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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 |
|---|---|
| J0 | Acquisition and possession of wisdom. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J10 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from experience. |
| J11 | Shipwrecked shepherd distrusts the sea. He had formerly envied sailors. Wienert FFC LVI 75 (ET 407), 110 (ST 219); Halm Aesop No. 370. |
| J11.1 | Man bitten by snake fears snake-like rope. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J12 | Young ass avoids food eaten by animals before being slaughtered. Runs to his mother and asks to have all remains of the hog's food taken out. Wienert FFC LVI 72 (ET 374), 110 (ST 221); Chauvin III 51 No. 7. |
| J13 | Young sparrows have learned to avoid men. Sparrow quizzes his four young as to how to avoid danger from men. Their year of experience has taught them enough. BP III 239 (Gr. No. 157); Hervieux Fabulistes latins II 546 No. 70. |
| J14 | Old racehorse in mill laments vanity of youth. Wienert FFC LVI *72 (ET 365), 140 (ST 466); Babrius No. 29; Halm Aesop No. 174. |
| J15 | Serpent (bird) having injured man refuses reconciliation. He knows that neither can forget their injuries. Chauvin II 94 No. 43, 102 No. 62; Bødker Exempler 291 No. 47, 301 No. 67; Wienert FFC LVI *69 (ET 331), *127 (ST 352); Babrius No. 167; Jacobs Aesop 201 No. 6; Halm Aesop Nos. 96, 251, 350; cf. BP II 459; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J16 | Dove disregards experience and loses brood. Rebuilds her nest in the place where she has lost former brood. Chauvin II 83 No. 6; Bødker Exempler 274 No. 7, 306 No. 82; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J17 | Animal learns through experience to fear men. In spite of the warning of another animal he approaches man and is shot. *Type 157; BP II 96; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 47 No. 23; American Negro: Harris Nights 33 No. 7, 330 No. 57; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 262 No. 62. |
| J17.1 | Tiger, jackal, and bear each learn to fear man. They report him as head-thumper (he has beaten the tiger), turn-twister (he has swung jackal by tail), and top-tumbler (he has fallen out of tree on bear). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J18 | Wisdom acquired from beating. Incognito prince, beaten for his courtesy, realizes his folly and returns home. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21 | Counsels proved wise by experience. *Types 910A, 910B, 910C, 910D; *Cosquin études 85ff., 100ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J154 | Wise words of dying father. Counsel proved wise by experience. |
| J21.1 | "Consider the end": counsel proved wise by experience. Barber hired to cut king's throat sees on the bottom of the basin the words "Whatever you do, do wisely and think of the consequences." He drops the razor and confesses. *Type 910C; *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 20 No. 69; Alphabet No. 156; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 172, 283; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.2 | "Do not act when angry": counsel proved wise by experience. Man returns home and sees someone sleeping with his wife. Though he thinks it is a paramour, he restrains himself and finds that it is a newborn son. *Type 910B; Chauvin II 157; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. Cf. Wienert FFC LVI 37; Phaedrus III No. 10. |
| J21.2.1 | "Never attack anyone before unsheathing and returning sword three times": counsel proved wise by experience. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.2.2 | Sleep before committing suicide. After sleeping you will feel differently about suicide. Spanish: Childers. |
| J21.2.3 | "Do not draw your sword against the innocent": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.2.4 | "Do not uncover weapon in an assembly": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.2.5 | "Do not shed the blood of women": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.2.6 | "Control your anger at the beginning": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.3 | "Do not go where an old man has a young wife": counsel proved wise by experience. Discovers a murder in an inn. *Type 910B; Christiansen Norske Eventyr 115; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J21.4 | "Do not marry a girl from abroad": counsel proved wise by experience. *Type 910A; Christiansen Norske Eventyr 115; Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 52; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J21.5 | "Do not leave the highway": counsel proved wise by experience. Robbers encountered. *Type 910B; Scala Celi No. 788; Herbert III 99; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J21.5.1 | "Do not prefer a new road to an old one." Those who take the new one are killed by robbers. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.5.2 | "Take side road rather than main one where three roads meet": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.5.3 | "A way short yet long": counsel proved wise by experience. (Cf. J266.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| J21.6 | "Do not ask questions about extraordinary things": counsel proved wise by experience. Those who ask question killed. Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 169ff. (Gonzenbach No. 81); Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J21.7 | "Do not cross a bridge without dismounting from your horse"; counsel proved wise by experience. Man breaks leg. Type 910B; Wesselski Märchen 219 No. 32. |
| J21.8 | "Never wager more than a groat": counsel proved wise by experience. Man loses wife on wager. Wesselski Märchen 219 No. 32. |
