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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 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| N652 | Nut falls and wakes man about to be bitten by snake. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 285B*, Espinosa Jr. No. 57. |
| N653 | Child falls from cliff; uninjured. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N654 | Hero catches spear hurled at him and kills serpent with it. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N655 | Waves break caul of abandoned child. He is rescued. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N656 | Angry man strikes king just in time to save his life. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N657 | Warriors discover in the last moment that it is their own chief they are about to murder by burning. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N658 | Husband arrives home just in time to save wife and her father from being burned to death in their home. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N659 | Life saved by accident—miscellaneous. |
| N659.1 | Poisoned cakes intended for man by his wife eaten by thieves: booty left to man. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N659.2 | Youth accidentally absent when entire family is wiped out. Greek: Grote I 106. |
| N660 | Accidental escapes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N661 | Sleeping king abducted by fairies wakes when his foot touches water. They free him. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N662 | Storm blows down tree and frees marooned tortoise. Africa (Nyang): Ittman 53. |
| N680 | Lucky accidents—miscellaneous. |
| N680.1 | Lucky fool. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N680.2 | Series of lucky successes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N681 | Husband (lover) arrives home just as wife (mistress) is to marry another. *Types 301, 400, 665; **Splettstösser Der heimkehrende Gatte und sein Weib in der Weltliteratur; *Chauvin V 108 No. 40; **Rajna Romania VI 359ff.; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XII 59, XXVIII 74 n. 2; *BP II 318ff., 335ff., IV 168 n. 6; *Huet RTP XXXII 97, 145; *Oesterley No. 193; Deutschbein I 3, 187; Herrmann Saxo II 84f.; *Boje 105, 116; *Child V 488 s.v. "marriage"; Boccaccio Decameron X No. 9 (Lee 343); Herbert III 193; *Dickson 141, 221 n. 15; Malone PMLA XLIII 432; *Köhler-Bolte I 117, 584. —Icelandic: *Boberg; Norwegian: Solheim Register 21; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 509*; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI No. 974@1; Russian: Andrejev No. 891*; Missouri French: Carrière; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 84, 107 Nos. 750A, 896, Espinosa II Nos. 133—135, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 63, 68; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: v. Ronkel Catologus der Maleische Handschriften 263; N. A. Indian: *Thompson CColl 323ff., 334ff.; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 278 No. 90. |
| N681.0.1 | Return home to one's own funeral. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 250, Boberg. |
| N681.1 | Wife finds lost husband just as he is to marry another. Type 425; Tegethoff 52; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| 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. |
| N681.3 | Incest accidentally averted. |
| N681.3.1 | Man about to consummate marriage with own mother; accidentally prevented. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N681.3.2 | Man in love with his own sister accidentally learns her identity. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N681.4 | Son returns on day his mother is to be married to another (though her husband still lives). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N682 | Prophecy of future greatness fulfilled when hero returns home unknown. Parents serve him. *Type 517. |
| N683 | Stranger accidentally chosen king. Picked up by sacred elephant. *Cosquin Contes indiens 320 n. 4; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 68. |
| 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*. |
| N685 | Fool passes as wise man by remaining silent. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 32; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N686 | Hero's (heroine's) identity established as he (she) is on the point of being executed. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N687 | Hero unwittingly helps fee's sons: rewarded. Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 3. |
| N688 | What is in the dish: "Poor Crab". A sham wise man named Crab is put to a test of his powers of divination. He is to tell what is in a covered dish (crabs). In despair he says, "Poor Crab!" and is given credit for knowing. *Type 1641; *BP II 401ff., 409; Louisiana French: Fortier MAFLS II 116; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 302; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 7f., 144; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 24ff. No. 3; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 182 No. 62. |
