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 |
|---|---|
| F451.5.2 | Malevolent dwarf. *Type 301; BP II 301ff.; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 269f., *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 393ff., (1928) 249ff.; German: Bindewald 87. |
| F451.5.2.1 | Ungrateful dwarf. *Type 426; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 326 No. 23. |
| F451.5.2.2 | Dwarfs steal from human beings. Fb "kage" II 72a; Gaster Oldest Stories 156.—Icelandic: *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 129ff., (1928) 93ff., II (1893) 34ff., (1928) 23ff.; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 308 No. 1, 326 No. 23; German: Pröhle Harz. No. 220 I, No. 269, Pröhle Unterharz. 112 No. 291, Sieber 61f., Eckart 7, 27, 79, Karstens-Goslar 102. |
| F451.5.2.2.1 | Dwarfs steal magic objects. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F451.5.2.2.2 | Dwarfs steal food and drink. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 56 No. 70. |
| F451.5.2.3 | Dwarfs exchange children in cradle. Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 272; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 294ff., (1928) 186ff.; German: Haas Greifswald 36 No. 39, 40 No. 43, Sieber 60, Pröhle Harz. Nos. 189, 220 I, 207, 269, Pröhle Unterharz. 145 No. 368. |
| F451.5.2.3.1 | Father given carved wooden image in lieu of son stolen by dwarfs. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 110. |
| F451.5.2.4 | Dwarfs kidnap mortals. (Cf. F420.5.2.2. and cross-references there given.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 269f., 272, *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 228ff., (1928) 162ff.; German: Eckart 80, Pröhle Harz. No. 229; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 278, 446. |
| F451.5.2.5 | Dwarfs interfere with mortal's work (destroy buildings, crops, etc.) (Cf. F420.5.2.5.) *Fb "dværg" I 220; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 437—38; German: Karstens-Goslar 103, Pröhle Unterharz. 113 No. 297. |
| F451.5.2.6 | Dwarfs punish. Icelandic: Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn (1892) 156ff., (1928) 171ff.; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 55 No. 65; German: Sieber 61f., 283, Winckler 43 No. 36, Karstens-Goslar 41, Kahlo Harz. 30 No. 51, Förstner Kyffhäuser 22, Kapff 45; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 84. |
| F451.5.2.7 | Dwarfs play pranks. Gaster Oldest Stories 156; German: Bindewald 87, Pröhle Harz. No. 137 II, Kahlo Harz. 30 No. 51, Karstens-Goslar 102, 103. |
| F451.5.2.8 | Dwarfs threaten mortals. German: Eckart 69, Pröhle Harz. No. 229. |
| F451.5.2.9 | Dwarfs scold mortals. German: Beckstein 6, Winckler 34 No. 24. |
| F451.5.2.10 | Dwarfs frighten mortals. German: Eckart 7, Bindewald 84, Kapff 44. |
| F451.5.2.11 | Dwarfs attack soldier. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 137, Findeisen 39 No. 43. |
| F451.5.2.12 | Dwarf takes back gifts he gave. German: Schöppner I 264 No. 271. |
| F451.5.2.13 | Dwarfs curse weapons and treasures which they are forced to give (or which the receiver does not appreciate). Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 268, *Boberg. |
| F451.5.2.14 | Dwarfs demand gifts. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 56 No. 69. |
| F451.5.3 | Dwarfs are ancestors of mortals. German: Haas Greifswald 40 No. 43. |
| F451.5.3.1 | Crippled mortals are of dwarf ancestry. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 187. |
| F451.5.4 | Mortal goes to land of dwarfs. Type 963*; German: Pröhle Harz. Nos. 137 III, 168 I, II, 229, Eckart 22, 78, 80, Schöppner I 186 No. 184; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 241. |
| F451.5.4.1 | Ghost conceals herself with dwarfs. Tobler 66. |
| F451.5.4.2 | Dwarfs suspend large millstone on thin thread over head of mortal, to show what anguish dwarfs felt when mortal endangered their lives. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 337ff.; Lithuanian: Indogermanische Forschungen XXXV 124 No. 18; German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 40. |
