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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 |
|---|---|
| D2161.4.10.2.1 | Fairy wounded by mortal is healed only by obtaining mortal's blessing. (Cf. D659.5.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2161.4.10.2.2 | Snake sucks poison from snake bite. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.4.10.3 | Healing with hair of dog that bit one. **Wesselski Erlesenes 13ff. |
| D2161.4.10.4 | Sorrowing father magically restored as lost son approaches. He had lost strength, sight and hearing when son left home. Scotland: Campbell-McKay No. 25. |
| D2161.4.10.5 | Blindness cured by killing snake that caused it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.4.11 | Cure by putting children on roof (in oven). *Kittredge Witchcraft 31, 385 n. 65. |
| D2161.4.12 | Magic cure during sleep. *Kittredge Witchcraft 221f., 529 n. 83—88. |
| D2161.4.13 | Eating of human hearts as cure for insomnia. Chauvin VI 61 No. 229. |
| D2161.4.14 | Magic cure by bathing. (Cf. D1788.) Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.4.14.1 | Magic cure by bathing in milk. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2161.4.14.1.1 | Wounds from poisoned arrows healed by bath of milk. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2161.4.14.2 | Magic cure by bathing in consecrated water (lake, etc.). (Cf. D1500.1.18.5, V132.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2161.4.14.3 | Cure by washing in dew. U.S.: Baughman. |
| D2161.4.15 | Magic cure by lying on saint's shadow. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2161.4.16 | Magic cure by touching. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.4.16.1 | Magic healing by passing hand over affected parts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.4.17 | Magic cure by licking. (Cf. D1775.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.4.18 | Cure by putting lock of patient's hair in hole of post or tree, then plugging hole with wood. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D2161.4.19 | Methods of magic cure—miscellaneous. |
| D2161.4.19.1 | Barber begins to recover after he reveals raja's secret. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.5 | Magic cure by certain person. |
| D2161.5.1 | Cure by holy man. *Kittredge Witchcraft 124ff., 449f. nn. 1—33 passim; *Toldo I 331; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2161.5.2 | Cure by Virgin Mary. (Cf. V256.) *Ward Catalogue of Romances II 609 No. 23, 617 No. 38, 619 No. 22, 630 No. 23, 649 No. 47. |
| D2161.5.2.1 | Cure at shrine of Virgin Mary. Ward II 648 No. 40 and passim; *Crane Miraculis 89 No. 17. |
| D2161.5.2.2 | Cure by relic of Virgin Mary. Type 754*; Ward II 644 No. 3, 645 Nos. 6, 8. |
| D2161.5.2.3 | Cure by milk of Virgin Mary. Ward II 613 No. 32; *Crane Miraculis 95 No. 30; English: Wells 167 (Vernon Miracles). |
| D2161.5.2.4 | Severed limbs replaced by Virgin Mary. (Cf. D2161.3.) *Crane Miraculis 89 No. 18; Wells 167 (Vernon Miracles), 169 (The Clerk who would see the Virgin); Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D2161.5.2.5 | Cure of spider bite by the Virgin Mary. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D2161.5.2.6 | Terrible headaches cured by Virgin Mary. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D2161.5.3 | Cure by deity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2161.5.4 | Cure by Moses. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2161.5.5 | Cure by angel. (Cf. V232.) Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2161.5.6 | Cure by surviving twin. England: Baughman. |
| D2161.5.7 | Cure by seventh son of seventh daughter. England: Baughman. |
| D2161.6 | Diseases cured at particular time. |
| D2161.6.1 | All diseases healed at birth of Christ. (Cf. V211.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2161.6.2 | Diseases cured in Messeanic era. (Cf. A1095.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2161.6.3 | Diseases cured at holy man's birth. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2162 | Magic control of disease. (Cf. D1500.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2162.1 | Saint ends epidemic by fasting. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2162.2 | Epidemic stops at river (sea) at saint's command. (Cf. D1735.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2162.3 | Locality sanctified against pestilence (by angel) as result of prayer and fasting. (Cf. D1586.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2162.4 | People living on mountain dedicated to angel free from plague. *Loomis White Magic 106. |
