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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| N347.6 | Man falsely accused commits suicide. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N213 | Man fated to be rich. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 828, 931. |
| N101.4 | Man fated to become king becomes so despite fact he breaks his tooth in which his luck resides. (Cf. N113.2.2.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 860. |
| N224 | Man finds treasure he refused as gift. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N339.6 | Man forgets to wear magic gown and is killed. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N221 | Man granted power of winning at cards. Irish: Beal XXI 329, O'Suilleabhain 90; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 45, 52 Nos. 313, 345, Espinosa II Nos. 122ff., 168—171, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 70—73, 210. |
| N347.4 | Man having purchased stolen ornament unwittingly presents it to owner as gift; is thrown into jail as thief. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N331.2.1 | Man hidden in tree so frightened of lioness he drops his sword and kills her. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N785.1 | Man hunting honey encounters lost maiden, returns her to her parents. Africa (Fang): Tessman 121. |
| N545 | Man in despair digging own grave finds treasure. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 288, 378. |
| N545.1 | Man in despair preparing to hang himself finds treasure in the tree (beam). Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3623; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N681.3.2 | Man in love with his own sister accidentally learns her identity. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N513.1 | Man jumps into the sea, river or waterfall with his treasure. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N325.1 | Man kills son thinking that he is cutting a branch. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 329 n. 1. |
| N223 | Man must have drinking horn; stumble reveals one as he departs on search. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N146 | Man not fated to die cannot be killed. (Cf. N101.3.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N386.2 | Man pinned in bed by weapon caught in quilt. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N384.10 | Man playing ghost killed. Meaning to frighten son, father plays devil or a ghost. Son kills him. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3443, Legends Nos. 861ff. |
| N545.2 | Man ready to kill self hears voice directing him to buried fortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N225 | Man robbed and penniless entertained by wealthy widow and enriched. Boccaccio Decameron II No. 2 (Lee 25); Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N612.1 | Man scolds his ass and frightens robber away. While the man is absent from his ass the robber steals the man's coat. The ass brays and the man scolds him. The robber thinking he is discovered flees and leaves the coat. Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 224 No. 62. |
| N693 | Man sent away from battlefield to deliver message the only survivor of battle. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N716.1 | Man stumbles on bathing maiden. Mono-Alu: Wheeler Nos. 8, 9, 31, 48. |
| N111.4.1 | Man thanks earth for saving his life; had he fallen into well he would have blamed Fortune. Wienert FFC LVI 81 (ET 470), 125 (ST 341); Halm Aesop No. 316; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N646 | Man thinks to end life by drinking poisonous water, but it cures him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N453 | Man transformed as ant, learns secret of freeing princess. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| N320.1 | Man unwittingly causes death of daughter. English romance: Malory III 15. |
| N360 | Man unwittingly commits crime. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N365.1.1 | Man unwittingly falls in love with his own mother. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N324 | Man unwittingly kills prince. Exiled. *Boje 120f. |
| N365.4 | Man unwittingly lies with mother-in-law. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N476.2 | Man vulnerable only in armpits shot as he stretches his arms. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N251.2 | Man who aspires to greater wealth loses all. When he is about to be rewarded by king the latter dies. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N186 | Man who derided another's faith in the stars becomes respected astrologer. (Cf. P481.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N227 | Man who is impoverished is given high post by princess in disguise. Marries her. (Cf. N251.3.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N251.3 | Man who loses fortune marries widow of his rich master. (Cf. N227.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N318.1 | Man, thinking it an enemy, flees as sweetheart comes after him in pursuit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N399.2 | Man's inordinate laughter brings unfortunate results. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N113.2.2 | Man's luck resides in his tooth. (Cf. N101.4.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 860. |
