Folklore Database · Browse
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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| E229.1 | "If I were not your next of kin." Ghost tells man that otherwise he would tear him into pieces. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 328 No. 29. |
| E752.7.1 | Abandoned souls feed on spiders and night moths. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 154. |
| E480.1 | Abode of animal souls. (Cf. E730.1.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E481.3 | Abode of dead in mountain. Patch PMLA XXXIII 614 n. 48; Icelandic: *Boberg; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 335b s.v. "Geister"; Gaster Oldest Stories 156. |
| E481.3.1 | Abode of the dead in hills, barrows. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E481.3.2 | Abode of the dead in stones. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 312. |
| E489 | Abode of the dead—miscellaneous. |
| E480 | Abode of the dead. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E706 | Abode of unborn souls. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E481.8.1 | Account book of men summoned to death kept in heaven. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E423.1.3.5 | Actions of ghostly horse. England: *Baughman. |
| E422.1.1.3 | Actions of headless revenant. |
| E723.7 | Actions of wraith. |
| E545.19 | Addressing the dead. |
| E263 | Adulteress returns from dead as devastating dragon. *Herbert III 18, 279. |
| E411.2 | Adulterous person cannot rest in grave. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 228; English: Wells 61 (Awntyrs off Arthure at the Terne Wathelyne), Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E323.4 | Advice from dead mother. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Hausa): Equilbecq III 291ff. |
| E767 | Affinity of person and object. |
| E541.4.1 | Amputated head asks for drink. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E379.2 | Anchorite's body rises out of river in favor to disciple. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E759.2 | Angel gives soul information concerning mortal. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E754.2.2.1 | Angels of death fail to bring soul to heaven. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E755.0.2 | Angels separate souls going to heaven or hell. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E780.2 | Animal bodily members transferred to person or other animal retains animal powers and habits. (Cf. E781, E782.) Type 660; Haiti: Parsons MAFLS XVII (1) 59—62. |
| E520 | Animal ghosts. Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Geist"; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 22 No. 201; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 243. |
| E501.4 | Animals follow wild huntsman. |
| E501.4.0.1 | Animals in wild hunt reincarnation of murdered person. Plischke 31. |
| E501.5.5 | Animals pursued in wild hunt. |
| E433.3 | Animals sacrificed so that dead have food on way to other world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E32.2 | Animals which devour each other are restored to their original forms by command of a saint. *Loomis White Magic 63. |
| E155.2 | Annual resuscitation of a god. (Cf. A192.1.) Greek: Fox 156 (Zeus), 218 (Dionysus), 230 (Persephone); Babylonian: Spence 132 (Adonis, Tammuz). |
| E68 | Apparently dead persons revived when certain thing happens. Proper prince appears, or the like. Chauvin V 263 No. 154. |
| E574 | Appearance of ghost serves as death omen. (Cf. D1812.5.1.1, E265.3, E501.20.) England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E723.6 | Appearance of his wraith as announcement of person's death. (Cf. E723.2.) England, Scotland, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E420 | Appearance of revenant. |
| E723.8 | Appearance of wraith as calamity omen. |
| E422.1.2 | Armless revenant. Wimberly 235. |
| E782.3 | Arms restored. Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bras". |
| E501.1.8.2 | Artemis as leader of wild hunt. Gruppe Griechische Religionsgeschichte 840 n. 5, 1292. |
| E767.1 | Ash pole appears at doorway several times on day owner's daughter dies. (It is used for coffin rests. The pole has previously mysteriously escaped being used for other purposes.)—Canada: Baughman. |
| E174.1 | Ashes of burnt hero revive. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E521.2.1 | Ashes of dead dog speak. *Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 265 No. 72. |
| E431.9 | Ashes of dead thrown on water to prevent return. Levy-Bruhl L'âme primitive 332ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 386, Mansikka Religion der Ostslaven (Helsinki, 1922) 220, 231; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 266 No. 72. |
