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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| D1355.10 | Consecrated bread produces love. (Cf. D1031.1.1.) *Kittredge Witchcraft 149, 469 nn. 107, 108. |
| D1500.1.6.2.1 | Consecrated clay as remedy. (Cf. D935.2.) Irish myth: *Cross (D1500.1.28.2). |
| D1500.1.10.4 | Consecrated grain as remedy. (Cf. D973.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1500.1.15.1 | Consecrated healing ring. Kittredge Witchcraft 151, 471 n. 134; England: Baughman. |
| G281 | Consecrated wafer kept in mouth in order to be a witch. Kittredge Witchcraft 149, 469 n. 105; England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| D1500.1.10.2 | Consecrated wine as magic cure. (Cf. D1046.1.) Kittredge Witchcraft 148, 469 nn. 97—101. |
| D1046.1 | Consecrated wine as magic object. *Kittredge Witchcraft 148, 468f. nn. 97—101; Irish myth: Cross. |
| N533.4 | Consecrated wine used to discover treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 77 No. 649. |
| J1263.1.2 | Consecration of the ignorant priest. A bishop disgusted with priest's ignorance says, "Who consecrated you as priest?" — "You did, the time I gave you ten florins." Wesselski Bebel I 221 No 114. |
| U139.2 | Conservatism defies reason. |
| U139.2.1 | Conservative but absurd way of slaughtering hog stubbornly kept. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J751 | Consider difficulties of course you are about to undertake. |
| J869 | Consolation by a trifle—miscellaneous. |
| J860 | Consolation by a trifle. |
| J870 | Consolation by pretending that one does not want the thing he cannot have. |
| J865 | Consolation by thinking of some good aspect of a situation. |
| J866 | Consolation by thinking of the past. |
| J880 | Consolation by thought of others worse placed. |
| J861 | Consolation for misfortune found in food. |
| J890 | Consolation in misfortune—miscellaneous. |
| J893.1 | Consolation: priest tells blind man that even flies have eyes but only man has the inner eyes of the soul. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J893 | Consolation: spiritual recompense for temporal misfortune. |
| J861.1 | Consoled by a drop of honey. Man in pit surrounded by perils thus comforts himself. **Kuhn Der Mann in Brunnen (Stuttgart, 1888); *Chauvin II 85 No. 17, III 100 No. 6; Bødker Exempler 276 No. 16; Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 12; *Crane Vitry 191 No. 134; Alphabet No. 623.—Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| T212.1 | Constancy of wife brings husband back to life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E155.1.1 | Constant replacement of fighters. In contest between gods and demons, latter are constantly slain and replaced. Hindu: Keith 150. |
| V515.1.4 | Constantine's vision of the Cross. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F961.2.5.1 | Constellations bewail man's death. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V211.4 | Construction of the Cross. |
| T165.6 | Consummation of marriage postponed till couple return home. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T165.1 | Consummation of marriage postponed until revelation by dream of future of family has been secured. DeVries Zs. f. deutsche Philologie LIII 277. |
| T160 | Consummation of marriage. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J451 | Contagiousness of bad company. |
| Q300 | Contentiousness punished. (Cf. W188.) |
| W188 | Contentiousness. (Cf. Q300.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J229.8 | Contentment with evil master for fear of worse successor. Scala Celi 21a No. 128; Herbert III 35ff.; Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 45; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| D1364.12 | Contents of bottle cause magic sleep. (Cf. D1040, D1171.8, D1242.)—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "flacon". |
| C915 | Contents of forbidden receptacle are released. |
| D1719.1.4 | Contest between carpenter and son to race wooden horses they had both made. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1719.1.2 | Contest between druid and fairy personage. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H1598.1 | Contest between man and angel. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H1598 | Contest between man and other being. |
| J242.1 | Contest between rose and amaranth: worth lies not in beauty. Wienert FFC LVI 43 (ET 4), *142 (ST 484); Halm Aesop No. 384. |
| F681.3.1 | Contest between runner swift as thought and one swift as sight. Former wins. N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Michelson JAFL XXIV 249. |
| A736.11 | Contest between sun and moon. Chinese: Eberhard 219. |
