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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 |
|---|---|
| M0 | Judgments and decrees. |
| M1 | Senseless judicial decisions. *Chauvin VIII 203 No. 245. |
| M2 | Inhuman decisions of king. Fansler MAFLS XII 137; Jewish: Neuman. |
| M2.1 | Inhuman decision of king: sends man's sons to certain death and then murders man. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M4 | Deity settles disputes between races. Africa (Fang): Trilles 142. |
| M10 | Irrevocable judgments. |
| M11 | Irrevocable judgment causes judge to suffer first. Has decreed that no one enter a meeting armed. He forgets to remove his sword. Kills himself. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 353; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M12 | Irrevocable sentence carried out even when innocence is proved. A knight condemned for murdering his comrade is met by the latter on the way to the gallows. A centurion leads them to the emperor, who condemns all three to death: first because he has been sentenced; second for causing by his absence the conviction of his comrade; third for delay in the execution. Oesterley No. 140; Herbert III 208. |
| M13 | Sentence applied to king's own son. Those caught in adultery are to have eyes put out. When king's son is found guilty he insists on the punishment. He finally compromises by having one of his own and one of his son's eyes put out. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 226; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| M13.1 | Ruler has son beheaded for rape. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M13.2 | Captain hangs own son for violating order not to enter enemy city. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M13.3 | Gardener made king by minister decides against him in law case and returns lands to plaintiff. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M14 | Irrevocable judgment of king upheld. King leaves laws that must be kept until his death. Years later he has his bones sent back to that land to let people know that he is dead and they are free. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M20 | Short-sighted judgments. |
| M21 | King Lear judgment. A king flattered by his elder daughters and angered by the seeming indifference, though real love, of the youngest, banishes the youngest and favors the elder daughters. Type 510; BP II 47, III 305; *Cox Nos. 208—226; *Hartland FLJ IV 308; *Oesterley No. 273; Herbert III 201; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 183 No. 124. |
| M50 | Other judgments and decrees. |
| M51 | Decree that hero must wed only a virgin. English: Wells 22 (Sir Beues of Hamtoun). |
| M55 | Judgment: pardon given if hero produces the lady about whom he has boasted. English: Wells 132 (Sir Launfal). |
| M56 | Judgment: thief to be pardoned if he can steal king's treasure without being caught. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M90 | Judgments and decrees—miscellaneous motifs. |
| M91 | Virgin Mary reverses judgments of church. *Ward II 638 No. 5, 651 No. 4, 668 No. 15, 682 No. 21, 704 No. 42, 722 No. 30 and passim; Irish: Beal XXI 315, O'Suilleabhain 41. |
| M92 | Decision left to first person to arrive. Type 613; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 604b n. 31ff.; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 118, Beal XXI 335; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M93 | Deity grants woman two sons, one to be wise and ugly and the other a fool and handsome. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 964. |
| M100 | Vows and oaths. *Penzer X 355 s.v. "vow"; *Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 659ff.; *Encyc. Rel. Ethics IX 430ff.; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 198ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; Jewish *Neuman. |
| M101 | Punishment for broken oaths. Kristensen Danske Sagn VI (1) (1900) 33ff., (1936) 18ff.; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M101.1 | False swearer not allowed to approach altar. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 485. |
| M101.2 | Broken oaths cause of maimed people. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 487. |
| M101.3 | Death as punishment for broken oath. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M101.3.1 | Death caused by elements (exposure, drowning, etc.) as punishment for broken oath. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M101.3.2 | Man offers to sacrifice bangles if he is given a son; when he takes bangles back, son dies. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M101.4 | Broken oath causes girl's hand to wither. (Cf. D2062.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M101.5 | Punishment for broken oath: loss of the inheritance of earth or heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M105 | Equivocal oaths. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M106 | Escape from vengeance caused by broken oaths. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M107 | Vow fulfilled in next existence. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1221. |
| M108 | Violators of oaths. |
| M108.1 | Babylonians do not keep their oaths. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M110 | Taking of vows and oaths. |
