Folklore Database · Browse

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.

532 motifs

Page 2 of 3 · 250 per page
Thompson reference ▲ Description
S165.4 Eyes torn out and filled with sand. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S165.5 Necklace made of torn out human eyes. India: Thompson-Balys.
S165.6 Human eyes used as fishbait. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 245.
S165.7 Artisan who has built palace blinded so he cannot build another like it. (Cf. S161.0.1, W181.2.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 489, 672.
S166 Mutilation: skin cut from back. Hdwb. d. Märchens II 102a n. 140; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 447, Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 163—7; India: Thompson-Balys.
S166.1 Mutilation: beard torn off with the skin (and cheeks). (Cf. S187.1.) Icelandic: *Boberg.
S166.2 Mutilation: cheek and chin cut off, but held together by biting the beard. Icelandic: *Boberg.
S166.3 Mutilation: shoulder-skin torn off in wrestling. Icelandic: Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 264.
S166.4 Mutilation: cheeks cut off. (Cf. S166.2.) Icelandic: *Boberg.
S166.5 Mutilation: chin and lips cut off. Icelandic: *Boberg.
S166.6 Blood-eagle cut on man's back by flaying and salting. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 656, *Boberg.
S167 Mutilation by crushing. (Cf. S116.) Irish myth: *Cross.
S167.1 Mutilation: crushing victim's limbs. India: Thompson-Balys.
S168 Mutilation: tearing off ears. Icelandic: *Boberg.
S172 Mutilation: nose cut off or crushed. Icelandic: *Boberg.
S172.1 Angry paramour bites off his mistress's nose. India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 318, 328.
S173 Mutilation: breaking (two, three) ribs. Icelandic: *Boberg.
S175 Horses mutilated: tails cut off and manes torn off with the skin in order to humiliate their owner. (Cf. J1169.5.) Icelandic: Boberg.
S176 Mutilation: sex organs cut off. (Cf. Q241, Q451.10.) Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller.
S176.1 Mutilation: emasculation. Irish myth: *Cross; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 270, III 293.
S180 Wounding or torturing.
S181 Wounding by trapping with sharp knives (glass). *Type 432; *BP II 261ff.; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II Nos. 2, 5; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S181.1 Victim bound to a bladed wheel. (Cf. Q423.) *Loomis White Magic 118.
S182 Girl fastened by hair to rafter. *Fb "hеr" I 771b.
S182.1 Man hanged by hair to tree. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
S182.2 Girl pulled about by her hair. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 706.
S183 Frightful meal. (Cf. Q478.) Irish myth: Cross.
S183.0.1 Person forced to eat red-hot meal. Irish myth: Cross.
S183.1 Person forced to eat hearts (flesh) of relatives (draw blood). Irish myth: *Cross.
S183.2 Person forced to eat loathsome animal. Irish myth: *Cross.
S185 Cruelty to pregnant woman. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
S185.1 Co-wife forces pregnant woman to perform lowly tasks. (Cf. T257.2.) Irish myth: *Cross.
S185.2 King demands intercourse with woman in childbed. Irish myth: *Cross.
S186 Torturing by beating. Der Heiligen Leben und Leiden 100ff. (Santa Barbara); Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 587.
S187 Torturing by scratching.
S187.1 Torture by tearing out the sides (of a person). (Cf. S166.1.) Der Heiligen Leben und Leiden 100f. (Santa Barbara); Jewish: Neuman.
S187.2 Hair combed with iron combs. India: Thompson-Balys.
S191 Driving insane by keeping awake. Nouvelles Récréations No. 68.
S200 Cruel sacrifices.
S210 Children sold or promised. *Type 930; Aarne FFC XXIII 54; BP I 98; Grimm Nos. 12, 31, 55, 92, 181; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.
S210.1 Child sold into slavery. English: Wells 22 (Sir Beues of Hamtoun); Greek: Grote I 163; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 946. See also story of Joseph.
