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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| D1712.2 | Blind man as soothsayer. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K1667.1.2 | Blind man asks thief to invest a larger sum for him. The greedy thief puts back the stolen money hoping to get more. The blind man recovers his money. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N886 | Blind man carries lame man. They thus combine and are able to get along. *Type 519; *Wesselski Arlotto II 255 n. 1; Herbert III 192; Oesterley No. 71; Scala Celi 23b No. 151. — Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 68, *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 53; N. A. Indian (Navaho): Alexander N. Am. 174. |
| N577 | Blind man carrying lame man as guardians of treasure. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| U171 | Blind man crosses a narrow bridge which his guide is afraid to attempt. Alphabet No. 140. |
| K1667.1 | Blind man gets back his stolen treasure by making thief expect a larger one. |
| X128 | Blind man in awkward position pretends to see. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F642.3.3 | Blind man is able to see two unborn rats within mother rat. Korean: Zong in-Sob. |
| X123.1 | Blind man reaches his home hanging on ox's tail (or in other ridiculous situation). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K306.4 | Blind man steals from neighbor who in turn steals from him. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| X124.1 | Blind man strikes woman thinking she is buffalo. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J33 | Blind man who feels young wolf recognises his savage nature. Wienert FFC LVI 69 (ET 329), 122 (ST 314); Halm Aesop 57. |
| N388 | Blind men accidentally hurt each other. (Trying to kill pig, or the like.) Herbert III 71. |
| J1761.10 | Blind men and elephant. Four blind men feel an elephant's leg, tail, ear and body, respectively, and conclude it is like a log, a rope, a fan, and something without beginning or end. *Taylor English Riddles in Oral Tradition (Berkeley, 1951) 582 n. 11; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1081.1 | Blind men duped into fighting: money to be divided. Trickster says that he is giving one of them money to be divided with the others. Gives it to none. They quarrel and fight. (Cf. K1883.6.) *Wesselski Gonnella 126 No. 21; *Bédier Fabliaux 447; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1577*; Russian: Andrejev No 1577I*; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K1081.2 | Blind men duped into fighting: stolen meat. The trickster steals one piece of meat. The blind accuse each other and fight. Italian Novella: Rotunda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 298 n. 89; Africa (Ibo, Nigeria): Thomas 82, 124. |
| K1081.3 | Blind men duped into fighting: strings leading to water removed. Fb "snor"; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 298 n. 89. |
| K1081 | Blind men duped into fighting. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| X125 | Blind men trying to kill pigs with clubs strike one another. (Cf. K1081.) Herbert III 71, 133, 572. |
| N337.1 | Blind poet unintentionally kills friend. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| P427.7.3 | Blind poets. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M223 | Blind promise (rash boon). Person grants wish before hearing it. English romance: Malory X 22; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| X124.2 | Blind son-in-law visits his wife's family: gets into difficulties. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K436 | Blind thief trying to steal dates from withered tree killed by slipping of rope. Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XX 53. |
| F655.2 | Blind tiger recognizes by man's voice that he is a hypocrite. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| X1503.2 | Blind town, its king fourfold blind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K2273.1 | Blind villain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E501.4.3.2 | Blind wild boar in wild hunt. Plischke 32. |
| T581.2.2 | Blind wives fall into a pool where they give birth to children. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| X141 | Blind, lame, and deaf as witnesses in court. Type 1673*. |
| F952.0.2 | Blinded prince forces goddess to give him back his sight. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1465 | Blinded slave's revenge. Threatens to jump from tower with lord's children unless lord blinds himself. Lord does so but slave jumps with children nevertheless. Wesselski Theorie 16; *Krappe Archiv f. d. Studium d. neueren Sprachen CLX 162ff. |