| E186.1 | Attempted resuscitation fails because of overanxiety. S. A. Indian (Kaiguá): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 139. |
| E481.4.1 | Avalon. (Cf. F323.) Happy otherworld where dead are healed. Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 31 (Geoffrey of Monmouth), 33 (Layamon's Brut), 50 (Le Morte Arthure); Hartland Science 204 (Olger the Dane). |
| E692.1 | Bad woman cursed to be reborn as bat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E494 | Ball game in lower world. (Cf. E577.1.) N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Alexander N. A. Myth 137; *Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E530.1.2 | Ball of fire haunts murderer. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E436.3 | Bats flying in house sign of ghosts. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 677. |
| E501.4.1.10 | Baying dogs in wild hunt. Schweda 25; Fb "hund" I 676a. |
| E451.7 | Bearded woman ghost laid by shaving her. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3560; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 72 No. 216. |
| E481.4 | Beautiful land of dead. (Rosengarten). Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 79f. |
| E451.6 | Beggar's ghost laid when pig bought with money taken from him is brought to his grave. Sinks in grave. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *842. |
| E501.15.6 | Behavior of wild huntsman's dogs. |
| E501.15 | Behavior of wild huntsmen. |
| E431.7.1 | Beheaded man's head laid at back to prevent return. *Fb "hoved" I 655b; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E431.7 | Beheaded man's head laid at feet to prevent return. *Fb "hoved" I 655b; England: Baughman; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 252. |
| E696.1 | Bird, reincarnated murdered girl, resumes her original form when persecutor's blood is poured on her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E501.15.6.3 | Bite of wild huntsman's dogs drives other dogs mad. *Fb "hund" I 676a, "Odins jæger" II 732a. |
| E501.4.1.5 | Black dogs in wild hunt. Schweda 25; England: Baughman. |
| E501.4.2.2 | Black horse in wild hunt. Schweda 25. |
| E501.4.3.2 | Blind wild boar in wild hunt. Plischke 32. |
| E761.1 | Blood as life token. |
| E761.1.5.1 | Blood stops boiling. Gaster Exempla 224 No. 194. |
| E761.1.13 | Blood stops flowing from wound when captives escape. Papua: Ker 64. |
| E259 | Bloodthirsty revenants—miscellaneous. |
| E250 | Bloodthirsty revenants. |
| E265.1.1 | Blow received from a spirit at night; that side paralyzed. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts; England: *Baughman. |
| E501.4.3 | Boar (sow) in wild hunt. Plischke 31. |
| E481.2.2 | Boat to land of dead. Icelandic: De la Saussaye 292, *Boberg; Irish myth: Cross; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 75. |
| E431.18 | Body cut up and buried in vessels, buried in bag. England: Baughman. |
| E727.3 | Body dependent on soul. N. A. Indian: Hultkrantz 430—440. |
| E721.1.2.3.1 | Body dismembered so soul cannot return. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 287. |
| E477 | Body in coffin moves so as to make room for his recently deceased friend. *Loomis White Magic 92. |
| E721.2 | Body in trance while soul is absent. *Fb "legeme" II 393a, "heks" I 581a, "sjæl" III 215a; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 299—300. |
| E422.1 | Body of living corpse. |
| E63.1 | Body placed in building and worshipped until it comes to life. (Cf. E62.) Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 420. |
| E152 | Body still warm restored to life. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 152. |
| E15.0.1 | Bone of man being burned jumps out of fire. Africa (Pahouin): Largeau 197. |
| E607.1 | Bones of dead collected and buried. Return in another form directly from grave. *Type 720; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Alexander Lat. Am. 272. |
| E607.1.1 | Bones of dead collected and thrown into river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E174 | Bones wrapped in sheepskin inscribed with holy name revive. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E750.2.3 | Branching tree as roadway for souls. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 154. |
| E402.2.2 | Braying of ghost donkey. England: Baughman. |
| E481.2.1 | Bridge to land of dead. Type 471; *Fb "bro" IV 62b; Wimberly 110ff.; Ward Catalogue of Romances II 399, 420, 607, Herbert ibid. III 279; Moe Samlede Skrifter III 212, 226ff.; Frazer Immortality III 150; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 74; India: *Thompson-Balys; Persian: Carnoy 344; Kachin: Scott Indo-Chinese 265; N. A. Indian: Brinton Myths of the New World (New York, 1868) 248, Skinner PaAM XIII 86. |