S210.2 Child sold to be killed. Jewish: *Neuman.
S211 Child sold (promised) to devil (ogre). See also references to S220S259, practically all of which apply here. *Types 314, 400, 502, 756B, 810; BP II 329, III 463, 531; *Cosquin études 365, 542ff.; *Wesselski Märchen 242 No. 52; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 46; Sébillot France III 446, IV 127; Gaster Exempla 248 No. 352. — Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 42 No. 29AB; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 293 No. 1, 300 No. 2; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "enfant", "diable"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 17; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103, Espinosa Jr. No. 66; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 147; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 210, 212; Africa: Werner African 214.
S211.1 Child of woman and devil taken to his father. Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 49.
S212 Child sold to magician. *Type 325; *Cosquin études 523; BP II 60; Jones PMLA XXIII 567; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S213 Child promised to wood-spirit. (Cf. F441.) Type 667*.
S214 Child promised to mermaid. (Cf. B81.) Köhler-Bolte I 178; Irish myth: Cross.
S215 Child promised to animal. (Cf. B620.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa: Werner African 223.
S215.1 Girl promises herself to animal suitor. *Type 440; BP I 1ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.
S216 Mothers exchange children. India: Thompson-Balys.
S220 Reasons for promise (sale) of child.
S221 Child sold (promised) for money. *Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 50ff., 56ff., *223, 227 n., *230 n.; Fb "sælge" III 722a; *Ward II 661 No. 4 (wife sold); Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 65 No. 471B*, Espinosa II No. 117.
S221.1 Bankrupt father sells his daughters in marriage to animals. (Sometimes to pay gambling debt.) (Cf. S215.) *Types 425C, 552A; *BP II 234ff., III 424ff.; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 65; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 149, II 1013.
S221.2 Youth sells himself to an ogre in settlement of a gambling debt. (Cf. M211, S215.) *Type 313; BP I 442.
S222.1 Woman promises her unborn child to appease offended witch. Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 1.
S222.2 Woman promises unborn daughter to snake as wife for ferrying her across stream. India: Thompson-Balys.
S222.3 Woman promises unborn child to tiger if he will spare her. India: Thompson-Balys.
S222.4 Sultan's daughter demanded by giant ogre as price for letting his subjects alone. India: Thompson-Balys.
S223 Childless couple promise child to the devil if they may only have one. *Type 756B; *BP III 107; *Wesselski Märchen 242 No. 52; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 49, 52, *223ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Swahili): Steere 379.
S223.0.1 Robert the Devil. Childless couple wish for a child even if he comes from the devil. He is diabolical. *Wells 784; *Hibbard 49ff. (Sir Gowther); *Krappe Mod. Lang. Rev. XXIV (1929) 200ff.; Irish myth: Cross.
S223.0.2 Maid pledged to devil dresses conspicuously. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 14 No. 124.
S223.1 Girl promises unborn child to devil if he will suffer the birth pangs. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 40 No. 31**; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3254, Legends Nos. 370ff.
S223.2 Mother curses her unborn child. (Cf. M411.1.) *Type 756B; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 49.
S223.3 An old maid promises the devil her first born. She wishes to get a husband. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 391.
S223.4 Childless couple promise one of two children to devil if they may only have them. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S224 Child promised to devil for acting as godfather. (Cf. N411.) *Types 314, 502, 756B; *BP II 319ff., 329; Andrejev FFC LXIX 50; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "filleul".
S225 Child promised to devil for help on road with broken wagon. Andrejev FFC LXIX 50, 56, 228 n.
S226 Child promised to devil for directions out of woods when father is lost. *Andrejev FFC LXIX 51, 58, 229 n.; BP II 483f.
S227 Child promised to devil in exchange for a good catch of fish. *Andrejev FFC LXIX 51, 60, 230 n.; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 38, Beal XXI 314.
S228 Daughter promised to monster as bride to secure flower (bird) she has asked for. *Type 425C; *Tegethoff 12, 18; *BP II 229ff., *232 n. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S232 Daughter promised to tiger in marriage for help in carrying load. (Cf. B620.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys.