| D2163 | Magic defense in battle. (Cf. K2350.) Tawney I 362, 367n., Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2163.1 | Broken weapons magically restored. (Cf. D1080, F1098, H1023.8.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2163.2 | Magic reinforcements. Hero's followers magically multiplied or whole new army conjured up. Icelandic: Boberg; Finnish: Kalevala rune 27; Maori: Dixon 61. |
| D2163.2.1 | Heavenly help in battle. *Loomis White Magic 122. |
| D2163.3 | Virgin Mary intercepts an arrow in battle. (Cf. V250.) *Ward II 625 No. 3. |
| D2163.4 | Magic mist as defense in battle. (Cf. D902.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2163.5 | Saint's prayer wins battle. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2163.5.1 | Saint's prayer brings large flight of birds carrying stones in talons. These missiles dropped upon enemies cause terror. *Loomis White Magic 123. |
| D2163.5.2 | Saint changes vicious king's heart to peaceful thoughts. *Loomis White Magic 123. |
| D2163.5.2.1 | Letter read by holy man stops emperor from devastating country. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2163.6 | Obstructions magically produced before enemy. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2163.6.1 | Saint causes great forest to spring up between opposing forces. *Loomis White Magic 123. |
| D2163.6.2 | Saint causes wall of cakes to spring up between opposing armies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2163.7 | Enemy's army deceived by illusion produced by saint. *Loomis White Magic 122. |
| D2163.8 | Saint's blessing brings victory. *Loomis White Magic 123. |
| D2163.9 | Saint protects followers against bullets by stretching sheet over their heads. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2165 | Escapes by magic. (Cf. D1395.) English: Wells 43 (Arthour and Merlin); Irish: Plummer cxxxix, *Cross; Icelandic: Юorsteins saga Vikingssona 400, Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2165.1 | Escape by flying through the air. (Cf. D2135.0.1, R324.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2165.2 | Escape from drowning by drying up all waters. (Cf. D2151.2.3.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2165.3 | Magic used to prevent pursuit. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 82. |
| D2165.4 | Opening in house made by magic so as to escape. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 101. |
| D2166 | Magic help from falling. Hottentot: Bleek 78. |
| D2167 | Corpse magically saved from corruption. (Cf. V52.14.) Tawney II 540; Saintyves De l'incorruption des corps saints (Bull. et. Mem. de la Soc. d'Anthrop. des Paris, 7th ser. IV [1923] 84—100).—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cadavre"; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 311. |
| D2167.1 | Food magically saved from corruption. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2167.2 | Book magically saved from decay. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2167.3 | Flowers magically kept from withering. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 501. |
| D2168 | Magic used against poison. (Cf. D1515.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2168.1 | Poison magically separated from drink. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2171 | Magic adhesion. (Cf. D1413.) *Type 593; Fb "holde" IV 219b; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 102; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2171.1 | Object magically attaches itself to a person. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 394, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 66 No. 9. |
| D2171.1.1 | Seat (chair) caused to stick to person. (Cf. D1413.6.) Icelandic: Boberg; England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D2171.1.2 | Tankard caused to stick to person's lips. Wales: Baughman. |
| D2171.1.3 | Person magically sticks to floor (ground). Irish myth: Cross (D2171.7); Jewish: *Neuman; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 325, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 237. |
| D2171.2 | Magic adhesion to monster (witch, ogre, etc.). (Old Man of the Sea, Burr-Woman). *Basset 1001 Contes I 190f; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 126 No. 58; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 42 No. 30; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 330 n. 191e. |
| D2171.3 | Magic adhesion to animal. (Cf. F155.) *Fb "holde" IV 219b; Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2171.3.1 | Magic adhesion to goose. *Type 571. |
| D2171.3.2 | Magic adhesion to swan. Fb "holde ved" I 639. |
| D2171.3.3 | Magic adhesion to turtle. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 330 n. 191e. |
| D2171.3.4 | Magic adhesion to hose. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2171.4 | Objects magically stick together. (Cf. D1413.) |