| L351.1 | Contest between wind (rain) and sun. Rain also tries unsuccessfully like wind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H509.4.1.1 | Contest in adding a verse which makes the first poet ridiculous. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J242.6 | Contest in beauty between swallows and crows (ants and flies): worth lies not in beauty. Wienert FFC LVI 43 (ET 5, 9), 124 (ST 330), 142 (ST 482); Halm Aesop No. 415. |
| K63 | Contest in biting a stone. The ogre bites a stone; the man a nut. *Types 1061, 1640; BP I 68 n. 1, II 528; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 387 No. 13. |
| K48 | Contest in bridge-building won by deception. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1542.1 | Contest in crossing river of fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1541.1 | Contest in enduring cold: frost and the hare. Hare tries to deceive frost by lying on frozen snow and saying, "Oh, how warm!" *Type 71; Dh III 23. |
| H1541.2 | Contest in enduring cold: wind overcomes frost. Type 1097*. |
| H1541 | Contest in enduring cold. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1542 | Contest in enduring heat. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 194a n. 14; Icelandic: *Boberg; Melanesia: Wheeler 66. |
| H1544 | Contest in enduring thirst. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H1545 | Contest in fasting. *Loomis White Magic 130. |
| K25.2 | Contest in flying with load. One animal chooses cotton; the other, seeing that a rain is coming, chooses salt and wins. Dh III 142. |
| H1552.2 | Contest in generosity. Ruler vies with minister in generosity. Minister declared loser and condemned to die. Pardoned on acknowledging defeat. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K86 | Contest in hearing. *Type 238. |
| K17.2 | Contest in jumping from the church tower. The devil is not to look behind him. The man runs downstairs (or otherwise cheats). Type 1075*; *Bolte Frey 222 No. 19. |
| K17.3 | Contest in jumping into a trap. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 134. |
| W111.1 | Contest in laziness. Each cites instances of his laziness. *Type 1950; *BP III 207; Wesselski Märchen 213 No. 21; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 261; Oesterley No. 91; Fb "doven" IV 102b.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H504.1.1 | Contest in lifelike painting: fly on saint's nose. Second artist in first artist's absence paints a fly on a saint's nose in a picture. On his return the first artist tries to drive away the fly. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 411. |
| H504.1.3 | Contest in lifelike painting: grapes and curtain. First artist paints a bunch of grapes so realistically that it attracts the birds. The second artist paints a curtain which deceives the first artist. He wins. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H504.1.2 | Contest in lifelike painting: mare and curtain. First artist paints a mare so realistic as to deceive a stallion. Second paints a curtain which deceives the first artist. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 410. |
| H504.1 | Contest in lifelike painting. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1719.1.1 | Contest in magic between druid and saint. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1719.1 | Contest in magic. (Cf. H1573.3.) Type 325.—Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 327 n. 182; Eskimo (Greenland): Thalbitzer 7, Rasmussen II 334; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 139, (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII 3 484. |
| H509.2 | Contest in making mouths water. Hero uses certain berry that always causes mouths of onlookers to water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K61 | Contest in pushing hole in tree: hole prepared beforehand. Hero and ogre to vie in pushing a hole in a tree with their heads. *Type 1085, 1640; BP I 163; Köhler-Bolte I 86. |
| H331.1.7 | Contest in reaping: best reaper to get beautiful girl as wife. Irish myth: Cross. |
| H1543 | Contest in remaining under water. (Cf. H1538.) Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Madagascar): Renel I 168ff. No. 30. |
| H507.5 | Contest in scolding as introduction to battle. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K83.2 | Contest in scratching skin off each other: covering self with several ox-hides. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1098*. |
| K52.2 | Contest in seeing sunrise first: sleeper wins. One keeps awake, the other sleeps. The first thinks that he sees the sun and cries out prematurely, thus waking the other, who wins. *Dh III 147f. |
| K52.1 | Contest in seeing sunrise first: sun on the trees. The fox places himself on a hill facing the east; the hog in a lower place facing the high trees to the west. The sun shines on the top of the trees, and the hog wins. (Sometimes told with human actors.) *Type 120; Dh III 147ff., 150ff.; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 269; Irish: Jackson FL XLVII 285; Japanese: Ikeda. Cf. Harris Friends 3 No. 1. |
