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Stith Thompson Motif Index
About this index and how to read it
Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.
The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.
All
A
Mythological Motifs
B
Animal Motifs
C
Motifs of Tabu
D
Magic
E
The Dead
F
Marvels
G
Ogres
H
Tests
J
The Wise and the Foolish
K
Deceptions
L
Reversals of Fortune
M
Ordaining the Future
N
Chance and Fate
P
Society
Q
Rewards and Punishments
R
Captives and Fugitives
S
Unnatural Cruelty
T
Sex
U
The Nature of Life
V
Religion
W
Traits of Character
X
Humor
Z
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Thompson reference | Description ▲ |
|---|---|
| D1441 | Magic object calls animals together. |
| D697 | Magic object can transform self. |
| D1661 | Magic object cannot be replaced. |
| D861.10 | Magic object carried away; child allowed to play with it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D861.7 | Magic object carried off by bird. (Cf. D865.) |
| D1444 | Magic object catches animal. |
| D1444.1 | Magic object catches fish. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 19. |
| D1375 | Magic object causes (or removes) temporary growths. |
| D1331.3 | Magic object causes both supernatural sight and blindness. |
| D1373 | Magic object causes constant hunger. |
| D1373.0.1 | Magic object causes constant thirst. |
| D1372 | Magic object causes continued sneezing. |
| D1500.4 | Magic object causes disease. Chinese: Werner 245. |
| D1542.2 | Magic object causes drought. |
| D1375.6 | Magic object causes feathers to grow on person. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1472.2 | Magic object causes food and drink to be furnished. |
| D1375.1 | Magic object causes horns to grow on person. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1375.5 | Magic object causes humps to appear on back. (Cf. F344.1.) Aarne MSFO XXV 123. |
| D1368 | Magic object causes illusions. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1367 | Magic object causes insanity. |
| D1359.3 | Magic object causes joy. |
| D1374 | Magic object causes longing. |
| D1376 | Magic object causes members to grow long or short. |
| D1366 | Magic object causes memory. |
| D1359.2 | Magic object causes mourning. |
| D1402.0.2 | Magic object causes person to be drowned. (Cf. D1402.13.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1418 | Magic object causes person to become lost. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1405 | Magic object causes person to disappear. |
| D1413.0.1 | Magic object causes persons to stick together. |
| D1331.4 | Magic object causes sight-shifting. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1542.3 | Magic object causes streams to dry up. |
| D1375.4 | Magic object causes tail to grow. |
| D1652.0.1 | Magic object causes thing to become inexhaustible. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 107. |
| D1565 | Magic object causes things to seek their proper place. |
| D1576 | Magic object causes tree to spring up. |
| D1375.3 | Magic object causes wings to grow on person. Aarne MSFO XXV 123. |
| D1359 | Magic object changes person's disposition—miscellaneous. |
| D1350 | Magic object changes person's disposition. |
| D1377 | Magic object changes person's size. |
| D1649.2 | Magic object comes at owner's call. (Cf. D1651.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1612.2 | Magic object compels fugitive to betray himself. |
| D1427 | Magic object compels one to follow. |
| D1415 | Magic object compels person to dance. England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1419.1 | Magic object compels person to laugh (shriek). Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1561 | Magic object confers miraculous powers (luck). |
| D1561.2 | Magic object confers miraculous powers. |
| D1400.1 | Magic object conquers enemies. |
| D1563 | Magic object controls condition of soil. |
| D1519 | Magic object controls disease—miscellaneous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1500 | Magic object controls disease. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1544 | Magic object controls earthquakes. |
| D1549 | Magic object controls elements: miscellaneous. |
| D1566 | Magic object controls fire. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1546 | Magic object controls heavenly bodies. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1379.1 | Magic object controls person's will. |
| D1542 | Magic object controls rain. (Cf. D1541.4.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1549.3 | Magic object controls river (lake). Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1545 | Magic object controls sea. |
| D1541 | Magic object controls storms. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1546.1 | Magic object controls sun. |
| D1540 | Magic object controls the elements. Chinese: Graham. |
