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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| H1151.20 | Task: stealing magic healing apples. (Cf. H1323.) French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H1151.21 | Task: stealing magic healing water. (Cf. D1500.1.18.) French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| H1151.25 | Task: stealing ogre's grain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1151.24 | Task: stealing ogress's drum. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1151.10.1 | Task: stealing pears from ingeniously guarded garden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1151.13.1 | Task: stealing pigskin from a king. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1151.4 | Task: stealing ring from finger. *Type 1525. |
| H1151.3 | Task: stealing sheet from bed on which person is sleeping. *Type 1525; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| H1151.13.2 | Task: stealing spear from a king. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1151.14 | Task: stealing sword from giant. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1151.17 | Task: stealing the bait of the demon Aсan. S. A. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 132. |
| H1151.16 | Task: stealing the mead of poetry. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1151.7 | Task: stealing the two horns of a savage bull. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1151.13.5 | Task: stealing three pearls from king's heavily guarded treasury. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1151.3.1 | Task: stealing tray from king's bedside. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1151.9 | Task: stealing troll's golden horse. *Fb "guldhest". |
| H1151.2 | Task: stealing twelve horses out of stall. (Cf. H1151.13.3.) *Type 1525; *Fb "hest". |
| H1049.4 | Task: stopping the rain. (Cf. D2141.1.) Samoa: Beckwith Myth 439. |
| H1023.4 | Task: straightening a curly hair. Type 1175; BP III 15; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 636; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 314 No. 113, 329 No. 45; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1122.1 | Task: supplying superhuman amount of grain. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1138 | Task: supplying water in land where it is lacking. *Fb "vand" III 1001b.—Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1066 | Task: sweep the floor and do not sweep it. *Köhler in Gonzenbach II 215. |
| H1199.7 | Task: swine to eat fish of certain waters. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1199.6 | Task: swine to shake bole of certain tree. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1021.7 | Task: taking a stick from the body. (Fingernail.) Type 1181. |
| H1155 | Task: taming wild animals. (Cf. H1154.3.) |
| H1024.4 | Task: teaching an ass to read. Anderson FFC XLII 357 n. 1; cf. Type 1675. |
| H1024.7 | Task: teaching animal to speak. |
| H1024.7.1 | Task: teaching horse to speak. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1116.3 | Task: tearing down a huge wall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1104.1.2 | Task: thatching roof with bird feathers; half blow away while other half are sought. (Cf. F171.6.6.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1144.1 | Task: to collect together all the drops of water. Jewish: Moreno Esdras. |
| H41.7 | Task: to ride horse whereby one becomes king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H305 | Task: to win ogress' daughter for a bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1125 | Task: traveling till iron shoes are worn out. *Type 425; *BP II 272; Köhler-Bolte I 317, 512, 573; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 114. |
| H1125.1 | Task: traveling till two skeins of thread are unwound. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 57 No. 425. |
| H1023.15 | Task: turning fruit into gold. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 5. |
| H1023.23 | Task: tying the sun with a stone chain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1094.1 | Task: unraveling a net in a short time. Type 1178*. |
| H1094 | Task: unraveling in short time. |
| H1199.12 | Task: unusual pasturing. |
| H1163 | Task: uprooting man-devouring tree. (Cf. H335.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1023.6 | Task: washing black wool (cloth, cattle) white. Type 480; *Roberts 165; *Fb "fеr" I 406b, "hvid" I 700b, "skjorte" III 268a, "sort" III 467b; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 314 No. 113, 328 No. 10. |
| H1096 | Task: washing enormous number of clothes (and other articles) in short time. Sicilian: Gonzenbach I 97ff. No. 15. |
| H1023.6.1 | Task: washing large heavy quilt covered with ghi and oil without aid of soap or anything. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1022.2.2 | Task: weaving a shirt from a piece of thread; countertask: making a loom from a rod. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H1021.6.1 | Task: weaving a silk shirt from hair; countertask: making a loom from shavings. (Cf. H951.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 234. |