| N765 | Meeting with robber band. Dickson 68 n. 14. |
| N534.7.1 | Men digging hole to plant rose-tree find treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N533.5 | Men find mines of copper, silver, gold and iron where balls fall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N455.12 | Men hear father threaten to marry daughters to first comers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N851 | Merchant as helper. Malone PMLA XLIII 409; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N252.1 | Messengers announce successive misfortunes to warrior as he sets out for war. Tells of death of father, mother, brother, and sister, but he refuses to turn back. Finnish: Kalevala rune 36. |
| N252 | Messengers announce successive misfortunes. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Greek: Aeschylus Agamemnon line 860; Jewish: Neuman. Cf. story of Job. |
| N251.7 | Misfortune pursues farmer. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N692.1 | Missing girl reveals identity and saves man condemned for kidnapping her. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 817. |
| N398 | Mistake in interpreting prophecy (oracle) brings misfortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N391.1 | Mistress expecting lover accidentally exchanges places with her maidservant. Italian Novella: Rotunda (also K1856). |
| N343.1 | Mistress kills self, believing her lover dead. Irish myth: *Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N341 | Misunderstood message causes messenger to be killed (accused). BP II 366. |
| N128.2 | Monday and Wednesday as unlucky days. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N351 | Money (treasure) unwittingly given away. Unlucky man given a loaf which is filled with gold exchanges it for another loaf. *Type 841; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 326, 327; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 185; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian (Pochulata): Boas JAFL XXV 223. |
| N212 | Money cannot be kept from where it is destined to go. Miser told that his hoard is to go to poor man. He hides it in a trunk and throws it into the sea but it drifts to the house of the poor man who tries in vain to restore it to its owner. *Type 745; *Chauvin II 129 No. 137; *Herbert III 234, 377 No. 61, 447; *Oesterley No. 109, Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 934B*; Russian: Andrejev No. 834B*; West Indies: Flowers 563. |
| N524.1 | Money found in the dead beggar's coat. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 842*; Russian: Andrejev No. 842 I. |
| N183 | Money lost twice: recovered third time. Type 935**; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 946*; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 114 No. 945A*. |
| N812.5 | Monster grateful to hero for being spared becomes helpful. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N271.1.1 | Moon brings murder to light. (Like N271.1.) BP II 532. |
| N383.3 | Mother dies of fright when she learns that she was about to commit incest with her son. He has disguised himself to test her chastity. *Krappe Balor 181ff.; Alphabet No. 710 (Secundus). |
| N325.3 | Mother kills son thinking him a wild beast. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 331 n. 3. |
| N782 | Mother's parting gift to adventuring son: the two loaves of bread. One for hunger, one for overeating. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N384.1 | Mouse frightens man to death. Type 167*. |
| N271.7 | Murder discovered on digging foundations of house. House burns. Diggers discover body. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N271.4 | Murder discovered through knowledge of bird languages. Birds point out the murder. *Type 781. |
| N271.6 | Murder revealed by child. |
| N271.2 | Murder revealed by unusual names of boys. The dying man leaves message to name his sons "O God" and "O king" (or the like). This arouses the king's curiosity and brings the murder to light. BP II 336, 535; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 116 No. 960. |
| N615 | Murder revealed to thieves climbing into bank. Type 951B. |
| N271.11 | Murder will out: murderers quarrel under influence of drink and reveal crime. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1216. |
| N271 | Murder will out. Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr Nos. 202—209; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N271.5 | Murderer through miracle suspected of theft; murder thus discovered. Type 761*. |