| D1545.1 | Magic object controls tides. |
| D1548 | Magic object controls weather. |
| D1543 | Magic object controls wind. |
| D1401 | Magic object cudgels person. |
| D1505 | Magic object cures blindness. *Type 550. |
| D1502.8 | Magic object cures boils (tumors). |
| D1506 | Magic object cures deafness. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1511 | Magic object cures drunkenness. |
| D1502.7 | Magic object cures earache. |
| D1502.3 | Magic object cures fever. (Cf. D2161.1.2.) |
| D1502.1 | Magic object cures headache. |
| D1502.4 | Magic object cures leprosy. |
| D1502.5 | Magic object cures mange. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1502 | Magic object cures particular diseases. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1502.2.3 | Magic object cures scrofula. |
| D1502.2 | Magic object cures toothache. England: Baughman. |
| D1512 | Magic object cures ulcers. |
| D1502.6 | Magic object cures urinary disease. |
| D1564.4 | Magic object cuts down trees. |
| D1332.1 | Magic object deafens. |
| D1686 | Magic object departs and returns at formulistic command. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D866.2 | Magic object destroyed because of feigned sickness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D866 | Magic object destroyed. Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D1359.6 | Magic object destroys pride. German: Grimm No. 17. |
| D1317.0.1 | Magic object detects poison. (Cf. D1317.4.)—*Penzer I 110, IV 228 n. 1, IX 143; Dickson 228 n. |
| D1408 | Magic object devastates country. |
| D867.1 | Magic object disappears at owner's death. Irish myth: Cross (D857). |
| D1575 | Magic object does not awaken sleepers. |
| D1425 | Magic object draws lover (husband) to woman. |
| D1429 | Magic object draws person (thing) to it—miscellaneous. |
| D1420 | Magic object draws person (thing) to it. |
| D1541.2 | Magic object draws storm away. |
| D1426 | Magic object draws woman to man. *Type 562; *BP II 538. |
| D848 | Magic object dug from ground. Hartland Perseus III 201f.—Korean: Zong in-Sob 43. |
| D859.4 | Magic object eaten unwittingly. |
| D806 | Magic object effective only when exact instructions for its use are followed. |
| D806.1 | Magic object effective when struck on ground once only. Second blow renders useless. Africa (Bulu): Krug JAFL XXV 113 No. 9. |
| D1360 | Magic object effects temporary change in person. |
| D1394.2 | Magic object enables one to withstand inquisitorial torture. Kittredge Witchcraft 405 n. 235. |
| D1524 | Magic object enables person to cross water. |
| D871.1 | Magic object exchanged for worthless. Foolish brother (wife) exchanges old object for new. *Type 561; *BP II 205.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bague"; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1443 | Magic object expels animals. |
| D1587 | Magic object expels person from land. |
| D811.2 | Magic object falls down from the heaven. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1428 | Magic object fetches another object. |
| D853 | Magic object forged by smith to order. *Hartland Perseus III 200.—Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 268. |
| D849.4 | Magic object found in a wood. *Aarne MSFO XXV 120. |
| D847 | Magic object found in chimney. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cheminée". |
| D849.5 | Magic object found in fish. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D849.1 | Magic object found in fort. Chinese: Werner 312. |
| D849.4.1 | Magic object found in garden. German: Grimm No. 121. |
| D845.1 | Magic object found in giant's cave. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D849.5.1 | Magic object found in heart of whale. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D846 | Magic object found in magic castle. *BP III 113 n. 4. |
| D845 | Magic object found in underground room. Type 562.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D849.3 | Magic object found on an island. Aarne MSFO XXV 120; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D842.2 | Magic object found on father's grave. Type 314. |
| D842.3 | Magic object found on grave of slain helpful animal. Cox 477; Saintyves Perrault 37; Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Baum".—Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D842 | Magic object found on grave. |
| D849.8 | Magic object found on ground. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| D842.1 | Magic object found on mother's grave. (Cf. D815.1.)—Type 510; Saintyves Perrault 41; Cox 477. |
| D849.6 | Magic object found under dead girl's tongue. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D849 | Magic object found—miscellaneous. |
| D840 | Magic object found. Types 561, 590; Hartland Perseus III 201; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1395 | Magic object frees person from prison. *Type 559.—Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1473 | Magic object furnishes clothes. (Cf. D1470.) |