| H1021.6 | Task: weaving a silk shirt from hair. (Cf. H1022.2.2.) De Vries FFC LXXIII 233. |
| H1022.1 | Task: weaving cloth from two threads. Type 875; *BP II 349ff., 368; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 232. |
| H1022.4.2 | Task: weaving mantle from wool of a single sheep. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1145.1 | Task: weighing fire. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (H1023.16). |
| H1166.1 | Task: wrestling etc. with giant warrior. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1154.3.6 | Task: yoking stags. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1149.1 | Task: yoking together lion and wild boar. Greek: Fox 107 (Admetus), Grote I 108. |
| H972 | Tasks accomplished with help of grateful dead. *Type 507A; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H927.1 | Tasks as trial of prowess of mortal by gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H942 | Tasks assigned as payment of gambling loss. (Cf. H1219.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H924.1 | Tasks assigned as ransom. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H919.6 | Tasks assigned at instigation of queen (disguised ogress). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H917 | Tasks assigned at own unwitting suggestion. Jason thus sent for the Golden Fleece. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 94 n. 1. |
| H918 | Tasks assigned at suggestion contained in letter borne by the victim. Greek: Fox 39 (Bellerophon); Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H912 | Tasks assigned at suggestion of jealous brothers (sisters). *Type 408; Köhler-Bolte I 468; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 49 No. 328*A, Espinosa Jr. No. 81; India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Inca) Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 317; West Indies: Flowers 460. |
| H913.2 | Tasks assigned at suggestion of jealous father. |
| H911 | Tasks assigned at suggestion of jealous rivals. *Types 328, 501, 531, 725; BP I 109, III 18ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 430; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 22; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 59 No. 425D; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 7, IV No. 5, Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 459. |
| H919.2 | Tasks assigned at suggestion of religious person. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H919.1 | Tasks assigned at suggestion of treacherous servants. Icelandic: Herrmann II 583ff., *Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H916.3 | Tasks assigned at suggestion of wife and paramour. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H915 | Tasks assigned because of girl's (boy's) own foolish boast. *Type 501, 1525; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 460. |
| H936 | Tasks assigned because of longings of pregnant woman. Irish myth: *Cross; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 4; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H915.1 | Tasks assigned because of man's boast. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H914 | Tasks assigned because of mother's foolish boasting. The mother foolishly boasts to the king that the daughter can perform an impossible task (often spinning). *Type 500, 501; BP I 490, 109; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 4. |
| H923 | Tasks assigned before man may rescue wife from spirit world. Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 169. |
| H939.1 | Tasks assigned by druid. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H913.1 | Tasks assigned by jealous mother. |
| H913 | Tasks assigned by jealous parent. |
| H934.3 | Tasks assigned by stepmother. Chinese: Graham. |
| H931 | Tasks assigned in order to get rid of hero. *Types 428, 461; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Grote I 110; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Anesaki 357, Ikeda. |
| H924 | Tasks assigned prisoner so that he may escape punishment. De Vries FFC LXXIII 309, 313; India: Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H335 | Tasks assigned suitors. Bride as prize for accomplishment. (For nature of tasks see H1000ff.) *Types 313, 502, 513, 514, 518, 570, 577; BP II 87ff., III 267ff., 424ff.; Hibbard 275ff. (Sir Eglamour).—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish: Kalevala runes 7, 8, 13, 14, 19; Italian Novella: *Rotunda, Basile Pentamerone II Nos. 5, 7; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 87 n. 3, II 61 n. 3, Fox 107; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 168; Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 290; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Anesaki 262; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/174, 13/203, 13/276, 13/317, 13/441, 13/499, 13/730, 13/243, 13/1241); Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 57; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 324 n. 170; Africa (Mpongwe): Nassau 31 No. 4, (Benga): Nassau 134 No. 15; West Indies: Flowers 458. Cf. Wünsche Teufel 33 (devil). |
