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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| F440 | Vegetation spirits. *Kittredge Gawain 195ff.; Frazer Golden Bough XII 510 s.v. "Vegetation"; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F582.3 | Venomous man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F555.3 | Very long hair. Child V 482 s.v. "hair"; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F571.3 | Very old woman. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F555.4 | Very thick hair. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F881.2 | Vessel of human bones. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F1092 | Vessel of poisoned ale inverted; only poison flows out. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F912.1 | Victim kills swallower from within by burning. *Wesselski Märchen 213 No. 18; Hartland Perseus III 15; Finnish: Kalevala rune 17; Oceanic (Cook Group, Melanesia, Indonesia): Dixon 69; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 332ff. |
| F912.2 | Victim kills swallower from within by cutting. Irish myth: *Cross; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 55; New Hebrides: Codrington 365; Cook Islands: Beckwith Myth 503; Marquesas: ibid. 502; S. A. Indian (Eastern Brazil): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 434; Africa (Cameroon): Meinhof 60, (Kaffir): Theal 84, 176, (Basuto): Jacottet 122. |
| F912 | Victim kills swallower from within. Herbert III 196; Oesterley No. 251; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 86; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 291; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 321 n. 159; Africa: Werner African 199. |
| F915.1 | Victim pecks on swallower's stomach. (Cf. F912.3.) Bird eaten by king pecks on his stomach. King vomits and bird escapes. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 37 No. 244; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F915 | Victim speaks from swallower's body. *Type 700; BP I 389; Alphabet No. 335; Irish: Plummer cxliii; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 58; West Indies: Flowers 436ff. |
| F913 | Victims rescued from swallower's belly. (Cf. X1723.1.) *Types 123, 333, 450, 700; *BP I 37, 40, 389; *Penzer VI 154 n. 3; Wesselski Märchen 213 No. 18; Saintyves Perrault 227ff.—Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 165, 372; Persian: Carnoy 302; Hindu: Keith 173; India: *Thompson-Balys; Oceanic (Cook Group, Melanesia, Indonesia, Australia): Dixon 69, 296; Eskimo (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 175; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 321 n. 159a; S. A. Indian (Bakairi): Alexander Lat. Am. 313, (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 686; Africa: Werner African 221, (Zulu): Callaway 55, 78ff., 85ff., 325, 332, (Kaffir): Theal 84, 142, 176, (Basuto): Jacottet 72, 76, 214 Nos. 11, 12, 31; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 270 No. 82. |
| F566.1 | Village of men only. N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Teit MAFLS XI 53 No. 34. |
| F768.3 | Village of one-legged people. (Cf. F517.0.1.) Africa (Upoto): Einstein 128. |
| F168 | Villages in otherworld. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 154. |
| F51.1.2 | Vine as sky-rope. Indonesia: Dixon 66; Mono-Alu, Fauru: Wheeler 21f.; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 33; N. A. Indian: Thompson Star Husband 130; S. A. Indian (Eastern Brazil): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (3) 434. |
| F815.7.3 | Vines smile when a leaf is cut from them. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 163. |
| F235 | Visibility of fairies. |
| F412 | Visibility of spirits. |
| F455.5 | Visibility of trolls. (Cf. F235.) |
| F370 | Visit to fairyland. BP II 329.—Irish myth: *Cross; Danish: Feilberg DF V 55ff.; Norwegian: Solheim Register 18f.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F16 | Visit to land of moon. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 515, (Greenland): Rasmussen II 30, Rink 440, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 598; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 131 No. 12. |