| M110.1 | Swearing while one knows that his oath is rendered valueless. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M110.2 | Oath is valid only when decreed in presence of ten. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M110.3 | Oath uttered by pious when in danger of succumbing to temptation. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M111 | Oaths taken over severed pieces of horse. Pieces are then buried. Greek: Fox 25. |
| M112 | Oath taken on ring. Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 67; Brumer Deutsche Rechtsgeschichte I 258; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M113 | Oath taken on arms. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M113.1 | Oath taken on sword. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 20; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 197; Jewish: Neuman. |
| M114 | Oath taken on sacred object. Jewish: Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M114.1 | Oath on sacred book. |
| M114.1.1 | Oath by Tora. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M114.2 | Oath taken on holy stone. (Cf. M119.5.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M114.3 | Vows taken on holy swine. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M114.4 | Swearing on sacred relics. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M114.5 | Taking oath on cowdung. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M114.6 | Oath by touching sacred thread. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M115 | Only one oath binding. It must be by so and so or else it is worthless. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV Nos. 6, 8, V No. 4. |
| M115.1 | Three-fold oath. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M115.1.1 | Oath so heavy it dries up stream; oath so great it splits the rock in twain; oath so violent it makes the tree wither. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M116 | Oath taken on hand of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M116.0.1 | Swearing on hand of king. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M116.1 | Swearing by saint's bachall. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M116.2 | Swearing by saint's bell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M117 | Vow to perform certain act unless cataclysm occurs. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M118 | Swearing on a skull. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M119 | Taking of vows and oaths—miscellaneous. |
| M119.1 | Swearing by the elements: sun, moon, stars, wind. Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Argonautica III 689, Odyssey V 185. |
| M119.1.1 | Oath by River Styx. Greek: Grote I 56f. |
| M119.2 | Swearing by (clan) gods. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M119.3 | Vows taken as an old Norse custom at the festival of Yule. Icelandic: Cleasby and Vigfússon Icel.— Eng. Dict. (1874) 853 s.v. "heitstrenging"; Lagerholm 18, *Boberg. |
| M119.4 | Vows taken by placing one's foot on a certain post in the hall. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M119.5 | Swearing on a stone. (Cf. M114.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| M119.6 | Swearing by "the Seven Things which they serve." Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M119.7 | Oath by placing hand on genitals. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M119.8 | Oath taken by the life of a person. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M119.8.1 | Swearing by one's father and mother. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M119.8.2 | Swearing by life of father. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M120 | Vows concerning personal appearance. |
| M121 | Vow not to shave or cut hair until a certain time. *BP II 431ff.; A. Bugge "Harald Haarfagres løfte" Edda VII 166; Helm Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte I 301; Eitrem Opferritus und Voropfer (Skrifter Vidensk. Selsk. i Oslo No. 1, 1914) 400; Frazer Golden Bough III 194; Kruyt Het Animisme 33; FFC LXXXIII xxiv. — Irish: O'Suilleabhain 24, 45, Beal XXI 307, 316; Icelandic: *Boberg; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 308 No. 39; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 53 No. 400B*; Greek: Roscher Lexikon s.v. "Achilleus"; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M122 | Vow: woman not to bind hair till enemy is conquered. Alphabet No. 529. |
| M125 | Vow not to change clothes till a certain time. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 53 No. 400B*. |
| M126 | Vow not to wash till a certain time. Greek: Iliad XXIII 49. |
| M130 | Vows concerning sex. (Cf. M151.2, M152.) |
| M131 | Vow of chastity. Penzer I 67; Wesselski Mönchslatein 142 No. 117; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: *Grote I 162f. |
| M132 | Vow of virginity. Penzer III 40. |
| M133 | Vow: man will love only a virgin. Malone PMLA XLIII 427. |
| M134 | Prince vows to marry no woman unless he can beat her daily. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M135 | Vow never to remarry. Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M136 | Vow not to marry till iron shoes wear out. Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 71 (to Gonzenbach No. 32); *Roberts 137. |