| J21.8.1 | "Do not bet": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.9 | "Do not visit your friends often": counsel proved wise by experience. At last the man is treated shamefully. *Type 910A; Christiansen Norske Eventyr 115. |
| J21.9.1 | "Do not prolong a friendly visit." Guest stays so long that host gives him black bread instead of white. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 52; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J21.10 | "Do not lend out your horse": counsel proved wise by experience. Type 910A; Christiansen Norske Eventyr 115. |
| J21.11 | "Do not walk half a mile with a man without asking his name": counsel proved wise by experience. Man runs race unwittingly with his wife's paramour and loses his wife on the wager. (Cf. J21.8.) *Type 910B; Wesselski Märchen 219 No. 32. |
| J21.12 | "Rue not a thing that is past": counsel proved wise by experience. Man lets bird go and then, having listened to bird's false declaration that she had a precious gem in her body, he tries to climb a tree after her and falls. *BP IV 149 n. 2; Gaster Exempla 256 No. 390; *Paris Légendes du moyen âge 225ff.; *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 24; Alphabet No. 191; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 167. |
| J21.13 | "Never believe what is beyond belief": counsel proved wise by experience. Man believes when bird tells him that she has a precious gem in her body. (Cf. J21.12, K604.) *BP IV 149 n. 2; Alphabet No. 191; Gaster Exempla 256 No. 390; Paris Légendes du moyen âge 225ff.; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 167; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J21.14 | "Never try to reach the unattainable": counsel proved wise by experience. (Cf. K604.) *BP IV 149 n. 2; Alphabet No. 191; Gaster Exempla 256 No. 390; *G. Paris Légendes du moyen âge 225ff. |
| J21.15 | "If you wish to hang yourself, do so by the stone which I point out": counsel proved wise by experience. Father has left money which will fall out when the spendthrift son goes to hang himself in despair. "The Heir of Linne." *Type 910D; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 709; Chauvin V 133 No. 63, *VIII 94 No. 65; Child V 12f.; Clouston Tales II 53; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 2, Rotunda; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| J21.16 | "Go to Goosebridge": counsel proved wise by experience. Man with disobedient wife finds mules beaten there and made to cross bridge. Boccaccio Decameron IX No. 9 (*Lee 289); Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J21.17 | "Stay at church till mass is finished": counsel proved wise by experience. Delay saves youth from death. *Cosquin études 73ff.; Irish: Beal XXI 314, O'Suilleabhain 38; Icelandic: Boberg; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| J21.18 | "Do not trust the over-holy": counsel proved wise by experience. Wife so modest she will not travel with husband (adulteress); priest so pious he will not tread on worm (thief). Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas IV 22, 275, Neuman. |
| J21.19 | "Start your journey early in the day": counsel proved wise by experience. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 100, 304, Neuman. |
| J21.20 | "Prepare for night camp while it is still day": counsel proved wise by experience. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 100, 304, Neuman. |
| J21.21 | "Do not cross a swollen stream until it has run down": counsel proved wise by experience. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 100, 304, Neuman. |
| J21.22 | "Do not tell a secret to a woman": counsel proved wise by experience. Nouvelles de Sens No. 7; Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *911; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 100, 304, *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.23 | "Rise earlier": counsel proved wise by experience. Man seeking explanation for being in debt arises earlier and catches his servants stealing. (Cf. H588.1.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.24 | "Do not make a horse run down hill": counsel proved wise by experience. Horse breaks its neck. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 52; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J21.25 | "Do not keep bad company": counsel proved wise by experience. Breaking of father's first counsel causes the breaking of all the others. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.26 | "Don't be too greedy in making a trade": counsel proved wise by experience. Man refuses fifty ducats for horse. Horse suddenly dies. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.27 | "Do not adopt a child": counsel proved wise by experience. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *911; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.28 | "Do not trust a ruler who rules by reason alone": counsel proved wise by experience. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *911; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.29 | "Keep head dry, feet warm, and eat meat": counsel proved wise by experience. King recovers from illness. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.30 | "Never have to do with a woman unless wed to her": counsel proved wise by experience. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.31 | "Do not marry a woman before seeing her and finding her to be your equal": counsel proved wise by experience. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.32 | "Do not marry more than one woman". Man who wanted three, marries one and is weakened greatly. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J21.33 | "Bathe by yourself and not in the common bathing place": counsel proved wise by experience. Man forgets purse in bath house. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.34 | "Move stool before sitting on it": counsel proved wise by experience. Man thus saves self from falling into well. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.34.1 | "When in a strange place look about you": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.34.2 | "Do not sit on a bed without touching it first": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.35 | "Ruler should follow advice of majority" (not his own fancy): counsel proved wise by experience. Thus finds money on body of dead traveler. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.35.1 | "Neglect not what four or five people say": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.36 | "Do not go alone on journey": counsel proved wise by experience. Helpful crab saves from attack by crocodile. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.37 | "Do not take a woman's advice": counsel proved wise by experience. (Cf. J21.22.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.38 | "May God spare you from an evil man or evil woman." To teach a friend the wisdom of this greeting a man borrows money and then his creditor's coat from him. In court the lender is discredited. Spanish: Childers. |
| J21.39 | "Do not travel without money": counsel proved wise by experience. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.40 | Don't require honor from a strange country": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.41 | "Be cautious before allowing yourself to fall asleep in a strange place": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.41.1 | "Sleep not in an inn": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.41.2 | "A stranger does not close his eyes in sleep lest he close them in death": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.41.3 | "He who lies awake gains; he who sleeps loses": counsel proved wise by experience. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.42 | "Before eating food at a strange place throw some at an animal and watch": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.43 | "A country not examined in disguise will always be ruined": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.44 | "Lean upon no relation in the hour of distress": counsel proved wise by experience. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.45 | "Do not undertake to be an arbitrator without being asked": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.46 | "Do not make friends with a policeman (soldier)": counsel proved wise by experience. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.47 | "You can only call your wife your own so long as she is with you": counsel proved wise by experience. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.47.1 | "Do not send your wife for a long visit to her parents": counsel proved wise by experience. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.48 | "Don't do anything without investigation": counsel proved wise by experience. A purse full of money was found in dead man's pocket by gravedigger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.49 | "Never give a cup made of a single ruby as a present to the king": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.50 | "Idleness begets woe; work brings happiness": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.51 | "Do not stand and watch two people fighting": counsel proved wise by experience. Man does so and is called by both parties to depose in favor of both or he will be beheaded. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52 | Counsels proved wise by experience—miscellaneous. |
| J21.52.1 | Disciple who stays in a city where everything is sold at one price finds justice is not even there. (Cf. F769.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.2 | "Never be rude to a self-made man of low birth": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.3 | "Hardened clay is hard to mold": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.4 | "Never publish a man's sin if you can help it": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.5 | "Never dismiss and old servant for his first fault": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.6 | "When a man attacks you, kill him whether he be king or prince": counsel proved wise by experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.7 | Boy who says "I know" gets into all sort of difficulties; now says "I don't know." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.8 | "Nothing happens that does not work for one's good": counsel proved wise is experience. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J21.52.9 | "He who throws himself against a wave is overthrown by it": proved true. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J22 | Precepts of the lion to his sons. Only the younger keeps them and is successful. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 20. |
| J22.1 | Precept of the lion to his sons: beware of man. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 20; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J22.2 | Precept of the lion to his sons: honor the woods. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 20. |
| J22.3 | Precept of the lion to his sons: keep peace with the neighbors. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 20. |
| J23 | Merchants try honesty for a year and find that it pays. So advised by priest when they said that they could not do business without dishonesty. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 394; Irish: Beal XXI 307, O'Suilleabhain 25. |