| N688.1 | Doctor know-all accidentally saves raja. Roof caves in after he has dragged raja out with the intention of killing him and putting an end to all of his questions. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| N691.1.1 | Hero attempting to escape from tiger plays music and tiger follows. People marvel and give him money and he is rewarded with princess's hand. Korean: Zong in-Sob 149 No. 65. |
| N691.1.2 | Stupid man grabs tiger in the dark, ties it up, and saddles it, believing it to be a horse. It happens to be the tiger for whose capture a reward has been offered. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N692 | Person reported lost joins unwittingly in search for himself. |
| N692.1 | Missing girl reveals identity and saves man condemned for kidnapping her. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 817. |
| N693 | Man sent away from battlefield to deliver message the only survivor of battle. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N694 | Apparently dead woman revives as she is being prepared for burial. Cf. Type 990. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N694.1 | Apparently dead woman revives when dropped. Had swallowed a bone. Lover exhumes her. Stumbles as he carries her. She revives and later marries him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N695 | Passengers on a boat are terrorized by a cutthroat. He turns courteous and leaves them unharmed. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N696 | Fugitive in tree urinates from fright: pursuers think it rain and leave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N696.1 | Man falls out of tree and frightens tiger away. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N696.2 | Grinding stones carried by men seeking refuge in tree-top fall, killing their enemies below. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N698 | Hawk carries off necklace from bathing queen and drops it by lucky girl, who gets reward. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N699 | Other lucky accidents. |
| N699.1 | Father and brother accidentally return home just as they are most needed in fight. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N699.2 | King's son comes home just at his father's funeral, when the heritage has to be divided. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N699.3 | Companions arrive as hero is about to be killed. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N699.4 | Orphan gets wife because swollen creek prevents marriage to someone else. Chinese: Graham. |
| N699.5 | Boy while cutting trees comes to one which happens to be bound up with the life of an ogre. Ogre bribes him with large fortune not to cut tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N699.6 | Overheard wish is realized. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N700 | Accidental encounters. |
| N710 | Accidental meeting of hero and heroine. |
| N711 | King (prince) accidentally finds maiden and marries her. *Types 403, 451, 705, 709; *BP I 99ff., 295ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 80, 115; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 8; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N711.1 | King (prince) finds maiden in woods (tree) and marries her. *Types 450, 706, 710; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N711.2 | Hero finds maiden in (magic) castle. *Types 304, 400, 408, 410, 590; Irish myth: *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N711.3 | Hero finds maiden in (magic) garden. *Types 550, 551, 706; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 106; 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. |
| N711.4.1 | Lovers meet at temple. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| N712.1 | Princess concealed in trunk and sent to beggar, who marries her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N713 | King marries girl who finds lost object of his. |
| N713.1 | Princess catches raja's golden bird; he trails it to her palace. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N713.2 | King marries girl who finds his lost ring. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N715 | Lovers first see each other on shores of lake. M. Bloomfield in Penzer VII xxiii; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N715.1 | Hero finds maiden at fountain (well, river). Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| N716 | Lover sees beloved first while she is bathing. II Samuel ch. 11; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N716.1 | Man stumbles on bathing maiden. Mono-Alu: Wheeler Nos. 8, 9, 31, 48. |
| N718 | Accidental meeting with the son of the only person who can overcome curse on hero. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| 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. |
| N723 | Girl sees man as he lies sleeping by wayside. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N724 | Hunter accidentally discovers beautiful girl being secretly reared in a cave. Africa (Pangwe): Tessman 366. |
| N730 | Accidental reunion of families. *Chauvin VI 167ff. No. 327E; Boccaccio Decameron II Nos. 6, 8 (Lee 34, 39); Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 947. |