| F451.5.4.3 | Enchanted princess lives with dwarfs. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 175 I. |
| F451.5.5 | Dwarfs have human woman as midwife. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 330ff., (1928) 210ff.; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 272; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 308 No. 2, 326 No. 2; German: Kahlo Harz. 54 No. 91. |
| F451.5.6 | Dwarfs have mortal god-parent. (Cf. F420.5.3.3.) German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 40, Eckart 78. |
| F451.5.7 | Dwarfs visit mortal's home. German: Karsten-Goslar 122, Sieber 61, Pröhle Harz. Nos. 137 IV, 229, Bindewald 87. |
| F451.5.7.1 | Dwarf wants to warm self at fire. German: Sieber 61; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nain". |
| F451.5.8 | Dwarfs associate with mortals. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 40ff., 266ff., (1928) 37ff., 179ff.; German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184, Kapff 45; Pröhle Harz. No. 187; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 480, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 167. |
| F451.5.8.1 | Dwarf follows countess around like a little dog. German: Bindewald 83. |
| F451.5.9 | Dwarfs and Christianity. (Cf. F420.5.3.4. and cross-references there given. Cf. also F451.9.1.6.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 271. |
| F451.5.9.1 | Dwarfs fear the cross. German: Karstens-Goslar 155, Findeisen 3 No. 5. |
| F451.5.9.2 | Dwarfs dislike singing of hymns. German: Karstens-Goslar 155. |
| F451.5.9.3 | Dwarfs dislike church bells. German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54, Karstens-Goslar 103, 155. |
| F451.5.9.4 | Dwarfs regard Day of St. John the Divine. German: Schöppner I 164 No. 157, 165 No. 158. |
| F451.5.9.5 | Dwarf seeks to enter church. *Fb "dværg" I 220. |
| F451.5.9.6 | Murder causes dwarf to lose his soul. (Cf. E700.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 240. |
| F451.5.10 | Business relations of dwarfs and mortals. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F451.5.10.1 | Dwarfs accept remuneration. German: Karstens-Goslar 135, 155, Sieber 283, Eckart 67, Pröhle Harz. No. 229, Kapff 45. |
| F451.5.10.2 | Dwarfs object to rewards. (Cf. F451.5.10.9.) German: Schöppner I 354 No. 351, Pröhle Unterharz. 150 No. 379. |
| F451.5.10.3 | Dwarfs borrow from mortals. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 116ff., (1928) 90ff., Boberg DF XLVI 38ff.; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 56 No. 68; German: Eckart 78, Schöppner I 186 No. 184, Findeisen 39 No. 43. |
| F451.5.10.3.1 | Dwarf borrows sledge. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 587—590. |
| F451.5.10.4 | Dwarfs return what they borrow. Boberg DF XLVI 38ff.; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 116ff., (1928) 90ff.; German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184; Eckart 78. |
| F451.5.10.5 | Dwarfs buy peas from mortals and pay more than they are worth. German: Eckart 79, Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.5.10.6 | Dwarfs pay for being ferried across water. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 417ff., (1928) 256ff.; German: Karstens-Goslar 155. |
| F451.5.10.7 | Mortal confiscates property of dwarfs. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 137. |
| F451.5.10.8 | Dwarfs make promises with mental reservations. German: Eckart 7. |
| F451.5.10.9 | Ausgelohnt. When dwarfs are paid in full for their work they cease helping mortals. *Hdwb. d. Märch. s.v. "Ausgelohnt"; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 96ff., (1928) 70ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 40 No. 326; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3490. |
| F451.5.11 | Dwarfs suffer abuses by mortals. German: Schöppner I 264 No. 271, Pröhle Harz. No. 269, Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 40, Eckart 69, Sieber 61, Ey 29. |
| F451.5.12 | Dwarfs thwart efforts of mortals to get additional favors. German: Eckart 7. |