| F17 | Visit to land of the sun. *Type 461; *Aarne FFC XXIII 115ff.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 311 n. 118b; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 82, 90; Africa: Werner African 233, (Angola): Chatelain 131 No. 12. |
| F109.1 | Visit to lower world made head first. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 148. |
| F92.1 | Visit to lower world through hole made by lifting clumps of grass. Type 425, 480; *Roberts 140; Tegethoff 15.—Greek: Fox 227 (Proserpine); Oceanic (New Zealand, Samoa, Nieue Island): Dixon 47f. |
| F92.3 | Visit to lower world through opening rocks. Rocks open with a charm. Oceanic (New Zealand, Samoa, Mangaia): Dixon 48. |
| F109 | Visit to lower world—additional motifs. |
| F100 | Visit to lower world—miscellaneous motifs. |
| F460.4.8 | Visit to mountain-men. Norwegian: Solheim Register 18. |
| F725.5.1 | Visit to people of village under lake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F15 | Visit to star-world. Chinese: Graham; N. A. Indian: **Thompson The Star-Husband Tale 93—163; *Thompson Tales 311 n. 118c; S. A. Indian (Cherentes, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 308, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 41, (Chaco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 369. |
| F420.7.1 | Visit to water-goddess's underwater home. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F450.0.1 | Voetter (generalized underground spirit). Scandinavian: *Hartmann 30—32. |
| F556.3 | Voice changed by medicine. Africa (Hausa): Rattray II 14ff. No. 23, (Madagascar): Renel I 247ff. No. 46. |
| F556.2 | Voice changed by work of silversmith (goldsmith). Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 242 No. 17; N. Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris 236 No. 40. |
| F688.3 | Voice heard over whole land. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F556.1 | Voice made rough by swallowing hot iron. Africa (Kaffir): Theal 119, (Basuto): Jacottet 64 No. 10. |
| F556.1.2 | Voice made smooth by having ant bite tongue. Africa (Mwimbe): Browne The Vanishing Tribes of Kenya (London, 1925) 211ff. |
| F556.1.1 | Voice made smooth by swallowing hot iron. Africa (Bechuana): Arbousset et Daumas Voyage d'exploration au Nord-Est de la Colonie du Cap de Bonne-Espérence (Paris, 1842) 119f., Fraser FLJ VII 167f., (Basuto): Jacottet I 62f. No. 10. |
| F451.2.8 | Voice of dwarfs (echo). Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 269, *Boberg. |
| F966 | Voices from heaven (or from the air). *Penzer X 220 s.v. "Heaven"; Alphabet No. 800; *Loomis White Magic 53; Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 314, 318, O'Suilleabhain 38, 49; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 367, *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F129.4.5 | Voyage to Island of Darkness. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 500. |
| F129.4.6 | Voyage to Island of Silence. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 500. |
| F129.4.3 | Voyage to Isle of Shape. Visitors become beautiful. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F129.4.4 | Voyage to Isle of the Dead. Visitors who sleep there die. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F129.4.2 | Voyage to Isle of Truth. People cannot lie. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F111.3 | Voyage to Land of Lotus Eaters. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 280 n. 2. |
| F129.2 | Voyage to Land of Mossynoikoi. (People of topsy-turvy morals.) Greek: Fox 111. |
| F111.2 | Voyage to Land of Promise. Irish: Plummer xxxvii, xli, *Cross. |
| F111.6 | Voyage to land without evil. S. A. Indian (Guaraní): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 94. |
| F129.3 | Voyage to the Land of the Cimmerians. People who dwell amid clouds of gloom and never see sun. Greek: Fox 145. |
| F116.1 | Voyage to the Land of Youth. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F861.4.2 | Wagon made from nutshell, drawn by duck. German: Grimm No. 10. |