| N731 | Unexpected meeting of father and son. Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N731.1 | Unknown son returns to father's court. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 119 (Paris). |
| N731.1.1 | King unknowingly adopts his own lost son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N731.2 | Father-son combat. Neither knows who the other is. (Sohrab and Rustem.) **Potter Sohrab and Rustem; Deutschbein I 232ff.; Potter FL XV 216ff.; Rank Inzest-Motif 164ff.; Hibbard 227 n. 5; *Köhler-Bolte II 256ff.; L. Wolff Hessische Blätter f. Volksk. XXXIX 54—63. — Irish: *Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 145, 169 (Cuchulainn, Fionn), Thurneysen 403ff.; English: Wells 135 (Sir Degare); Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Fox 140 (Telegonos and Odysseus); Arabian: Burton Nights VII 89 n.; Persian Carnoy 332; Chinese: Werner Myths 315—319, Coyajee JPASB XXIV 179; Philippine: Dixon 235; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 508. |
| N731.2.1 | Hero fights with friend of father and then reveals himself. English: Wells 17 (Reinbrun, Gy son of Warwike). |
| N731.2.2 | Undesired combat between sworn (blood) brothers (foster brothers). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N731.3 | Father unexpectedly meets abandoned son and reinstates him. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N731.4 | At execution block condemned man discovered to be king's unknown son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N732 | Accidental meeting of father and daughter. Missouri French: Carrière. |
| N732.1 | Father unwittingly buys daughter who has been sold into slavery. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 389 n. 1 (Tisiphone). |
| N732.2 | Deserted daughter's good fortune discovered by accident. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 348 n. 251. |
| N732.2.1 | Daughter's good fortune accidentally discovered by father who has become a beggar. Chinese: Graham. |
| N732.3 | Parents accidentally meet daughter who has survived their attempts to drown her. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N733 | Accidental meeting of brothers. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| N733.1 | Brothers unwittingly fight each other. (Cf. N731.2.2.) Dickson 100, 109, 153; Icelandic: Boberg; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/317). |
| N733.2 | Brother unwittingly kills half brother in fight. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N733.3 | Joseph and his brethren. Elder brothers unwittingly come to maltreated youngest in great need. Eventual recognition. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N733.4 | Two returning brothers unwittingly purchase bird, which is transformed youngest brother, as present intended for him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N733.5 | Brothers accidentally reunited when wedding of one to a king's daughter is celebrated and neighboring rulers are invited. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N734 | Accidental meeting of brother and sister. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N734.1 | Slaves ordered married discover they are brother and sister. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N734.2 | Saint prays with woman; learns she is his sister. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N735 | Accidental meeting of mother and son. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| N735.1 | Begging ascetics beg alms of their own mother. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 511. |
| N736 | Accidental meeting of mother and daughter. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N737 | Accidental reunion of lovers. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N738 | Accidental meeting of nephew and uncle. Hero takes refuge unwittingly at his uncle's court. *Dickson 143 n. 143; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N738.1 | Uncle and nephew unwittingly about to kill one another. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N741 | Unexpected meeting of husband and wife. Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N741.1 | Concealed wife. Unknown wife supernaturally conceals herself until the favorable moment to come forward. Italian: Crane 340; Greek: Garnett II 18; Hindu: Rouse FL V 85. |
| N741.2 | Husband and wife become separated in shipwreck. Wife unexpectedly meets husband on street. They are reunited. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N741.3 | Slandered queen chances to be in Rome at the same time as her estranged husband. Reconciled by the Pope. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N741.3.1 | Calumniated wife is forced to flee. (Cf. K2210.) Reunited by chance after many years at Emperor's court. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N741.4 | Husband and wife reunited after long separation and tedious quest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N741.5 | Maiden found in magic garden; prince's wife in former life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N743 | Accidental meeting of sisters. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N745 | Accidental meeting of seeker of exiled prince with prince at meal. Messenger in pilgrim garb invites unknown prince to eat with him. Recognition. *Boje 85. |