| H932 | Tasks assigned to devil (ogre). Types 812, 1170—1199; *BP III 16. |
| H1020 | Tasks contrary to laws of nature. |
| H1024 | Tasks contrary to the nature of animals. |
| H1023 | Tasks contrary to the nature of objects. |
| H928.1 | Tasks imposed as fine. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H928 | Tasks imposed as tribute. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H916 | Tasks imposed at suggestion of spouse (sweetheart). |
| H916.1 | Tasks imposed because of wife's foolish boast. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H901.0.1 | Tasks imposed on pain of death of relative (friend, hostage, etc.). Irish myth: Cross. |
| H901 | Tasks imposed on pain of death. Types 306, 851; BP I 188; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 53, 83—84, 179, *Boberg; French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| H900 | Tasks imposed. A person's prowess is tested by assigning him certain tasks (usually impossible or extremely difficult) to be performed either to escape punishment or to receive a valuable reward. *Penzer X 330 s.v. "tests"; *Chauvin VI 200 No. 372.—Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "épreuves"; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 184 n. 1 (Hercules), Fox 80ff. (Hercules), ibid. 98 (Theseus); N. A. Indian: **Lowie The Test Theme in North American Mythology (JAFL XXI 97ff.). |
| H975.1 | Tasks performed by aid of goddess. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H972.1 | Tasks performed by captive spirits of the dead. Africa (Fang): Einstein 70ff.; Trilles 190ff. No. 11. |
| H961 | Tasks performed by cleverness. *M. Bloomfield in Penzer VII x; S. A. Indian (Quiché): Alexander Lat. Am. 174. |
| H962 | Tasks performed by close observation. Type 577; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H975 | Tasks performed by deity. Greek: Grote I 108. |
| H973 | Tasks performed by helpful forest spirits. Maori: Dixon 61. |
| H963 | Tasks performed by means of secrets overheard from tree. *Type 613; *Christiansen FFC XXIV 96ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H960 | Tasks performed through cleverness or intelligence. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H984.1 | Tasks performed with help of Brahmadaitya. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H981 | Tasks performed with help of brother. Chinese: Graham. |
| H973.2 | Tasks performed with help of four demons in ring. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H971.1 | Tasks performed with help of old woman. Types 306, 510, 566, 567; Irish myth: *Cross; Scotch: Macdougall and Calder 160; German: Grimm Nos. 9, 14, 29, 122, 125, 133, 181, 186; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H984 | Tasks performed with help of saint. Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 69 No. 515. |
| H1090 | Tasks requiring miraculous speed. Missouri French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H939.3 | Tasks set by cruel sisters-in-law to get tigress. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H927 | Tasks set by deity. |
| H945 | Tasks voluntarily undertaken. |
| H1154 | Tasks: capturing animals. Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Fox 80ff. |
| H1145 | Tasks: other difficult measurements. |
| H1150 | Tasks: stealing, capturing, or slaying. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H151.14 | Tears fall on person below and indicate presence of those above (on cliff, tree, etc.). |
| H71.8 | Tears of blood: sign of royalty. Jewish: Neuman; S. A. Indian (Inca): Alexander Lat. Am. 252. |
| H1110 | Tedious tasks. |
| H105.5.2 | Teeth and fingernails of slain cyclops taken as proof. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H58 | Tell-tale hand-mark. Clandestine lover is identified by paint marks left on his skin by his mistress. *Type 950; Köhler-Bolte I 200; India: Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Tawney I 15; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 273 n. 1. |
| H1566 | Test for admission to warrior band. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1596.0.1 | Test for attractiveness to men. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1574.3.0.1 | Test imposed on young princes as candidates for throne. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H45.3 | Test of a god: when his image is bound it frees itself. Oertel Studien z. vgl. Littg. VIII 116; Frazer Pausanias III 336f.; Zs. f. Vksk. II 197, III 89, 448. |
| H1568.1 | Test of championship: sitting on pillow covering egg without breaking egg. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H256.1 | Test of child's innocence: onyx stone and coal of fire offered. (Cf. H501.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1585 | Test of cleanliness by being shaken to see if lice fall off. Chinese: Graham. |