| F451.5.12.1 | Mortals, informed by those benefited, seek dwarf abode in vain. German: Kahlo Harz. 69 No. 109. |
| F451.5.13 | Dwarfs exact promise from mortals. German: Karstens-Goslar 41, Eckart 22. |
| F451.5.14 | Dwarfs tease mortals. German: Kapff 44, Pröhle Unterharz. 145 No. 368. |
| F451.5.15 | Dwarfs give riddles and questions to mortals. |
| F451.5.15.1 | Dwarf promises mortal much money if he will guess his name. German: Haas Greifswald. 40 No. 44. |
| F451.5.15.2 | Dwarf makes return of child dependent upon guessing of riddle. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 220 I. |
| F451.5.15.3 | Dwarf suitor desists when unwilling maiden guesses his name. (Cf. C432.1.) German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 41. |
| F451.5.16 | Dwarfs dislike human vices. German: Sieber 61, Schöppner I 186 No. 184, Pröhle Harz. No. 269, Pröhle Unterharz. 113 No. 298, Karstens-Goslar 135, Förstner Kyffhäuser 22, Winckler 43 No. 36. |
| F451.5.17 | Dwarfs invisibly attend wedding or christening feasts of mortals. (Cf. F451.3.3.8.) Icelandic: *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 135ff., (1928) 96ff.; German: Pröhle Harz. No. 229, Pröhle Unterharz. 145 No. 368. |
| F451.5.17.1 | Invisible dwarfs at christening feast made to speak by brewing beer in egg-shell. (Cf. F321.1.1.1, F481.4.) German: Pröhle Harz. No. 229. |
| F451.5.18 | Dwarf loves mortal girl. (Cf. F420.6.1. and cross references F451.5.15.3.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 270, 272, Boberg; Swiss Jegerlehner Oberwallis 322 No. 86; German: Haas Greifswald. 36 No. 39, 38 No. 44. |
| F451.5.18.1 | Dwarf promises money and property to mortal father for hand of daughter. German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 41. |
| F451.5.19 | Dwarfs are bashful or timid. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 44ff., (1928) 41ff. |
| F451.5.19.1 | Dwarf stays away from house after maid tries to catch and kiss him. German: Hohaus 123. |
| F451.5.20 | Dwarfs give orders to mortals. German: Pröhle Unterharz 113 No. 298, Findeisen 39 No. 43. |
| F451.5.21 | Six dwarfs listen to singing by confirmed children. German: Kapff 45. |
| F451.5.22 | Expelled dwarfs plan to dig underground bed for Rhine. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 303 No. 23. |
| F451.5.23 | Dwarfs seek human help in their fights and troubles. Icelandic: Sveinsson FFC LXXXIII xxxviii—xli; German: MacCulloch Eddic 272. |
| F451.6 | Other actions of dwarfs. |
| F451.6.1 | Dwarf caught by beard in cleft of tree. (Cf. F451.2.3.1.) *Type 426; BP III 260; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "nain". |
| F451.6.2 | Dwarf rides. |
| F451.6.2.1 | Dwarf rides on a hare. Köhler-Bolte I 545. |
| F451.6.2.2 | Dwarf rides through air on wooden horse. Dickson 217. |
| F451.6.2.3 | Dwarfs are taken for hussars because they ride little horses. (Cf. F451.7.5.) German: Pröhle Unterharz. 112 No. 294. |
| F451.6.2.4 | Dwarfs try to kill serpent. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| F451.6.3 | Dwarfs have festivities. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F451.6.3.1 | Dwarfs feast mortals in their home. German: Eckart 22, Ey 29, Pröhle Harz. No. 137 III, No. 168 I, Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 40. |
| F451.6.3.2 | Dwarfs celebrate weddings and christenings of their own. (Cf. F451.6.5.) Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 62ff., (1928) 54ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 45 Nos. 375—376; German: Pröhle Harz. No. 229, Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 40. |
| F451.6.3.3 | Dwarfs have music. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 270—71; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 189ff., (1928) 133ff.; German: Eckart 22, Sieber 62, Pröhle Harz. No. 229, Pröhle Unterharz. 171 No. 453. |
| F451.6.3.3.1 | Dwarf musician (poet). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F451.6.3.4 | Dwarf dances. *Fb "danse" IV 93a; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 193ff., (1928) 137ff.; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 58 No. 92; German: Sieber 62. |