| F861.3 | Wagon of jewels. Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 4; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F973.2 | Walking on grass-blades without bending them. Irish myth: Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 189. |
| F148 | Wall around otherworld. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 209a s.v. "Baum bewacht"; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F57.4 | Wall as path to upper world. Polynesia: Beckwith Myth 255. |
| F148.2 | Wall of silver around otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F688.4 | Walls fall because of great shout. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F169.2 | Walls of crystal in otherworld. (Cf. F163.3.1.) Patch PMLA XXXIII 610 n. 30, Other World 386 s.v. "wall"; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F737 | Wandering island. Moves about at will and sometimes appears and disappears from sea. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Fox 266 (Aeolia); Hawaii: Fornander Collection IV 518, V 678, VI 2531, Bechwith Myth 71f. |
| F364.3 | War between fairies and giants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F364 | War between fairies and mortals. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F277.0.1 | War between fairy settlements. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F535.5.1 | War of pygmies and cranes. Greek: *Frazer Pausanias II 107; *Fb "trane" III 835b. |
| F610.3 | Warrior of special strength (Berserk). (Cf. F1041.8.6.) Hdwb. d. March. I "Bärenhäuter"; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F834.7 | Warrior seeks combat when his spear consents. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (Z-G. 13/48). |
| F1084.2 | Warriors use teeth after they exhaust weapons. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F141 | Water barrier to otherworld. Wimberly 110.—Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F1041.16.6.6 | Water boils when angry warrior is immersed in it. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F930.6 | Water chants song. (Cf. D1614.4, F931.12.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F531.3.1.1 | Water enters into giant's boots from above. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 66 No. 571; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 62; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 128 No. 62. |
| F93 | Water entrance to lower world. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F212.0.1 | Water fairies. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F311.3.1 | Water fairy as foster-mother. Africa: Weeks Jungle 407. |
| F321.1.5 | Water fairy changeling kept out of water too long, dies. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F710.1 | Water resembling fire. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 14. |
| F930.3 | Water sinks to bottom, mud rises to surface to keep prophet from drowning. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F930.5 | Water stops flowing when no longer needed. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F420.1.4.9 | Water-giants. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.1.4 | Water-goddess allows body of drowning person to come up three times. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.2.1.1 | Water-maiden enamors man and draws him under water. (Cf. F302.3.4, G264.) U.S.: Baughman; German: *Wehrhan 74, Nies 118 No. 86, Plöckinger 39 No. 31; Icelandic: Boberg; French: Sébillot France II 197, 342, 348, 411; Greek: Fox 110 (Hylas); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.6.1.4 | Water-maiden goes to home of mortal and marries. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.6.2.3 | Water-maiden is wooed by dwarf. (Cf. F451.5.18.) German: Schöppner I 480 No. 467. |
| F420.6.2.2 | Water-maiden marries giant. (Cf. F531.5.7.) German: Förstner Märchenwelt 111. |
| F420.1.2.1 | Water-maidens are of unusual beauty. German: Ebermann Elbsagen 115 (No. 66), Meier I 67 (No. 1); French: Sébillot France II 196, 345; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.6.5 | Water-maidens avenge selves for scorned love. German: Nies 118 No. 86. |
| F420.3.2.1.1 | Water-maidens dance at village fair. German: Janosch 9, Schöppner I 277 No. 235. |