| J24 | Fools learn to be peaceable. Two fools in the habit of striking people are brought together when they strike each other until they appreciate the value of peace. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 38. |
| J25 | Why great man plays with children. This is to be learned only when one has children himself. Anecdote of Agesilaus. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 738. |
| J26 | Enemies can be won more by kindness than cruelty. Romans learn this by experience. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J27 | Man learns the fear of Death by meeting Life. Life (old woman) beheads him and replaces his head backwards. Simpleton left in fear for hours before head is readjusted. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J30 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from inference. |
| J31 | Encounter with clever children (woman) dissuades man from visit. On way to a city meets children and they are so clever that he turns back home, fearing how clever their parents must be. *Wesselski Gonnella 118 No. 15, *Hodscha Nasreddin II 227 No. 481; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| J31.1 | Cleverness of men disguised as peasants dissuades rivals from dispute. Wise men of two rival cities engage in dispute. One delegation disguises as peasants and debates with their adversaries. Latter withdraw fearing how clever the educated must be if their peasants are so learned. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J32 | Arrow as man's message shows lion how terrible man himself must be. Wienert FFC LVI 67 (ET 316), 122 (ST 312); Babrius No. 1; Halm Aesop No. 403; BP II 99. |
| J33 | Blind man who feels young wolf recognises his savage nature. Wienert FFC LVI 69 (ET 329), 122 (ST 314); Halm Aesop 57. |
| J34 | Odor of the wine cask. How fine wine must been been to leave so good an odor. Wienert FFC LVI 76 (ET 416), 122 (ST 313); Phaedrus III No. 1; Jacobs Aesop 220 No. 81. |
| J50 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from observation. |
| J51 | Sight of deformed witches causes man to release wife from spinning duty. They tell him that their deformity has come from too much spinning. *Type 501; *BP I 109ff. (Gr. No. 14); **Von Sydow Tvе Spinnsagor. |
| J52 | King observes retaliation among animals: becomes just. Dog breaks fox's foot; man breaks dog's; horse breaks man's leg; horse steps in hole and breaks his. Chauvin II, 116 No. 93. |
| J52.1 | Understanding of universality of death from watching animals prey on one another. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J52.2 | King descends to bottom of sea in glass barrel to learn wisdom from observing fish. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J53 | Army saved from ambush by observation of birds' movements. Birds fly from part of woods in which ambushed men lie. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 541; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| J55 | Ruler learns lesson from the example of an exiled king. Rewards the exile rather than a successful merchant. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J56 | Unscrupulous conduct of business learned from observation of usurer's own practices and used against him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J56.1 | Ruler learns lesson from seeing city governed by king as uncharitable as he. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J61 | Hare instructs his sons to use their eyes to advantage. Type 72*. |
| J62 | Observation of dying people for a year takes man's thoughts from lust. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 265. |
| J64 | Ducklings take to water from instinct. Bridegroom thus brought to understand bride's expertness in lovemaking. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J65 | Birds having learned their possible dangers are forced from nest by mother. Nouvelles Récréations No. 87. |
| J67 | Drops of water make hollow in stone: thus repeated impressions penetrate mind. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J67.1 | Lazy pupil determines to be more diligent by watching man building home one wattle at a time, and seeing how water fills hole one drop at a time. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J80 | Wisdom (knowledge) taught by parable. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Bødker Exempler 272 No. 1; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J80.1 | Three thousand parables of Solomon. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J80.1.1 | Solomon proves to his mother the inferiority of woman's wisdom. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *920B. |
| J80.2 | Minister taught by parable to make obeisance to the new king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J81 | The dishes of the same flavor. Man thus shown that one woman is like another and dissuaded from his amorous purpose. *Basset 1001 Contes II 25; *Wesselski Märchen 209; Boccaccio Decameron I No. 5 (Lee 17), Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *981; Russian: Andrejev No. *981 (II); Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J81.0.1 | Monotony of restriction to one's favorite food. Counselor refuses to arrange extramarital pleasures for his lord. Ruler feeds him only his favorite food until the counselor protests the monotony. Ruler drives home his point. Italian Novella: Rotunda, Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 10. |
| J81.1 | Society is like a dish: must be properly mixed. Plates having salt, pepper, fish, etc. not edible without mixing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J81.2 | To each his appropriate food. Woman gives morsel of various foods to each guest, with explanation. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J81.3 | Parable comparing canons to a stew made of their individual meals. Nouvelles Récréations No. 3. |