| E501.4.2.3 | Brown horse in wild hunt. Schweda 25. |
| E754.3 | Burial in certain ground assures going to heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E431.19 | Burial of corpse at midnight to prevent walking. England: Baughman. |
| E431.16 | Burial of suicide to prevent walking. (Cf. E334.7, E411.1.1, E441.) |
| E431.1 | Burial service read into hat to prevent dead walking. *Fb "hat" I 563b, "gjenganger" I 444a. |
| E155.5.1 | Calf, slain at night, alive next day through power of saint. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E434.9 | Candle light protection against ghost. Icelandic: Bárdar saga Snaefellsáss, ed. Vigfússon 1860, 42—43, Boberg. |
| E436.2 | Cats crossing one's path sign of ghosts. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 677. |
| E607.5 | Cauldron of regeneration (reincarnation). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E722.2.10.1 | Chariot of gods bears astral bodies of dead to heaven. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E412.4 | Child cursed by father cannot rest in grave. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 2 No. 19; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3591. |
| E694.4 | Childless woman reborn as fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E501.2.5 | Churchmen in wild hunt. Plischke 29. |
| E273 | Churchyard ghosts. Fb "spøgelse" III 519b; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 8; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 675. |
| E150 | Circumstances of resuscitation. |
| E722.3 | Circumstances of soul on leaving dead body. |
| E766.1 | Clock stops at moment of owner's death. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E767.2 | Clothes of wicked person burn when owner dies. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E501.8 | Clothing of wild huntsmen. |
| E539.5 | Coal in bin jumps around and gurgles. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E261.2.1 | Coffin bursts; dead arises and pursues attendant. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E431.4 | Coffin carried through hole in wall to prevent return of dead. Fb "gjenganger" I 444a; Frazer JAI XV 70; England, Scotland: *Baughman; Indonesia: Kruyt Het Animisme 264ff., Elshout De Kenja-Dejaks uit het Apo-Kajanggebied (Den Haag, 1926) 62. |
| E431.20 | Coffin with iron band made to keep corpse from returning as tiger. Chinese: Graham. |
| E474 | Cohabitation of living person and ghost. This usually involves sexual relations. (Cf. E321.2, E322.6, E339, E378.) Liebrecht 49; Aly Volksmärchen bei Herodot (Göttingen, 1921) 153; H. Schreuer Zs. d. vgl. Rechtswissenschaft XXXIII (1916) 350 n.; Corsican: Ortoli 332; India: Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: Boberg; New Hebrides: Codrington 379; N. A. Indian (Tlingit): Swanton BBAE XXXIX 249 No. 86, (Teton): Dorsey JAFL I 68, (Blackfoot): Wissler and Duvall PaAM II 154 No. 10 (head of murdered woman continues to live with husband), Grinnell Blackfoot Lodge Tales (New York, 1923) 70, (Hopi): Voth FM VIII 33, (Zuсi): Cushing 48 No. 2, (Thompson River): Teit JE VIII 281 No. 46, (Quileute): Farrand-Mayer JAFL XXXII 268 No. 12, (Klickitat): Alexander N. Am. 147; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 454, Rasmussen III 84; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 280. |
| E431.11 | Coin placed in mouth of dead to prevent return. *Fb "død" I 228a; Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 77; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E423.1.1.1 | Color of ghostly dog. Canada, England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman. |
| E422.2 | Color of revenant. (Cf. F527.) |
| E702 | Composition of the soul. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E419.10 | Concern of ghost about belongings of its lifetime. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E722.2.4 | Condemned soul forked from body by Satan. (Cf. E752.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| E754.1 | Condemned soul recovered. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E754.1.8 | Condemned soul released because of tears of living. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 21, 74. |
| E754.1.5 | Condemned soul released by God. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E754.1.6 | Condemned soul released from hell by Christ. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E754.1.4 | Condemned soul saved by holy person. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E754.1.3 | Condemned soul saved by penance. (Cf. Q520.) Alphabet No. 697; Irish myth: Cross. |