| K52 | Contest in seeing sunrise first. |
| K85 | Contest in seeing. *Type 238. |
| K84.1 | Contest in shrieking or whistling. *Type 1084; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 107. |
| K62 | Contest in squeezing water from a stone. The ogre squeezes a stone; the trickster a cheese or egg. *Types 1060, 1640; *BP I 148; *Fb "sten" III 554a, "øst" II 763a; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn I (1892) 438; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 51; Caucasian: Dirr Kaukasische Märchen 7 No. 2; Malay: Hambruch Malaiische Märchen 109; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis IX 289; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 146 No. 30. |
| K305 | Contest in stealing. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K70 | Contest in strength won by deception. |
| H507.3 | Contest in wishing. Type 1925; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H1588 | Contest of dogs. Two opponents test their powers by having their dogs fight. N. A. Indian: *Kroeber JAFL XXI 224. |
| D2144.2 | Contest of heat and cold. Magicians contest with each other in producing heat or cold that will overcome the other. Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. IX 85; cf. Type 71.—Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 81 No. 14; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 288 n. 61a. |
| V351.5 | Contest of miraculous powers between a Yogi and a Musselman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V351.3.1 | Contest of St. Peter with Simon Magus, a magician. *Loomis White Magic 120. |
| L351 | Contest of wind and sun. Sun by warmth causes traveler to remove coat, while wind by violent blowing causes him to pull it closer around him. Wienert FFC LVI 43 (ET 7), 80 (ET 457), 136 (ST 419); Halm Aesop No. 82; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3900; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 381ff.; Russian: Andrejev No. 298*; Indonesia: DeVries's list Nos. 95, 140. Cf. Halm No. 414. |
| E756 | Contest over souls. (Cf. E754.1.) Type 808**. |
| K69.1 | Contest with magician in bringing grain out of closed bamboo: trickster brings culm-borers to make holes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K5 | Contest with magician won by deception. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K0 | Contest won by deception—general. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K1 | Contest won by magic. India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Chincha, Peru): Alexander Lat. Am. 231. |
| K42.0.1 | Contest: harvesting the hay. The man calls out, "The wolves are coming!" The ogre is intimidated. Type 1053*. |
| K17.1 | Contest: jumping into the ground. A hole is already dug and covered with boughs. *Type 1086. |
| K64 | Contest: pulling on steak with teeth. Two men take an end of a steak in their teeth; each attempts to pull it away from the other. After each has a good hold, the Irishman says (with clenched teeth) "Noo're ready?" The Dutchman says, "Yah!", loses the steak. (Cf. K22, K561.1.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| K31.1 | Contest: shooting an unheard-of bird. The man sends his wife on all fours in tar and feathers. The ogre has never heard of such a bird. *Type 1092. |
| H1591.1 | Contest: spear-casting. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K17.1.1 | Contest: who can go deepest into the earth? Wren goes into mouse hole. *Type 221; *BP III 278; *Dh IV 169. |
| K81.4 | Contest: who will eat least. Food secretly furnished one, but plan detected and foiled. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1568A*. |
| A163 | Contests among the gods. |
| H1540 | Contests in endurance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K80 | Contests in other physical accomplishments won by deception. |
| T315 | Continence in marriage. |
| N550.1 | Continual failure to find or unearth hidden treasure. Texas: Dobie Coronado's Children passim. |
| H1484 | Continual pricking with pin in order to remain awake. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1658.1.4 | Continually slamming doors grateful for being fastened. (Cf. D1146.) Type 480; *Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 63 (to Gonzenbach No. 13). |
| C949.5 | Continued thirst from breaking tabu. (Cf. C924.)—Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 636. |
| D2172 | Continuing magic acts. |
| C916 | Continuous action started by breaking tabu. |
| A1065 | Continuous drought at end of world. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 736; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 171. |
