woman. By means of the old woman's magic wand [D1254.1] she is given a castle and becomes a queen. Because of her haughtiness she is driven forth…
621 The Louse-Skin The hero guesses the puzzle and wins the princess. The one she turns to in the night. Cf. Types 425B, 571-574, 559, 850.
  • I. The Louse. (a) The princess has a louse fattened and it becomes as big as a calf. (b) At its death she has a dress made from its skin. (c) She is to marry the man who can guess from what the dress is made. (d) The hero learns by trickery and wins her.
  • II. To Whom She Turns [H315].
    • Occurs rarely as sequel. See Type 850.
    660 The Three Doctors The hog's heart, the thief's hand, the cat's eye. The three doctors make a trial of their skill [H504]. One removes one of his eyes, one his heart, and the other a hand [F668.1]. They are to replace them without injury the next morning [E782]. During… , 660 E780.2., E781.3., E782.1.1., E787., F668.1., H504.
    655 The Wise Brothers The king is bastard. Staying at the king's court they are asked to utter three wise words. As a result of extraordinary powers of deduction, they declare that the king is bastard, the roast is dog meat, etc. All proves to be true. , 655 F647.1., F647.5.1., J1661.1.1., J1661.1.2.
    622 The Talking Bed-Legs The king purchases a bed. During the night the legs of the bed speak and warn him of dangers or assist in other ways. [D1154.1.1, D1317.11, D1380.12, D1402.17, D1610.17.1, N454.1]. - Cf. Franklin Edgerton Vikrama's Adventures or the Thirty-Two Tales…
    561 Aladdin The object recovered by means of another magic object. For analysis see Type 560 (1 c; II; III; IV b, c). , 561 D1131.1., D1421.1.5., D1470.1.15., D1470.1.16., D1662.2., D2136.2., D840., D860., D881.
    585 Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle The prince will marry the girl who is at once the poorest and the richest [H1311.2]. She possesses marvelous heirlooms: a spindle that brings the prince to her [D1425.1], a needle that transforms the room [D1337.1.7], a shuttle that makes a magic… , 585 D1337.1.7., D1425.1., D1484.1., H1311.2.
    707 The Bird of Truth The queen bears marvelous children. They are stolen away. The queen is banished. The quest for the speaking bird, the singing tree, and the water of life. , 707 H1381.2.2.1., H71.1., H71.2., H71.3., K2110.1., K2115., L162., N201., R131.2., S301.
    566 Fortunatus The return of the objects is brought about with an apple, the eating of which causes horns to grow. I. The Magic Objects. (a) Three men each receive from a mannikin or from enchanted princess a magic object: (b) a self-filling purse (mantle), a… , 566, 580* D1451., D1475.1., D1520.11., D812., D861.6., D895., D992.1.
    564 The Two Marvelous Pitchers The rich neighbor steals the magic objects. By means of the sack the hero compels the return of the purse. For analysis see Type 563: 1 a, b, c, e; II c, d. , 564 D1030.1., D1193., D1401.1., D861.
    610 The Healing Fruit The sick princess is offered to the man who can cure her [T681, H346]. An old woman [N825.3] gives healing power to the fruits [D1500.1.5] of the youngest brother [Q2, L13]. After the youngest brother has succeeded [L10] he is given tasks: herding rabbits (Type 570); making a land and water ship (Type 513), and fetching a feather from a magic bird (Type 461). He performs the tasks, goes and makes a fortune, returns and humbles the king and marries the princess [L161]. , 610 D1500.1.5., D1533.1.1., H1010., H1112., H1331.1.2.1., H346., L10., L13., L161., N825.3., Q2., T68.1.
    712 Crescentia The slandered and banished wife is reinstated through her miraculous healing powers. , 712 H151.8., K2110.1., K2112., K2116.1.1.1., S451.
    563 Three Magic Gifts The stick compels the treacherous host of the inn to give back the table and the ass. See analysis below: I a, b, c, d; II a, (b) d. - ANALYSIS: Types 563 and 564. I. The Magic Objects. (a) A poor man receives three magic objects: (b) a table or sack… , 563 B103.1.1., D1401.2., D1472.1.7., D861.1., D881.2., J2355.1.
    577 The Order of the King The three brothers; the oak in the king's castle yard. The king's daughter is promised to the one who is able to perform certain difficult tasks, usually to cut down a large tree. The three brothers set out, and the youngest is the only one who pays… , 577 D1581., D1601.14., D1601.15., D1601.18.2., H335., H971.1.
    729 The Axe Falls into the Stream The water-spirit exhibits a golden axe, but the honest man admits that it does not belong to him [Q3.1]. Another man deliberately throws his axe into the water and claims the golden one as his. He gets neither. 729 Q3.1.
    709 Snow White The wicked stepmother seeks to kill the maiden. At the dwarfs' (robbers') house, where the prince finds the maiden and marries her. I. Snow-White and her Stepmother. (a) Snow-White has skin like snow, and lips like blood. (b) A magic mirror tells her… , 709 D1311.2., D1323.1., D1364.16., D1364.4.1., D1364.9., E21.1., F451.5.1.2., F852.1., K512.2., L55., M312.4., N831.1., Q414.4., S111.2., S111.4., S322.2., Z65.1.
    671 The Three Languages The youth learns the languages of dogs, birds, and frogs. Through this knowledge he makes his fortune. The father drives him out for his stupidity and orders him killed, but a compassionate servant substitutes an animal's heart and lets him escape.… , 671 B215.1., B215.2., B215.4., H171.2., K512.2.
    590 The Prince and the Bracelets The youth whose evil stepmother seeks his life finds two armbands: strong. Adventures. Two lions become his helpers. The stepmother has his eyes put out. He is cured and the stepmother punished. Cf. Type 315. I. The Blue Band. (a) A boy traveling… , 590 B431.2., B512., D1335.4., D1840., D861., D880., F615., H1212., H1333.3.1.1., H1361., H931., K975., S12.1.
    681 King in the Bath; Years of Experience This illusion takes place when the king puts his head under water. [D2012.1]. 681 D2012.1.
    708 The Miraculous Child Through the magic power of her evil stepmother, a princess gives birth to a monster and is banished. The monster aids her till everything turns out well. The monster is transformed into a prince. , 708 D1717.1., D741., S441.
    570 Bunnies Beware of the King With the help of his magic pipe he calls the rabbits together. He wins the hand of the princess.
  • I. Task: Herding Rabbits. A king offers the princess as a prize to the man who can herd his rabbits (goats). He has a pipe with which he can call the animals back.
  • II. Youngest Brother's Success. (a) Two elder brothers are unkind to an old woman and fail, but the youngest is kind and receives a pipe with which he can assemble the animals.
  • III. Bargains for Magic Pipe. (a) In the attempt to buy the pipe from him the princess or the queen kisses him, (b) or lies with him; or (c) the king kisses a horse's rump.
  • IV. A Sack of Lies. (a) Before finally granting him the princess, the king orders the boy to tell a sack of lies. (b) He begins to tell until the king (queen) makes him stop and gives him the princess.
    • - Adapted from Christiansen Norske Eventyr.    		 , 570, 570* D1224., D1427.1., D1441.1.2., H1045., H1112., K1271.1.1., K1288., T68.
    580 Favor of Women With the youngest of three brothers all women are in love. At the father's death when the elder brothers wish for riches, etc. the youngest [L10], wishes for [L210] and receives the power to make women love him [D1900]. He secures from the hostess of… , 580 D1472.1.7., D1473., D1900., D856., T45.

    Showing 51–73 of 73 · Page 2 of 2





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