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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.

2,222 motifs

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Thompson reference ▲ Description
E334.2.2 Ghost of person killed in accident seen at death or burial spot. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E334.2.3 Ghost of tragic lover haunts scene of tragedy. (Cf. E337.3.) England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E334.3 Ghost of person abandoned by faithless lover. (Cf. E211ff.) England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman.
E334.4 Ghost of suicide seen at death spot or near by. (Cf. E411.1.1, E431.16.) England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E334.5 Ghost of soldier haunts battlefield. England: *Baughman.
E336 Non-malevolent mine ghosts. (Cf. E275.1, E334.5.1, F456.)
E336.1 Helpful mine ghosts. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E336.2 Mine ghosts annoy miners. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E337 Ghost reenacts scene from own lifetime. U.S.: Baughman.
E337.1 Sounds of re-enacted actions. (Cf. E402.)
E337.1.1 Murder sounds heard just as they must have happened at time of death. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E337.1.2 Sounds of accident re-enact tragedy. U.S.: *Baughman.
E337.1.3 Sounds of revelry heard. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E337.1.4 Sounds of driving cattle: horse's hoofs, whip-popping, calling to cattle, rattle of spurs: ghost of slain cowboy. U.S.: Baughman.
E337.2 Re-enactment of tragedy seen. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E337.3 Lovers' tragedy re-enacted. (Cf. E334.5.) England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E338 Non-malevolent ghost haunts building. See E281, E402. England, Ireland, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E338.1 Non-malevolent ghost haunts house or castle. England, Scotland, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E338.2 Non-malevolent ghost haunts church. (Cf. E283.) England: *Baughman.
E338.3 Non-malevolent ghost haunts cloister. England: Baughman.
E340 Return from dead to repay obligation.
E341 The grateful dead. Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 313; Icelandic: Boberg.
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.
E341.1.1 Dead grateful for having been spared indignity to corpse. Kind man has given it burial. U.S.: Baughman; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys.
E341.2 Dead grateful for food. N. A. Indian (Canadian Dakota): Wallis JAFL XXXVI 48.
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.
E341.4 Dead grateful for clothes (shirt). Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E341.5 Grateful priest returns to save gambler from devil. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 36.
E342 Dead return to fulfill bargain. Irish myth: *Cross.
E345 Dead returns to repair injury. Fb "spøgelse" III 521b.
E345.1 Dead returns to replace boundary marks he has removed. (Cf. E416.) *Fb "skjel" III 264a; Tobler 93; England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; New York: Miller NYFQ I 105f.; Irish: Beal XXI 310, O'Suilleabhain 33.
E351 Dead returns to repay money debt. Herbert III 96 No. 38; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 327 No. 23; cf. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 13; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 53, 97, Beal XXI 319, 331; Scotland: Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys.
E352 Dead returns to restore stolen goods. *BP III 235; Tobler 65; Fb "gjenganger" I 443b.—Irish: O'Suilleabhain 98, Beal XXI 331; England: *Baughman; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 313 No. 80, 327 No. 23.
E353 Dead man asks that certain girl be married to him because in life he seduced her. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E360 Other reasons for friendly return from the dead.
E361 Return from the dead to stop weeping. *BP II 485; Wimberly 110, 230ff.; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 433a s.v. "Eddamärchen"; Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 831; Legenda Aurea (ed. Grässe) 132; *Fb "hеnd" I 765a, "tеre" III 947a, "græde" IV 187b; Dieterich Zs. f. Vksk. XII 147.—Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Child II 234ff., 512., III 513, V 62, 294; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 2 No. 18; Persian: Carnoy 345.
E361.1 Tear from upper world of mortals falls on departed in lower world. Dead brother sends message of comfort to living. N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Alexander N. Am. 137.
E361.2 Return from dead to give consoling message. Irish myth: *Cross.
E361.3 Dead son tells mother that no mortal escapes death. India: Thompson-Balys.
E363 Ghost returns to aid living.
E363.1 Ghost aids living in emergency. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E363.1.1 Ghost substitutes for bride on her wedding journey. India: Thompson-Balys.
E363.2 Ghost returns to protect the living. England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman; India: Thompson-Balys.
E363.3 Ghost warns the living. England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E363.4 Dead reassures living. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E363.5 Dead provide material aid to living. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E363.5.1 Ghost of murdered girl appears and lends jewels needed for a ball in exchange for flowers. India: Thompson-Balys.