| F1084.0.3 | Continuous fighting. No rest or food. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V52.2 | Continuous prayer sustains man through frightful vigil. *Type 307; *BP III 534; *Köhler-Bolte II 213ff.; Irish: Beal XXI 313, 319, O'Suilleabhain 37, 53; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| A1040 | Continuous winter destroys the race. Spoken of as "Fimbulwinter". It ushers in the end of the world.—*Olrik Ragnarök 479; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 336ff.; Persian: Carnoy 309.—S. Am. Indian (Toba, Pilagá, Tierra del Fuego): Métraux MAFLS XL 30, 37, (Chaco): Métraux BBAE CLXIII (1) 367. |
| A1046 | Continuous world-eclipse. India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Toba, Mocovi, Mataco, Choroti): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367, (Tupinamba): Métraux ibid. (3) 131, (Guarani): Métraux MAFLS XL 33. |
| A951.3 | Contours of land caused by occult hero driving harrow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A951 | Contours of land caused by plowing of goddess. (Cf. A901.)—*Olrik in Danske Studier (1910) 1ff.; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 181; Danish: De la Saussaye 280. |
| A951.2 | Contours of land caused by rooting of swine. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K447 | Contraband gold discovered when king offers large price for gold. Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 77. |
| M242.2 | Contract between hungry god and untouchable: to give gods food it they will eat from his hands. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| P525.1 | Contract made by madman void. (Cf. P192.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| P525.2 | Contract made by woman without her husband void. Irish myth: Cross. |
| M218 | Contract with the devil destroyed. Dh I 140; Alphabet Nos. 64, 467; Irish: Beal XXI 311, O'Suilleabhain 33. |
| P525 | Contracts. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F211.0.2 | Contrast between people of the fairy mounds and inhabitants of the Land of Promise. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.1.2 | Contrasting qualities found in otherworld garden. |
| D2158.1.3.1 | Control of conflagrations by a saint personally or by his relics. *Loomis White Magic 30. |
| D2140.1 | Control of weather by saint's prayers. (Cf. V220.) *Toldo VI 330; *Loomis White Magic 39; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| F979.13 | Convention of trees. Moreno Esdras (F979.4). |
| J2499.6 | Conventional greeting phrase taken literally: "Come and share it." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F967.3 | Conversation between clouds. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E545.22 | Conversation between God and Adam's corpse. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| E545.1 | Conversation between the dead. Gaster Exempla 206 No. 110; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| J1804 | Conversation by sign language mutually misunderstood. *Nyrop Dania II 49ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| V229.25 | Conversation of animals reveals to man how to become saint. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 42. |
| T42 | Conversation of lovers. |
| N454 | Conversation of objects overheard. |
| F497.1 | Conversation of two fire-spirits. Shall house be burned? *O. Loortis Das misshandelte und sich rächend Feuer (Tartu, 1935). |
| V331.1.4 | Conversion because saint's staff miraculously goes through neophytes' foot. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V330 | Conversion from one religion to another. *Encyc. Rel. Ethics X 400—403. |
| V331.10 | Conversion to Christianity because of admiration for Christian virtue. |
| V331.1.3 | Conversion to Christianity because the heathen gods prove to be less powerful. *Loomis White Magic 75. |
| V331.1.1 | Conversion to Christianity by miracle of seeing blood flow from Jesus' image. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| V331.2 | Conversion to Christianity on pain of death. *Dickson 188 n. 64, 224; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| V331.6 | Conversion to Christianity out of gratitude. Ruler has captive baptize his sister and then marry her. Grateful for past kindnesses. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| V331.1.2 | Conversion to Christianity through appearance of the cross and angels. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| V331.5 | Conversion to Christianity through love. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| V331.1 | Conversion to Christianity through miracle. Dickson 193—98 passim; Alphabet No. 558; Icelandic: *Boberg; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 71, 74, Beal XXI 326; English: Wells 91 (Otuel), 119 (Octovian), *Hibbard 45ff.; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| V331.4 | Conversion to Christianity through repentance. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| V331.10.1 | Conversion to Christianity through show of forgiveness and gentleness. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| V331 | Conversion to Christianity. (Cf. M177.1.) Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 555; Dickson 199 n. 89; Malone PMLA XLIII 413. — Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 65, Beal XXI 325; Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Wells 88 (Roland and Vernagu); Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; Tahiti: Henry Ancient Tahiti (Honolulu, 1928) 178. |
| V336 | Conversion to Judaism. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N842.1 | Cook as foster father. Arabian: Burton I 226. |
| N842 | Cook as helper. |
| E168 | Cooked animal comes to life. (Cf. E155.5.) Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E524.2.1 | Cooked cock crows. Fb "kok" IV 272b. |
| F1005 | Cooked food grows when planted. |
| D476.2.2 | Cooked meat changed to raw. (Cf. D476.4.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| E33.1 | Cooked part of white cow is brown after resuscitation. Irish myth: Cross; England: Baughman. |
| D2158.1.5.2 | Cooking and baking done without fire. *Loomis White Magic 35. |
| J1813 | Cooking processes misunderstood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F162.1.2.2 | Cool and boiling fountain in otherworld garden. (Cf. F162.8.) Patch PMLA XXXIII 620 n. 65, Other World 133, 144, 177. |
| F813.1.3 | Copper apple. Fb "æble" III 1135b; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1385.5.1 | Copper as defense against ghosts and magic. (Cf. D1252.2.) *Zingerle Sagen aus Tirol 589.—N. A. Indian (Ojibwa): Skinner PaAM XII 84. |
| F771.1.3 | Copper castle. Köhler-Bolte I 412; *Fb "slot" III 377a. |
| D1313.3 | Copper horseman indicates road. By striking his hand one makes him turn and indicate the proper road for travelers. (Cf. D1268, D1626.)—Chauvin V 33 No. 16. |
| F811.1.3 | Copper tree. Köhler-Bolte I 412; Fb "kobberskov" II 244. |
| F165.8 | Copper-colored house in lower world. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B765.13 | Copperhead guides rattlesnake to its prey. U.S.: Baughman. |
| A2496.2 | Copulation of serpents. Jewish: Neuman. |
| V136.1 | Copy of gospels buried with saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K825.1 | Cormorant's tongue pulled out by putting louse on it. Dh III 28; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 306 n. 109aa. |
| A2611.1 | Corn from body of slain person. (Cf. A2685.1.)—Babylonian: Spence 140; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 293 n. 77; S. Am. Indian (Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 292; Yunca (Peru): ibid. 225, (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 360, (Brazil): Oberg 108; (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473. |
| F1099.4 | Corn takes root in man's hair. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A433.1 | Corn-god (goddess). *Frazer Golden Bough VII passim; Gaster Thespis 373.—Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 241; Greek: Fox 226; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 231 No. 177.—Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 75; Zuсi: Alexander N. Am. 188; Pawnee: ibid. 81, 92; Arikara: ibid. 107. |
| F420.1.7.1 | Corner of water-spirits' dress is always wet. German: Zinck 12, Kahlo Niedersächsische 63 No. 107. |
| J2626.1 | Cornered paramour threatens the husband. Admits guilt. Husband: "Had you denied it I would have killed you!" Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| E259.1 | Corpse bites off woman's nose. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1318.5.2 | Corpse bleeds when murderer touches it. **Christensen (C. V.) Baareprøven (1900); Fb "blod" IV 47a; Knudsen (H.) En Baareprøve (Danske Studier 1932 69ff.); Von Künssberg Jahrb. f. historische Volksk. I (1925) 94, 120; Jobbé-Duval Essais de folklore juridique (Paris, 1920); English: Child II 143, 146, 148, 153, IV 468a, *Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Coll. I 639; Jewish: Neuman. |
| S139.2.2.3.1 | Corpse buried face down as indignity. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| V61.4.1 | Corpse buried face down. (Cf. S139.2.2.3.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| E431.10 | Corpse buried under stone so that sun will not shine on him again. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 305 No. 1. |
| E431.10.1 | Corpse buried under stones. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E431.13 | Corpse burned to prevent return. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| E451.1.1 | Corpse cannot be laid until after he has confided the secret of magic charms. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1654.9.1 | Corpse cannot be moved. Irish myth: Cross. |