| M137 | Vow never to be jealous of one's wife. Wells 64 (The Avowynge of King Arthur, etc.); Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M137.1 | Woman requires husband free from jealousy. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M138 | Vow to marry first person performing certain act. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M138.1 | Vow to marry off two daughters to first two men father looks at on the following morning. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M141 | Vow never to strive against a woman. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M142 | Vow never to carry a woman. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M145 | Vow to wed no man who cannot perform certain feat. |
| M145.1 | Vow to wed no man who fears to saddle and mount a lion. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M146 | Vow to marry a certain woman. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M146.1 | Vow to marry queen of fairies and not to eat or drink inside kingdom until this is done. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M146.2 | Boy vows to marry none but girl born under the same circumstances as he. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M146.3 | Vow that magically conceived children shall marry (or be friends). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M146.4 | Brother and sister arrange marriage of their unborn children to each other. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M146.5 | Vow to marry none but daughter of certain man. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M146.7 | Vow of enemy chief to marry princess of besieged city. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M149 | Vows concerning sex—miscellaneous. |
| M149.1 | Lovers vow to marry only each other. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M149.2 | Vow to die rather than marry unwelcome suitor. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M149.3 | Vow to kill more successful rival. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M149.4 | Quarreling prince and princess vow that if they are married he will desert her on the wedding day and she will make him eat boiled rice and thin broth for six months. It so happens. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M149.5 | Oath to marry daughters only into family with bridegroom for each daughter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M149.6 | Vow to get stubborn girl half-married only. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M149.7 | Vow only to marry daughter to the man who kills snake by her house. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M150 | Other vows and oaths. |
| M151 | Vow not to eat before hearing of adventure. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight § 5; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M151.1 | Vow not to eat before learning secret. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M151.2 | Vow not to marry until quest is concluded. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M151.2.1 | Vow not to reign and to starve to death unless picture's original is found. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M151.3 | Vow not to take food or drink until manner of father's death is learned. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M151.4 | Vow not to take food or drink until enemy is killed. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| M151.5 | Vow not to eat or sleep until certain event is brought to pass. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M151.5.1 | Vow not to eat, drink, or move from position until dead anchorite comes himself to accept necklace. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M151.6 | Vow not to eat or drink before knowing if king is alive. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M151.7 | Heroine will not laugh till arrival of destined hero. (Cf. H341.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| M151.8 | Vow not to eat until lost son is found. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M151.9 | Vow not to see friends until quest is completed. English romance: Malory XI 12. |
| M152 | Vow not to go to bed with wife till enemy is killed. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M152.1 | Vow not to kiss anybody until father is revenged. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M152.2 | Vow not to sit on father's high-seat until he is revenged. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M155 | Vow to perform act of prowess. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M155.1 | Vow to kill wild boar alone at night. Wells 64 (The Avowynge of King Arthur, etc.). |
| M155.2 | Vow to find vanished sister. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M155.3 | Vow never to flee from fire or weapon. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M156 | Vow to watch at frightful place all night. Wells 64 (The Avowynge of King Arthur). |
| M157 | Vow to ride the forest all night and slay all comers. Wells 64 (The Avowynge of King Arthur, etc.). |