S233 Children given in return for being taught magic. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S234 Children sold in exchange for food. Africa (Wakweli): Bender 60.
S235 Angry man gives away his daughter to a beggar. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 248 No. 193.
S240 Children unwittingly promised (sold). (Cf. S211.) *Types 314, 400, 710, 756B; *BP II 329; *Fb "frugtsommelig" I 376, "ufødt" III 926a; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 50ff., 56ff., 223; *MacCulloch Childhood 418; Irish: Baughman; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 8.
S240.1 Girl promised unwittingly by her parents to ogre. India: Thompson-Balys.
S241 Child unwittingly promised: "first thing you meet." (Jephthah's vow.) *Types 425, 810; *BP II 329, 483; *Fb "først" I 404, "møde" II 647a; Wünsche 34f.; *Tegethoff 18; *Cox Cinderella 511; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 50, 62, 228 n.; Johnston MLN XXII 233. — French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 17; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 66; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Boas JAFL XXXV 66 No. 2.
S241.1 Unwitting bargain with devil evaded by driving dog over bridge first. The child has been unwittingly promised (the first thing that goes over the bridge). Kittredge Witchcraft 206, *518 n. 19; Hazlitt Shakespeare Jest Books I 86f. No. 67; Mensa Philosophica No. 11.
S241.2 Devil is to have last one who leaves "black school". Fb. "fanden" I 267b; Scotland, England: Baughman.
S241.3 Princess promised unwittingly to madman: "what you ask for." India: Thompson-Balys.
S242 Child unwittingly promised: "what you have at home." The man thinks it is a cat (dog). *Types 316, 710; *BP I 21; Köhler-Bolte I 312; *Andrejev FFC LXIX 50, 62, 228 n.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 54 No. 455; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103.
S242.1 Child unwittingly promised: "What you wife has under her belt." BP I 98f.; Danish: Grundtvig No. 33.
S243 Child unwittingly promised: Nix-Naught-Nothing. The child born while the father is away is named Nix-Naught-Nothing. Köhler-Bolte I 279; English: Jacobs English Fairy Tales 33.
S245 Child unwittingly promised: what is born on your farm. Two women agree that what is born on the farm of each belongs exclusively to the owner. The child of one is born on the farm of the other. Africa (Fjort): Dennett 58 No. 11.
S247 Daughter unwittingly promised to dog rescuer. (Cf. B620.1.) Without knowing that a dog has rescued her, the father offers her in marriage to her rescuer. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 421; Japanese: Ikeda:
S250 Saving the promised child. Missouri French: Carrière.
S251 Virgin Mary rescues child promised to the devil. *Meyer Romania XXXIII 163ff.; Ward II 632 No. 29, Herbert III 504; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103.
S252 Vain attempt to save promised child.
S252.1 Vain attempt to save promised child by use of substitute. *Type 425.
S252.2 Vain attempt to save promised child by evasions. India: Thompson-Balys.
S255 Deity saves person about to be sacrificed. (Cf. S263.2.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys.
S255.1 Deity promises deliverance of promised child to mother in dream. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S255.2 Child sacrificed to deity returned to mother alive and whole after the ablution and ceremonial rites in honor of her. India: Thompson-Balys.
S260 Sacrifices. (Cf. S255.) Irish myth: *Cross.
S260.1 Human sacrifice. *Penzer IV 65 n.; *Encyc. Religion Ethics s.v. "Human sacrifice"; *V. Manzini La superstizione omicida e i sacrifici umani, con particolare riguardo alle accuse contro gli Ebrei (2d. ed., Padua, 1930); Krappe Hessische Blätter für Volkskunde XXVI (1927) 18—25. — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish: Keller, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 61, 68f.; Greek: Fox 183; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 189, II 54, 851; Marquesas: Beckwith 269, Handy 73; N. A. Indian (Sia): Alexander N. Am. 203, (Hopi): ibid. 205, (Zuсi): ibid. 201, *Benedict 342; Africa (Bushongo): Torday 250.