| N271.8 | Murderer traced through victim's ring. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N831.1.1 | Mysterious housekeeper is fairy mistress. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N831.1 | Mysterious housekeeper. Men find their house mysteriously put in order. Discover that it is done by a girl (frequently an animal transformed into a girl). *Type 709; **Böklen Sneewittchenstudien 89ff.; MacCulloch Childhood 261; *BP I 450ff.; Hatt Asiatic Influences 96—102. — Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "menage"; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 71—74, 81, Espinosa II No. 114, Boggs FFC XC 48 No. 327D*; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 6; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Korean: Zong in-Sob 30; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 152, Dixon 218; New Britain, Philippine, Melanesia: Dixon 110 n. 25, 224 nn. 27, 28; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 34; Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 88, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 223; N.A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 335 n. 207; S. A. Indian: *Jijena Sanchez 23, (Surinam): Alexander Lat. Am. 274; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 134, 136, (Basuto): Jacottet 110 No. 16, (Kaffir): Theal 74, (Congo): Weeks 215 No. 11, (Zulu): Callaway 124. |
| N684 | Naked soldier becomes general. Stripped for bathing he takes his place as guard when the king unexpectedly arrives. King invites him to come naked to the castle, where he is chosen as husband by a general's daughter. Type 1670*; Russian: Andrejev No. 1670*. |
| N611.1.1 | Name of criminal accidentally spoken out (identical with ordinary word in speech). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N128.1 | National disasters occur always at the same date. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N511.2 | Natural underground treasure. *Winter 35; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N140 | Nature of luck and fate—miscellaneous motifs. |
| N100 | Nature of luck and fate. Penzer V 182f.; *Köhler Aufsätze 99ff.; *Patch Fortuna 78; Irish myth: Cross. |
| N121.1.2 | New-born child with a weapon and a game animal: fated to be hunter. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N468 | Newborn babe reveals secret; then becomes silent. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N121.3 | Newborn girl fated to be a courtesan. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N2.3.4 | Nose wagered. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N613 | Numskull bribed to keep silent in elephant sale when he manifests interest, though utterly ignorant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N611.3 | Numskull bridegroom unwittingly sings out phrases that thieves mistake to mean he has detected them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N612 | Numskull talks to himself and frightens robbers away. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 211 No. 428, *215 No. 446; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N691.1 | Numskull's outcry overawes tiger who is carrying him on his back. Tiger thinks that words are the name of the "demon" riding him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N652 | Nut falls and wakes man about to be bitten by snake. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 285B*, Espinosa Jr. No. 57. |
| N411 | Object unknown in a country sold for a fortune. |
| N691 | Objects accidentally picked up used to overawe ogress. India: Thompson-Balys; East Africa: Rattray Some Folk-Lore Stories and Songs in Chinvanja (London, 1907) 149ff. No. 24. |
| N135 | Objects effect change of luck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N618 | Officer comes accidentally to the same building where the fugitive sleeps. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N812.6 | Ogre magically produces water for caravan. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 15. |
| N571.1 | Ogre's son guardian of treasure trove. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N255.6 | Old man burns self with gunpowder, and then burns himself worse when he pours hot water over his body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N825.2 | Old man helper. *Types 307, 329, 480, 512*; *BP III 365ff., 534ff.; *Chauvin VI 109 No. 273 n. 1; Roberts 150. — Irish myth: Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 75, 99 —103, 138f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/174); Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 461; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 88 No. 4; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 83. |
| N825 | Old person as helper. Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103, 119—121, 126—132. |
| N825.3.2 | Old woman by spring as helper. *Type 480; Roberts 151; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 7. |
| N825.3 | Old woman helper. *Types 316, 400, 480, 707; *BP II 380ff., 466; *Cosquin études 563; Hdwb. d. Märchens I s.v. "Alte im Walde"; Roberts 150. — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish: Kalevala rune 7; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "vieille"; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 9, Rotunda; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103, 126—132, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 107, 109; India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 63, 166; Polynesia (general): Beckwith Myth chapt. 17 passim; Hawaii: ibid. 257—264, 491; Tahiti: ibid. 251; Tonga: Gifford 156; Maori: Dixon 59; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 162; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 327 n. 180; Africa: Werner African 233, (Ekoi): Talbot 18, 207, 235, 364, (Basuto): Jacottet 118 No. 17, 142 No. 20, 204 No. 30, 226 No. 33, (Kaffir): Theal 48ff., 82, 145, (Zanzibar): Bateman 128 No. 7, (Angola): Chatelain 47 No. 1, 57 No. 2, 93 No. 5, (Zulu): Callaway 217. |