| F451.6.3.5 | Dwarfs play in the moonlight. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 36ff., (1928) 33ff.; German: Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 41. |
| F451.6.3.6 | Dwarfs hold church services. German: Schöppner I 165 No. 158. |
| F451.6.4 | Dwarfs fight with each other. German: Ey 29, Pröhle Unterharz. 112 No. 294. |
| F451.6.5 | Dwarfs wed. (Cf. F451.6.3.2.) Irish myth: *Cross (F451.3.17); German: Karstens-Goslar 122, Kahlo Harz. 30 No. 51. |
| F451.6.6 | Dwarfs laugh. German: Karstens-Goslar 122. |
| F451.6.7 | Dwarfs weep. German: Förstner Kyffhäuser 17. |
| F451.6.8 | Dwarfs become angry. German: Haas Greifswald 38 No. 41. |
| F451.6.9 | Dwarfs dig for treasures. German: Findeisen 3 No. 5. |
| F451.6.10 | Frau Holle lives with dwarfs. (Cf. F475.1.) German: Pröhle Harz. No. 230. |
| F451.6.11 | Dwarfs betray. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.6.12 | Dwarf king Hibich comes to surface every 500 years. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 137 II. |
| F451.6.13 | Dwarf carries his knocked-off leg on his shoulder. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.6.14 | Dwarfs flee to caves for protection. German: Karstens-Goslar 102. |
| F451.7 | Possessions of dwarfs. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F451.7.1 | Dwarfs possess treasure (gold, jewels, etc.). Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 270; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 172ff. (1928) 221ff.; German: Eckart 22, Schöppner I 164 No. 157, Pröhle Harz. No. 137 IV, Haas Greifswald. 36 No. 39, 38 No. 40. |
| F451.7.2 | Dwarfs have ovens. Boberg DF XLVI 16ff.; German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.7.3 | Dwarfs have little lanterns. German: Winckler 56 No. 57. |
| F451.7.4 | Dwarf king has silver miner's torch bright as the sun. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 137 II. |
| F451.7.5 | Dwarfs have little horses. (Cf. F451.6.2.3.) Irish myth: *Cross; German: Pröhle Unterharz. 112 No. 294. |
| F451.7.6 | Dwarfs have cattle, steeds and wagons. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 31ff., (1928) 32ff.; German: Karstens-Goslar 122. |
| F451.8 | Names for dwarfs. **Gould PMLA XLIV 939. |
| F451.8.1 | Common names for dwarfs. German: Haas Grimmen 3, 46 No. 54, Haas Greifswald. 36 No. 39, 38 Nos. 40, 41, Nos. 43, 44, Karstens-Goslar 135, 155, Schöppner I 165 No. 158, I 169 No. 163, I 264 No. 271, I 354 No. 351, Ey 9, 29, Bindewald 83, 87, 142, 188, Findeisen 3 No. 5, 39 No. 43, Kappf 44, 45, Hohaus 123, Eckart 27, 67, 78ff., Bechstein 6. |
| F451.8.2 | Proper names for dwarfs. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Gylf. XIV, *Boberg, MacCulloch Eddic 264, 269—70; German: Eckart 20, 22, Pröhle Harz. No. 137 II, III, Pröhle Unterharz. 145 No. 368, Haas Greifswald. 38 No. 41, 40 No. 44. |
| F451.9 | Dwarfs emigrate. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 417ff., (1928) 256ff.; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 59 Nos. 103—105. |
| F451.9.1 | Why dwarfs emigrate. |
| F451.9.1.1 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals put caraway seeds into bread. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.9.1.2 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals are false. German: Pröhle Unterharz. 113 No. 298. |
| F451.9.1.3 | The three sevens in 1777 drive dwarfs out of the land. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 60. |
| F451.9.1.4 | Dwarfs emigrate because of industrial development. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.9.1.5 | Dwarfs promise to emigrate if captured dwarfs are released. German: Sieber 62. |
| F451.9.1.6 | Dwarfs emigrate because Christianity offends them. (Cf. F451.5.9.) German: Haas Grimmen 46 No. 54; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F451.9.1.7 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals tease them. (Cf. F451.3.6.2.) German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.9.1.8 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals object to their stealing. German: Pröhle Harz. No. 269. |