| M158 | Vow never to refuse food to any man. Wells 64 (The Avowynge of King Arthur); Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M161 | Vow never to flee in fear of death. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M161.1 | Vow to attack (kill) the enemy or die. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M161.2 | Vow to revenge (king, friends, father) or die. English: Malory XX 10; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M161.3 | Vow to live and die with the king. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M161.4 | Vow rather to die (on a spear) than to accept grace. (Cf. M165.) Hdwb. d. Märchens II s.v. "Gnade ausbitten"; Icelandic: Ragnars saga Loрbr. 139-41, *Boberg. |
| M161.5 | Rather die than go in the enemy's service. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M161.6 | Rather die in battle than in bed. Icelandic: cf. MacCulloch Eddic 305ff., *Boberg. |
| M162 | Vow not to be killed by a single opponent. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M163 | Vow never to make a nocturnal assault. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M164 | Bard vows that none of his profession will make a request of any man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M165 | Vow to ask nobody for peace, grace. (Cf. M161.4.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M166 | Other vows about fighting. |
| M166.1 | Vow never to give more than one blow in a fight and never to beat a fallen enemy nor take his weapons. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M166.2 | Vow rather to be cut in pieces than permit oneself to be bound. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M166.3 | Vow to kill anyone who touches his beard. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M166.4 | Vow: never to fight with brother. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1019. |
| M166.5 | Oath not to fight relatives of king. English romance: Malory X 44. |
| M167 | Vow to serve only the most generous of all kings. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M168 | Vow not to devastate country or take revenge after release. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M168.1 | Vow not to deceive the man who spared one's life. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M171 | Vow never to accept a man who does not know any sport. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M172 | Vow not to touch certain thing. |
| M172.1 | Vow never to touch money and to give what anyone begs for. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M172.2 | Vow not to touch certain tree. Later cannot cross bridge made of this wood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M175 | Pledge to say but a single phrase. In carrying out this agreement the men innocently confess a crime. *Types 360, 1697; BP II 561ff.; Wesselski Mönchslatein 37 No. 44; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| M177 | Vow to change religion. |
| M177.1 | Vow to become a Christian. |
| M177.1.1 | King swears to become Christian if he wins battle. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M177.1.2 | Oath not to be christened until he has fought in seven battles for Jesus. English romance: Malory X 47. |
| M177.2 | Prince vows that he will always be servant of a goddess (Kali). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M182 | Vow not to enter any house before reaching one's own. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M183 | Religious vows. (Cf. M177.) |
| M183.1 | Vow to build shrine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M183.2 | Vow to bathe in the Ganges. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M183.3 | Vow to find Holy Grail before returning to Round Table. English romance: Malory XIII 7. |
| M183.4 | Vow to become monk should he escape execution. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 817. |
| M184 | Vow if queen bears another girl she and child will both be killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M184.1 | Vow that no daughter born to chief's wife will be allowed to live until she bears a son. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 526. |
| M185 | Vow to abide by laws. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M186 | Vow never to pass over demarcation line into other's property. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M187 | Oath to abide by results of lot drawing. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M188 | Oath not to mention what has been seen. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M192 | Vow to put to death every king that comes his way unless engaged in marrying a lady at the time he sees them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M193 | Vow to destroy kingdom by austerities. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M200 | Bargains and promises. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M201 | Making of bargains and promises. |
| M201.0.1 | Bargain with God (by holy man). Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M201.0.1.1 | Covenant between Israel and God. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| M201.0.2 | Covenant between heathen and Israelites. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M201.1 | Blood covenant. Contract written (or signed) with blood. Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 272ff., 1026; *Wilken Verspreide Geschriften I 539ff.; *W. Robertson Smith Religion of the Semites@3 270ff.; *Penzer I 98 n.; *Fb "skrive"; "blod" IV 47b; ** H. C. Turmbull The Blood Covenant (London, 1887). — Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "sang", "pacte"; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M201.1.1 | Blood of contractors mixed to seal bargain. Irish myth: *Cross; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 268. |