S260.1.1 Child sacrifice as religious rite. Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 329, O'Suilleabhain 90; Jewish: *Neuman; N. A. Indian (Aztec): Alexander Lat. Am. 72.
S260.1.2 Sacrifice of sister on advice of yogi. India: Thompson-Balys.
S260.1.3 Prisoners sacrificed to goddess. Irish myth: Cross.
S260.1.4 Sacrifice of child to save life of another. (Cf. S268.) Korean: Zong in-Sob 44 No. 26.
S261 Foundation sacrifice. A human being buried alive at base of the foundation of a building or bridge. *Krappe Balor 165 n. 1; *Gaidoz Mélusine IV (1888) No. 2; Krappe Revue Celtique XLIII (1926) 124ff. — Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 39 (Arthour and Merlin), 42 (Nennius' Historia Britonum); Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 200; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 46 No. 81; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 73 No. 620; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3519; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 133 No. 81; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 139, 151, 157; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.
S261.0.1 Human blood mixed with rice to make leaky tanks hold water. India: Thompson-Balys.
S261.1 Child as foundation sacrifice smiles and wins freedom. The king asks him why he smiles. "One first expects mercy from the parents; if they have none, then from the king. Now only God will have mercy." *Krappe Balor 171ff.; Penzer VII 87 n. 1, 88—96, 250ff.; *DeVries "De Sage van het ingemetselde Kind" Nederlandsche Tijdschrift voor Volkskunde XXXII (1917); India: *Thompson-Balys.
S262 Periodic sacrifices to a monster. *Schoepperle II 326ff.; *Panzer Beowulf 276ff.; *Frazer Pausanias V 143; Brown Iwain 17 and passim; *Freytag Am Urquell I (1890) 179ff., 197ff.; *Fb "glarbjærg" I 459, "jomfru" II 43; Chauvin VI 110 No. 274.—Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 139, 151, 157; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 207 n. 2, II 119 n. 2, 134 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 189, II 573, 1188; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 154 No. 22, (Fang): Trilles 166.
S262.0.1 One man disappears each night. English: Beowulf; Icelandic: *Boberg.
S262.1 Woman given to devastating monster as wife to appease it. Irish myth: *Cross; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian (Creek): Alexander N. Am. 71.
S262.2 Tribute of youths regularly sent to foreign king. English: Wells 80 (Sir Tristrem).
S262.2.1 Youths and maidens as yearly tribute to monsters (Fomorians). Irish myth: *Cross.
S262.3 Sacrificial victim chosen by lot. (Cf. N126.) Icelandic: *Boberg; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 793; West Africa: Tauxier La Noir du Yatenga (Paris, 1917) 496f. No. 1, (Hausa): Basset Mélusine III 226f. No. 2, (Senegambia): Bérenger-Feraud II 185ff. No. 2.
S262.4 Girl offers to sacrifice herself to dragon in place of her parents. India: Thompson-Balys.
S263 Sacrifice to appease spirits (gods). (Cf. K1603, T211.1.1.) Irish myth: Cross; Japanese: Ikeda.
S263.1 Highest ranking man in land to be sacrificed for good crops. Icelandic: *Boberg.
S263.2 Child sacrificed to gain favor of gods. Penzer II 214ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 111, Fox 52, 126; India: Thompson-Balys.
S263.2.1 Gods furnish substitute for child sacrifice. (Cf. S255.) Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 192 n. 1; Jewish: *Neuman.
S263.2.2 Daughters sacrificed to avert famine. *Frazer Pausanias II 78.
S263.2.3 Man shows himself willing to sacrifice his child to prove his desire to follow God. He is prevented by abbot. Spanish Exempla: Keller.
S263.3 Person sacrificed to water spirit to secure water supply. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Lamba): Doke MAFLS XX 14 No. 11, (Hausa): Basset Mélusine III 226f. No. 2, (Fulah): Frobenius Atlantis VI 182ff. No. 4.