| D1313.4 | Blinded trickster directed by trees. He asks them their names and by their answers he can tell where he is. (Cf. D950.)—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 297 n. 86a. |
| Q451.7.2.1 | Blinding (of father) as punishment for ravisher. (Cf. Q411.3.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| Q451.7.2.2 | Blinding as punishment for attempt to violate girl (queen). Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q451.7.3 | Blinding as punishment for incest. (Cf. Q242.) Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q451.7.4 | Blinding as punishment for murder. (Cf. Q211.) Irish myth: *Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| Q451.7.1 | Blinding as punishment for perjury. (Cf. Q263.) Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 493; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| Q451.7.2 | Blinding as punishment for ravisher. (Cf. Q244.) Herbert III 206; Oesterley No. 50. |
| Q451.7 | Blinding as punishment. *Fb "blind" IV 45b, "øje" III 1165a; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 322; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 137; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 367 n. 1; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D2062.2.1 | Blinding by curse. (Cf. M431.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2062.2 | Blinding by magic. Irish myth: *Cross; German: Grimm No. 135; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| S165.3 | Blinding by thrusting needles into eyes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F952.5 | Blindness cured by application of chicken dung. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Nyanja): Rattray Some Folk-Lore Stories and Songs in Chinyanja (London, 1907) 149ff. No. 24. |
| F952.6 | Blindness cured by drop of water from side of crucified Saviour. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2161.4.10.5 | Blindness cured by killing snake that caused it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F952.3.2 | Blindness cured by rubbing eyes with flower. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F952.3 | Blindness cured by rubbing sand on eyes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F952.3.1.1 | Blindness cured by striking eyes with shell. Africa (Nyanja): Rattray Some Folk-Lore Stories and Songs in Chinyanja (London, 1907) 149ff. No. 24. |
| F952.3.1 | Blindness cured by striking eyes. (Cf. F953.1.) India: *Thompson-Balys; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/931). |
| F952.4 | Blindness cured by striking head violently on tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F952.1 | Blindness cured by tears. *Type 310; BP I 97, 99. |
| F952.2 | Blindness healed by sun's rays. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 32. |
| D2161.3.1 | Blindness magically cured. (Cf. D1505.) Fb "blind" IV 45b; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1153, 1234. |
| F952 | Blindness miraculously cured. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "aveugle"; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 25. |
| D1812.5.1.1.3 | Blood (in dream) as omen of killing. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1542.1.7 | Blood and liver of black dog sacrificed to bring rain. (Cf. D1016., D1015.4.) Jijena Sanchez 134. |
| V211.5.1 | Blood and wine issue from wound in side of crucified Savior. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1502.4.2 | Blood as cure for leprosy. (Cf. D1003.) *Chauvin VIII 195 No. 235 n. 1; Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 202; Jewish: Neuman. |
| E761.1 | Blood as life token. |
| D1355.2.2 | Blood as love-philtre. (Cf. D1003).—*Fb "blod" IV 46b; *Kittredge Witchcraft 30, 382 n. 53. |
| D1041 | Blood as magic drink. Frazer Golden Bough XII 189 s.v. "blood"; Zs. f. deutsche Philologie XXVI (1894) 9; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Hrolfs saga Kraka 62, 69, Völsungasaga 45, *Boberg; Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 248. |
| D1335.2.1 | Blood as magic strengthening drink. (Cf. D1041.)—Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Blut".—Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 5. |
| D1347.2 | Blood as remedy for barrenness in woman. (Cf. D1003.)—*Fb "blod" IV 47a. |
| V12.1 | Blood as sacrifice. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 90. |
| N335.2 | Blood bath causes woman to be carried off by bird. A pregnant woman demands a bath of blood: husband substitutes a bath of red dye. A Garuda bird attracted by the dye carries her off. Penzer I 97; Dunlop-Liebrecht 135. |
| D1318.5.6 | Blood bubbles at place of murder. Jewish: Neuman. |