| N178.4 | Only crippled cow not driven away by robbers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N543.0.1 | Only particular persons see hidden treasure in its true form; others see it as coal, serpents, scorpions, etc. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N551.1 | Only weak-minded person may unearth a treasure. Fb "sær" III 723b. |
| N699.4 | Orphan gets wife because swollen creek prevents marriage to someone else. Chinese: Graham. |
| N760 | Other accidental encounters. |
| N699 | Other lucky accidents. |
| N380 | Other unlucky accidents. |
| N50 | Other wagers. |
| N455 | Overheard (human) conversation. *Dickson 29 n. 1; Missouri French: Carrière; Jewish: Neuman; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N455.1 | Overheard boast about hidden money brings about robbery. Type 1577*; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N699.6 | Overheard wish is realized. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N2.1 | Own body as stake: to be taken as slave. Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 882; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 354 n. 277. |
| N277 | Oxen bear dead usurer to gallows to be buried. They are allowed to go where they will. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 197. |
| N846.1 | Palmer as helper. Dickson 63. |
| N732.3 | Parents accidentally meet daughter who has survived their attempts to drown her. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N323 | Parricide prophecy unwittingly fulfilled. *Type 931; *Krappe Balor 13 n. 45; Greek: *Grote I 206; India: Thompson-Balys. See all references to M343 (Parricide prophecy). |
| N772 | Parting at crossroads to go on adventures. *Type 303; *Ranke FFC CXIV (motif B2); India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| N134.1.5 | Passenger brings bad luck to ship. Cast overboard. Jonah. (Cf. S264.1.) |
| N695 | Passengers on a boat are terrorized by a cutthroat. He turns courteous and leaves them unharmed. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N641.1 | Patient laughs at monkey and cures himself. Monkey takes medicine and cuts capers as result. Nouvelles Récréations No. 89. |
| N641 | Patient laughs so at foolish diagnosis of sham physician that his abscess breaks and he gets well. She has been told to examine the floor around the patient's bed for signs of what he has been eating. She finds the patient surrounded with pillows: he has eaten too many pillows. *Wesselski Mönchslatein 19 No. 13, Theorie 163. |
| N529.2 | Pearl found in fish. Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N854.1 | Peasant as foster father. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N854 | Peasant as helper. Icelandic: ásmundar saga Kappabana 472, Boberg. |
| N250.3 | Persecution by a god so that will of deity can be followed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N250.2 | Persecution by bad luck. Wishing to escape it, the luckless couple build themselves a new home. Scarcely do they establish themselves in the new home, when bad luck addresses them from the hearth: "I have already waited for you here three days." Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 735B*. |
| N250 | Persistent bad luck. *Fb "ulykke" III 973a; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N762 | Person accidentally met unexpectedly knows the other's name. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N265 | Person brings bad luck to others. |
| N385.1 | Person has successive misfortunes while making plans because he forgets to say, "If God wills." (Cf. G224.1, J1217.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 848*. |
| N333.1 | Person killed by hitting fly on his face. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: De Vries's list No. 285. Cf. Type 1586. |
| N251 | Person pursued by misfortune. (Placidas, Eustacius.) His goods are destroyed, his wife carried off by a ship captain and his children by animals. *Type 938; Herbert III 241; *Oesterley No. 110; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXVIII 154f.; Alphabet No. 311; *Hibbard 3ff.; Boccaccio Decameron II Nos. 6, 8 (Lee 34, 39); *Loomis White Magic 112; **Gerould PMLA XIX 335ff.; Dickson 100 n. 7.—Irish: *Cross; O'Suilleabhain 42, Beal XXI 315; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman, bin Gorion Born Judas I 374; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 113, 793; West Indies: Flowers 564. |
| N692 | Person reported lost joins unwittingly in search for himself. |
| N320 | Person unwittingly killed. |
| N113.3 | Personification of Good Luck leaves palace since king is destined to die that night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N113.2 | Personification of Good Luck lives in man's forehead. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N134.1 | Persons bring bad luck. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N134 | Persons effect change of luck. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N314 | Persons fall asleep on rock, which magically shoots upward. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 76. |