| S139.2.2.6 | Corpse drawn asunder. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E545.10 | Corpse exclaims over miracle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E441.3 | Corpse exhumed and heart cremated to lay ghost. Africa (Bena Makuni): Torrend Specimens of Bantu Folklore 72. |
| D1654.9 | Corpse in coffin refuses to be moved in wagon. (Cf. D1654.5, E272.1, E411.0.3.) *Fb "ligkiste" II 421b, "tung" III 893a, "vogn" III 1078a, "hest" I 599b.; U.S.: Baughman; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| E597 | Corpse leaps up in emotion at saint's passing nearby. Irish myth: Cross. |
| E446.1 | Corpse magically killed and laid. N. A. Indian (Tlingit): Swanton BBAE XXXIX 248 No. 86. |
| D2167 | Corpse magically saved from corruption. (Cf. V52.14.) Tawney II 540; Saintyves De l'incorruption des corps saints (Bull. et. Mem. de la Soc. d'Anthrop. des Paris, 7th ser. IV [1923] 84—100).—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cadavre"; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: *Neuman; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 311. |
| E752.10.1 | Corpse must be watched carefully before burial. England: Baughman. |
| Q473.0.2 | Corpse of adulteress drawn through streets. (Cf. Q241.) Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Q551.2.4 | Corpse of murdered man sticks to murderer's back. (Cf. Q211.) *Loomis White Magic 55. |
| Q491.6 | Corpse of murderer mutilated. (Cf. Q211.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Greek: Grote I 275, 278. |
| E235.8 | Corpse of saint sits up and looks at people who open grave and come to claim his body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K2321 | Corpse set up to frighten people. *Type 1536; *Taylor MPh XV 225 n. 1; Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 73, 360; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K335.1.2.1 | Corpse thrown among robbers frightens them from treasure. *Type 1653B. |
| J1545.8 | Corpse to be cut in two for easy carrying. Husband who feigns death hears wife propose this. He upbraids her; she replies: "If you had really died I should have given myself up to be burnt." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1500.1.6.1 | Corpse's hand as remedy. (Cf. D996.) Kittredge Witchcraft 142, 459f. nn. 8, 9; England: Baughman. |
| S139.2.2.5 | Corpses burned as fuel for cooking. Irish myth: Cross. |
| V61.10 | Corpses exposed in tree. Greek: Argonautica III 205. |
| P555.2 | Corpses of dead foes dismembered. Tupper and Ogle Walter Map 93. |
| E431.9.2 | Corpses thrown in water to prevent return. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| A641 | Cosmic egg. The universe brought forth from an egg.—Lang Myth. I 252; Dh I 19.—Finnish: Kalevala rune 1; Esthonian: Eisen Estnische Mythologie 170, Loorits Grundzüge I 447f.; Hindu: Keith 74; Society Is., Hawaiian, Maori: Dixon 20; Hawaii: Henry 345.—African: Frobenius Atlantis X 119. |
| A1346.2.1 | Cotton at first already spun into threads. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1772.8 | Cotton pods knocked off by bullock thought to be lumps of bullock's fat. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J672.2 | Cotton put in ears so as not to hear abusive words. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.6 | Cotton tree and nettles on moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2721.2.1.3 | Cottonwood cursed for serving as cross. U.S.: Baughman. |
| P632.1 | Couches provided for men of high rank. Irish myth: Cross. |
| J2517 | Couldn't wait to dress. The overzealous visitor rides naked to see his friends. Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 233 No. 93. |
| B233.1 | Council of fishes decide to get rid of men (who eat fish). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A167.1 | Council of the gods. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| J171.1 | Counsel: if you take it you will be sorry; if you don't you will also be sorry. This advice given hero by helpful horse. *Köhler-Bolte I 468f., 542. |
| K487 | Counselor accuses conspirators in order to confiscate their estates. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J21.52 | Counsels proved wise by experience—miscellaneous. |
| J21 | Counsels proved wise by experience. *Types 910A, 910B, 910C, 910D; *Cosquin études 85ff., 100ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K1812.20 | Count in disguise. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| J311.1 | Count only the waves before you. Fox sees man trying to count the waves. Advises him to count only those immediately before him and to pay no attention to those which have already passed. Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 340), 144 (ST 496); Halm Aesop No. 60. |