| D1477 | Magic object furnishes livestock (oxen, horses, etc.). |
| D1476 | Magic object furnishes slaves (subjects). (Cf. D1025.8.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1475 | Magic object furnishes soldiers. |
| D1450 | Magic object furnishes treasure. Handwb. d. Abergl. II "Geldzauber"; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 106, 108. |
| D1481 | Magic object furnishes warmth. Chinese: Graham. |
| D1602.18 | Magic object given away returns to giver. S. A. Indian: Métraux RMLP XXXIII 178. |
| D1312 | Magic object gives advice. *Huet 94.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 297 n. 86b.; Africa (Bankon): Ittman 97. |
| D1612.6 | Magic object gives alarm when touched. |
| D1323 | Magic object gives clairvoyance. (Cf. D1331.1, D1825.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1342 | Magic object gives health. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1346 | Magic object gives immortality. |
| D1344 | Magic object gives invulnerability. *Kittredge Witchcraft *405 nn. 238—9.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1345 | Magic object gives longevity. Penzer VI 6 n. 1. |
| D1449 | Magic object gives miscellaneous powers over animals. |
| D1531 | Magic object gives power of flying. |
| D1305 | Magic object gives power of prophecy. |
| D1440 | Magic object gives power over animals. |
| D1343 | Magic object gives skill. |
| D1329 | Magic object gives supernatural information—miscellaneous. |
| D1310 | Magic object gives supernatural information. |
| D1300 | Magic object gives supernatural wisdom. |
| D1336 | Magic object gives weakness. |
| D1352 | Magic object has pre-natal influence. |
| D1518.4 | Magic object heals broken bone. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1500.1 | Magic object heals diseases. **Seligmann; *De Cock Volksgeneeskunde; Brown Iwain 44; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1503 | Magic object heals wound. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1592 | Magic object heats or cools water. (Cf. D1382.) |
| D1393 | Magic object helps fugitive. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1407 | Magic object helps gambler win. |
| D1394 | Magic object helps hero in trial. |
| D1613 | Magic object helps overawe captor. |
| D1406 | Magic object helps win in law court. |
| D1413 | Magic object holds person fast. *Type 571.—Icelandic: Boberg; Irish myth: Cross; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D1417 | Magic object imprisons person. |
| D1314 | Magic object indicates desired place. Irish myth: Cross; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 70f. Nos 598—604; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Werner 197. |
| D1324 | Magic object indicates tides. |
| D1584 | Magic object induces dreams. |
| D816 | Magic object inherited. MacCulloch Childhood 376; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1649.1 | Magic object keeps falling down. |
| D1445 | Magic object kills animal. |
| D1402 | Magic object kills. |
| D859.7 | Magic object left by frightened demons. Korean: Zong in-Sob 144. |
| D1547.3 | Magic object lifts heavy object from river bottom. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1327 | Magic object locates fish (game). |
| D1315 | Magic object locates lost person. |
| D877 | Magic object loses power by overuse. *Chauvin V 11 No. 7; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 106, 109.—Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 248 No. 24. |
| D1403 | Magic object maims. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1393.2 | Magic object maintains quiet so that fugitive may escape. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 54 No. 24, 63 No. 27. |
| D1337 | Magic object makes beautiful or hideous. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D1485 | Magic object makes carpet. |
| D1414.0.1 | Magic object makes fortifications useless. German: Grimm No. 54. |
| D1337.2 | Magic object makes hideous. |
| D1376.1 | Magic object makes nose long (restores it.) *Aarne MSFO XXV 123; Type 566; *BP I 470ff.; *Fb "næse" II 716b.—Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D1358 | Magic object makes person courageous. |
| D1357 | Magic object makes person cruel. |
| D1353 | Magic object makes person foolish. |
| D1354 | Magic object makes person kind. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1341 | Magic object makes person old. |
| D1351 | Magic object makes person peaceful. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1487 | Magic object makes plants grow. |
| D1486 | Magic object makes rivers and lakes. |
| D1484 | Magic object makes road. |
| D1563.1 | Magic object makes soil fertile. |
| D1563.2 | Magic object makes soil sterile. |
| D1359.1 | Magic object makes woman masterful. |