S263.3.1 Human sacrifice to water serpent to secure tribal prosperity. Africa Tauxier La Noir du Yatenga (Paris, 1917) 496f. No. 1, (Senegambia): Béranger-Feraud II 185ff. No. 2.
S263.3.2 Serpent in stream demands pair of human eyes for drink of water. (Cf. M225.) India: Thompson-Balys.
S263.3.3 Raja sacrifices his entire family so as to purify lake water. India: Thompson-Balys.
S263.4 Sacrifice to river-god who has stopped boat in mid-stream. India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 152ff. No. 22.
S263.4.1 Sacrifice to offended gods, who hold ship back. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 586; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 111.
S263.5 Sacrificial suicide. (Cf. S264.1.2.) Irish myth: Cross.
S263.5.1 Saints (monks) sacrifice themselves (to avert plague). Irish myth: *Cross.
S263.5.2 Monks sacrifice themselves (to save king and princes from pestilence). Irish myth: Cross.
S263.5.3 Man leaps from vessel into jaws of sea-beast, so as to save remaining passengers. Irish myth: Cross.
S263.6 Man sacrifices his wife to procure wealth in jars. India: Thompson-Balys.
S264 Sacrifice to rivers and seas. *Fb "sø" III 731a, "е" III 1187b.
S264.1 Man thrown overboard to placate storm. (Cf. S263.5.3.) Type 973*; Child V 496 s.v. "Ships"; Chauvin VII 30 No. 212 n. 2; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 227; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1024; Korean: Zong in-Sob 107 No. 57.
S264.1.1 Man carried on top of mast ready to be sacrificed to storm spirit. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S264.1.2 Woman drowns herself as sacrifice to water-gods to save husband's boat from capsizing. (Cf. S263.5.) Japanese: Ikeda.
S264.2 Sacrifice to tank. India: Thompson-Balys.
S265 Sacrifice of strangers. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 224 n. 1, II 273 n. 2; Japanese: Ikeda.
S265.1 Hostages sacrificed. Irish myth: *Cross.
S266 Burial of live girl to banish plague. German: Knoop Sagen u. Erzählungen aus Posen 123.
S267 Flood stopped by sacrifice of boy and girl. N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Benedict 337.
S268 Child sacrificed to provide blood for cure of friend. (Cf. S260.1.4.) *Type 516; **Rösch FFC LXXVII 138ff., 161ff.; BP I 56; *Chauvin VIII 195 No. 235: *Wells 787 (Amis and Amiloun); Hibbard 70ff.; Scala Celi 10a No. 64; Alphabet No. 55.—Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 9, Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.
S268.1 Sacrifice of child demanded as cure for feigned sickness. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S268.1.1 Prince's life can only be prolonged if servant sacrifices his only son to goddess. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S268.2 Son sold for transfusion of blood to sick king. India: Thompson-Balys.
S271 Sacrifice of child to remove barrenness. Penzer I 154; Chauvin V 176 No. 100; India: Thompson-Balys.
S272 Sacrifice of brothers promised if girl is born. *Type 451; BP I 71ff.
S272.1 Flight of brothers from home to avoid being sacrificed. *Type 451; BP I 70.
S273 Child bought to serve as sacrifice to demon. Penzer VII 87 n. 1; India: Thompson-Balys.
S274 Sacrifice as an agricultural rite. Irish myth: *Cross.
S276 Sacrifice as protection against disease. Irish myth: *Cross.
S300 Abandoned or murdered children.
S301 Children abandoned (exposed). *Types 327, 450, 590, 675, 920, 930; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 40ff.; *Penzer VII 81 n. 1, 82 n. 250; *Boje 65; *Cosquin études 199ff.; *Prato RTP IV 178; **Nutt FLR IV 1ff.; **Hartland FLJ IV 308; *Aarne FFC XXIII 60; Cowell Jataka V 230; Dickson 152.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "enfant"; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103, 119; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 8, *Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 94f.; Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 471; Tonga: Gifford 122; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 523; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 369, 385; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 349 n. 255, (California): Gayton and Newman 89, (Zuсi): Benedict II 335; West Indies: Flowers 576.