| N746 | Accidental meeting of cousins. Icelandic: borsteins saga Vík. 446, Boberg. |
| N760 | Other accidental encounters. |
| N761 | Unexpected encounter in oasis. Malone PMLA XLIII 398. |
| N762 | Person accidentally met unexpectedly knows the other's name. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N763 | Hero captured by man he has formerly rescued: rewarded. *Type 953; Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 25. |
| N764 | Unexpected meeting with wild man. (Cf. F567.) Dickson 122 n. 72; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| N765 | Meeting with robber band. Dickson 68 n. 14. |
| N766 | Unwitting adultery with blood-brother's wife. *Type 1364; Wesselski Märchen 187 No. 2. |
| N767 | Unwitting combat between sons of friends. Recognition and reconciliation. (Cf. N731.2.) Greek: Fox 128 (Glaukos and Diomedes). |
| N768 | Abandoned children accidentally discovered by villainess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N770 | Experiences leading to adventures. |
| N770.0.1 | Feast as occasion for the beginning of adventures or the arrival of questers. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N771 | King (prince) lost on hunt has adventures. *BP I 432 n. 2; *Köhler-Bolte II 408ff.; Dickson 93, 123 n. 75; Malone PMLA XLIII 398; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 8, V No. 5; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N771.1 | King on hunt is taken prisoner. Icelandic: Þiðriks saga II 120 —40. |
| N771.2 | Girls going in the wood for nuts have adventures. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N772 | Parting at crossroads to go on adventures. *Type 303; *Ranke FFC CXIV (motif B2); India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| N773 | Adventure from following animal to cave (lower world). *Type 301; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 66 No. 508 A*, Espinosa Jr. No. 67; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 163; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 74. |
| N773.1 | Adventure from following ogre to cave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N773.2 | Adventure from returning for forgotten comb. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N774 | Adventures from pursuing enchanted animal (hind, boar, bird). (Guiding Beast.) Types 710 (Grimm No. 3), 425; *Tegethoff 14; **Pschmadt Die Sage von der verfolgten Hinde (Greifswald, 1911); Dickson 53f.; Clouston Tales I 215; *Fb "hjort" I 625a; Hibbard 244 (Chevalere Assigne). — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Lagerholm 25—26, Sveinsson FFC LXXXIII xxxiii, *Boberg; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 9, *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; New Britain: Dixon 140. |
| N774.1 | Adventure from pursuing thieving birds. Type 610; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N774.2 | Adventures from seeking (lost) domestic beast (bull). Type 511; Icelandic: Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N774.3 | Adventures from pursuing animal (not magic). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N774.3.1 | Runaway ox leads pursuer to burial place of Adam and Eve. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N775 | Race with fairies leads to adventures. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N776 | Light seen from tree lodging place at night leads to adventures. *Type 130, 327; *Aarne FFC XI 111; BP I 115ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N776.1 | Climbing tree to look around leads to adventures. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| N776.2 | Adventures from trying to strangle oneself in tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N776.3 | Adventures from having slept beneath tree. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N777 | Dropped ball (basket) leads to adventures when recovery is attempted. Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 10 (Type 440). |
| N777.1 | Adventures encountered in running after cotton being blown away by wind. Type 480; *Roberts 130; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N777.2 | Bucket dropped into well leads to adventures. Type 480; *Roberts 125. |
| N777.3 | Flax dropped into well leads to adventures. Type 480; *Roberts 125. |
| N777.4 | Spindle dropped into well leads to adventures. Type 480; *Roberts 125. |
| N778 | Taking refuge in a grave leads to adventure. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N781 | Hero embarks in rudderless boat. Köhler-Bolte I 189; *Schoepperle Tristan and Isolt II 370ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N782 | Mother's parting gift to adventuring son: the two loaves of bread. One for hunger, one for overeating. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N783 | Broken vessel (calabash, etc.) to be mended leads to adventure. Africa (Guinea Coast): Trautmann La Litterature а la Cфte des Esclaves (Paris, 1927), West Africa: Travélé Proverbes et contes Bambara (Paris, 1923) 205ff., No. 66, Frobenius Atlantis VIII 274ff. No. 120. |
| N784 | Shouting after bathing: adventures follow. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 88. |