| H505.1 | Test of cleverness: uttering three truths. FFC LVI 35; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H505 | Test of cleverness: uttering three wise words. Youths called on to do so display by their answers extraordinary powers of deduction. *Type 655; *Chauvin VII 159 No. 438; BP IV 137; Oesterley No. 58; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1554.1 | Test of curiosity: mouse in jug. The new Eve. A woman has boasted of a lack of curiosity and blamed Mother Eve. The king entertains her in his castle. She may see everything but must not look into a certain silver jug. She does so and finds a mouse in it. (Cf. H1557.2.) *Type 1416; *BP III 543 n. 1; *Crane Vitry 139 No. 13; Alphabet No. 575; *Fb "Adam" IV 3b; H. C. Andersen "Krøblingen", Danish Fairy Tales and Legends; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H1554.2 | Test of curiosity: the clock. A man is promised a beautiful clock if he can mind his own business for a whole year. He does. The giver tells him he is the second man who almost made sure of getting the clock. The man asks how the other missed getting it; he loses the clock himself. England: Baughman. |
| H1554.3 | Test of curiosity: the paternoster. Plowman is promised a horse if he can say a paternoster without thinking of anything else. In the midst of the recitation, he asks if he will get the saddle and bridle too. He loses bargain. England: Baughman. |
| H1554 | Test of curiosity. (Cf. H1557.) |
| H248.4 | Test of death by putting burning wood in the mouth of fallen warriors. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H248 | Test of death: to see whether person is dead or feigning. English: Child V 3, 6, 498 s.v. "tests"; Africa (Mpongwe): Nassau 16ff. Nos. 1, 3, 3 version 2; (Basuto): Jacottet 14 No. 1. |
| H1577 | Test of divine favor. |
| H492 | Test of faithfulness of husband and wife. |
| H1572 | Test of fertility. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1556.0.2 | Test of fidelity (loyalty) of guard. (Faithful unto death.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1556.1 | Test of fidelity by feigning death. English: Wells 129 (Sir Orfeo); Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 4; India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 473. |
| H1556.5 | Test of fidelity by feigning sleep in same bed as calumniated hero or alone in the forest with him. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1556.3 | Test of fidelity through offering suspected assassin opportunity to commit the murder. Heptameron No. 17. |
| H1556.2 | Test of fidelity through submitting hero to temptations. Kittredge Gawain and the Green Knight 6ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1558.5 | Test of friendship: death feigned to test debtor friends. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H1558.13 | Test of friendship: loyalty to condemned friend. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1558.12 | Test of friendship: mourner says dead husband can be touched only by sinless person; volunteers for cremating body immediately disperse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1558.2 | Test of friendship: substitute as murderer. A man in misery gives himself up as a murderer rather than endure further misery. His friend tries to take on himself the guilt and be substituted. The real murderer, touched by the generosity, confesses. *Chauvin IX 16 No. 2; Schiller's "Burgschaft"; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H1558.1 | Test of friendship: the half-friend. A man kills a hog and tells his friends that he has killed a man and asks where he can hide the body. All of them drive him away and only his father's half-friend remains true to him in his feigned trouble. *Type 893; *Basset RTP XXII 10; *Crane Vitry 185f. No. 120; Herbert III 10, 55, 205; *Penzer V 87 n. 1; Alphabet No. 59; Chauvin IX 15f.; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 94b; Oesterley No. 129; Scala Celi 9a, 11b Nos. 60, 69.—Icelandic: Sveinsson FFC LXXXIII p. xix, *Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 32, *274. |
| H1558.6 | Test of friendship: the imagined refusal. Man wonders if his friend would lend him his palfrey. Decides he would refuse. Imagines that he has actually asked for the palfrey and has been refused. Cools toward his friend. The owner of the horse asks for an explanation. He agrees to lend him the horse and they are reconciled. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H1558.7 | Test of friendship: the power of money. Spendthrift loses his friends in poverty. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1558.3 | Test of friendship: to go with one to death. Everyman. He calls in Riches, Family, etc. Only Good Deeds remains with him. *Chauvin III 101 No. 7; Jewish: *Bin Gorion Born Judas IV 226, 275; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1558.11 | Test of friendship: to take a slap publicly from friend. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H1578.1.1.1 | Test of girl masking as man: nuts and corn spread on floor. Jewish: *Neuman (J1661.1.) |