| M201.1 | Blood covenant. Contract written (or signed) with blood. Hdwb. d. Abergl. II 272ff., 1026; *Wilken Verspreide Geschriften I 539ff.; *W. Robertson Smith Religion of the Semites@3 270ff.; *Penzer I 98 n.; *Fb "skrive"; "blod" IV 47b; ** H. C. Turmbull The Blood Covenant (London, 1887). — Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "sang", "pacte"; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1318.5.5 | Blood drops from stone to indicate girl's innocence. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 47 No. 87**. |
| D1505.8.1 | Blood from Christ's wounds restores sight. Longinus. Paris Légendes du moyen âge 151. |
| A2221.2.2 | Blood from cross on robin redbreast: He helps Jesus; rewarded with red breast. (Cf. A2353.2.)—Fb "rodkjælk".—Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 54 No. 92**; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 90 No. 82; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 87 No. 92**; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3130, Legends Nos. 229ff.; England: Baughman. |
| A2731.3 | Blood from wizard becomes red grain of cedar. Bleeding head of wizard who tries to kill the sun placed on top of a tree. (Cf. A2755.1.)—Yuchi: Alexander N. Am. 64. |
| D1318.5 | Blood indicates guilt or innocence. (Cf. D1003.) Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Blut"; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1563.1.5 | Blood makes soil fertile. (Cf. D1003.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1563.2.2 | Blood makes tree (and surroundings) poisonous. (Cf. D1016.) Irish myth: *Cross; Gaster Thespis 296. |
| B776.5 | Blood of animal considered venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.5 | Blood of bear venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F1075 | Blood of brother and sister (and smoke from their funeral pyres) refuses to mingle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K961.0.1 | Blood of certain animal said to be sweet. Its death thus brought about. *Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 57 No. 20; American Negro: Harris Friends 45ff. No. 6. |
| D1502.4.2.1 | Blood of children (innocent maidens) as cure for leprosy. Child I 47, 50 n., IV 441b, V 285; Penzer I 98 n.; Alphabet No. 713. |
| M201.1.1 | Blood of contractors mixed to seal bargain. Irish myth: *Cross; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 268. |
| B11.2.13.1 | Blood of dragon venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B11.2.13 | Blood of dragon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1500.1.7.3.1 | Blood of executed man as remedy. *Fb "blod" IV 47a. |
| G367.1 | Blood of five ogres colored yellow, red, white, green, black. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B776.5.2 | Blood of lion venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.4 | Blood of otter venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1500.1.7.3.2 | Blood of saint as cure. Irish: Plummer clxxxi, *Cross (D1500.1.9.2); *Loomis White Magic 104; Icelandic: Boberg (D1500.1.9.2). |
| D1382.13 | Blood of salamander protects against fire. (Cf. D1016.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2221.2.3 | Blood of scourged Christ on certain spiders. (Cf. A2411.3.2.) —Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 89 No. 122a. |
| B776.5.3 | Blood of snakes venomous. (cf. B776.7.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B776.5.1 | Blood of toad venomous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1594.4 | Blood of twelve buffaloes vitalizes tiger. (Cf. D1016.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1355.2.2.1 | Blood of wounded centaur as love philtre. (Cf. D1016.) Greek: Grote I 139. |
| D1505.8 | Blood restores sight. (Cf. D1003.) India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1344.12 | Blood smeared on body renders invulnerable. (Cf. D1016.) —Jewish: Neuman. |
| K2155.1 | Blood smeared on innocent person brings accusation of murder. *Types 652, 712; *BF I 18 n. 1; Spanish: Espinosa II No. 89, India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 369 No. 20. See also all references to K2116.1.1. West Indies: Flowers 536. |
| D1610.16 | Blood speaks. (Cf. D1003, D1318.5.) *Chauvin V 13 No. 8. |
| D1318.5.1 | Blood springs from murderer's finger when he touches victim. Fb "blod" IV 47a. |
| E761.1.5.1 | Blood stops boiling. Gaster Exempla 224 No. 194. |
| E761.1.13 | Blood stops flowing from wound when captives escape. Papua: Ker 64. |