| E754.1.1 | Condemned soul saved by prayer. Alphabet No. 592; Wells 171 (The Gast of Gy); Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 331, O'Suilleabhain 98; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 89 No. 760C*, Keller; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 294 No. 7. |
| E754.1.2 | Condemned soul saved by Virgin Mary. (Cf. V250.) Crane Miraculis 84 No. 5, 86 No. 10, 87 No. 12, 93 No. 27; Ward II 605 No. 11, *607 No. 16, 635 No. 36, 670 No. 3, 672 No. 7; Wells 167 (Vernon Miracles). |
| E155.1.1 | Constant replacement of fighters. In contest between gods and demons, latter are constantly slain and replaced. Hindu: Keith 150. |
| E756 | Contest over souls. (Cf. E754.1.) Type 808**. |
| E545.22 | Conversation between God and Adam's corpse. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E545.1 | Conversation between the dead. Gaster Exempla 206 No. 110; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E168 | Cooked animal comes to life. (Cf. E155.5.) Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E524.2.1 | Cooked cock crows. Fb "kok" IV 272b. |
| E33.1 | Cooked part of white cow is brown after resuscitation. Irish myth: Cross; England: Baughman. |
| E259.1 | Corpse bites off woman's nose. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E431.10 | Corpse buried under stone so that sun will not shine on him again. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 305 No. 1. |
| E431.10.1 | Corpse buried under stones. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E431.13 | Corpse burned to prevent return. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E451.1.1 | Corpse cannot be laid until after he has confided the secret of magic charms. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E545.10 | Corpse exclaims over miracle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E441.3 | Corpse exhumed and heart cremated to lay ghost. Africa (Bena Makuni): Torrend Specimens of Bantu Folklore 72. |
| E597 | Corpse leaps up in emotion at saint's passing nearby. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E446.1 | Corpse magically killed and laid. N. A. Indian (Tlingit): Swanton BBAE XXXIX 248 No. 86. |
| E752.10.1 | Corpse must be watched carefully before burial. England: Baughman. |
| E235.8 | Corpse of saint sits up and looks at people who open grave and come to claim his body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E431.9.2 | Corpses thrown in water to prevent return. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E501.14 | Course of wild hunt. |
| E501.2.4 | Courtisans in wild hunt. (Cf. E501.5.1.2.) Plischke 29. |
| E402.1.6 | Crash as of breaking glass, though no glass is found broken. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E703 | Creation of souls. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E431.17 | Criminals buried at crossroads to prevent walking. (Cf. E434.4.) Wales: Baughman. |
| E402.2.1 | Crowing of ghost rooster. England: Baughman. |
| E692.5 | Cruel woman reborn as firefly. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E489.6 | Culture hero gambles with ruler of the afterworld: result, death or increase in game. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 85. |
| E595 | Cures by transferring disease to dead. Ghoulish charm used for this purpose. Kittredge Witchcraft 143, 461 n. 34. |
| E238.1 | Dance with the dead. Girl invites dead to come from grave and dance with her. Difficult escape. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 365B*; Balys Ghosts (E225.8); Prussian: Plenzat 20. |
| E489.5 | Dancing in afterworld. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99. |
| E754.2.3 | Dead and living go together to gate of heaven. Fb "død" I 228a. |
| E3 | Dead animal comes to life. (Cf. B192.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E545.3 | Dead announce own death. (Cf. E723ff.) Wimberly 268. |
| E419.5 | Dead arise when one plays organ for first time in church. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 8 No. 64. |
| E261.2 | Dead arises when shroud bursts and pursues attendant. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 113 No. 3; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *369; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 39 No. 3; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 40 No. 4. |
| E489.1 | Dead awaken after three days to new life and great wisdom. Fb "død" I 228a. |
| E541.5 | Dead beg food from living. Africa (Bantu): Einstein 193. |