E363.6 Ghost aids living otherwise. England, Scotland: *Baughman.
E364 Dead returns to say farewell. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3502, Balys Ghosts.
E365 Return from dead to ask forgiveness. *Fb "tilgive", Feilberg DF X 74f; Irish myth: *Cross; Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 115 No. 13.
E365.1 Return of the dead to grant forgiveness. Italian Novella: Rotunda.
E366 Return from dead to give counsel. (Cf. V229.1.) *Type 510; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 101, Beal XXI 332; Icelandic: *Boberg; Sicilian: Gonzenbach I 10 No. 3; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 no. 29; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 191; Korean: Zong in-Sob 133ff.—N. A. Indian (Iroquois): Smith RBAE II 104, (Onondaga): Jewitt RBAE XXI 148, 262, (Skidi Pawnee): Dorsey MAFLS VIII 49 No. 10, (Arapaho): Dorsey and Kroeber FM V 49, 259 Nos. 15, 110; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 219; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 110; Africa (Jaunde): Heepe 260, (Fang): Tessman 99f., 173, 193.
E366.1 Laughing skull advises hero. (Cf. E545.) *Cosquin études 351ff.
E366.2 Hanged man warns youth against visiting sweetheart. Takes youth's place and receives shot meant for him. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3566, Balys Ghosts.
E366.3 Talking bones of eaten man advise hero. India: Thompson-Balys.
E367 Return from dead to preach repentance. Wesselski Arlotto I 201 No. 29; Irish: Beal XXI 332, O'Suilleabhain 100; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 3 No. 23.
E367.1 Person who has spent two years in hell speaks of importance of religious experience. Irish myth: *Cross.
E367.2 Saint returns from dead to give blessing. Irish myth: *Cross.
E367.3 Return from dead to prophesy coming of Christ. (Cf. M363, M364.7.2.) Irish myth: *Cross.
E367.4 Return from dead to convert to Christianity. Irish myth: *Cross.
E367.5 Ghost of woman chides unbeliever. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 291.
E368 Pupil returns from dead to warn master of futility of his studies. *Crane Vitry 145f. No. 31; Alphabet Nos. 151, 700; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
E371 Return from dead to reveal hidden treasure. (Cf. E276, E291, E419.11.2.) *Fb "spøgelse" III 521b; Tobler 34f.; Loomis White Magic 53; England, Wales, Ireland, Canada, U.S.: *Baughman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 827.
E371.1 Return from dead to reveal whereabouts of stolen goods. Irish myth: Cross.
E371.2 Return from dead to repeat forgotten epic. (Cf. A581, J1563.7.) Irish myth: *Cross.
E371.3 Poet sings day after his death. (Cf. E342, E546.) Irish myth: *Cross.
E372 Return from the dead to seek hidden treasure. U.S.: Baughman.
E373 Ghosts bestow gifts on living.
E373.1 Money received from ghosts as reward for bravery. A voice says: "I am letting it fall." The man: "Let it." Money falls to the ground. *Chauvin V 78 No. 22 n. 1; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 123 No. 46; cf. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 24 No. 216; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3626; India: Thompson-Balys.
E373.2 Sword received from summoned dead father. Icelandic: Boberg.
E373.3 Woman's hand rises from grave and gives man performing vigil letter of salvation. India: Thompson-Balys.
E373.4 Dead returns to supply tribe with money demanded by landlord. Jewish: Neuman.
E374 Dead returns to life and tells of journey to land of dead. India: Thompson-Balys.
E374.1 Return of the dead to keep promise and tell of land of the dead. Two friends promise each other that the first to die will do so. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3570.
E375 Return from dead to prevent flight of thief. Irish myth: Cross.
E376 Ghost returns to confess misdeed. England: Baughman.
E376.1 Saint returns from dead to exonerate cleric. Irish myth: Cross.
E377 Return from dead to teach living. Jewish: Neuman.
E377.1 Dead poet leaves grave mound to teach poem to herdsman: latter becomes great poet. Icelandic: Boberg.
E379 Friendly return from the dead—other motifs.
E379.1 Return from dead to rescue from drowning. Irish myth: Cross.
E379.2 Anchorite's body rises out of river in favor to disciple. India: Thompson-Balys.
E379.3 Return from dead to protect friends. S. A. Indian (Guaporé River): Lévy-Strauss III 378.
E379.4 Ghost as confederate of man. India: Thompson-Balys.