| N785 | Adventures from seeking water. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N785.1 | Man hunting honey encounters lost maiden, returns her to her parents. Africa (Fang): Tessman 121. |
| N786 | Anchor catching in oratory of submarine monastery leads to adventures. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N788 | Incidents when wife takes food to husband in field or forest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N791 | Adventures from pursuing object carried off by river. Type 480; Roberts 129. |
| N792 | Adventures from pursuing objects carried off by bird. Type 480; Roberts 130. |
| N800 | Helpers. |
| N801 | Helper grateful for being bought from slavery. Type 516; Rösch FFC LXXVII 97. |
| N810 | Supernatural helpers. Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 111f., Espinosa Jr. Nos. 117, 138, 140, 149, 202—204; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N810.1 | Invisible guardians. Hindu: Tawney I 193, 544; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N810.2 | Helper's beard and eyebrows cut. Only after hero has performed this service is help forthcoming. *BP II 392. |
| N810.3 | Hero's divine father as helper. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N810.4 | Supernatural helper comes from sky. Korean: Zong in-Sob 65 No. 35. |
| N810.5 | Supernatural person disguised as servant as helper. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N810.6 | Saint disguised (as poor man) as helper. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N811 | Supernatural godfather. A king chooses as the godfather of his son the first man he meets. The godfather proves to be supernatural. *Type 652; *BP I 377ff., II 121ff., III 18. |
| N812 | Giant or ogre as helper. *Types 531, 709; Böklen 84ff.; BP III 18ff.; Malone PMLA XLIII 412; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 471; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 44, (Benga): Nassau 208ff. |
| N812.0.1 | Giant's help secured by feeding him. *Type 531; BP III 18ff. |
| N812.1 | Wise giant as foster father of hero. Icelandic: Olrik Sakses Oldhistorie I (1892) 40ff., *Boberg. |
| N812.2 | Giantess as foster mother and helper of hero. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N812.3 | Grateful giantess as helper. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N812.4 | Giantess helps the man she loves. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N812.5 | Monster grateful to hero for being spared becomes helpful. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N812.6 | Ogre magically produces water for caravan. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 15. |
| N812.7 | Chief with three supernatural ogre helpers. Marquesas: Handy 76. |
| N813 | Helpful genie (spirit). *Types 561, 562; *Aarne MSFO XXV 3—82; *BP II 535ff., 547ff.; *Fischer-Bolte 215.—Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1302; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 182; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 67, 140, 142; Samoa: Beckwith Myth 438, 442; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 319, 369, 375; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1007, 13/174, 221), Henry Ancient Tahiti (Honolulu, 1928) 520f., Beckwith Myth 450; S. A. Indian (Mura): Métraux MAFLS XL 36; Africa (Fang): Tessman 194. |
| N814 | Helpful angel. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 535b; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N814.1 | Man carried through air by angel. Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 117, 374. |
| N815 | Fairy as helper. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N815.0.1 | Helpful tree-spirit. (Cf. F441.2.) India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 534. |
| N815.0.2 | Helpful water-spirit. (Cf. F420.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N815.0.2.1 | Gift of gold bracelet from river goddess. (Cf. A4215.1.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N815.1 | Fairy nurse as helper. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N816 | Santa Claus as bringer of Christmas gifts. *Hoffman-Krayer Zs. f. Vksk. XXV 121 nn. 7—9. |
| N817 | Deity as helper. Greek: Iliad and Odyssey passim; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 840, II 504. |
| N817.0.1 | God as helper. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 22, 111, 174. |
| N817.0.2 | Goddess as helper. Greek: Grote I 54; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 979. |
| N817.1 | Gods discuss means of settling dispute among girl's suitors. Venus has girl make her own choice. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N818 | Sky as helper. Africa (Thonga): Junod 266ff. |
| N818.1 | Sun as helper. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N819 | Supernatural helpers—miscellaneous. |
| N819.1 | Immortal as helper. Chinese: Graham. |
| N819.2 | Transformed person as helper. Chinese: Graham. |
| N819.2.1 | Transformed mother as helper. Chinese: Graham. |
| N819.3 | Helpful vital heads. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N819.3.1 | Helpful speaking skull. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N819.4 | Supernatural medicine-man as helper. S. A. Indian (Tupenamba): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 168. |