| H1577.1 | Test of goddess' favor: man throws away his wife's jewel-box to see if she can regain it with the aid of goddess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1577.2 | Test of goddess's favor: husband drowns his son to see if his wife's tutelary goddess can bring him back to life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1565.1 | Test of gratitude: magician makes pupil believe himself superior. Though he has promised magician great rewards he forgets his promise. Wealth removed. Alphabet No. 62; Scala Celi 12a No. 72; Wesselski Mönchslatein 13 No. 7; Herbert 83 No. 7; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H210 | Test of guilt or innocence. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1581 | Test of heirship. German: Grimm Nos. 63, 106, 124, 151, 152, 179. |
| H1250.1 | Test of hero before journey to otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1555.1 | Test of honesty: man entrusted with treasure. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1564 | Test of hospitality. English: Wells 64 (Avowynge of King Arthur etc.); Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1569.1 | Test of industry. (Cf. H382.) |
| H256 | Test of innocence: apple and gold offered. Innocent person takes apple. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 93a; BP I 203, III 236. |
| H41.3 | Test of king (pope): his candle lights itself. *Type 671; *Köhler-Bolte I 148. |
| H1567.1.1 | Test of leadership (obedience): swallowing mouse without vomiting. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1567 | Test of leadership. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H502 | Test of learning. Tawney I 274, 311f.; Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1576.1 | Test of magic powers: telling sex of unborn goat. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1595.1 | Test of memory: Solomon asks Marchus question, receives answer; fourteen months later he asks second question based on first, again receives correct answer; four months later asks third question based on first two, again receives correct answer. Nouvelles de Sens. No. 31. |
| H1595 | Test of memory. |
| H491 | Test of mother's and father's love for children. |
| H503 | Test of musical ability. (Cf. H509.4.) Tawney IT 431; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H486.1 | Test of paternity: adhesion of blood. Blood of real son will adhere to dead father's bones. Oesterley No. 196; Herbert III 191; Zachariae Kleine Schriften 305; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 61, Neuman. |
| H486.2 | Test of paternity: shooting at father's corpse. Youngest of supposed sons refuses to shoot and is judged the only genuine son of dead emperor. *Herbert III 206; Oesterley No. 45; Scala Celi 98a No. 526; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 835; Nouvelles de Sens. No 29; Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 28; L. Schmidt Oesterr. Zs. f. Vksk. 1955, 70 ff.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; *Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas II 123, 345, IV 102, 280, *Neuman. |
| H486 | Test of paternity. Child tested to see if it is child of certain father. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H1553.6 | Test of patience by asking irrelevant riddles. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1553.2 | Test of patience: king accepts strong reproof and criticism. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H1553.3 | Test of patience: those who wish to enter city gate must endure insults of old men there who mock them. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H502.1 | Test of religious learning. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1573.7.1 | Test of repentance: culprit exposed to situation identical to that in which he sinned. (Cf. H1573.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H1573.7 | Test of repentance. |
| H506.3 | Test of resourcefulness: carrying wolf, goat, and cabbage across stream. Man is to set across a stream, in a boat that will hold himself and only one other object, a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. He must do this so that the wolf doesn't eat the goat, nor the goat the cabbage. Two solutions: (1) (a) take goat over, (b) take wolf over and goat back, (c) take cabbage over, (d) take goat over; (2) (a) take goat over, (b) take cabbage over and goat back, (c) take wolf over, (d) take goat over. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXXIII—XXXIV 38; Fb "ulv" III 970a, "kеl" II 354b. |
| H506.2 | Test of resourcefulness: finding how many people are in dark closed room. Fills room with evil smell; men call each other by name and disclose number. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 396. |