| F420.1.6.5 | Water-maidens have long veil. German: Richter III 236 No. 32, Schnetzler 292. |
| F420.6.1.5 | Water-maidens make conditions for lovers. German: Kurs 322; French: Sébillot France II 409; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.1.2.2 | Water-maidens mute. *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXV 107ff. |
| F420.3.2.6 | Water-maidens spin. German: Baader 100 No. 133, Lohre 50 No. 85. |
| F420.3.2.7 | Water-man cuts osier to make wicker basket. German: Kern 85 No. 11; Austrian: Calliano 107. |
| F420.4.6 | Water-man is rendered powerless if kept away from water. German: Kratzer 90 No. 34; French: Sébillot France II 352. |
| F420.6.2.1 | Water-man marries fairy. German: Schnetzler 266 No. 6, Diezel 1. |
| F420.5.2.10 | Water-man sits on back of persons as heavy burden. German: Kern 89. |
| F420.6.1.1 | Water-man woos mortal girl. (Cf. F451.5.18.) England, Wales: Baughman; German: Pfister 53, Lohre 48 No. 80; India: *Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Kirchoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 880. |
| F420.1.1.2 | Water-spirit appears as black man. German: Knoop 89 (No. 145), Sommert 108. |
| F420.1.1.1 | Water-spirit appears as handsome man. German: Ebermann Elbsagen 93 (No. 55); French: Sébillot France II 409; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 57 No. 487. |
| F420.1.3.11 | Water-spirit as ape-like creature. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.4 | Water-spirit as bull. England: Baughman; German: Weichert II 176 (No. 166), Pfeil 292; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.1.3.6 | Water-spirit as cat. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.2 | Water-spirit as fish. Tobler 97; Icelandic: Boberg, German: Henne-Am Rhyn 113 (No. 216), Ebermann Elbsagen 74 (No. 39); French: Sébillot France II 196. |
| F420.1.3.10 | Water-spirit as frog. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.7 | Water-spirit as goat. Tobler 97; French: Sébillot France II 347ff. |
| F420.1.3.3 | Water-spirit as horse. England, Scotland, Ireland: Baughman; Icelandic: Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn (1893) 163ff., (1928) 112ff.; Norwegian: Solheim Register 17; Swedish: Hartmann 27; German: Künzig Badische 31 (No. 87), Karstens Sagen 79. |
| F420.1.1.4 | Water-spirit as man clothed in white and accompanied by a dozen attendants. Chinese: Werner 182. |
| F420.1.1 | Water-spirit as man. Takelau (New Zealand): Beckwith Myth 150. |
| F420.1.3.8 | Water-spirit as mouse. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.2.1 | Water-spirit as one-eyed fish. (Cf. F420.1.1.5.) Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 53. |
| F420.1.3.12 | Water-spirit as otter. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F420.1.1.3 | Water-spirit as small gray man. Has green eyes and gray hair. Tobler 99. |
| F420.1.3.9 | Water-spirit as snake. Tobler 97; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.1.3.5 | Water-spirit as stork. German: Lohre 48 (No. 81). |
| F420.1.3.1 | Water-spirit as toad. German: Künzig Schwarzwald. 170, Kühnau 38 (No. 55). |
| F420.1.2 | Water-spirit as woman (water-nymph, water-nix). (Cf. F423.1.) *Type 316; *BP III 322; *Fb "nøkke" II 725ab.—England, Ireland, Wales: Baughman, Ireland: Beal VII 11; Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 261; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 55 Nos. 468—469; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 58; Germanic: Meyer Germanen 199ff., 202ff., De la Saussaye 323; Slavic: Máchal 254f., 271f.; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 126 No. 58; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 42 No. 30; Armenian: Ananikian 84; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F420.5.3.2 | Water-spirit calls human midwife. (Cf. F372.1, F451.3.5.5, F451.5.5.) German: Meier I 68 No. 2, Hessler 143. |
| F420.5.2.12 | Water-spirit causes illness and death. Africa (Bakuba): Einstein 164. |
| F420.5.2.1.6 | Water-spirit claims a life every seven years. England: *Baughman. |