E379.5 Return from dead to make up enough men to perform ritual. Jewish: Neuman.
E380 Ghost summoned. *Fb "mane" II 547a; Irish: Beal XXI 310; Scotland: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3513; Jewish: *Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg.
E380.1 Summoning souls punished: in hour of man's death they overwhelm him. India: Thompson-Balys.
E381 Ghost summoned by weeping. See all references to E361. *Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323f; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 281 n. 41.
E382 Ghost summoned by pouring blood of sacrifices into trench. Greek: Fox 145.
E383 Ghosts summoned by sacred book. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 32; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 138 No. 107; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 48 No. 107; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 597, 601; Korean: Zong in-Sob 205.
E384 Ghost summoned by music.
E384.1 Ghost summoned by beating drum. England: Baughman.
E384.2 Ghost raised inadvertently by whistling. England: Baughman.
E384.3 Ghost summoned by blast on horn (whistle). Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 29; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 110.
E385 Vigil of husband at wife's grave calls her forth. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99.
E385.1 Husband ignored or discouraged by ghost wife. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99.
E386 Other means of summoning ghost.
E386.1 Ghost summoned by holy water. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 312.
E386.2 Ghost summoned by charm. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 98; MacCulloch Eddic 298—300, 312.
E386.3 Ghosts summoned by calling them by name. Icelandic: *Boberg; England: Baughman.
E386.4 Walking around a grave twelve times backward will raise the ghost. England: Baughman.
E386.5 Light remark about what person would do if ghost appeared causes ghost to appear. (Cf. C10, C13.) England: Baughman.
E387 Reasons for summoning of ghosts.
E387.1 Ghost summoned in order to talk to it. Icelandic: *Boberg.
E387.1.1 Dead called from their graves to make statement. *Loomis White Magic 53.
E387.2 Ghost summoned to get something from it.
E387.2.1 Father summoned to get his sword. Icelandic: Hervararsaga 17—33, 102—13.
E387.3 Ghost summoned for purposes of necromancy. Jewish: Neuman.
E389 Ghost summoned—miscellaneous.
E389.1 Ghost must be summoned by king else he appears head downward. Jewish: Neuman.
E389.2 Summoned ghost audible and visible only to person who has summoned him. Jewish: Neuman. Cf. Shakespeare Hamlet ("ghost scene").
E390 Friendly return from the dead—miscellaneous.
E400 Ghosts and revenants—miscellaneous. *Wimberly 451f. s.v. "Ghost", "ghosts"; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Gespenst"; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XX 353; *Feilberg Sjæletro (København, 1914).—Irish: O'Suilleabhain 62, Beal XXI 324; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "revenant"; Slavic: Máchal 230; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 44f. Nos. 40—77 passim; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 153—170, 506—519; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 41 Nos. 12—16; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 1ff., Landtman Finlands Svenska Folkdiktning VII pt. 1, 199f.—Melanesian: Dixon 142ff.
E401 Voices of dead heard from graveyard. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 63, Beal XXI 324; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 2 No. 20.
E401.0.1 Ghostly voice heard on battlefield. (Cf. E502, F418.) Irish myth: Cross.
E402 Mysterious ghostlike noises heard. (Song, animal cries, footsteps, etc.) (Cf. E337.1, E236.7.) Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 24 Nos. 211—214; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 250; England: *Baughman.
E402.1 Noises caused by ghost of person.
E402.1.1 Vocal sounds of ghost of human being. (Cf. E545.
E402.1.1.1 Ghost calls. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.1.2 Ghost moans. (Cf. E547.) Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.1.3 Ghost cries and screams. England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.1.4 Ghost sings. (Cf. E546.) England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.1.5 Ghost snores. U.S.: Baughman.
E402.1.1.6 Ghost sobs. (Cf. E551.) England: Baughman.
E402.1.2 Footsteps of invisible ghost heard. England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.3 Invisible ghost plays musical instrument. (Cf. E548.) England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.3.1 Ghost sounds conch shell. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 349.
E402.1.4 Invisible ghost jingles chains. (Cf. E231.4.) England, Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.5 Invisible ghost makes rapping or knocking noise. (Cf. F470.) England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.6 Crash as of breaking glass, though no glass is found broken. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.1.7 Ghost slams door. Canada: Baughman.
E402.1.8 Miscellaneous sounds made by ghost of human being. Canada, England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman.
E402.2 Sounds made by invisible ghosts of animals. (Cf. E520.)