| D492.2 | Blood turns black. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F955.1 | Blood-bath as cure for leprosy. (Cf. F872.3.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| P312 | Blood-brotherhood. Friends take oath of brotherhood by means of mixing their blood. *Type 1364; **Encyc. Rel. Ethics II 717a, 857ff.; **H. C. Trumbull The Blood Covenant (London, 1887); *Chauvin VII 20 No. 373D; *Hibbard 145 n. 3; Fb "blod" IV 46b; Nitze MPh IX 291; DeVries Acta Philologica Scandinavica III 106; *Basset RTP VI 577—XXV 438 passim; *Julian Revue d'Ethnographie et de Trad. Pop. II 1ff.; **H. Tegnæus Blood-Brothers (Stockholm, 1952). — Irish myth: Cross: Icelandic: *Boberg; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G 13/203); Africa: Stanley 274. |
| S166.6 | Blood-eagle cut on man's back by flaying and salting. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 656, *Boberg. |
| B16.6.2 | Blood-sucking chafer. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B17.1.2.1 | Bloodhounds decapitate victim. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K828 | Bloodthirsty animal by trickery admitted to fold: kills peaceful animal. Type 123; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E259 | Bloodthirsty revenants—miscellaneous. |
| E250 | Bloodthirsty revenants. |
| C913.1 | Bloody egg as sign of disobedience. German: Grimm No. 46. |
| C913 | Bloody key as sign of disobedience. (Cf. C611, C813.)—*Types 311, 312: BP I 404ff. |
| K2155.1.1 | Bloody knife left in innocent person's bed brings accusation of murder. See references to K2155.1. Dickson 74, 225; Hibbard 25 n. 5. |
| H432.4 | Blooming staff as chastity index. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1375.1.4 | Blossom causes horns to grow on person. (Cf. D975.) —Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 16. |
| D1375.2.5 | Blossoms remove horns from person. (Cf. D975.) Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 16. |
| Q265.2.1 | Blotches on face of satirist (judge) as punishment for wrongful satire (judgment). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| E265.1.1 | Blow received from a spirit at night; that side paralyzed. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts; England: *Baughman. |
| K26 | Blowing contest won by deception. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 194a n. 17. |
| B743 | Blowing serpent. Can blow through seven church walls but not through a pair of hose.—Fb "blæseorm". |
| Z81 | Blowing the house in. I'll huff and I'll puff till I blow your house in. Type 124; *Taylor JAFL XLVI 78; BP I 40f.; Jacobs English Fairy Tales 251 No. 14. |
| Z144.1 | Blue as symbolic of martyrdom. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F545.1.1 | Blue beard. *Type 312. |
| B731.6.2 | Blue dogs and cats. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T3.1 | Blue fortunate in love matters. English: Child II 182, 512a. |
| A522.2.1 | Blue Jay as culture hero. N. A. Indian: Boas RBAE XXXI 646 and passim. |
| G229.7 | Blue lights follow witches. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F527.3 | Blue man. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 547. |
| B731.11 | Blue serpent. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F544.3.3 | Blue teeth. Jewish: Neuman; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F544.3.3.1 | Blue, protruding teeth of one and a half elbow-length. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F241.1.1.3 | Blue, red, yellow horses in fairyland. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| S62.1 | Bluebeard. Girl marries murderous husband. *Type 312; cf. Type 955; *BP I 404ff.; Child I 47; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 312f. Nos. 73, 77; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 91—93. |
| F456.2.1 | Bluecap moves coal-tubs for miners. England: *Baughman. |
| A2442.2.4 | Bluejay's flight. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 348 No. 2. |
| K1765 | Bluff in court: the stone in the purse. A poor man has a stone in his purse to throw at the judge if he is sentenced. The judge thinks that he has money to use as a bribe and acquits him. *Type 1660; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 253 No. 171. |
| K1762 | Bluff: climbing the mast. In a contest in climbing the mast the hero falls into the rigging. "You do the same thing," he challenges. The sailors are persuaded of his expertness. *Type 1611; N. A. Indian (Maliseet): Speck JAFL XXX 482 No. 7; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 190. |
| K1718.4 | Bluff: harrow said to be comb of hero's mother. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K1741 | Bluff: hero professes to be able to perform much larger task than that assigned. *BP III 333; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| K1715.8 | Bluff: hero to brother, "You take one and I can manage the rest." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1718.3 | Bluff: huge cauldron of tar said to be kitchen-pot of hero's mother. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K1775 | Bluff: insult repeated as harmless remark. The trickster makes an insulting remark, but when called on to repeat what he said he changes it so as to turn aside wrath. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 130; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 12 No. 1, (Benga): Nassau 153ff. No. 19, (Yoruba): Ellis 266, (Ibo, Nigeria): Thomas 88, 151, (Kaffir): Theal 165, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 384 No. 10, 395 No. 18; West Indies: Flowers 545. Cf. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale lines 343ff. |