| F420.4.9 | Water-spirit controls water-supply. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Shangang): Bourhill and Drake 78ff. No. 8. |
| F420.5.2.7.1 | Water-spirit crushes boat. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.3.6 | Water-spirit demands food from those it takes across stream. Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 267 No. 76. |
| F420.5.2.1.5 | Water-spirit drags children into river. England: *Baughman. |
| F420.5.3.4 | Water-spirit flees if holy name, ceremony, or blessed object is used. German: Ebermann Donausagen 120 No. 75, Janosch 13; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn (1893) 163ff., (1928) 114ff. |
| F420.5.1.7.5 | Water-spirit gives mortal fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.2.7.4 | Water-spirit holds ship back. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.3 | Water-spirit keeps souls of drowned persons in dishes in his home. German: Mailly Niederöst. 46 No. 101. |
| F420.6.1.2 | Water-spirit offers gift to mortal to win love. German: Pröhle Deutsche Sagen 213 No. 168, Henne-Am Rhyn 119 No. 347; S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 686. |
| F420.5.2.2.1 | Water-spirit returns kidnapped man in return for release of his long hair. Victim's father has wound the hair around his fingers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.1.7.4 | Water-spirit returns to the woodchopper a silver axe in place of the one he has lost. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 46 No. 65; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F420.5.2.7.2 | Water-spirit shakes ship. Icelandic: Ketils saga H. 116, Gríms saga L. 145, örvar-Odds saga 42, *Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.8 | Water-spirit splashes passing people. Stöber 37 No. 53. |
| F420.6.1.7 | Water-spirit surprises and rapes a mortal woman. A son is born who is sleepless. Krappe Modern Language Review XXIV (1929) 200ff. |
| F420.5.2.7 | Water-spirit turns boat in circle. German: Heese 116. |
| F420.1.4.10 | Water-spirit with extraordinarily long hair. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.2.7.3 | Water-spirit wrecks ship. Icelandic: Lagerholm 164—65, *Boberg; S. A. Indian (Tiatinagua): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 447. |
| F420.5.1.9 | Water-spirits adopt human foundling. German: Schnetzler 264 No. 5. |
| F420.1.7 | Water-spirits appearing like human beings are recognized by traces of water. |
| F420.4.3 | Water-spirits are cannibals: devour mortal victim, suck blood. German: Meier I 70 No. 6, Lohre 51 No. 87. |
| F420.1.6.2 | Water-spirits are clad in clothes of gold and silver. German: Gradl 33 No. 69, Schnetzler 266 No. 6. |
| F420.1.6.6.2 | Water-spirits are clad in gray. (Cf. F236.1.4, F451.2.7.3.) German: Schnetzler 277 No. 10, Ebermann Donausagen 139 No. 85. |
| F420.1.6.6.1 | Water-spirits are clad in red. German: Dümke 51, Lohre 43 No. 73. |
| F420.1.6.6.5 | Water-spirits are dressed in blue. Icelandic: Lagerholm 166, Boberg. |
| F420.1.6.6.3 | Water-spirits are dressed in green. (Cf. F451.2.7.2.) Scotland: Baughman; Germanic: Calliano 162, Handrick 30; French: Sébillot France II 346. |
| F420.1.6.6.4 | Water-spirits are dressed in white. England: Baughman; Germanic: Kühne 164, Meier 67 No. 1; French: Sébillot France II 199—200. |
| F420.1.6.1 | Water-spirits are dressed like people of surroundings. German: Schultze 69, Künzig Schwarzwald 167; French: Sébillot France II 342. |
| F420.4.4 | Water-spirits are grateful. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 143ff., (1928) 101ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 58 Nos. 495—500; German: Pfister 50; Austrian: Calliano I 141. |
| F420.4.5 | Water-spirits are jealous. Paul 14. |
| F420.1.6.7 | Water-spirits are nude. (Cf. F238.) German: Meier I 74 No. 81, Kern 85 No. 11; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 53; French: Sébillot France II 197. |
| F420.4.10 | Water-spirits are prophetic. (Cf. F420.5.1.1.) Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 53 No. 31. |
| F420.1.4.3 | Water-spirits as dwarfs. (Cf. F451.) Austrian: Calliano I 141; German: Henninger 74; French: Sébillot France II 202, 347, 417. |