E402.2.1 Crowing of ghost rooster. England: Baughman.
E402.2.2 Braying of ghost donkey. England: Baughman.
E402.2.3 Hoofbeats of ghost horse. (Cf. E423.1.3, E521.1, E535. 1ff.) U.S.: *Baughman.
E402.3 Sound made by ghostly object. (Cf. E530.) U.S.: Baughman.
E402.4 Sound of ethereal music. U.S.: *Baughman.
E410 The unquiet grave. (Cf. D2151.1.2.3.) Dead unable to rest in peace. Aside from the references given in the numbers immediately following, see E200E399 passim. Jewish: *Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 48.
E410.1 Ground trembles or rumbles when ghost rises from grave. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99.
E410.2 Ghost shakes off earth when he rises from grave. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 99.
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.
E411.0.1 Hand of sinner sticks out of grave. *BP II 550.
E411.0.2 Unquiet dead sinner taken to priest for absolution. Type 760; Alphabet Nos. 17, 178, 303, 331, 337.
E411.0.2.1 Return from dead to do penance. Alphabet Nos. 363, 616.—Lithuanian: *Balys Ghosts; U.S.: Baughman.
E411.0.2.2 Unconfessed person cannot rest in grave. Spanish Exempla: Keller; England: Baughman.
E411.0.3 Horse unable to draw evil dead man. McKay Bealoideas III 141; Icelandic: *Boberg; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 113 No. 4; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 39 No. 4; Finnish-Swedish: cf. Wessman 1 Nos. 7—9; U.S.: *Baughman.
E411.0.3.1 Dead body cannot be moved from where it lies. India: Thompson-Balys.
E411.0.4 Sinner wanders between earth and heaven. Fb "selvmord" III 183b.
E411.0.5 Other dead drive sinner from graveyard. Fb "lig" II 412b.
E411.0.5.1 Rich man dragged from grave by demons in hallowed ground and flung into grave in unblessed ground. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
E411.0.6 Earth rejects buried body. (Cf. V62.1.) Loomis White Magic 44; Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3748; Danish: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman.
E411.0.7 Demons cast evil man from grave leaving only his shroud. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
E411.0.8 Saint's body miraculously moves so that it is laid properly north and south, not northeast and southwest. India: Thompson-Balys.
E411.1 Murderer cannot rest in grave. *Type 760; Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323; Fb "gjenganger" I 443b, "lig" II 412b; Tobler 83, 90.—Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 No. 32; England, U.S.: *Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 678; Greek: Aeschylus Eumenides 100.
E411.1.1 Suicide cannot rest in grave. (Cf. E334.7, E431.16.) Fb "lys" II 481b, "selvmord" III 183b; Hartland Science 238; Tobler 22.—Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 No. 35, 7 No. 53; Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts; England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E411.1.1.1 Suicides must walk the earth until time for their natural death. England: *Baughman.
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.
E411.2.1 Priest's concubine cannot rest in grave. Herbert III 380; Wesselski Mönchslatein 163 No. 125.
E411.2.2 The devil's concubine haunts after her death. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E411.3 Perjurer cannot rest in grave. *Fb "sværge" III 692b, 693a.
E411.4 Usurer cannot rest in grave. Herbert III 83; Alphabet Nos. 704, 784; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
E411.5 Swindler cannot rest in grave. Fb "gjenganger" I 443b; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 47 No. 326A*; England: *Baughman.
E411.6 Person who never said "good morning" cannot rest in grave. Tobler 64.
E411.7 Monk who dies without his cowl cannot rest in grave. Alphabet No. 501.
E411.8 Pilate appears periodically at Mt. Pilatus and washes his hands. *Hauffen Zs. f. Vksk. X 435.
E411.9 Magician who has sold his soul to the devil hires his servant to bury him properly: the coffin bursts. (Cf. E261.2.1.) Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E411.10 Persons who die violent or accidental deaths cannot rest in grave. See all references to E334ff., especially E334.5, E411.1, E411.1.1, E413, E414. U.S.: Baughman.
E412 Person under religious ban cannot rest in grave.
E412.1 Excommunicated person cannot rest in grave. Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323.
E412.2 Unbaptized person cannot rest in grave. *Fb "udøbt" III 960a; Tobler 47; Irish: Beal XXI 315, O'Suilleabhain 41; England: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3557.
E412.2.1 Unchristened person cannot rest in grave nor enter heaven. Scotland: Baughman.