| E411.0.3.1 | Dead body cannot be moved from where it lies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E182 | Dead body incorruptible. Beard and fingernails continue to grow. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E226.1 | Dead brother reproves sister's pride. English: Child I 428ff. |
| E326 | Dead brother's friendly return. Dieterich Zs. f. Vksk. XII 147; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 102, Beal XXI 332; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 446. |
| E226 | Dead brother's return. |
| E387.1.1 | Dead called from their graves to make statement. *Loomis White Magic 53. |
| E411 | Dead cannot rest because of sin. *Herbert III 380 No. 127; Alphabet Nos. 198, 300, 386, 701, 703, 752; Irish: Beal XXI 330, O'Suilleabhain 96; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 Nos. 31—34; Spanish Exempla: Keller; England, Wales: *Baughman; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 242; Africa (Fang): Trilles 134. |
| E415 | Dead cannot rest until certain work is finished. U.S.: Baughman (E354); North Carolina: Brown Collection I 679; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 245; West Indies: Flowers 430. |
| E415.4 | Dead cannot rest until money debts are paid. (See E351.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| E266 | Dead carry off living. Wimberly 257; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 468; Africa (Bulu): Krug 109. |
| E324 | Dead child's friendly return to parents. Frequently to stop weeping. (Cf. P230.) *BP II 485; *Fb "hеnd" I 765a; Dieterich Zs. f. Vksk. XII 147; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 41, Beal XXI 315; English: Child II 238f., III 244f., 247, V 241, Baughman; U.S.: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3525; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Chinese: Werner 314; N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Grinnell Pawnee Hero Stories (New York, 1889) 145; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 161. |
| E754.2.4 | Dead children invited to eat at God's table. BP III 463. |
| E541.3 | Dead come forth and eat grave-offerings. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 488, (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 154. |
| E543 | Dead drag boat to strand. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 5 No. 41. |
| E327.5 | Dead father returns in form of bird. (Cf. E322.4.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E327.3 | Dead father returns to clear son's name of crime. England: *Baughman. |
| E327.1 | Dead father returns to daughter to stop her weeping. (Cf. E324.) Scotland: Baughman. |
| E327.2 | Dead father returns to encourage daughter in childbirth. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E327 | Dead father's friendly return. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; U.S.: Baughman; Greek: Aeschylus Prometheus Bound 195; Latin: Virgil Aeneid V 724; Chinese: Graham. |
| E419.3 | Dead find no rest since grass is pulled on grave. Fb "sjæl" III 214b. |
| E419.2 | Dead find no rest since someone daily knocks at grave. Fb "sjæl" III 214b. |
| E755.2.6 | Dead flailed by demons. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E722.2.9 | Dead friends come for dying man's soul. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3501, Balys Ghosts. |
| E341.4 | Dead grateful for clothes (shirt). Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E341.2 | Dead grateful for food. N. A. Indian (Canadian Dakota): Wallis JAFL XXXVI 48. |
| E341.1.1 | Dead grateful for having been spared indignity to corpse. Kind man has given it burial. U.S.: Baughman; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E341.1 | Dead grateful for having corpse ransomed. Corpse is being held unburied because of nonpayment of debts. Hero pays debt and secures burial of corpse. —*Types 505—508; **Liljeblad Die Tobiasgeschichte und andere Märchen mit toten Helfern; *BP III 490ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 5, 222ff., 424; **Gerould The Grateful Dead (London, 1908); *Goebel Jüdische Motive in märchenhaftem Erzählungsgut (Gleiwitz, 1932) 38ff.; *Fb "lig" II 412b, "død" I 228a.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "mort"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 299 No. 13; Jewish: bin Gorion I 176, 374, V 76, 299, VI 224, 316; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Teit JE VIII 385 No. 93. |
| E341.3 | Dead grateful for prayers. Tatlock MPh XXII 211f.; Alphabet Nos. 18, 519, 587; Nouvelles de Sens No. 15; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 102, Baughman. |
| E783.8 | Dead head grateful for burying it. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 34. |