| D1550 | Magic object miraculously opens and closes. |
| D1599.3 | Magic object multiplies objects. (Cf. D2106.) |
| D863 | Magic object mysteriously disappears. Korean: Zong in-Sob 44. |
| D867 | Magic object mysteriously disappears. Korean: Zong in-Sob 44. |
| D1651 | Magic object obeys master alone. *Type 565; Penzer III 40.—Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 21, *Neuman; N. A. Indian (Micmac): Rand 34 No. 6 (Iroquois): Smith RBAE II 95, (Thompson River): Teit MAFLS VI 31, (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 264 No. 50. |
| D859.6 | Magic object obtained as compensation for loss of entire herd—the spirit of the herd resides in the last goat's tail, which old woman keeps. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D859.3 | Magic object obtained by reaching in certain cardinal direction. N. A. Indian: *Kroeber JAFL XXI 224, (California): Gayton and Newman 75. |
| D859 | Magic object obtained—miscellaneous means. |
| D850 | Magic object otherwise obtained. |
| D1409 | Magic object overcomes person—miscellaneous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1400 | Magic object overcomes person. |
| D1419.2 | Magic object paralyzes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1560 | Magic object performs other services for owner. |
| D1599 | Magic object performs services—miscellaneous. |
| D1524.1 | Magic object permits man to walk on water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1318.0.1 | Magic object picks out guilty man. Basset RTP VII 621. |
| D1404 | Magic object pierces. |
| D849.2 | Magic object pointed out by bird. *Norlind: Skattsägner 19ff., 29ff. |
| D849.7 | Magic object pointed out by divine voice. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1313 | Magic object points out road. *BP I 434.—Irish myth: Cross; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 297 n. 86c. |
| D1387 | Magic object preserves chastity. Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt I 123; *Boje 106ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1446 | Magic object prevents animal from straying. |
| D1419.3 | Magic object prevents ship from moving. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1483 | Magic object produces building. |
| D1347 | Magic object produces fecundity. |
| D1567 | Magic object produces fountain. (Cf. D925.1.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1599.4 | Magic object produces house. |
| D1349.1 | Magic object produces immunity from hunger and thirst. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1349.2 | Magic object produces immunity from old age. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1349 | Magic object produces miscellaneous physical changes in persons or things. |
| D1379 | Magic object produces miscellaneous temporary changes in persons, animals, or objects. |
| D1482 | Magic object produces oil. |
| D1542.1 | Magic object produces rain. |
| D1380.0.1 | Magic object protects a city. *Chauvin VIII 191 No. 228. |
| D1382 | Magic object protects against cold or burning. |
| D1447 | Magic object protects against wild animals. |
| D1381 | Magic object protects from attack. *Kittredge Witchcraft 54, 404 nn. 231—234.—Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1384 | Magic object protects from discomfort or from accident on journey. |
| D1388 | Magic object protects from drowning. Irish myth: *Cross, Beal XXI 328. |
| D1385 | Magic object protects from evil spirits. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1383 | Magic object protects from poison. |
| D1388.1 | Magic object protects from shipwreck. |
| D1386 | Magic object protects from unwelcome lover. |
| D1380 | Magic object protects. **Seligmann 72ff.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1595 | Magic object provides beautiful bride for hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1481.2 | Magic object provides fire. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 108. |
| D1478 | Magic object provides light. (Cf. D1162.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1488 | Magic object provides wood. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 108. |
| D1412 | Magic object pulls person into it. |
| D851.1 | Magic object purchased. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1430 | Magic object pursues or captures. |
| D1431 | Magic object pursues. |
| D1566.2 | Magic object quenches fire. |
| D1612.5 | Magic object raises alarm when stolen. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1541.1 | Magic object raises storm. |
| D829.1 | Magic object received by apprentice from master. German: Grimm Nos 36, 111, 129. |
| D812.10 | Magic object received from angel. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D812.14 | Magic object received from ascetic. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 849, II 210, 656. |
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