E412.2.2 Mother of unbaptized child cannot rest in grave. U.S.: Baughman.
E412.3 Dead without proper funeral rites cannot rest. Hdwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 228ff.; Fb "spøgelse" III 521b; Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman; Greek: Fox 145; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 3 No. 25; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 123; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 342.
E412.3.1 Dead man comes back because he was buried without a cap. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E412.3.2 Naked ghost asks for shirt and promises luck on market for man. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E412.3.2.1 Ghost asks to wash his shirt. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E412.3.3 Dead man asks for shoes (was buried without them). Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts.
E412.4 Child cursed by father cannot rest in grave. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 2 No. 19; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3591.
E412.5 Ghost of church desecrator cannot rest. U.S.: Baughman.
E413 Murdered person cannot rest in grave. (See all references to E231, E334, E337.1.1, E337.3.) *Fb "spøgelse" III 521a, "gjenganger" I 443b; Jellinek Zs. f. Vksk. XIV 323; Tobler 47; England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 682; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 5 Nos. 37—38; Kristensen Danske Sagn V (1897) 102ff., 334ff., (1934) 78ff., 252ff.
E414 Drowned person cannot rest in peace. (Cf. E334.4.) Fb "spøgelse" III 521b; Kristensen Danske Sagn V (1897) 90ff., 359ff., (1934) 70ff., 265ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 5 No. 40.
E414.1 Person otherwise killed by accident cannot rest in grave. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys.
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.
E415.1 Ghost returns to hunt lost article. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 3 No. 24; U.S.: *Baughman (E328).
E415.1.1 Ghost unlaid until iron he hid in life is found. India: Thompson-Balys.
E415.1.2 Return from dead to uncover secretly buried treasure. India: Thompson-Balys.
E415.2 Dead rich man returns to rebuke his children who have kept the money he promised to the church. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
E415.3 Ghost of priest cannot rest because he failed to say certain masses for the dead. (Cf. E341.3, Q521.6.) Canada, Ireland, U.S.: *Baughman.
E415.4 Dead cannot rest until money debts are paid. (See E351.) U.S.: Baughman.
E416 Man who removes landmarks cannot rest in grave. (Cf. E345.1.) Kuhn Sagen aus Westfalen I 40f. No. 34, 118 No. 127, 177 No. 187; Sikes British Goblins (London, 1880) 149; Hoffman JAFL II 33; Frahm Am Urquell II 202; Kristensen Danske Sagn V (1897) 404ff., (1934) 308ff.
E417 Dead person speaks from grave. Madagascar: Sibree FLJ I 202ff., Larrouy RTP IV 305.
E419 Other restless dead. England: Baughman.
E419.1 Soul wanders and demands that a temple be built for him. Chinese: Werner 314.
E419.2 Dead find no rest since someone daily knocks at grave. Fb "sjæl" III 214b.
E419.3 Dead find no rest since grass is pulled on grave. Fb "sjæl" III 214b.
E419.4 Dead move when cemetery is moved. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 6 No. 42.
E419.5 Dead arise when one plays organ for first time in church. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 8 No. 64.
E419.6 Lovers buried apart found in one grave each morning. (Cf. E631.0.1.) Irish myth: *Cross.
E419.7 Person with missing bodily member cannot rest in grave. (Cf. E235.) U.S.: *Baughman.
E419.8 Ghost returns to enforce its burial wishes or to protest disregard of them. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E419.9 Ghost flits between two graves reputed to contain body. U.S.: Baughman.
E419.10 Concern of ghost about belongings of its lifetime. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E419.11 People who bury metal cannot rest in grave. England, Wales: *Baughman.
E419.12 Fate of ghosts of persons eaten by tigers. India: Thompson-Balys.
E420 Appearance of revenant.
E421 Spectral ghosts. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "fantфme"; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 684; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 239.
E421.1 Invisible ghosts. *Tobler 92ff.; N. A. Indian (Tahltan): Teit JAFL XXXII 226; England, Wales: *Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 681; Jewish: Neuman.
E421.1.1 Ghost visible to one person alone. Spanish Exempla: Keller; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 243; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 64; N. A. Indian (Teton): Dorsey AA o.s. II (1889) 148.
E421.1.1.0.1 First-born of a family cannot see ghosts. England: Baughman.
E421.1.1.1 Persons born at midnight can see ghosts. England: *Baughman.
E421.1.1.2 Only sorcerers can see ghosts. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 181.