| M201.1.2 | Pact with devil signed in blood. (Theophilus.) (Cf. M211.) Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 64; Scala Celi 9a, 135b Nos 58, 749; Wünsche Teufel 55f.; England, U.S.: Baughman; Irish: Beal XXI 310 —312, O'Suilleabhain 33f.; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Argentina: Jijena Sanchez 80. |
| M201.2 | Covenant confirmed by eating together. Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 272ff.; U.S.: Baughman; Africa (Fang): Nassau 242 No. 9. |
| M201.3 | Spitting of all parties into vessel to seal bargain. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 53; England: Baughman. |
| M201.4 | Covenant between saints confirmed by cutting off their thumbs. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M201.5 | Covenant confirmed by marriage. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M201.6 | Covenant confirmed by hostages. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M202 | Fulfilling of bargain or promise. |
| M202.0.1 | Bargain or promise to be fulfilled at all hazards. English romance: Malory VIII 30; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M202.1 | Promise to be fulfilled when iron shoes wear out. *Cox Cinderella 508. |
| M202.2 | Man keeps word to return to enemy if his mission to his people fails. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M203 | King's promise irrevocable. Basil Pentamerone I No. 5; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 560. |
| M203.1 | King punishes one of his men who robs someone to whom the king has given safe conduct. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M203.2 | King kills self to carry out own promise. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M203.3 | King sells self and family into slavery to keep promise. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M204 | Demanding of promised boon postponed. |
| M204.1 | Demanding of promised boon postponed until an auspicious moment. Granted anything he may ask, the recipient waits to announce his choice. English romance: Malory VIII 15; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M205 | Breaking of bargains or promises. India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 561. |
| M205.0.1 | Promise kept in deed but not in spirit. English romance: Malory X 38. |
| M205.1 | Animal punishes broken promise. |
| M205.1.1 | Turtle carrying man through water upsets him because of a broken promise. Chinese: Werner 367. |
| M205.1.1.1 | Fish (whale) carrying man through water shakes him off when man strikes him with coconut. Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 252; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/600). |
| M205.1.2 | Cat witness to betrothal punishes violator. Kills the man's son when he has married a different woman. Hebrew: *bin Gorion Born Judas I 368. |
| M205.2 | Curse as punishment for broken promise. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M205.3 | A man who breaks his oath to a woman cannot be king with right. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| M205.4 | King breaks promise to care for man's family. Is caught trying to steal his money. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| M206 | Promise made merely as a matter of form not binding. |
| M206.1 | Host offers to send his guest a cask of the wine he has praised. Later refuses to send it as it was merely a "verba honoris". Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 308. |
| M207 | Land grants (bargains). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M208 | Price set on one's head. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| M210 | Bargain with devil. Types 310, 313A, 316, 360, 400, 425C, 441, 500, 502, 706, 710, 756B, 810—812, 1170—1199; BP II 164, 329f., 427, 561ff., III 12, *Andrejev FFC LXIX 222ff.; *Fb "djævel" IV 99a, "blod" IV 47b.—England, U.S.: Baughman; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 562. |
| M211 | Man sells soul to devil. (Faust, Theophilus.) Types 330, 360, 361, 756B, 810, 812, 1170-1199; *BP II 164, 427, 561ff., III 12; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 46, 50, 223, 227 n.; Lidzbarski Am Urds-Brunnen IV 59 n. 1; Scala Celi 9a, 112a, 135b Nos. 58, 625, 749; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 667; *Fb "sjæl" III 215a; Faligan RTP V 1; Alphabet Nos. 50, 467; *Ludorff Anglia VII 60ff.; *Loomis White Magic 112f.; *K. Bittner Die Faustsage im russischen Schrifttum (Reichenberg. i. B. [Prager Deutsche Studien No. 37], 1925); *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 34.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3400, Legends No. 757; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 49, 67 Nos. 330, 510, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 70-74, 83f.; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Argentina: Jijena Sanchez 74; N. A. Indian (Wampanoag): Knight JAFL XXXVIII 134, (Salinan): Mason U Cal X 196. |
| M211.1 | Man unwittingly sells soul to devil. He jestingly offers to sell his soul. Devil in disguise buys it. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 280; *Wesselski Märchen 245 No. 55. |