| F420.5.2.6.4 | Water-spirits avenge selves on mortal who fails to keep promise. German: Realis 163, Kurs 322; French: Sébillot France II 342. |
| F420.3.2.4 | Water-spirits bake. German: Meier I 75 No. 82. |
| F420.5.3.3 | Water-spirits call human godmother. (Cf. F451.5.6.) German: Künzig Schwarzwald 170, Meier II 69 No. 4. |
| F420.5.2.11 | Water-spirits cause blindness. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F420.3.2.1 | Water-spirits dance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.1.8 | Water-spirits give advice. Austrian: Calliano I 68. |
| F420.5.1.7 | Water-spirits give gifts to mortals. (Cf. F342, F451.5.1.5.) |
| F420.5.1.7.3 | Water-spirits give magic gifts. Austrian: Calliano 236, Huber and Zaural 106. |
| F420.5.1.7.1 | Water-spirits give money, gold, or precious stones. (Cf. F451.5.1.5.) German: Plöckinger 8, Kern 87 No. 11. |
| F420.1.4.2 | Water-spirits have body covered with fish scales. German: Mackensen Niedersächs 56 (No. 74), Ebermann Donausagen 113 (No. 70). |
| F420.3.1 | Water-spirits have family life under water. German: Schnetzler 289; French: Sébillot France II 346. |
| F420.2.3 | Water-spirits have garden. German: Henne-Am Rhyn 117. |
| F420.2.5 | Water-spirits have hearth made of three human skulls. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.1.4.4 | Water-spirits have hunchback. (Cf. F451.2.1.4.) German: Plöckinger 87, Ebermann Donausagen 139 (No. 85); French: Sébillot France II 202. |
| F420.3.3 | Water-spirits have kingdom under water: queen, king, attendants, vassals. German: Schnetzler 277 No. 10; Czech: Gradl 22 No. 69; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 40 No. 23. |
| F420.3.4 | Water-spirits have laws. |
| F420.3.2 | Water-spirits have likings and occupations like human beings. |
| F420.1.1.5 | Water-spirits have one eye. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F420.4.2 | Water-spirits have supernatural lapse of time: days seem like years. (Cf. F377.) |
| F420.4.8 | Water-spirits have treasures under water. German: Künzig Badische 48 No. 137, Stöber 87 No. 118; French: Sébillot France II 312, 410. |
| F420.5.1.3 | Water-spirits help lovers. Gradl 22 No. 46, Richter III 152 No. 5. |
| F420.5.1.2 | Water-spirits help poor. German: Schnetzler 273 No. 9, Haas Grimmen 36 No. 75. |
| F420.1.4 | Water-spirits in abnormal form. |
| F420.1.3 | Water-spirits in animal form. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 53 No. 445; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.5 | Water-spirits interfere with building bridges, dams. (Cf. F451.5.2.5.) German: Kratzer 93 No. 36, Ebermann Elbsagen 117 No. 67. |
| F420.1.5 | Water-spirits invisible. |
| F420.5.2.2 | Water-spirits kidnap mortals and keep them under water. Irish: Beal VII 49; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 46 No. 60; German: Paul 46, Brüger 130; French: Sébillot France II 342, 409, 410; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 352; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 46ff. |
| F420.5.2.9 | Water-spirits lead travelers astray. German: Hartmann 35, Schnetzler 269 No. 8. |
| F420.1.7.3 | Water-spirits leave trace of water when standing or walking. German: Kühnau 39 No. 56, Henne-Am Rhyn 113. |
| F420.2.1 | Water-spirits live in castles of crystal under water. (Cf. F451.4.3.4.) Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 40 No. 23; Czech: Wiener 114, Gradl 33 No. 69; French: Sébillot France II 196, 200, 343. |
| F420.2.2 | Water-spirits live in village under water. Icelandic: Lagerholm 167—68, Boberg; Swiss: Frey 5. |
| F420.5.2.1.2 | Water-spirits lure children into water, offering objects. Austrian: Calliano II 24, Huber and Zaural 19; French: Sébillot France II 310, 343, 417; England: Baughman. |
| F420.5.2.1 | Water-spirits lure mortal into water. Irish myth: *Cross Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn (1893) 163ff., (1928) 112ff. |
| F420.3.2.5 | Water-spirits mend clothes. German: Bindewald 95, Kern 85 No. 11. |
| F420.3.4.2 | Water-spirits must be in water before dawn; delay is punished with death. (Cf. F451.3.2.1. and cross-references there given.) German: Schöppner I 221, 227; French: Sébillot France II 340. |