| J82 | Priest walks in the mud. Congregation follows evil ways of priest. He walks in mud but they will not follow him. He thus shows them the folly of following his evil ways. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 68. |
| J83 | The gray and the black hairs: enemies reconciled. Duke summons two inveterate enemies. Has them tear out one of his hairs, one a gray, the other a black. Both pain him equally. He shows how their quarrels hurt him. They are reconciled. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 401. |
| J84 | Picking up water thrown on ground no harder than the undoing of slander. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 98 No. 836G*. |
| J85 | Chair over fiery pit as figure of precariousness of life. Wesselski Mönchslatein 94 No. 78; Alphabet No. 685. |
| J86 | Rocks falling together and thread entering needle's eye suggest sexual intercourse: hence its beginning. Chinese: Graham. |
| J87 | Men shamed for their cowardice by woman standing naked before them. (Usually connected with Jus Primae Noctis [T161]). Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 83f.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *2429. |
| J88 | Wisdom taught by parable: cloud which gives rain to thirsting crops or drops it in ocean. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J91 | Monk shames accuser by telling parable. Wind, Water, and Modesty (Sense of Shame). The first two give their addresses but the third says she has no address as no one wants her. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J92 | Boy saves life by showing father foolishness of plowing up his crop. Father has been persuaded to kill child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J94 | Difficulty of thinking of God when occupied with worldly affairs. Shown by test: holy man made to carry milk without spilling. So occupied he forgets to think of God. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J95 | Fool digs holes in edge of road. Only those departing from straight path will fall in. Truth of principle later seen. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J96 | Man kills nest of ants: so God punishes man. (Cf. J225.0.4.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J97 | Lotus flower flourishes as long as it is in water: king should not leave castle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J98 | Stones shaken in jar: difficulty in learning many dialects. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J99 | Wisdom (knowledge) taught by parable. |
| J99.1 | Relative pleasures of sexes in love taught by parable. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J99.2 | Father bequeathes four pots to sons: eldest finds earth in his; second, bones; third, rice husks; youngest, rupees (eldest to get land; second, cattle; third, grain; youngest to keep money). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J100 | Wisdom (knowledge) taught by necessity. |
| J101 | Crow drops pebbles into water jug so as to be able to drink. Wienert FFC LVI 64 (ET 272), 106 (ST 186, 246); Jacobs Aesop 213 No. 55. |
| J102 | Bear learns how to catch crabs with his hairy claws. Wienert FFC LVI 63 (ET 263), 106 (ST 185). |
| J120 | Wisdom learned from children. *Chauvin VIII 62 No. 27; Penzer I 186. |
| J121 | Ungrateful son reproved by naпve action of his own son: preparing for old age. Man gives his old father half a carpet to keep him warm. Child keeps the other half and tells his father that he is keeping it for him when he grows old. *Bédier Fabliaux 463f.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 436, 760; Crane Vitry 260 No. 288; Herbert III 25; *BP II 135, IV 172 n. 14; Scala Celi No. 530; *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 41.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *996; Russian: Andrejev No. *982; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 256f. No. 201; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| J121.1 | Ungrateful son reproved by naпve action of his own son: preparing for old age (wooden drinking cup or bowl). Spanish: Childers; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J121.2 | Undutiful son rebuked by father. Father tells son not to drag him past the threshold, because he had dragged his own father only up to that point when he had thought of putting him out of his house. Spanish: Childers. |
| J122 | Naпve remark of child: "You forgot to strike mother." A father in habit of beating his wife remarks that he has forgot something. The child says, "I know. You forgot to strike mother." Wesselski Mönchslatein 170 No. 133. |
| J122.1 | Seducer about to seduce mother of child refrains when child wisely remarks that he is sad because his father has left his mother exposed to such dangers. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J123 | Wisdom of child decides lawsuit. King in disguise sees child's game which represents the case. *Wesselski "Der Knabenkönig und das kluge Mädchen" (Sudetendeutsche Zs. f. Vksk. [1930] Beiheft 1) passim; *Chauvin V 86 No. 26 n. 1; DeVries FFC LXXIII 323ff.; Scala Celi No. 895; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| J123.1 | Clever prince overrules seemingly just decisions of king. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J124 | Learning the virtue of patience from children. When their meals are stolen, they quietly search for them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J125 | Parents's misdeeds innocently betrayed by children. Italian Novella: Rotunda; West Indies: Flowers 474. |
| J125.1 | The wine needs no further water. Guests asks small daughter of innkeeper for water to put into his wine. She says, "You will not have to do that for mother poured a whole tubful into the cask today." *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 374. |