| F451.9.1.9 | Dwarfs emigrate because they dislike peasants' dancing and loud music. German: Karstens-Goslar 103. |
| F451.9.1.10 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals curse. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.9.1.11 | Dwarfs emigrate because mortals desecrate holy day. German: Schöppner I 186 No. 184. |
| F451.9.1.12 | Dwarfs emigrate because of mortals' ingratitude. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.9.1.13 | Frederick the Great drove dwarfs across Black Sea. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.9.1.14 | Dwarfs forced to flee by deity. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 328. |
| F451.9.1.15 | Dwarfs emigrate when their king dies. Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 59 No. 102. |
| F451.9.2 | The destination of emigrating dwarfs. |
| F451.9.2.1 | Dwarfs emigrate to unknown place. German: Karstens-Goslar 155. |
| F451.9.2.2 | Dwarfs emigrate to the Orient. German: Kapff 44. |
| F451.9.3 | Dwarfs emigrate New Year's Eve of 1800 to return New Year's Eve of 1900. German: Sieber 61. |
| F451.9.4 | As dwarfs emigrate each deposits coin into kettle for mortals. German: Sieber 62. |
| F451.9.5 | Emigrating dwarfs are ferried across water. (Cf. F451.5.10.6.) German: Karstens-Goslar 166. |
| F451.9.6 | Dwarfs emigrate unseen but heard. (Cf. F455.5.1.) Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 59 No. 104; German: Sieber 62. |
| F451.10 | Dwarfs and other supernatural beings. |
| F451.10.1 | Giants and heroes created for the protection and aid of dwarfs. (Cf. F451.1.3.) German: MacCulloch Eddic 265. |
| F451.10.2 | Giants and dwarfs in contest. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 53. |
| F451.10.2.1 | Dwarfs kill giantess by dropping millstone on her head. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 53. |
| F451.10.3 | Dwarfs in love with other supernatural beings. (Cf. F531.7.2.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 95, 123, 270 (Freyja); *Boberg. |
| F451.10.4 | Dwarfs make weapons and other precious objects for the gods. (Cf. F451.3.4.2.) Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 266. |
| F455 | Trolls. Sometimes underground spirits, sometimes also thought of as mountain-spirits. In many tales trolls are ogres. (Cf. G100, G400—G599.) *Fb "trold" III 852a; Scandinavian: **E. Hartmann Die Trollvorstellungen in den Sagen und Märchen der skandinavischen Völker (Stuttgart, 1936); Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 285ff., Boberg; Norwegian: Solheim Register 18, 21; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 60ff. |
| F455.1 | Home of trolls. |
| F455.1.1 | Trolls live in howe (barrow, grave). *Fb "trold" III 852a; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.1.2 | Trolls live in cliffs. Icelandic: **Boberg. |
| F455.2 | Appearance of trolls. (Cf. G304.1.) |
| F455.2.1 | Trolls the size of ten or twelve year old child. *Fb "trold" III 852a. |
| F455.2.2 | Trolls are usually ugly, hideous, big and strong. Icelandic: *Boberg; Norwegian: Solheim Register 18, Hartmann 48, 52, 65. |
| F455.2.3 | Trolls are black (dark). Hartmann 65; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.2.4 | Trolls dressed in skins. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.2.5 | Troll in human form. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.2.5.1 | Troll in human size. Hartmann 65. |
| F455.2.6 | Trolls frightful. Hartmann 52. |
| F455.2.7 | Troll with snout for nose. Hartmann 54. |
| F455.2.8 | Troll in animal form (cat, dog, pig, hen). Hartmann 67, 70. |
| F455.2.9 | Troll as whirlwind. Hartmann 73. |
| F455.2.10 | Great age of trolls. Often centuries old. Hartmann 67. |
| F455.3 | Characteristic activities of trolls. |
| F455.3.1 | Trolls skillful as smiths. *Fb "smed" III 402a; *Krappe Grinkenschmied (Archiv für das Studium der neueren Sprachen und Literatur CLVIII [1930] 9—23). |
| F455.3.2 | Trolls dance. *Fb "danse" IV 93b. |
| F455.3.3 | Trolls ride. |
| F455.3.3.1 | Troll rides on dog. Fb "hund" I 676b. |