| F420.3.4.1 | Water-spirits must be in water before midnight; delay is punished with death indicated by blood in water. German: Pfister 70, Meier 71 No. 79. |
| F420.4.1 | Water-spirits possess magic power. German: Weichert II 199 No. 182, Künzig Schwarzwald 168; French: Sébillot France II 197, 347, 410. |
| F420.5.3.7 | Water-spirits prophesies. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.1.1 | Water-spirits protect and warn sailor against storm and in tempest. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 58 Nos. 495—500; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 46 No. 58; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 41 No. 29; Austrian: Gloning 37, Ebermann Donausagen 143 No. 88. |
| F420.5.1.10 | Water-spirits save man from drowning. Icelandic: Þiðriks saga II 395, Lagerholm 166, Boberg. |
| F420.5.1.1.1 | Water-spirits save shipwrecked people. Icelandic: Lagerholm 167—68, Boberg. |
| F420.5.3.1 | Water-spirits sit on beach combing their long hair. Austrian: Mailly Niederöst. 47 No. 101; French: Sébillot France II 340, 346, 411. |
| F420.5.2.4 | Water-spirits steal children and leave changeling. German: Kahlo Nieders. I 66 No. 111, Künzig Schwarzwald 171. |
| F420.5.2.6.3 | Water-spirits take revenge for being harmed. German: Schultze 140, Dumke 52; French: Sébillot France II 342. |
| F420.5.2.6.2 | Water-spirits take revenge for trespassing on ground they claim as theirs. German: Siebert 186. |
| F420.5.2.6.1 | Water-spirits take revenge if yearly tribute is not given. German: Meier III 428 No. 121, Haas Pommersche 38 No. 78; French: Sébillot France II 338, 339; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 156ff., (1928) 108ff. |
| F420.5.2.6.6 | Water-spirits take revenge on mortals for pollution of water. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F420.5.2.6 | Water-spirits take revenge on mortals. |
| F420.3.5 | Water-spirits visited by mortal. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 46 No. 56. |
| F420.1.6.3 | Water-spirits wear precious adornment. Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 261; German: Förstner Märchenwelt 111, Schnetzler 266 No. 6. |
| F420.1.6.4 | Water-spirits wear wreath of flowers and reed on hair and dress. German: Plöckinger 7, Huber and Zaurel 19. |
| F420.1.4.7 | Water-spirits with green hair and beard. England, Wales: Baughman; German: Bindewald 95, Siess 1. |
| F420.1.4.8 | Water-spirits with green teeth. England: Baughman; German: Schöppner I 219—223, Schultze-Gallara 23; French: Sébillot France II 343 (green eyes). |
| F420.1.4.6 | Water-spirits with horse feet. German: Handrick 21, Janosch 6. |
| F420.1.4.5 | Water-spirits with human body and webbed feet and hands. Tobler 98; German: Henne-Am Rhyn 113, Pröhle Deutsche Sagen 153 (No. 119); French: Sébillot France II 403. |
| F420.5.1.5 | Water-spirits work as servants for mortal but disappear when compensation is offered or origin suspected. *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 44; German: Pröhle Deutsche Sagen 220 No. 173, Meier I 68 No. 5; Czech: Wiener 45. |
| F420.5.1.4 | Water-spirits work as servants for mortal for small compensation. German: Haas Grimmen 36 No. 75, Pröhle Deutsche Sagen 7 No. 9; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 55 No. 475. |
| F420.5.1.6 | Water-spirits work at night in home of mortals. German: Schnetzler 294, Meier I 71 No. 79. |
| F420 | Water-spirits.1 *Wehrhan Die Sage 74; *Meyer 101f.; W. Gregor Guardian Spirits of Wells and Locks (FL III 67—73); Roberts 121; Irish myth: *Cross; Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 210; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 142ff., (1928) 100ff., FochF XI 37; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 45f. Nos. 55—65; Finnish: *Holmberg Finno-Ugric 191ff.; Finnish-Swedish: *Wessman 52ff.; Swedish: Hartmann 27; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 52; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 40ff. Nos. 23—32; Slavic: Máchal 270ff.; Jewish: Neuman; Persian: Carnoy 298; India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Kirchoff RBAE CXLIII (3) 880, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 50. See also F200—F399 (fairies and elves), F451 (dwarfs) and F460 (mountain-spirits) for many common motifs. |