| K1718.2 | Bluff: millstones said to be pearls of hero's mother. Ogre overawed. Type 1146. |
| K1715.2 | Bluff: only one tiger; you promised ten. Child (or shepherd) calls out to the small hero (ape, hare) and makes the tiger (ogre) think that he is lucky to escape alive. *Type 1149; Aarne FFC XI 154; Dh IV 278; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 322. |
| K1718.5 | Bluff: plow said to be hoe of hero's mother. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K1761 | Bluff: provisions for the swimming match. In a swimming match from a ship the hero takes a knapsack of provisions on his back. His rival is afraid and gives up. *Type 1612; N. A. Indian (Maliseet): Speck JAFL XXX 482 No. 7; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 190. |
| K1715.7 | Bluff: small (lame) hero makes demon believe he is a god and threatens to eat him. Demon terrorized. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1786 | Bluff: the rare vintages. Host serves many rare vintages and gets a reputation for his wine cellar. But there is only a small jug of each vintage. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 837. |
| K1718.1 | Bluff: thunder said to be the rolling of hero's brother's wagon. Ogre overawed. Type 1147. |
| K1741.1.1 | Bluff: told to bring home a tree, hero prepares to bring home six. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K1741.2.1 | Bluff: told to bring home an ox, hero prepares to bring home ten. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K1741.3.1 | Bluff: told to bring water in an ox skin, hero prepares to dig a canal. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K1782 | Bluff: wealth gained by seeming to be in the king's confidence. Courtier asks the king for a reward that will cost nothing. He gets permission to listen to the king's devotions. He now receives bribes because of his apparent influence. *Penzer V 186 n. 1; *Wesselski Mönchslatein 127 No. 110, Morlini 266 No. 4; Clouston Tales II 360ff.; *Herbert III 421 No. 82; Scala Celi 136b No. 762. |
| K1771 | Bluffing threat. |
| E501.4.3 | Boar (sow) in wild hunt. Plischke 31. |
| B256.6.3 | Boar acts as physician for holy man: licks his wounded feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B598.1 | Boar as confederate of adulterous wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.6.1 | Boar guards holy man's swine. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F989.18 | Boar hung in spider's web. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K97.1 | Boar in duel with tiger cakes mud on body: defeats tiger. India* Thompson-Balys. |
| B256.6.2 | Boar makes music for holy man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J411.1 | Boar refuses to fight with lowly ass. Wienert FFC LVI *76 (ET 158), 120 (ST 298). |
| B256.6 | Boar serves saint. (Cf. B183.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| B211.1.4.1 | Boar sings song. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B101.2.1 | Boar with golden bristles. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 109, 266. |
| B15.7.8 | Boar with nine tusks in each jaw. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1322.1.2 | Boards for coffin making mysteriously moved announces death. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 641. |
| F812.7 | Boards of wood from certain forest endure forever. Jewish: Neuman. |
| J552.6 | Boast at home. In Castile a Spaniard maintains to a Portuguese that the Spanish king is best of all. In Portugal, that the Portuguese king is best. "Each cock crows in his own barnyard." Spanish: Childers (J500). |
| N234 | Boast of poor boy made good by fate: he boasts to elder brothers he will build a palace on a certain spot; accidentally comes on treasure trove and makes good his boast. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1776 | Boast where the master cannot hear. The servant boasts that he has scolded his master. Type 2404. |
| J978 | Boaster of victory over a weaker person reprimanded. Wienert FFC LVI 85 (ET 517), 91 (ST 40). |
| K1951.4 | Boastful coward frightened by conspirators. N. A. Indian (Cheyenne): Kroeber JAFL XIII 172. Cf. Falstaff in Shakespeare's Henry IV part I. |