| N134.1.3 | Persons lose luck as punishment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N651 | Pet swan saves self by singing death song. Master about to mistake the swan in the dark for the goose that is to be slaughtered. Wienert FFC LVI 71 (ET 359), 143 (ST 487); Halm Aesop Nos. 215, 216. |
| N137 | Philosopher conquers evil fate. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N346 | Pigeon hastily kills his mate for stealing wheat. It has merely dried out and no longer fills the nest. When the dampness later swells the wheat, he sees his mistake and kills himself in remorse. Chauvin II 104 No. 66; Bødker Exempler 302 No. 69; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N2.0.1 | Play for unnamed stakes. Irish myth: *Cross; Scottish: Campbell-McKay Nos. 1, 17. |
| N4.2 | Playing game of chance (or skill) with uncanny being. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N332.1.1 | Poisoned bath prepared for another accidentally used by hero. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N659.1 | Poisoned cakes intended for man by his wife eaten by thieves: booty left to man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N597.1 | Pools of underground oil discovered through dreams. (Cf. N531.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| N534.5 | Poor boy accidentally finds deserted city with treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N426 | Poor man carries unwittingly in his water jar a large scorpion which brings him fortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N347.5 | Poor man presented rich robe by emperor is locked up as a thief. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N135.2 | Possession of money brings luck. Nothing escapes a mouse as long as she has in her hole a purse of money Chauvin II 94 No. 45; Bødker Exempler 291 No. 49. |
| N334.3 | Practical joker asks doctor to castrate him. Doctor insists on the operation. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N339.12 | Prefect, cursed by bishop, dies of fish-bone stuck in his throat. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N846.2 | Priest as helper. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1174). |
| N384.8 | Priest frightens boy by tying girl's corpse to bell-rope. In revenge the boy puts the body in the priest's bed. Priest flees. Dies from injuries. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N711.5 | Prince (king) finds girl floating on water in basket: marries her. Hertel Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 83ff.; Penzer II 5; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 2; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N712 | Prince first sees heroine as she comes forth from her hiding-box. She has concealed herself until the favorable moment. *Cox 489; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N711.6 | Prince sees heroine at ball and is enamored. *Type 510AB; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II 107—112, 154; Espinosa Jr. Nos. 123f.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N711.4 | Prince sees maiden at church and is enamored. *Types 510AB; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 111f., Espinosa Jr. No. 119. |
| N331.1.2 | Prince's arrow accidentally grazes breast of merchant's wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N318.2 | Princess accidentally elopes with wrong man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N713.1 | Princess catches raja's golden bird; he trails it to her palace. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N712.1 | Princess concealed in trunk and sent to beggar, who marries her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N172 | Prodigal as favorite of fortune. *Type 935; Irish: Beal XXI 305, O'Suilleabhain 14. |
| N172.1 | Prodigal son favored over faithful son. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N421.1 | Progressive lucky bargains. (Opposite of J2081.) *Type 1415; BP II 199ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa: Werner African 219f.; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 176 No. 24. |
| N682 | Prophecy of future greatness fulfilled when hero returns home unknown. Parents serve him. *Type 517. |
| N847 | Prophet as helper. Moreno Esdras (N829); Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| N91 | Purchase of box without knowledge of its contents. *Chauvin VI 17 No. 189 n. 2. |
| N387.1 | Quarrel over dog starts the Guelph-Ghibelline feud. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N837 | Queen as helper. Icelandic: Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 239. |
| N384.5 | Queen dies from fright because of evil prophecy. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N513.6 | Queen's jewel-box thrown into tank floats to top during first week of new moon; light or large jewel on top reveals it to passersby. It disappears when someone tries to get it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N775 | Race with fairies leads to adventures. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N558 | Raised treasure turns into charcoal (shavings). If one takes it along it will turn back into gold. *Norlind 56; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 75f. Nos. 631—634; West Indies: Flowers 565. |
| N271.3.1 | Ravens pursue murderer who has killed two children. England: Baughman. |