| F420.2.1.1 | Water-spirits' under-water castle is luxuriously furnished. Austrian: Mailly Niederöst. 33 No. 69, 48 No. 102; Czech: Wiener 114; German: Henne-Am Rhyn 114, Wiechert 73 No. 129. |
| F420.4.6.1 | Water-women are powerless when their garments are taken. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 261. |
| F420.3.2.2 | Water-women come to market and store. German: Zinck 12, Kahlo Nieders. 63 No. 107; French: Sébillot France II 344. |
| F420.3.2.3 | Water-women wash and hang up laundry on beach. German: Pröhle Deutsche Sagen 220 No. 173; French: Sébillot France II 200, 351f. |
| F141.4 | Waterfall as barrier to otherworld. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 95. |
| F930.7 | Waters dissolve mill-stones. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F531.2.1.3 | Waters of Deluge reach to giant's ankles. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F931.9.1 | Waters of sea arch over people like a vault. (Cf. F932.2.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F996 | Waters react to words of poet. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F930.2 | Waters rise to drown wrongdoer. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F930.4 | Waters transformed to blood for Egyptians but not for Hebrews. (Cf. D474.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F165.3.4 | Wattling of silver in otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F401.3.3.1 | Waumpaus: monster with huge dog tracks. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 687. |
| F141.3 | Waves form high wall around otherworld isle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F931.4.2 | Waves moan (shriek) during battle. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F931.4.1 | Waves reverberate at preparation for battle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F150.1 | Way to otherworld hard to find. Siuts 29; English: Gawain and the Green Knight; Chinese: Graham. |
| F959.3.4 | Weapon (missile) miraculously removed. |
| F1084.0.2 | Weapons confined by flying nets of hair in furious battle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F384.4 | Wearing flowers on one's ears protects from fairies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F1015.2 | Wearing shoes only when crossing river. Filipino: Fansler MAFLS XII 64, 351. |
| F161 | Weather in otherworld. |
| F430 | Weather-spirits. |
| F303 | Wedding of mortal and fairy. Feilberg DF V 45ff.; Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 62ff., (1928) 54ff.; Liljeblad 188ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F801.1 | Weeping hills. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F801 | Weeping rocks. RTP V 157. |
| F162.5.1 | Well (of wine) in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.5.3 | Well containing "salmon of knowledge" in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F93.0.2.1 | Well entrance to lower world. Type 480; *Roberts 140. |
| F933.7 | Well floods when gazed upon until mass is said over it. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F718.7 | Well flows full on Sunday. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F711.4.2 | Well hidden in sea. (Cf. D926.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| F718.10 | Well in shape of a sieve-like rock, out of which water gushes forth. (Cf. D926.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| F718.1 | Well located under sea. (Cf. F715.3.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F932.4 | Well of oil runs into river. Miracle. Alphabet No. 550. |
| F718.3 | Well of wine. (Cf. F716.1.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F718.6 | Well overflow cannot be seen. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F933.1.3.2 | Well rises for pious man's sheep. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F933.1.3 | Well rises so holy person does not have to draw from it. Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
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