| D2171.4.1 | Pitcher magically sticks to ground. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 168 No. 24. |
| D2171.4.2 | Cauldron magically sticks to wall. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2171.4.3 | Witch causes towel to adhere to wall. U.S.: Baughman. |
| D2171.5 | Persons magically stick together. (Cf. D1171.2, D1413.14.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2171.6 | Clothes cling supernaturally to body. *Loomis White Magic 56. |
| D2171.7 | Man's feet fixed to pavement so that he cannot move until he makes vow. *Loomis White Magic 56, Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2171.8 | Witch causes milk to stay in overturned pail. U.S.: Baughman. |
| D2172 | Continuing magic acts. |
| D2172.1 | Magic repetition. Person must keep on doing or saying thing until released. Type 593; Lang Eng. Fairy Tales 74; Lithuanian: Balys Historical. |
| D2172.2 | Magic gift: power to continue all day what one starts. One woman measures linen; another throws water on pig. BP II 215, 438; *Hdwb. d. Märch. s.v. "Erste" nn. 112—149; Irish: Beal XXI 306; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 750A@1*. |
| D2173 | Magic singing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2174 | Magic dancing. Enchanted persons dance till released. Type 306; BP III 78; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 309 n. 1; England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2175 | Cursing by magic. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 299, 268, 111; Jewish: Neuman; Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2175.1 | Cursing by means of a well. (Cf. D926, D1766.2.1, D1792.2, V134.) Kittredge Witchcraft 34, 394 n. 113. |
| D2175.2 | Saint's bachall used in cursing. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2175.3 | Magic satire (magic song) as curse. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2175.4 | Saint's bell used in cursing. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2175.5 | Curse magically changed to blessing. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2176 | Exorcising by magic. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2176.0.1 | Saint sanctifies locality against death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2176.1 | Snakes banned by magic. Irish: Plummer clxx, *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 66; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 310 No. 33. |
| D2176.2 | Lice banned by magic. Irish: Plummer clxx, Cross. |
| D2176.3 | Evil spirit exorcised. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D2176.3.1 | Evil spirit exorcised by burning fish. *S. Prato La Tradition III No. 2 (1889) (Tobit); Jewish: *bin Gorion Born Judas II 360f. |
| D2176.3.1.1 | Evil spirit exorcised by burning medicine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2176.3.2 | Evil spirit exorcised by religious ceremony. (Cf. V10ff.) Holy name, sign of cross, prayer, etc. Fb "Jesus" II 41; Irish: Beal XXI 325; Italian Novella: Rotunda; *Chauvin VIII 41 No. 8AB; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer III 37; Korean: Zong in-Sob 60, 128. |
| D2176.3.3 | Evil spirit exorcised by saint. Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2176.3.3.0.1 | Evil spirits exorcised by death of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2176.3.3.1 | Demons in stone images driven out by holy man (saint). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2176.3.3.2 | Saint purifies spring by driving out demon. *Loomis White Magic 76. |
| D2176.3.3.3 | Saint throws ink bottle at devil who annoys him. *Loomis White Magic 76. |
| D2176.3.3.4 | Saint's breath drives away the devil. *Loomis White Magic 46. |
| D2176.3.4 | Devil cast out of man possessed. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3368; Legends Nos. 702—710. |
| D2176.4 | Magic book conjured away by throwing it on stream. *Fb "Cyprianus" I 166b. |
| D2176.5 | Burning cut hair to prevent witchcraft. *Fb "hеr" I 771a; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D2176.6 | Exorcising invisible man by flailing air with peach branch. Chinese: Graham. |
| D2177 | Imprisoning by magic. (Cf. R40.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2177.1 | Demon enclosed in bottle. *Type 331; *Goebel Jüdische Motive im märchenhaften Erzählungsgut (Gleiwitz, 1932) 52ff.; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 311 No. 39, 314 No. 105, 320 No. 34; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Graham; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 439. |
| D2177.1.1 | Demons imprisoned by magic. Nouvelles Recreations 13. |
| D2177.2 | Demon imprisoned in pomegranate. Africa (Swahili): Stigand 122ff. No. 19. |