| M211.1.1 | Man goes to well at midnight on Old Christmas to see water turned into wine. Just as it turns into wine the devil takes him, or injures him. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M211.2 | Man sells soul to devil in return for devil's building house (barn, etc.). Wünsche Teufel 29-56 passim. |
| M211.3 | Man bequeaths soul to devil. U.S.: Baughman; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| M211.4 | Jews must repay devil's help by giving tribute of persons each year. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1867D*. |
| M211.5 | Formulas for selling one's soul to devil. England: Baughman. |
| M211.6 | Man sells soul to devil for visit home in boat that sails through sky. U.S.: Baughman. |
| M211.7 | Man sells soul to devil for magic power to escape capture. Canada: Baughman. |
| M211.8 | Man sells soul to devil for devil's doing one specific job. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| M211.9 | Person sells soul to devil in return for the granting of wishes. England: Baughman. |
| M212 | Devil agrees to help man with robberies. |
| M212.1 | Devil as helper of robber refuses to let women's ornaments be stolen. They are his own weapons. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 86. |
| M212.2 | Devil at gallows repudiates his bargain with robber. Ring turns to rope. The judge cannot find a rope and is about to release the thief because of the miracle. But the ring in the box presented by the devil as a bribe turns out to be a rope. The man is hanged. *Krappe Archivum Romanicum VII 470ff.; *Wesselski Märchen 244 No. 54; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M213 | Devil as substitute for day laborer at mowing. He mows with a magic sickle. The evil overseer tries to keep up with him and dies of overexhaustion. Type 820. |
| M214 | Devil to help gambler in exchange for one task yearly. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 55 No. 408A*. |
| M215 | With his whole heart: devil carries off judge. The devil refuses to take anything not offered him with the whole heart. He hears the judge (advocate) cursed for fraud with such sincerity that he carries him off. *Type 1186; **Taylor PMLA XXXVI 35ff., also in Bryan and Dempster Sources and Analogues of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales 26974; *Herbert III 592; *Fb "ridefoged" III 53b; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 81, 807; *Robinson Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (Cambridge, Mass., 1933) 809 (Friar's Tale). |
| M216 | Devil bargains to help man become priest. He must not later exorcise him from people. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 50 No. 332. |
| M216.1 | The devil helps man study for priesthood. For this, he must promise the devil his soul. Having become a great priest, the man finds means to save himself. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3266, Legends Nos. 400ff. |
| M216.2 | The devil makes the herdsman's son a priest in return for a whistle. After quarreling with the devil, who asked to repair the whistle during Mass, the priest forgets all he learned and does not know how to hold Mass. Is beaten. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3269, Legends Nos. 413f. |
| M217 | Devil bargains to help man win woman. *Loomis White Magic 113; Alphabet No. 64; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 66 No. 508A*, Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. Cf. Cosquin études 545ff. (sale of self to magician). |
| M217.1 | Servant makes pact with devil denying Christ to secure nobleman's daughter. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| M218 | Contract with the devil destroyed. Dh I 140; Alphabet Nos. 64, 467; Irish: Beal XXI 311, O'Suilleabhain 33. |
| M218.1 | Pacts with the devil, sealed in blood, made ineffective by a saint. *Loomis White Magic 75. |
| M219 | Other devil contract motifs. |
| M219.1 | Bargain with the devil for an heir. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| M219.2 | Devil fetches man contracted to him. |
| M219.2.1 | Devil appears in great storm, takes away soul of person contracted to him. (Cf. D2141.0.4, D2141.0.5, Q550.1.) England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M219.2.2 | Devil flays corpse of person contracted to him. (Cf. Q457.2.) England: Baughman. |
| M219.2.3 | Man contracted to the devil responds to call by voice: "The hour has come but not the man." England, Scotland: *Baughman. |
| M219.2.4 | Devil carries off hunt-loving priest. (Cf. G303.17.2.4.) England: *Baughman. |
| M219.2.5 | Body of devil's disciple is removed from coffin by devil. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| M219.2.6 | Devil puts body of convert on a sea monster which takes it away. U.S.: Baughman. |
| M219.3 | Familiars guard and protect those who have pact with the devil. Argentina: Jijena Sanchez 80. |
| M219.4 | Familiar devours whoever does not keep pact with devil. Argentina: Jijena Sanchez 82. |
| M220 | Other bargains. |
| M221 | Beheading bargain. Giant allows hero to cut off his head; he will cut off hero's later. **Kittredge Gawain and the Green Knight; Irish myth: *Cross. |
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