| N452.1.1 | Reason for withering of tree overheard in conversation of animals (demons). Type 613; **Christiansen FFC XXV 89ff. |
| N452.1 | Remedy for lack of water in certain place overheard in conversation of animals (demons). *Type 613; **Christiansen FFC XXIV 86ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 527. |
| N681.0.1 | Return home to one's own funeral. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 250, Boberg. |
| N596.2 | Rich mine discovered by accidental breaking off of rock. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N596.1 | Rich mine discovered through dream. (Cf. N531.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N2.5.1 | Right of succession to the throne lost in gambling. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N884 | Robber as helper. West Africa: Nassau Fetischism in West Africa (London, 1904) No. 2. |
| N392 | Robber attempting to steal cow at night seizes thieving tiger. Great fight in stable. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N884.1 | Robber helps king. *Type 952; *BP III 450ff.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N455.2 | Robbers' plans overheard: owner warned. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 325 No. 8; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N455.2.1 | Robbers' secret overheard and later used in court against them. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N681.2 | Ruler makes ready to abandon barren wife and marry another. He remains with her when he learns that she is with child. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N721 | Runaway horse carries bride to her lover. Bridegroom unwittingly hires a horse belonging to his rival for his bride to ride to the wedding. A storm arises and the horse carries her to his master. *Bédier Fabliaux 119, 473. |
| N774.3.1 | Runaway ox leads pursuer to burial place of Adam and Eve. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N361 | Sacred animal unwittingly killed. |
| N554.1 | Sacrifices at unearthing of treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 76f. Nos. 637, 646. |
| N844.1 | Sadhu as helper. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N253 | Safety in shadow of wall. After many misfortunes the man is apparently safe. The wall falls on him. *Type 947; *BP III 289f.; Bødker Exempler 277 No. 18; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N848 | Saint (pious man) as helper. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N338.1 | Saint changes places with charioteer; latter is killed. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N810.6 | Saint disguised (as poor man) as helper. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N6.3 | Saint helps gambler. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N734.2 | Saint prays with woman; learns she is his sister. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N534.3 | Saint sticks crozier into sod and finds pound of gold. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N347.2 | Saint who entered house of ill fame to reform inmates accused of going with evil intent. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N411.4 | Salt in saltless land sold for fortune. Russian: Andrejev No. 1651*; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N411.5 | Sandalwood merchant sells his product at high price in land lacking sandalwood. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N816 | Santa Claus as bringer of Christmas gifts. *Hoffman-Krayer Zs. f. Vksk. XXV 121 nn. 7—9. |
| N455.7 | Secret about prince's father learned by eavesdropper from his mother's talking to him. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N475.1 | Secret age overheard by eavesdropper. Man masking as cuckoo in tree causes the surprised ogre to disclose secret. BP I 497. |
| N481 | Secret escapes with man's blood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N455.3 | Secret formula for opening treasure mountain overheard from robbers (Open Sesame). *Type 676; *BP III 137ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 144; India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 339. |
| N482.1 | Secret learned by burning hand. *Cosquin Contes indiens 397ff. |
| N482 | Secret learned by torture. |
| N478.1 | Secret meat-eating betrayed by grease on mouth. Africa (Larusa): Fokken ZsKS VII 82ff. No. 1, (Masai): Hollis The Masai (Oxford, 1905) 212ff., (Mossi): Frobenius Atlantis VIII 239ff. |
| N475 | Secret name overheard by eavesdropper. *Type 500; *Clodd TomTit-Tot; *Polivka Zs. f. Vksk. X 254ff.; *Von Sydow Tvе Spinnsagor; Icelandic: Boberg; Japanese: Ikeda; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 247 No. 23, 267 No. 75, 279 Nos. 92, 93; West Indies: Flowers 564. |
| N465.1 | Secret of person's sleeplessness discovered by trickery. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N476 | Secret of unique vulnerability disclosed. |
| N476.1 | Secret of vulnerability voluntarily disclosed. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N465.0.1 | Secret physical blemish revealed by beaten handmaid. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N465 | Secret physical peculiarity discovered by barber. (Midas.) See all references to F511.2.2. and D1316.5. Alphabet No. 268; Irish myth: *Cross; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 886 I*. |