E421.1.2 Ghost visible to horses alone. *Fb "hest" I 600a, IV 212a; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 26 No. 227; England, Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 678.
E421.1.3 Ghost visible to dogs alone. England: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 681; India: Thompson-Balys.
E421.1.4 Ghosts visible only to sheep. England: Baughman.
E421.1.5 Ghosts visible only to seals. Greenland: Baughman.
E421.1.6 Ghost visible only to wild fowls. Greenland: Baughman.
E421.2 Ghosts cast no shadow. *Fb "skygge" III 347a; *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 138ff; *Penzer IV 239 n. 2; U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 682.
E421.2.1 Ghost leaves no footprints. Canada, England: *Baughman.
E421.3 Luminous ghosts. (Cf. E530.1, E742.) Tobler 83f.; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 334b s.v. "Geister"; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 240.
E421.3.1 Ghost as glowing wheel. *Fb "hjul" I 626b, "spøgelse" III 521a, "gloende" IV 181b.
E421.3.2 Ghost as firebrand. Fb "spøgelse" III 520b.
E421.3.3 Ghost with glowing face. *Fb "gloende" I 465b; England: *Baughman.
E421.3.4 Ghost as fiery bull. Tobler 81; England, Ireland: *Baughman.
E421.3.5 Ghosts in glowing wagon. Fb "karet" II 91b.
E421.3.6 Ghosts as dogs with glowing tongues and eyes. (Cf. E423.1.1, E522.) *Fb "hund" I 676a; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 334b s.v. "Geister"; England, Wales, U.S.: *Baughman.
E421.3.7 Flames issue from corpse's mouth. Penzer II 62; Icelandic: *Boberg.
E421.4 Ghosts as shadow. U.S.: *Baughman.
E421.5 Ghost seen by two or more persons; they corroborate the appearance. England: *Baughman.
E422 The living corpse. Revenant is not a specter but has the attributes of a living person. He wanders about till his "second death", complete disintegration in the grave. (Cf. E261.1.3, E268, E461.) *Naumann Primitive Gemeinschaftskultur (Jena, 1921) 18ff.; *Wimberly 229, 239, 256ff.; *Klare Acta Philologica Scandinavica VIII 1—56; *Gould Scandinavian Studies and Notes IX 167; *Fb "spøgelse" III 519b; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 70—152; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3590, Ghosts; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 21 No. 199; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 3f.; Irish: *Cross, Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 682; New York: Jones JAFL LVII 239f., 243; West Indies: Flowers 430; Africa: Werner African 180f., (Ekoi): Talbot 7 (dies a second time and becomes more dead).
E422.0.1 Hanged man thirsty; demands water to drink. Irish myth: *Cross.
E422.1 Body of living corpse.
E422.1.1 Headless revenant. *Fb "hoved" I 655b, "hovedløs" IV 223a; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 6, 301 No. 18, 311 No. 46; India: *Thompson-Balys; England, U.S.: *Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 680, 683, 693.
E422.1.1.1 Two-headed ghost. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 334b s.v. "Geister"; England, Scotland, U.S.: Baughman.
E422.1.1.2 Revenant with ball of fire in place of head. England: Baughman.
E422.1.1.3 Actions of headless revenant.
E422.1.1.3.1 Headless ghost rides horse. England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E422.1.1.4 Headless ghost carries head under arm. (Cf. F511.0.4.) England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E422.1.2 Armless revenant. Wimberly 235.
E422.1.3 Revenant with ice-cold hands. *Fb "hand" I 765b; Kristensen Danske Sagn V (1897) 554ff., (1934) 400ff.; England, U.S.: *Baughman.
E422.1.4 Revenant with cold lips. Wimberly 235.
E422.1.5 Revenant with bad breath. *Wimberly 233.
E422.1.6 Revenant with chicken feet. Gaster Germania XXV (1880) 290ff.
E422.1.6.1 Ghost with feet twisted backward. India: *Thompson-Balys.
E422.1.6.2 Revenant with thin legs. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 96.
E422.1.7 Revenant with chip of resin between teeth. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 116 No. 18; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 40 No. 18.
E422.1.8 Revenant with peculiar nails. Icelandic: Boberg.
E422.1.9 Living corpse returns every night, shows gradual wasting away of body. U.S.: Baughman.
E422.1.10 Dismembered corpse.
E422.1.10.1 Dismembered corpse reassembles. (Cf. E31.) U.S.: *Baughman.