| D2177.3 | Evil spirits imprisoned in stone. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2177.4 | Evil spirits kept out by stone wall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2178 | Objects produced by magic. Irish myth: *Cross: Missouri French: Carrière. |
| D2178.1 | City built by magic. Penzer VII 73f.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2178.2 | Cattle produced by magic. Africa (Kaffir): Theal 77. |
| D2178.3 | Pavilions produced by magic. Penzer VIII 92. |
| D2178.4 | Animals created by magic. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 42. |
| D2178.4.1 | Magic production of rabbits. N. A. Indian (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 82. |
| D2178.4.2 | Noxious animals produced by magic. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2178.5 | People created by magic. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2178.6 | Ceremonial presents produced by magic. Chinese: Graham. |
| D2178.7 | Whatever goldsmith proposes to make comes into existence by itself in the forge. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2178.8 | Tree produced by magic. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 347. |
| D2178.9 | Flower produced by magic. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 135f. |
| D2182 | Flow of cow's milk increased by licking saint's garment. (Cf. D1052, D1652.3.) Irish: Plummer clxxxi, Cross. |
| D2182.1 | Flow of cow's milk increased by saint. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2182.2 | Flow of cow's milk increased by song (music). (Cf. D1275.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2183 | Magic spinning. Usually performed by a supernatural helper. *Types 500, 501; *von Sydow Tvе spinnsagor. |
| D2184 | People magically continue hurting themselves. Try to drive ox but drive themselves; to stab it but stab themselves; etc. Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 76 No. 12. |
| D2184.1 | People magically made to strike selves blows aimed at another. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2185 | Magician carries woman in glass coffin. She comes out at his will. Icelandic: *Boberg; *Chauvin V 190 No. 11. |
| D2185.1 | Fairy personage (god?) houses mistress in crystal bower. (Cf. F165.3.5.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2186 | Cat in wood-pile prevents axe from cutting. *Type 1001. |
| D2188 | Magic disappearance. (Cf. D1641.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 484; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 457, Rasmussen III 264, (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 25, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 257. |
| D2188.1 | Ability to disappear or appear at will. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2188.1.1 | Garment appears and disappears in reply to command. Spence 76. |
| D2188.2 | Person vanishes. Jewish: Neuman; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 48, 54, Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1241). |
| D2188.2.1 | Man disappears, leaving only his ring. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2188.3 | Village vanishes. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 157. |
| D2191 | Roast ducks fly (by magic). Fb "and" IV 12b. |
| D2192 | Work of day magically overthrown at night. *Fb "kirke" II 125 a; Wells 42 (Arthour and Merlin); Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3602; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 465; Ellice Island: ibid. 270; Marquesas: ibid. 269; Tuamotu: ibid. 267; Tahiti: ibid. 266; Maori: ibid. 265; Africa (Duala): Lederbogen Fables 59. |
| D2192.1 | Supernatural agency moves new church foundation (or building materials) to another site, at night. England, Scotland: *Baughman. |
| D2193 | Flowers drop on washing hands. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D2194 | Dung drops on washing hands. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D2195 | Blighted garden magically restored to beauty. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2195.1 | Flower blooms when touched. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2196 | Saint causes fiery sword to come between hostile king and queen. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2197 | Magic dominance over animals. (Cf. D1440, D2074.1.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D2198 | Magic control of spirits (angels). Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D2199 | Additional magic manifestations. |
| D2199.1 | Bottomless tub (vat) holds water through power of saint. (Cf. H1023.2.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2199.2 | Tools sharpened through power of saint. Slaves forced to hew down yew tree with dull tools: hands bleed. (Cf. H1110, P170.) Irish myth: Cross. |
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