| J2631 | Boastful coward frightened when he sees strong adversaries. Hides in trousers of plowman who fights the men. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *650B; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV No. 650B; Finnish: Aarne FFC V, XXXIII No. 650B; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 261f. No. 129. |
| K1951.1.1 | Boastful elephant killer: killed at one blow. Elephant has been poisoned. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1951.1 | Boastful fly-killer: "seven at a blow". A tailor who has killed seven flies writes on a placard: "Seven at a blow." He is received as a great warrior. *Type 1640; *BP I 148ff.; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 23; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 194f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: Coster-Wijsman 73 No. III; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 51; N. A Indian: *Thompson CColl II 430ff. |
| W117 | Boastfulness. |
| K1837.1 | Boasting coward exposed by wife who masks as highwayman and robs him. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 142 No. 1710. |
| L410.3 | Boasting king insulted by crow dropping filth on him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B558.1 | Boat drawn by swans (geese). **Boekenoogen Ridder metter Swane 166ff.—Krappe Balor 44; *Fb "svane" III 664—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 262.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 358 n. 287 n. |
| J2212.7 | Boat expected to grow into ship. Christensen DF XLVII 189 No. 15. |
| F841.1.12 | Boat from gourd. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1523.2.7 | Boat guided by magic sea-charm. (Cf. D1273.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1523.2.5 | Boat guides self. *Kittredge Witchcraft 16; *Loomis White Magic 90; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F841.1.10.1 | Boat looks like gold. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K815.12 | Boat lured to land with kind words and wrecked in order to take vengeance on the men. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1121.0.1 | Boat made by magic. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bateau"; Finnish: Kalevala rune 16. |
| D1982.5 | Boat made invisible. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 293. |
| F841.1.11 | Boat made of a tree trunk. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F841.1.4 | Boat made of nutshells. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "coques", "noix". |
| D1523.2.4 | Boat obeys master's will. *Kittredge Witchcraft 16; Irish myth: *Cross; England: Baughman. |
| A723 | Boat of the sun. Egyptian: Müller 26; Icel.: cf. Du Chaillu The Viking Age 100ff., 107; Almgren Hällristningar och Kultbruk (Stockholm, 1926—27) passim. |
| D1523.2.2 | Boat propelled by magic awl. (Cf. D1187.) Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "alène". |
| D1523.2.3 | Boat propelled by magic wand. (Cf. D1254.1.) Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "navigation". |
| X1781.1 | Boat sailing over dry river bed (rice water). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E481.2.2 | Boat to land of dead. Icelandic: De la Saussaye 292, *Boberg; Irish myth: Cross; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 75. |
| F93.0.1 | Boat to lower world. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| B541.4.1 | Boat towed by dog. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 505, (Greenland): Rink 196. |
| D632 | Boat transforms self at will of master. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bateau". |
| H251.1 | Bocca della Veritа. Person swearing oath places hand in mouth of image. If oath is false the hand is bitten off. *Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 216; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 8, 206; *Krappe Nuovi Studi Medievali II fasc. I (1925); *Spargo Virgil the Necromancer 207ff.; English: Child I 269, 270 n., cf. Alphabet No. 418; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| Q461.2 | Bodies from which limbs have been cut hung on stakes as punishment. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G691 | Bodies of victims in front of ogre's house. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 351 n. 268b. |
| A911 | Bodies of water from tears. (Cf. A901, A920.1.5, A941.2, A1012.) —Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 135; Nebraska: Pound WF VI 305—316; Finnish: Kalevala rune 4; African (Upoto): Einstein 127. |
| A910.3 | Bodies of water in primitive abyss sink. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A910.4 | Bodies of water remnant of flood. S. A. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 133. |