| E545.9 | Dead holy man begs grave-digger not to bury sinner on top of him. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E321.2 | Dead husband returns and lives with his wife. He is invisible to others. (Cf. F378.) N. A. Indian (Teton): Dorsey AA o.s. II (1889) 148. |
| E221.4 | Dead husband returns to protest wife's spending his money. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E221.3 | Dead husband returns to reprove wife's second husband (lover). Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E321.3 | Dead husband returns, asks wife to make him coffee. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E321.2.1 | Dead husband returns, helps wife knit socks, piece quilts. She shows his work as proof. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E321.1 | Dead husband sends his ring to his wife. Fb "ring". |
| E321 | Dead husband's friendly return. |
| E481.8.4 | Dead in house of cloud. Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 79. |
| E499.4 | Dead in lower world complain about odor of human visitor. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99. |
| E576.1 | Dead intercedes before God for mortal. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E214 | Dead lover haunts faithless sweetheart. |
| E214.1 | Dead lover returns to dance with fickle sweetheart at her wedding. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E212 | Dead lover sets tasks. If girl does not perform them (or answer his questions) he will carry her off. Child IV 439ff. |
| E310 | Dead lover's friendly return. (Cf. E210.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; German: Erk-Böhme Deutscher Liederhort No. 201a; N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Grinnell Pawnee Hero Stories (New York, 1889) 191, Dorsey CI LIX 126 No. 34, (Sioux): Dorsey RBAE XI 490, (Zuсi): Cushing 19. |
| E210 | Dead lover's malevolent return. *R. Arbesmann The Dead Bridegroom in South American Folklore (Thought XIX [March 1944] 95—111); North Carolina: Brown Collection I 681; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 114 No. 8. |
| E642.1 | Dead lovers are now two stones lying together. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E548 | Dead make music on their ribs. Irish: Curtin Myths and Folklore of Ireland 25; India: Thompson-Balys; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 244. |
| E412.3.3 | Dead man asks for shoes (was buried without them). Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E353 | Dead man asks that certain girl be married to him because in life he seduced her. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E412.3.1 | Dead man comes back because he was buried without a cap. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| E576 | Dead man praises God. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E1.2 | Dead man re-enters body and speaks of experience in heaven. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E555 | Dead man smokes pipe. Fb "tobak" III 814a, "spøgelse" III 520a; U.S.: Baughman; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 219 No. 41, (Teton): Dorsey AA o.s. II (1889) 150. |
| E551 | Dead man sobs. (Cf. E402.1.1.) Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 296 No. 21. |
| E235.2.1 | Dead man speaks demanding proper funeral rites. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E542 | Dead man touches living. |
| E162.2 | Dead man tries in vain to come back to life. (Cf. E1.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 347. |
| E432.2 | Dead man visiting wife deceived by wife's absurd actions—"no more absurd than ghost visiting wife". (Cf. E321.2, E474.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3547; Balys Ghosts. |
| E321.2.2 | Dead man visits his wife every night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E594 | Dead man wanders with torch. (Cf. E599.7.) Tobler 84; Eskimo (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 266. |
| E557 | Dead man writes. Fb "spøgelse" III 520a. |
| E542.2 | Dead man's hand touches birthmark and thus removes it. *Fb "død" I 228a. |
| E493 | Dead men dance. *Fb "spøgelse" III 520a, "danse" IV 93a, "sjæl" III 214b, "kirkegaard" II 128b; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 335 s.v. "Geister"; England, U.S.: *Baughman; N. A. Indian (Pawnee): Grinnell 192, (Hupa): Goddard UCal I 239 No. 25, (Luiseсo): DuBois UCal VIII 154, (Zuсi): Cushing 48 No. 2, (Cherokee): Mooney RBAE XIX 252 No. 5, 331 No. 78, (Kwakiutl): Boas and Hunt JE III 106; Africa: Werner African 188f. |
| E323.2.1 | Dead mother (in animal form) returns to aid persecuted children. Chinese: Graham. |
| E323.3 | Dead mother called up from grave to give her son charms. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 124. |