| F455.3.3.2 | Troll rides in whirlwind. (Cf. F455.2.9.) Fb "hvirvelvind" IV 232a. |
| F455.3.3.3 | Trolls ride on men and cattle. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.3.4 | Trolls spin and weave fine cloth. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.3.5 | Trolls bake. Hartmann 71, *Boberg DF XLVI. |
| F455.3.6 | Trolls go about at night. Hartmann 75. |
| F455.4 | Possessions of trolls. |
| F455.4.1 | Trolls' riches. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.4.1.1 | Trolls' riches inside mountain. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.4.2 | Trolls' food. |
| F455.4.2.1 | Trolls' food gives man supernatural strength. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.4.2.2 | Trolls eat from golden dishes, but food is frogs and snakes. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.4.2.3 | Trolls live on food humans have failed to bless. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.5 | Visibility of trolls. (Cf. F235.) |
| F455.5.1 | Trolls invisible but heard. (Cf. F412, F451.9.6.) Hartmann 69f. |
| F455.5.2 | Invisible troll attends wedding and eats food. Hartmann 73. |
| F455.5.3 | Trolls have cap of invisibility. (Cf. F451.3.3.8.) Hartmann 73. |
| F455.5.4 | Certain persons can see trolls. (Cf. F235.3.) Hartmann 74. |
| F455.5.4.1 | Animals can see trolls. (Cf. B733.) Hartmann 74. |
| F455.5.4.2 | Trolls visible to unconfirmed children. Hartmann 83. |
| F455.5.4.3 | Trolls seen through another's arm (or the like). (Cf. D1821.3.1, F235.6.) Hartmann 74. |
| F455.6 | Trolls and men. |
| F455.6.1 | Trolls' friendship with men. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.6.2 | Trolls' lending and borrowing. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.6.2.1 | Troll repays loan with costly or magic object. Hartmann 72. |
| F455.6.3 | Trolls steal from humans. Hartmann 64, 73. |
| F455.6.3.1 | Trolls steal fish at Christmas. Hartmann 57. |
| F455.6.4 | Theft from troll. |
| F455.6.4.1 | Troll's costly cup stolen. Hartmann 18, 70. |
| F455.6.4.2 | Troll's treasure obtained by casting steel on it. Hartmann 20. |
| F455.6.5 | Trolls visit men. |
| F455.6.5.1 | Trolls visit people Christmas Eve. Hartmann 53f., 75. |
| F455.6.6 | Trolls carry off people. (Cf. F320, F322.) *Hartmann 76, 86ff.; *Feilberg DF V. |
| F455.6.6.1 | Stolen woman saved from trolls' dance. (Cf. F322.2.) Hartmann 118ff. |
| F455.6.7 | Trolls as changelings. (Cf. F321.1.) Scandinavian: *Hartmann 76ff.; **Piaschewski Der Wichsetbalg (Breslau, 1935). |
| F455.6.8 | Trolls help men. |
| F455.6.8.1 | Trolls help with grain harvest. Hartmann 72f. |
| F455.6.9 | Trolls as the constant enemies of humans. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.6.10 | People possessed by trolls. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F455.7 | Trolls and Christianity. (Cf. G304.2.4.1.) |
| F455.7.1 | Trolls flee before Christianity. (Cf. F382) Hartmann 69. |
| F455.7.2 | Troll helpless before sign of Cross. (Cf. D1766.1.) Hartmann 67. |
| F455.7.3 | Trolls may not utter holy names. Hartmann 70. |
| F455.8 | Troll killed. |
| F455.8.1 | Trolls turn to stone at sunrise. (Cf. F531.6.12.2.) Norwegian: Solheim Register 18, Hartmann 68. |
| F455.8.2 | Trolls killed by lightning. Hartmann 67. |
| F455.9 | Banning trolls. |
| F455.9.1 | Certain persons can ban trolls. Hartmann 74. |
| F455.10 | Recognizing trolls. |
| F455.10.1 | Test of troll child. Snake placed in dough she is to knead. She calls it "brother". Hartmann 81. |
| F455.11 | Offspring of trolls. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F456 | Mine spirits. Gnomes. (Cf. E336.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 279, 460. |
| F456.1 | Knockers (Tommy Knockers, spriggins). |
| F456.1.1 | Origin of knockers or spriggins. |
| F456.1.1.1 | Knockers as ghosts of Jews who crucified Christ and who were forced to work Cornish tin mines as punishment. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.1.2 | Knockers as ghosts of giants who formerly lived in area. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.1.3 | Knockers as spirits of dead miners. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2 | Actions of knockers. |