| J125.2 | Adulteress betrayed by little child's remark. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J125.2.1 | Child unwittingly betrays his mother's adultery. Tells father not to step across chalk line drawn around secretary; if he does secretary may do to him what he did to Mother the other day. Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 23. |
| J130 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from animals. |
| J132 | Mouse teaches her child to fear quiet cats but not noisy cocks. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 530. |
| J133 | Animal gives wise example to man. Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J133.1 | One wild goat steps over another. They thus pass each other uninjured on a cliff. This shows advantage of peaceableness. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 403. |
| J133.2 | Ass refuses to drink after it has had enough. Thus teaches lesson to master. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 239. |
| J133.3 | Trained deer drinks wine till he breaks his leg but thereafter abstains. Thus teaches lesson to master. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 240. |
| J133.4 | Woman will not follow donkey on safe path: attacked by robbers. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 630. |
| J133.5 | Squirrel tries to dip out lake with his tail: difficulty of reforming the world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J133.6 | Big fish eat little: robber will plunder weak neighbors. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 12. |
| J134 | Animal behavior teaches man what to avoid. |
| J134.1 | Cock's second mate lets her stepchildren starve: woman warns husband accordingly. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J135 | Departing animal gives man counsels. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J136 | Crow inspects the three worlds in search of happiness. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J137 | Wisdom learned from example of insects. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J140 | Wisdom (knowledge) through education. |
| J141 | Youth educated by seven sages. **Campbell Sages. |
| J142 | Lack of proper education regretted. |
| J142.1 | House dog blames master for teaching him lazy habits. Wienert FFC LVI 60 (ET 229), 145 (ST 502); Halm Aesop No. 217. |
| J142.2 | Man blames master for not correcting him in youth. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 315. |
| J143 | Untrained colt result of master's neglect. Wienert FFC LVI 71 (ET 361), 129 (ST 371); Halm Aesop No. 51. |
| J144 | Well-trained kid does not open to wolf. *Type 123; Wienert FFC LVI 63 (ET 262), 145 (ST 506, 535); *BP I 37; Dh IV 277f. |
| J145 | Hostile dogs made friendly by having them fight common enemy, the wolf. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 400; Jewish: Neuman. |
| J146 | Educated men as choice company. |
| J146.1 | King prefers educated men as company. Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 95, 98, 106. |
| J147 | Child confined to keep him in ignorance of life. Useless. *Chauvin III 97 No. 1; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J150 | Other means of acquiring wisdom (knowledge). |
| J151 | Wisdom from old person. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J151.1 | Wisdom of hidden old man saves kingdom. In famine all old men are ordered killed. One man hides his father. When all goes wrong in the hands of the young rulers, the old man comes forth, performs assigned tasks, and aids with his wisdom. Type 981*; *Anderson FFC XLII 182 n. 1; *DeVries FFC LXXIII 220ff.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 446, cf. No. 538; Fb "gammel" IV 174a; Scala Celi No. 281; *Paudler FFC CXXI.—Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *995; Russian: Andrejev No. 981*; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV No. 995*; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 910F*; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 115ff. No. 71. |
| J151.2 | Old men preferred as councillors. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 538. |
| J151.3 | Wisdom from god as old (one-eyed) man. Icelandic: Olrik Sakses Oldhistorie I (1892) 30, *Boberg. |
| J151.4 | Wisdom from old man: always say, "if it pleases God." Spanish: Childers. |
| J152 | Wisdom (knowledge) from sage (teacher). Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J152.1 | Cynical philosopher lives in tub. Chauvin IX 35 No. 27; Scala Celi No. 103; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J152.2 | Advice from dervish. Malone PMLA XLIII 400. |
| J152.3 | Philosopher instructs youth regarding conduct. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J152.4 | Philosopher consoles woman for loss of son. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J152.5 | Wisdom from philosopher: give separate greetings to infants, youths, and old people. Spanish: Childers. |
| J152.6 | Wisdom from philosopher: worldly honor like shadow. If one goes toward it, it flees; if one turns his back on it, it follows and at times catches up with one. Spanish: Childers. |
| J153 | Wisdom from holy man. Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J153.1 | Holy man's prayer reforms rich man. Holy man prays, "May God bless everything here that is good but cause to disappear all that is bad." Everything disappears. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 199; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J153.2 | Hermit explains why anger is sin. Nouvelles de Sens No. 20. |