| N475.2 | Secret reason why hero does not want to eat the food of the foreign king overheard by eavesdropper. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N455.5 | Secret remedies learned from green-clad woman. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 2. |
| N452 | Secret remedy overheard in conversation of animals (witches). *Types 432, 613, 613*; BP II 261ff.; **Christiansen FFC XXIV 77, 81, 123; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 527; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys, Panchatantra III 11 (tr. Ryder) 346; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 150; Buriat: Holmberg Siberian 427; S. A. Indian (Chincha): Alexander Lat. Am. 230. |
| N452.2 | Secret remedy revealed by departing animal. House spirit (or bird) leaves saying, "If you knew what valerian is good for, the people would not die so fast." **A. Martin "Die Pestage vom Vogel, der Bimbanelle und Baldrian als Heilmittel verkundet im Vogelsberg" Volk. u. Scholle IX No. 1. |
| N476.3 | Secret unique means of killing ogre overheard from children. Chinese: Graham. |
| N478 | Secret wealth betrayed by money left in borrowed money-scales. *Type 676; *BP III 137ff.; *Fb "skjæppe" III 275b; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 70 No. 545C*; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 336, 338; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 389. |
| N451.1 | Secrets of animals (demons) accidentally overheard from tree (bridge) hiding place. *Type 613; BP II 468ff., *481; **Christiansen FFC XXIV 60ff.; *Fb "bjørn" IV 43a, "ravn" III 22b, "bro", IV 62n; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3296, Legends No. 527; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 16, 23; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N451 | Secrets overheard from animal (demon) conversation. *Types 516, 517, 670, 673; BP I 42ff., 131f.; **Aarne FFC XV; **Rösch FFC LXXVII 102, 114; Penzer I 48, III 60; Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 131, 144, Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda, Basile Pentamerone IV No. 9; Greek: Grote I 105; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1138; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 150, 155. |
| N450 | Secrets overheard. *Chauvin V 13, 293, VIII 61 No. 26; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 23; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N315 | Separation by being on different banks of stream. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N316 | Separation in jungle (forest). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N317 | Separation of family by shipwreck. India: Thompson-Balys; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N311 | Separation of persons caused by looking for water. *M. Bloomfield in Penzer VII xxiv ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N312 | Separation of twins through being carried off by beast. Dickson 107. |
| N335.6 | Series of accidental animal killings. |
| N680.2 | Series of lucky successes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N332.3 | Serpent carried by bird lets poison drop into milk and poisons drinkers. *Chauvin VIII 60 No. 25; *Krappe Balor 184 n. 12; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: Neuman, bin Gorion Born Judas III 96; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N582 | Serpent guards treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N352.3 | Serpent steals jewels: person falsely accused of theft. (Cf. N347.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N455.11 | Servant overhearing conversation realizes the misery of his employment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N121.4 | Seventh daughter predestined to be magician. (Cf. Z71.5.) Argentina: Jijena Sanchez 54, 64; Spain: ibid. 69; Portugal: ibid. 70. |
| N384.7 | Sham execution proves fatal. Jester condemned to die on block. Pail of water used instead of axe. He dies. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N384.6 | Sham magician causes simpleton's death. Is frightened to death by the impersonation of demons. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N275.5.1 | Sheep thief confesses when preacher says, "All we like sheep have gone astray." U.S.: Baughman. |
| N841 | Shepherd as helper. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 54 No. 405A*, Espinosa Jr. No. 215; Chinese: Graham. |
| N271.10 | Ship will sink if murderer is aboard. England: Baughman. |
| N118.1 | Ship's course left to the winds that it might be carried where fate wills it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N399.1 | Shipwrecked man lands on deadly enemy's territory and is attacked. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N55 | Shooting contest on wager. *Type 592; *BP II 490ff.; Spanish: Espinosa III 153. |
| N784 | Shouting after bathing: adventures follow. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 88. |
| N335.2.1 | Sick queen lying under red satin carried off by bird who thinks it is red meat. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N411.2.1 | Sickle as only inheritance. *Type 1650; *BP II 69ff. |
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