| F456.1.2.1 | Malicious actions of knockers. |
| F456.1.2.1.1 | Knockers bring ill luck if one whistles in the mine. (Cf. G303.16.18.) England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.2 | Knockers hide tools of miners. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.3 | Knockers tamper with dynamite fuses in mine. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.4 | Knockers kick rungs out of ladders, cutting off escape of trapped miners. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.1.5 | Knockers lame miners who bother them unduly. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2 | Helpful actions of knockers. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.1 | Knockers lead men to the richest lodes in the mines by knocking in those areas. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.2 | Knockers do miner's work at night while he is gone. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.3 | Knockers test entries and supports by tapping them with hammers. U.S.: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.2.4 | Knockers appear to miners before accidents occur: the sight of one serves as a warning to leave mine. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3 | Other actions of knockers. |
| F456.1.2.3.1 | Knockers hold midnight mass deep in mines on Christmas Eve. (Cf. E492.) England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3.2 | Knockers (ghosts of Jews) are compelled to sing carols in mines at Christmastime. England: Baughman. |
| F456.1.2.3.3 | Knockers refrain from work on Saturdays and other Jewish holidays. England: Baughman. |
| F456.2 | Mining spirit: "Bluecap." |
| F456.2.1 | Bluecap moves coal-tubs for miners. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.3 | Mining spirit: "Cutty Soams". |
| F456.3.1 | "Cutty" cuts cords by which miners pull tubs full of coal. England: *Baughman. |
| F456.4 | Miscellaneous mine spirit motifs. |
| F456.4.1 | Fairies operate coal mine. Wales: Baughman. |
| F460 | Mountain-spirits. (Huldra.) See also F200—F399 (Fairies and Elves), F420 (Water-spirits), and F451 (Dwarfs) for many common motifs. Meyer Altgermanische 101; *Fb "vætte" III 1122b, "dværg" I 220b, "höj" I 740a, and especially "bjærgmand" I 41b, 42a; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 1071 s.v. "Berggeister"; *Wehrhan 80; Scandinavian: **Hartmann 35ff., 57, 64 ("huldra"); *Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 60ff. Nos. 513—564; Slovenian: *L. Kratzenbacher Germanische Mythen in der epischen Volksdichtung der Slowenen (Graz, 1941) 28—35; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F460.0.1 | Mountain spirits as souls of dead. Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 76. |
| F460.1 | Appearance of mountain men. |
| F460.1.1 | Mountain-man in animal shape. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 60 No. 517. |
| F460.1.1.1 | Mountain-man in shape of hog. Fb "svin" III 676a. |
| F460.1.2 | Mountain-wife has breasts so long that she throws them over her shoulder. (Cf. F232.2, F441.2.1.2, F531.1.5.1, G123.) Fb "patte" II 791b; Scandinavian: Hartmann 38. |
| F460.1.3 | Mountain-man carries shears at side like sword. Fb "saks" III 143a. |
| F460.1.4 | Dress of mountain-men. *Fb "bjærgmand" IV 41b. |
| F460.1.4.1 | Mountain-men in white caps. Fb "hvid" I 700b. |
| F460.1.4.2 | Mountain-men in red caps. (Cf. F236.3.2., F451.2.7.1.) Fb "lue" II 455. |
| F460.1.4.3 | Huldra-woman's cap. Norwegian: Solheim Register 19. |
| F460.1.5 | Huldra-women have cow's tails. (Cf. F232.8, F518, F531.1.6.14.) Norwegian: Hartmann 37. |
| F460.1.6 | Huldra-men with long teeth and nose. Norwegian: Hartmann 37. |
| F460.1.7 | Huldra invisible. Hartmann 37. |
| F460.2 | Characteristics of mountain-men. |
| F460.2.1 | Mountain-folk afraid of thunder. Fb "torden" III 824b. |
| F460.2.2 | Mountain-folk ride through air on horses. Fb "luftrejse" II 457a. |
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.