| J154.0.1 | Wise words of father. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J154.1 | Dying saint leaves wise message to followers. Message is cryptic, but is finally made clear. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J155 | Wisdom (knowledge) from women. Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J155.1 | Hero directed on journey by princess. Malone PMLA XLIII 401. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J155.1.1 | Serpent directed on journey by his beautiful wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J155.2 | King has amours with great men's wives so as to learn secrets from them. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 505. |
| J155.3 | Caesar's scorn of his wife's advice leads to disaster. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 445. |
| J155.4 | Wife as adviser. (Cf. J21.37.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J155.5 | Wife of usurer saves husband through her prayers. Nouvelles de Sens No. 26. |
| J155.6 | Wise words of dying woman (queen). (Cf. J154.) Icelandic: Völsunga saga ch. 33 (31); Þiðriks saga II 254—56, Boberg. |
| J155.7 | Knowledge from mysterious women met in the forest. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 218ff.; *Boberg. |
| J155.8 | Wisdom from harlot to a king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J156 | Wisdom from fools. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 610; Irish myth: Cross. |
| J156.1 | Wisdom from fool: make peace before rather than after the war. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 39. |
| J156.2 | Wisdom from fool: absurdity of tight-rope walker's performance. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 40. |
| J156.3 | Wisdom from fool: the present returned. Nobleman gives fool a present; he is to give it to no one who is not a greater fool. Master is dying; doctor tells fool that master is going to take long journey. Since master is making no preparation, fool gives him the present. Master thus brought to repentance. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 45. |
| J156.4 | Wisdom from fool: heaven refused. Fool says he does not want to go to heaven for he wants to stay with his master, who everyone says is going to hell. Master repents. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 46. |
| J157 | Wisdom (knowledge) from dream. Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J157.0.1 | Deity appears in dream and gives instructions or advice. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J157.1 | Wisdom from dream: the leper with the cup of water. Man in dream willing to receive sacrament from unworthy priest. Wesselski Mönchslatein 98 No. 80; Alphabet No. 687. |
| J157.2 | Fate of parents revealed in dream. Mother shown in Hell; father in Heaven. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J157.3 | Dream advises against the popularizing of science. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J158 | Wisdom from angel. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J158.1 | Solomon pays heed to angel's warning. Rules wisely. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J161 | Trial rehearsed before stick in the ground as judge. Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 62 (Gonzenbach No. 8). |
| J162 | Wisdom acquired by hanging in a tree. *BP III 192. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| J163 | Wisdom purchased. |
| J163.1 | Man buys a pennyworth of wit. Nouvelles de Sens No. 6; English: Wells 179 (A Peniworth of Witte); West Indies: Flowers 474. |
| J163.2 | Man to bring wife a purseful of sense. *Bédier Fabliaux 451. |
| J163.2.1 | Fool is told to get a pottle of brains. He tries to buy them. He finally learns that advice was to marry a clever girl. England: Baughman. |
| J163.3 | One eye exchanged for wisdom. (Odin.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J163.4 | Good counsels bought. *Types 910A, 910B; *Fb "rеd"; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 229. |
| J164 | Wisdom from God. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J165 | Tree of knowledge. Dh I 212ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J166 | Wisdom from books. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J166.1 | Wisdom from books bought at great price. (Sibylline). Nine books first offered at certain price. Finally after this is refused and the owner throws six of them into the fire, the king pays the same price for three of them. Finds them filled with wisdom. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 588. |
| J166.2 | Wisdom from books of the antediluvians. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J167 | Wisdom from continual reminder of foolishness in the past. Unjust judge skinned and his skin stretched over a footstool kept in the presence of judges, so as to remind them to be just. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 118; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J168 | Inscription on walls for condensed education. Chauvin VIII 34 No 1. |
| J171 | Proverbial wisdom: counsels. (Cf. B82.6.) Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 213f., 216ff., 248f.; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J171.1 | Counsel: if you take it you will be sorry; if you don't you will also be sorry. This advice given hero by helpful horse. *Köhler-Bolte I 468f., 542. |
| J171.2 | King questions six doctors. |
| J171.2.1 | King questions six doctors: what do you like best of all on earth? That man has not what he wishes to have. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 107. |
| J171.2.2 | King questions six doctors: what do you like best of all on earth? That all joys are mixed with sorrow. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 107. |
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