| E222.2 | Dead mother haunts daughter who marries against mother's will. England: Baughman. |
| E323.7 | Dead mother makes son strong. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 158. |
| E323.2 | Dead mother returns to aid persecuted children. *Types 510A, 511, 923; Cox 475 n. 4; *BP I 165ff.; *MacCulloch Childhood 108; *Cosquin Contes indiens 504ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 6; Jewish: Neuman; Oceanic (Hawaii, Indonesia, Micronesia, Melanesia): Dixon 89 nn. 97—100; West Indies: Flowers 429; Africa (Cameroons): Mansfield 228. |
| E323.1.2 | Dead mother returns to care for neglected baby. Tobler 92f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Papua: Ker 131; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 67. |
| E222.3 | Dead mother returns to invoke curse on murderer-son. Greek: Aeschylus Eumenides line 115. |
| E323.1 | Dead mother returns to see baby. U.S.: Baughman. |
| E323.1.1 | Dead mother returns to suckle child. *Types 403, 450; *BP I 96; *Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 No. 27; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 260; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 350 n. 263, (Luiseсo): DuBois UCal VIII 153; Africa (Kweli): Sieber 89; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 266 No. 74, 275 No. 88. |
| E323 | Dead mother's friendly return. *Jellinek Zs f. Vksk. XIV 323f.; *Fb "moder" II 600b, "spøgelse" III 520a; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "mère"; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3527; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E222 | Dead mother's malevolent return. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 94, 104, Beal XXI 330, 333. |
| E419.4 | Dead move when cemetery is moved. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 6 No. 42. |
| E545.23 | Dead must be answered in whispers. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 153, (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 266, (Greenland): Rink 302, Rasmussen II 269. |
| E631.4 | Dead ogress reincarnated as bramble-bush which prevents escape of fugitive. Chinese: Graham. |
| E599.13 | Dead person bathes. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E582 | Dead person drives horses. Fb "spøgelse" III 520a; England: Baughman. |
| E563 | Dead person knits. Fb "spøgelse" III 520a. |
| E750.2.1 | Dead person of good life goes over bridge to otherworld without fear. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E581 | Dead person rides. Fb "spøgelse" III 520a; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 680—682. |
| E417 | Dead person speaks from grave. Madagascar: Sibree FLJ I 202ff., Larrouy RTP IV 305. |
| E561 | Dead person spins. Fb "spøgelse" III 520a, "spinde" III 492a; England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| E567 | Dead person threshes. Fb "spøgelse" III 520a. |
| E585.1 | Dead person visits earth every seven years. Fb "spøgelse" III 519b; Tobler 66. |
| E585 | Dead person visits earth periodically. (Cf. E332.3.3.1, E535.3.) |
| E562 | Dead person weaves. Fb "spøgelse" III 520a; England: *Baughman. |
| E577.3 | Dead persons bowl. Type 326; cf. Washington Irving's "Rip Van Winkle". |
| E578 | Dead persons build fires. Type 326; Russian: Ralston 314; India: Thompson-Balys. |
If you wish to get access to data for projects and research, then please contact us, we do our best to help
How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
Please cite the relevant sources, catalogues, and classification systems, including the Folklore Database, Berezkin-Duvakin Catalogue, ATU, Thompson, alongside the page accessed and the last time accessed. Please respect copyright and licenses.
Editorial annotations and database enhancements © Jonathan Fielder-White licensed under CC BY 4.0. Berezkin-Duvakin derived narrative and metadata licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Full rights information can be found here.
All rights are reserved in the database structure, selection, arrangement, metadata, classifications, software, interface design, and original editorial content.
Important: The Folklore Database expressly reserves all rights in relation to text and data mining, automated extraction, scraping, machine learning, dataset creation, and the training, development, validation, or improvement of artificial intelligence technologies or systems. No part of this website or database may be scraped, copied, reproduced, harvested, downloaded in bulk, or otherwise used for AI training or commercial data extraction without prior written permission.
Designed and Developed by Jonathan Fielder-White.
© 2024–2026 Crecganford / Jonathan Fielder-White. All rights reserved.