| H506.6 | Test of resourcefulness: not to sit at the foot of couch. Servant gives prince a lemon to place on it indicating which is head and which foot of couch. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H506.4 | Test of resourcefulness: putting thread through coils of snail shell. Thread tied to ant who pulls it through. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 141 n. 1 (Daidalus); Zachariae Kleine Schriften 59, 108ff.; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H506.9 | Test of resourcefulness: to cook rice without fire (in hot sand). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H506.11 | Test of resourcefulness: to discover how old, respectively, three horses are. Youth drops water on each; one jumps fifteen paces only, another twenty, and the last bounds in air and gallops. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H506.7 | Test of resourcefulness: to eat food without untying cloth containing it; hole torn in cloth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H506.10 | Test of resourcefulness: to find relationships among three sticks: they are put in vessel of water; degree of sinking shows what part of tree each comes from. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H506.8 | Test of resourcefulness: to get melon out of jar without breaking it. Melon is planted in jar made of unbaked clay. Jar is wrapped in a wet cloth so that it collapses. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H506.5 | Test of resourcefulness: to swing seventy girls until they are tired. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H506.1 | Test of resourcefulness: weighing elephant. Man puts him on boat; marks water-line; fills boat with stones until it sinks to same line; weighs stones. *Chauvin VIII 97 No. 68 n. 1. |
| H506 | Test of resourcefulness. |
| H1573.6 | Test of righteousness. |
| H41.8 | Test of royalty: ability to sow, reap, and winnow rice in one day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1571 | Test of sensitiveness. (For details see F647.) *BP III 238; Penzer VII 10ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 64; Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 120. |
| H1578.1.4 | Test of sex of girl masking as man: ball thrown into lap. Girls spread legs to catch it; men not. Fb "kvinde" II 339a. |
| H1578.1.3 | Test of sex of girl masking as man: choosing flowers. Girl will choose a carnation; man a rose. Sicilian: Gonzenbach No. 17. |
| H1578.1.5 | Test of sex of girl masking as man: nuts and apples offered. Men put them in their shirts, girls into their handkerchiefs. *BP II 58; Bolte Wickram's Rollwagenbüchlein 384 n. 2; FL I 133, 354; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 92b. n. 6. |
| H1578.1.1 | Test of sex of girl masking as man: peas spread on floor. Men tread firmly; women slip. BP II 57 n. 2; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 92b. n. 6; *Zachariae Kleine Schriften 58. |
| H1578.1.2 | Test of sex of girl masking as man: spinning wheel brought. Men take no notice; women interested. BP II 57 n. 2. |
| H1578.1.6 | Test of sex of girl masking as man: warned by a parrot, she picks only one flower. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1578.1 | Test of sex of girl masking as man. BP II 57f., III 236; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 6; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1578.2 | Test of sex of man masking as girl: arms placed among baskets and war-trumpet sounded. Man snatches arms. Greek: * Frazer Apollodorus II 74 n. 1. |
| H1578.1.4.2 | Test of sex of man masking as girl: jumping over pit (only man succeeds). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1578 | Test of sex: to discover person masking as of other sex. *Dh I 329; Köhler in Gonzenbach II 216 No. 17. |
| H1575.1 | Test of sight: stepping stones. Captives re-blinded if they cross stepping-stones without stumbling. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H263 | Test of sin. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1576.2 | Test of skill for a fakir: heating iron and passing it through hands without burning them. |
| H504 | Test of skill in handiwork. Types 653, 654, 660; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Vai): Ellis 193 No. 11. |
| H1563 | Test of skill. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1573.5 | Test of steadfastness of love for God: though warned in dream man refuses to part with sacred stone. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1562.3 | Test of strength: breaking heavy glass bottle over loaf of rye bread. *Fb "flaske" I 309. |
| H1562.6 | Test of strength: breaking spirited horse. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1562.8 | Test of strength: breaking witch's back. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1562.1.1 | Test of strength: cutting tree with one stroke. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1562.5 | Test of strength: heavy stone flung at boaster; he throws it back. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1562.2 | Test of strength: lifting stone (fireplace, etc.) English: Wells 59 (The Turke and Gowin), 114 (Sir Isumbras); Icelandic: *Boberg; Danish: Schmidt DF XXXIX 55. |
| H1562.2.1 | Test of strength: lifting sword. Chinese: Graham. |
| H1562.4 | Test of strength: prodigious jump. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1562.11 | Test of strength: pulling in two iron bars passing through hole. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1562.1 | Test of strength: pulling up tree by roots. See all references to F621. |