S302 Children murdered. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman.
S302.1 All new-born male children slaughtered. Jewish: *Neuman.
S303 Son killed at instigation of lover. India: Thompson-Balys.
S303.1 Woman asks suitor to kill the child of his first wife. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 228.
S310 Reasons for abandonment of children. (Cf. K2015, M371, M373, M375.)
S311 Undesirable children exposed, desirable preserved. *Frazer Old Testament II 437ff.; Icelandic: Boberg.
S311.1 Parents successively bury alive their sons who mention something about smith's, potter's, washerman's, and tom-tom beater's trade, but keep fifth child who says something about being future king. India: Thompson-Balys.
S312 Illegitimate child exposed. (Cf. S12.2.1, T640.) *Encyc. Religion Ethics s.v. "Abandonment and exposure"; *Nutt FLR IV 1ff.; Frazer Apollodorus I 252 n. 2; Aarne FFC XXIII 63; *Hertel Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 83ff., 91. — Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S312.1 Child of incest exposed. (Cf. T410.) *Type 933; Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 173 (to Gonzenbach No. 85); *Baum PMLA XXXI 562 n. 59; Krappe Neuphilologische Mitteilungen XXXIV (1933) 11—22; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg.
S312.2 Violated woman's child exposed. Icelandic: *Boberg.
S312.3 Posthumous child to be exposed. Icelandic: Boberg.
S312.4 Woman abandons baby boy (of which she was artificially impregnated) in forest. India: Thompson-Balys.
S313 Child of supernatural birth exposed. (Cf. T520.) *Nutt FLR IV 1ff., Gaster Thespis 255; Greek: Grote I 103; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
S314 Twins (triplets) exposed. (Cf. T587.) *Krappe Balor 17 n. 55; Dickson 103 n. 10; Gaster Thespis 255; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: Grote I 103.
S321 Destitute parents abandon children. *Encyc. Religion Ethics s.v. "Abandonment and exposure"; *Type 327; *BP I 123; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Grote I 103; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 256 No. 200a; Korean: Zong in-Sob 43 No. 25.
S321.1 Children abandoned in famine. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 374, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 34a; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Benedict II 335; Africa (Wachaga): Gutmann 142.
S322 Children abandoned (driven forth, exposed) by hostile relative. *Roberts 128; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Espinosa II No. 114, Espinosa Jr. No. 140.
S322.0.1 Orphaned boy deprived of his inheritance by relatives. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S322.1 Father casts daughter forth. Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 107f., 154, Espinosa Jr. Nos. 120—123.
S322.1.1 Father who wanted son exposes (murders) daughter. Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Fox 56 (Atalanta); India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 203.
S322.1.2 Father casts daughter forth when she will not marry him. (Cf. T411.1.) *Type 510B; BP II 45; Cox passim; Krappe Zeitschrift für englische Philologie XLIX 361—69; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 99—103.
S322.1.2.1 Exposure in jungle for refusing to marry according to father's wishes. India: Thompson-Balys.
S322.1.3 Father condemns daughter to death because he believes her unchaste. Type 883A; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Somali): Kirk FL XV 319ff. No. 3, Reinisch Die Saho-Sprache (Wien, 1889) I 76ff. No. 3.
S322.1.4 Princess humiliated by father after she has married loathly bridegroom. India: Thompson-Balys.
S322.1.5 Boy turned out of doors by father. India: Thompson-Balys.
S322.1.5.1 King, jealous of son, banishes him and his wife. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 210.
S322.2 Jealous mother casts daughter forth. (Cf. S12.) *Type 709; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 30 No. 1.
S322.2.1 Mother exposes child (for fear of jealous co-wife). Irish myth: *Cross.