| N820 | Human helpers. |
| N821 | Help from little man. *Types 513B, 570; *BP III 267ff. |
| N822 | Lame boy (girl) as helper. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 35, 58, 248, 280. |
| N825 | Old person as helper. Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103, 119—121, 126—132. |
| N825.1 | Childless old couple adopt hero. Malone: PMLA XLIII 399. |
| 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. |
| N825.3 | 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. |
| N825.3.1 | Help from old beggar woman. *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 248b; BP III 206 (Grimm No. 150.) |
| N825.3.2 | Old woman by spring as helper. *Type 480; Roberts 151; Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 7. |
| N825.3.3 | Help from grandmother. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 69. |
| N826 | Help from beggar. (Cf. N825.3.1.) *Type 531; Fb "tigger" III 794b; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N827 | Child as helper. (Cf. N832.) Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 105 No. 860; Chinese: Graham; Korean: Zong in-Sob 47. |
| N828 | Wise woman as helper. Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 3. |
| N831 | Girl as helper. Types 311, 313; Dickson 52f.; Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 71; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| N831.1.1 | Mysterious housekeeper is fairy mistress. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N832 | Boy as helper. (Cf. N827). Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N832.1 | Boy as mysterious housekeeper for buffalo herd. (Cf. H831.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N832.2 | Sons as helpers. Type 551; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N835 | Wealthy (powerful) man as helper. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 14. |
| N836 | King as helper. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N836.1 | King adopts hero (heroine). English: Wells 8 (King Horn), 11 (Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild), 17 (Reinbrun, Gy sone of Warwike), 20 (William of Palerne), 115 (Sir Eglamour of Artois), 117 (Sir Torrent of Portyngale); Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N836.2 | Each of four kings does something to save dying falcon. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N836.3 | King helps princes in exile to avenge their father and take their homeland back. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N837 | Queen as helper. Icelandic: Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 239. |
| N838 | Hero (culture hero) as helper. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| N841 | Shepherd as helper. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 54 No. 405A*, Espinosa Jr. No. 215; Chinese: Graham. |
| N842 | Cook as helper. |
| N842.1 | Cook as foster father. Arabian: Burton I 226. |
| N843 | Hermit as helper. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; English: Wells 66 (Ywain and Gawain); Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 70 No. 535, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 129, 139; India: *Thompson-Balys; Hindu: Tawney I 486, II 146. |
| N844 | Dervish as helper. Malone PMLA XLIII 400. |
| N844.1 | Sadhu as helper. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N844.2 | Fakir as helper. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N845 | Magician as helper. Dickson 121 n. 64; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3669, Legends No. 621; India: *Thompson-Balys; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1386, 13/203, 317). |
| N846 | Cleric as helper. |
| N846.1 | Palmer as helper. Dickson 63. |
| N846.2 | Priest as helper. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1174). |
| N847 | Prophet as helper. Moreno Esdras (N829); Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| N848 | Saint (pious man) as helper. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N848.0.1 | Holy man as helper. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N848.1 | Hero ransoms maltreated picture of a saint. As reward he gets help from the grateful saint. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 506C*. |
| N848.2 | A wise man (saint, brahmin) recognizes that a man unwittingly carries a venomous serpent in his proviant sack and warns him. Krappe Moyen Age (1937) No. 4. |
| N851 | Merchant as helper. Malone PMLA XLIII 409; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N852 | Soldier as helper. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N854 | Peasant as helper. Icelandic: ásmundar saga Kappabana 472, Boberg. |
| N854.1 | Peasant as foster father. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N855 | Helpful smith. Missouri French: Carrière. |
| N855.1 | Smith as foster father. *Von Sydow Sigurds strid med Fеvne 19ff.; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N856 | Helpful forester. English: Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne). |
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