| H1562.10 | Test of strength: pushing out heavy ferry. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1562.13 | Test of strength: shooting through seven iron plates with arrow. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H1562.9 | Test of strength: wrestling. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1562 | Test of strength. *Type 650; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H317.4 | Test of suitor's love and endurance by constant postponing. Icelandic: Ragnars saga Loрbr. 127—29, Boberg. |
| H1568 | Test of the champion. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H251 | Test of truth by magic object. |
| H485 | Test of unknown father: gold on street. Princess has gold put on street leading to her. The man who rides over the gold-covered street without noticing is the father of her child. Köhler-Bolte I 56. |
| H1561.5 | Test of valor worthy for kingship: taking possession of royal insignia placed between two ferocious lions. Chauvin II 183 No. 24. |
| H1561.7 | Test of valor: attack by warrior and hound. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1561.6 | Test of valor: fight with giant. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H1561.3 | Test of valor: not flinching under a blow. Kittredge Gawain 7ff.; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1561.4 | Test of valor: rousing servant's anger. Nobleman, when examining servants for hire, bids each stand before him and comb his long beard. Occasionally he snaps at them as if to bite them. Those who dodge he lets go; those who offer fight he employs. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 862. |
| H472.1 | Test of wife's ability to keep secret: the buried sheep's head. Husband tells her that he is burying head of murdered man. She is to keep secret. She tells. When head is dug up it is sheep's head. *T. Zachariae Zs. f. Vksk. XXXII—XXXIV 77; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 220ff., 224 n. 1; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 25, 275; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H472 | Test of wife's ability to keep secret. Jewish: Neuman. |
| H465 | Test of wife's endurance. Haughty princess married to beggar and must endure poverty and menial work. *Type 900; BP I 443ff.; *Philippson FFC L 34ff.; *Fb "tigge" III 793b; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 10. |
| H473.5 | Test of wife's obedience: decorating house. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H473.1 | Test of wife's obedience: finger in hole. Disobedient wife puts her finger into the hole where her husband has fixed sharp nails. Herbert III 18; Crane Vitry 226 No. 228; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 318. |
| H473.3 | Test of wife's obedience: not to eat leeks. Although she does not like them, she immediately begins to want them. Herbert III 24; Crane Vitry 258 No. 284; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 317. |
| H473.2 | Test of wife's obedience: the one command. Upon his wife's insistence that he test her by giving one command the husband tells her not to go into the oven while he is away. She does so and oven falls on her. Herbert III 19; *Crane Vitry 231 No. 236; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 318; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| H473 | Test of wife's obedience. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H461 | Test of wife's patience. Griselda. Children stolen and attendance at wedding to another demanded. *Type 887; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXXV—XXXVI 290; Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Geduldsprüfung"; **H. Siefkin Das geduldige Weib in der englischen Literatur bis auf Shakespeare (Leipzig, 1903); *Loomis White Magic 118; *Laserstein; Ilse von Stach Griseldis (1922); Köhler-Bolte II 501, 534; *Fb "Griselda" IV 486a; Huet 66; *Cate Studies in Philology XXIX 389ff.; *Hibbard Medieval Romance in Eng. 289 n. 9; Philippson FFC 1 48ff.—Italian Novella: *Rotunda. Cf. also Types 712, 881, 900. |
| H501.1 | Test of wisdom: wise man sends ruler magic gems. Ruler admires their beauty but neglects to inquire of their virtues. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H501 | Test of wisdom. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys, Penzer VI 74 n. |
| H1573.2.3 | Test of worthiness for bishop: plowing without plowshare. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1558.0.1 | Test of worthiness for friendship. |
| H1517 | Test: bite of poisonous snake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1531.1 | Test: dancing on sharp instruments. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1502 | Test: enduring hardship. Tested by making girl serve woman who has leprosy, etc. Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 43ff. No. 1. |
| H508 | Test: finding answer to certain question. Irish myth: Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H1515.3 | Test: food with thorns. Hero given food in which thorns are hidden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1408 | Test: going without fear through a wilderness filled with all manner of beasts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H522.2 | Test: guessing nature of certain plant. Plant came from scrapings of princesses' bodies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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