S322.3 Jealous co-wife kills woman's children. (Cf. K2222.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 246 No. 36, (Zulu): Callaway 237.
S322.3.1 Jealous co-wife demands murder of woman's children. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S322.3.2 Jealous concubine plots against real wife's daughter. Chinese: Graham.
S322.4 Evil stepmother casts boy forth. *Types 592; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S322.4.1 Banishment (death) of stepchildren demanded as cure for feigned illness. India: Thompson-Balys.
S322.4.2 Evil stepmother orders stepdaughter to be killed. Irish myth: *Cross.
S322.4.3 Stepmother irritates two stepsons so that one kills the other. India: Thompson-Balys.
S322.5 Repulsed lover kills woman's child. Dickson 73 n. 26.
S322.6 Jealous mother-in-law and sisters cast woman's children forth. Roberts 132; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S322.7 Evil stepmother works stepdaughter to death in absence of merchant husband. India: Thompson-Balys.
S324 Pregnant woman ordered by husband to kill child to be born. Irish myth: Cross.
S325 Diseased child exposed. Africa (Kaffir): Kidd 224 No. 1.
S325.0.1 Monstrous (deformed) child exposed. (Cf. S11.3.2, T550.) Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Grote I 55; Chinese: Graham; Marquesas: Handy 114; Tonga: Gifford 31, 60.
S325.0.1.1 Child born with caul exposed. Irish myth: Cross.
S326 Disobedient children cast forth. India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 205.
S326.1 Disobedient child burned. Irish myth: Cross.
S327 Child cast out because of his stupidity. Type 563; Grimm No. 36; India: Thompson-Balys.
S327.1 Father wants to kill son because of foolish boasting. India: Thompson-Balys.
S327.2 Baby ordered killed because it pulls beard of father (raja). India: Thompson-Balys.
S327.3 Half-wit abandoned because of his tricks. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XXII 23.
S328 Mother sells her child to heathen sailors. Boje 63, *67.
S329 Reasons for abandonment of children—miscellaneous.
S329.1 Child exposed so as to avoid death decree. India: Thompson-Balys.
S330 Circumstances of murder or exposure of children.
S331 Exposure of child in boat (floating chest). See references for S141, nearly all of which refer to this motif. Type 930; W. R. Halliday Indo-European Folk Tales and Greek Legend (London, 1933) 55; Irish myth: Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; Greek: Grote I 103; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 558, 931; Japanese: Ikeda; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 152.
S332 Queen hides her child and accuses wolf of eating it. Malone PMLA XLIII 437.
S333 Child's ankles pierced before exposing him. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 344 n. 1 (Oedipus).
S334 Tokens of royalty (nobility) left with exposed child. (Cf. H80.) *Penzer VII 81 n. 1; Irish myth: Cross; English: Wells 134 (Sir Degare), 126 (Lai Le Freine); Greek: Fox 71.
S334.1 Child exposed with twelve years' supply of food and attendants. India: Thompson-Balys.
S335 Child exposed at palace gate. Penzer VII 81 n. 1, 82 n., 250.
S336 Abandoned child wrapped in straw. DeVries FFC LXXIII 326f.
S337 Children enticed into grain pot and imprisoned. India: Thompson-Balys.
S338 Father abandons his daughter in forest and leaves axes tied so that they move in wind. Daughter thinks he is cutting wood. *Roberts 137.
S341 Exposure prevented.
S341.1 Exposure given up on account of newborn son's protesting stanza. Icelandic: Boberg.
S342 Mother induced by rival to kill her children. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S345 Parents trick children into going on hunt, and then abandon them in forest. (Cf. S143.) India: Thompson-Balys.
S350 Fate of abandoned child. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 54 No. 33; Japanese: Ikeda.
S350.1 Infant condemned to death saved by a smile. Irish myth: Cross.
S350.2 Child driven out (exposed) brought up in secret. Irish myth: *Cross.