| T135.12 | Bodies of would-be bride and groom besmeared with turmeric and mustard-oil. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J351 | Bodily member(s) sacrificed to save life. (Cf. J341.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D1312.1 | Bodily members as advisers. (Cf. D990.)—N.A.Indian: *Thompson Tales 318 n. 150. |
| N2.3 | Bodily members wagered. |
| B21.2 | Body and hands human, head and ears those of a horse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E431.18 | Body cut up and buried in vessels, buried in bag. England: Baughman. |
| E727.3 | Body dependent on soul. N. A. Indian: Hultkrantz 430—440. |
| E721.1.2.3.1 | Body dismembered so soul cannot return. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 287. |
| E477 | Body in coffin moves so as to make room for his recently deceased friend. *Loomis White Magic 92. |
| E721.2 | Body in trance while soul is absent. *Fb "legeme" II 393a, "heks" I 581a, "sjæl" III 215a; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 299—300. |
| M219.2.5 | Body of devil's disciple is removed from coffin by devil. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| F451.2.1 | Body of dwarf. |
| F232 | Body of fairy. Irish: Beal XXI 324. |
| D1515.4.4 | Body of gnat as antidote for snakebite. (Cf. D1010.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1517.1 | Body of housefly as remedy for hornet sting. (Cf. D1010.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| E422.1 | Body of living corpse. |
| B22.1 | Body of man, head of ass. Jewish: Neuman. |
| Q559.3 | Body of murdered man cannot be moved nor can water be drawn from a well to wash it. Leads to exposure of murderer. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| Q147.1 | Body of saint miraculously rolls over to make room in his grave for pious man. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| D1472.1.24.4 | Body of tortoise provides food. (Cf. D1010.) Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 106. |
| D2061.2.2.4 | Body of victim abused. |
| F420.1.4.1 | Body of water-spirit is half human and half fish or snake. Icelandic: *Boberg; German: Künzig Schwarzwald 168, Henninger 72. |
| E63.1 | Body placed in building and worshipped until it comes to life. (Cf. E62.) Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 420. |
| E152 | Body still warm restored to life. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 152. |
| F686 | Body with marvelous heat. Melts snow thirty feet around and serves as fuel for man's companions. Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 198. |
| K2011.1.2 | Bogey imitates mother and kills child. Africa (Kenya): Browne Vanishing Tribes of Kenya (London, 1926) 211ff. |
| Q414.1.1 | Boiling in tar as punishment for impostor. (Cf. Q262.) Africa (Angola): Chatelain 49 version B. |
| D1355.3.5 | Boiling lock of lover's hair draws him to sweetheart. England: Baughman. |
| J1813.2 | Boiling milk thought to be overflowing. Simpleton lets it run over. Type 1328*. |
| D478.14 | Boiling pitch reduced to cold water. *Loomis White Magic 81. |
| J1813.4 | Boiling pot on the floor thought to be self-cooking. Christensen DF XLVII 177 No. 5, cf. 192 No. 18. |
| J1813.3 | Boiling pumpkin thought to be talking. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| S112.1 | Boiling to death. Often in pitch or oil. *Cosquin études 360ff.; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 83 No. 711A*; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 321 n. 1; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| K1626.3 | Boiling water meant for cooking hero used for man who has prepared it. S. Am. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 150. |
| Q222.5.3 | Bold woman who danced naked in church is stricken with leprosy. *Loomis White Magic 97. |
| Q333 | Boldness punished. |
| P171.2 | Bond woman with rope girding her loins. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1651.9.1 | Bonds can be loosed only by comrades of man who tied them. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1651.9 | Bonds cannot be loosed save by man who tied them. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E15.0.1 | Bone of man being burned jumps out of fire. Africa (Pahouin): Largeau 197. |
| D476.1.10 | Bone-powder changed into cheese. *Loomis White Magic 81. |
| A1152 | Boneless man turned over to produce seasons. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 276 n. 16. |
| F529.7 | Boneless person. Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1317.14 | Bones (human) warn of danger. (Cf. D1007.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 265. |
| F933.8 | Bones of bird constantly thrown up from well. Irish myth: Cross. |
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