| J1511.10 | Counterfeit money burned up. A priest who has lent money to a Jew, but will not lend to a farmer, on being reproached by the latter, says that the money he lent the Jew was "false". When the Jew gets to know of this, he claims that as soon as he heard the money was false he burnt it up. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1772. |
| D2071.1.5 | Countermagic against Evil Eye: returning glance of Evil Eye blights the original glancer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H571.1 | Counterquestion: "What is difference between you and an ass? What is difference between you and a cushion." *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 228 No. 74. |
| H571 | Counterquestions. Riddles answered by a question that reduces the riddle to an absurdity. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 275 No. 299; Wesselski Arlotto I 215 No. 59; Anderson FFC XLII 346; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H951 | Countertasks. When a task is assigned, the hero agrees to perform it as soon as the assigner performs a certain other task. (Cf. H691.2.1, H1021.1.1, H1021.3, H1021.6.1, H1021.6.2, H1022.2.1, H1022.3, H1022.9, H1023.1.1, H1023.1.2, H1023.2.2.1, H1023.9.1, H1023.10.1, H1142.3, H1146.) *Types 531, 875; *BP I 221, II 367, 369, III 18ff.; *De Vries FFC LXXIII 43ff., 145ff., 150ff., 154, 232ff., 241f., 249; *Chauvin VIII 61 No. 26; Zachariae Kleine Schriften 98; *Child V 497 s.v. "tasks"; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| K275 | Counting out pay. Hole in the hat and hat over a pit. *Type 1130; *BP III 421; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 752. |
| J2031 | Counting wrong by not counting oneself. Numskulls conclude that one of their number is drowned. *Type 1287; *BP III 149 n. 1; *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 267 No. 261; *Clouston Noodles 28ff., 192; *Field Pent Cuckoo 8; Köhler-Bolte I 112; Christensen DF XLVII 181ff. — Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 317 No. 153; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: Coster-Wijsman 66 No. 111. |
| F708 | Countries with one conspicuous lack. |
| F709.2 | Country of little girls. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F709.1 | Country of the naked. Chavannes I 195—97, cf. Wesselski in Archiv Orientální I (1929) p. 4. |
| F709.3 | Country of thieves and impostors. Icelandic: Flateyjarbуk II 73ff., Sveinsson FFC LXXXIII xxii; Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1416 | Country ridded of ogres and made peaceful. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F566.1.1 | Country which no woman may enter. Africa (Swahili): Stignand 97ff. No. 15. |
| F708.1 | Country without cats. *Types 1650, 1651; *BP II 69; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chats", "Alger". |
| F708.2 | Country without grain. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "blé". |
| F708.3 | Country without wine. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J1742.1 | Countryman expects to find persons from his own village when he travels to another land. *Wesselski Bebel II 139 No. 122. |
| J1742.5 | Countryman misunderstands comforts of city. Thinks latrine is kitchen, refuses to take a walk because he fears high houses will fall upon him, etc. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1742.3.1 | Countryman visiting rich relative in the city refuses to eat dessert: "No, I am not hungry." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1610.2 | Couples placed to establish tribes. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 54, 92, 94, 98. |
| U243 | Courage conquers all and impossible is made possible. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E501.14 | Course of wild hunt. |
| F177.1 | Court in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| P14.15.2 | Court messenger. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K302.1 | Courtesan runs away with men's goods. (Cf. K306.3.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 350f. |
| J1211.3 | Courtier having observed king's amour shields him and gains pardon. Answers in clever proverbs when called on to say what he has seen. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T91.6.1.1 | Courtier in love with queen. Queen asks him whom he loves. He holds up a mirror to her as answer. (Cf. T57.1.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| Q87.2 | Courtier rewarded for resisting princess's advances. When her father learns of the affair he rewards the courtier and has him marry his daughter. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
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