S351 Abandoned child cared for by mother secretly. (Cf. R153.) Africa (Zulu): Callaway 236, (Basuto): Jacottet 128ff. No. 18.
S351.0.1 Abandoned child made over to its own mother (sister) acting as wet nurse. Jewish: *Neuman.
S351.1 Abandoned child cared for by grandmother (aunt, foster mother). Irish: *Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 167; N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 91.
S351.2 Abandoned child reared by herdsman. (Cf. R131.3.) Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Grote I 241, 263; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 458.
S351.2.1 Abandoned princess, brought up by herdsmen, becomes wife of king. Irish myth: *Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 378.
S352 Animal aids abandoned child(ren). (Cf. B535.) Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Sherenti): Lowe BBAE CXLIII (1) 515; West Indies: Flowers 576.
S352.1 Animal preserves fire for abandoned children in a clam shell. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 347, 349 nn. 247, 255.
S353 Abandoned child reared by supernatural beings. India: *Thompson-Balys; Maori: Dixon 42.
S353.1 Deity nurtures and rears abandoned child. India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1366.
S353.2 Exposed children miraculously fed by angels. Jewish: Neuman.
S354 Exposed infant reared at strange king's court (Joseph, Oedipus). *Type 931; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman, bin Gorion Born Judas I 165, 372; India: Thompson-Balys.
S354.1 Abandoned child adopted and found by queen. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S354.2 Travelers find exposed baby girl and take her to emperor's court. India: Thompson-Balys.
S354.3 Prince (princess) adopts exposed child. Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Wachaga): Gutmann 142.
S355 Exposed child carried off by wild beast. (Cf. R13.) Dickson 169ff.
S356 Children left at home seek exposed brothers and sisters. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 207.
S357 Abandoned sister rescued by brothers. When she is refused entrance to house, she makes complaint in a song and brothers bring her clothes. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 883C*.
S361 Bird carries food from deserted child to starving parents. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 348 n. 250.
S362 Starving parents come to abandoned child for food. Jewish: *Neuman (Joseph); Sulka of New Britain: Dixon 132 n. 2; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 349 n. 255.
S365 Maltreated children transformed. (Cf. D642.)
S365.1 Maltreated children transformed to doves. India: Thompson-Balys.
S366 Abandoned children return and kill parents. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 89.
S371 Abandoned daughter's son becomes hero. *Dixon 130, 132 n. 2, 136 nn. 10, 11; Greek: Grote I 854; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S375 Old woman's maledictions inform abandoned hero of his parentage and future. He has knocked her over (broken pots). *Cosquin Contes indiens 398.
S376 Tree feeds abandoned children with its sap. India: Thompson-Balys.
S378 Deserted children become Thunder. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 91.
S400 Cruel persecutions.
S401 Unsuccessful attempts to kill person in successive reincarnations (transformations). Egyptian: Petrie Egyptian Tales (London, 1895) I 36ff., Von Sydow "Den fornegyptiska Sagan om de tvе Bröderna" Yearbook of the New Society of Letters of Lund, 1930, 53ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys.
S410 Persecuted wife. *Types 450, 705, 706, 707, 708, 712, 872*; *BP II 236, 284; *Schlauch Constance and Accused Queens (New York, 1927); *Hibbard 29, 35ff.; *Wehrhan 51; *Krappe Anglia XLIX 361ff. —Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Keller, Espinosa II No. 105; India: *Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 365, III 104, Rink 441, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 198.
S411 Wife banished. India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 526.
S411.1 Misunderstood wife banished by husband. She has decorated the house for his homecoming, but he thinks that she is expecting a paramour. *Type 890 (Christiansen Norske Eventyr 113); Japanese: Ikeda.
S411.2 Wife banished for some small fault. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S411.2.1 Queen banished for saying that man's condition depends on what kind of wife he has. India: Thompson-Balys.
S411.3 Barren wife sent away. India: *Thompson-Balys.
S411.4 Wife banished because she eats by stealth. India: Thompson-Balys.