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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 |
|---|---|
| B291.4.3 | Whale as messenger. Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 360. |
| B292 | Animal as servant to man. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 263; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B292.0.1 | Animals with human child as slave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.0.2 | Animals leave wicked and go to pious master. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B292.1 | Animal as shepherd for man. |
| B292.1.1 | Baboon as shepherd for man. Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 44 No. 21. |
| B292.1.2 | Dog as shepherd for man. Greek Myth: Grote I 228. |
| B292.2 | Animal as domestic servant. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 263. |
| B292.2.1 | Monkey as domestic servant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.2.2 | Bird as domestic servant. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 526. |
| B292.2.2.1 | Bird servant to deity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.2.3 | Lion as domestic servant. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B292.3 | Doe furnishes man milk. Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxliv; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B292.4 | Stags plow for man. Also draw chariot, bear burdens, and allow saints to use their horns as a book rest—Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxliii—cxliv; Irish myth: Cross; English: Baughman. |
| B292.4.1 | Wild oxen plow for man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B292.4.1.1 | Oxen draw saint's plow around whole district in one day. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B292.4.2 | Tiger plows for man. India: *Thompson-Balys |
| B292.4.3 | Dog plows for man. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 44f. |
| B292.5 | Bird sings to console man. Saints' legend (Irish): Plummer cxlvi (swan); Irish myth: Cross. |
| B292.6 | Black cat as servant of giant. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chat". |
| B292.6.1 | Thief lives alone with 20 cats that help him keep intruders away. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B292.7 | Otters supply man with fish and burning wood daily. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B292.8 | Dog as guardian of treasure. *Fb "hund" I 675b (cf. B576.2). |
| B292.9 | Animal as farm laborer. |
| B292.9.1 | Frog works in fields for benefactor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.9.2 | Chicken as laborer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.9.3 | Rat servants cut jungle down, till soil for master. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.10 | Dog made king. Icel.: Herrmann Saxo II 579, *Boberg. |
| B292.11 | Tiger carries load of wood for saint. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.12 | Serpent as saint's whip. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B292.13 | Ass as tollkeeper. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B293 | Animals dance. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Luba): De Clerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 193. |
| B293.0.1 | Animals dance for king. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B293.1 | Dance of cats. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "dance". |
| B293.2 | Dance of frog(s). Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 76.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "dance". |
| B293.3 | Dance of tigers. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule.—Korean: Zong in-Sob 149 No. 65. |
| B293.4 | Dance of lions. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| B293.5 | Dance of nagas (snake men). Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1354. |
| B294 | Animals in business relations. |
| B294.1 | Fox as divider of dying man's gifts. Fb "ræv" III 113b. |
| B294.2 | Animal handles money. |
| B294.2.1 | Monkey's money stolen. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B294.2.2 | Monkey buys liquor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B294.3 | Dog sells rotten peas on market: punished by other animals. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B294.4 | Animals hold fairs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B294.5 | Parrot transacts business of trader. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B294.6 | Rabbit and elephant partners on trading expedition. Africa: Stanley 245. |
| B294.7 | Tortoise and dog partners as thieves. Africa (Cameroon): Meinhof 3. |
| B295 | Animal drives carriage. *Type 2021; *BP II 146 (Gr. No. 80); Fb "kok" II 248b. |
| B295.1 | Mouse makes boat of bread-crust. Takes animals and birds into boat. It capsizes.—Type 135*. |
| B296 | Animals go a-journeying. *Types 130, 210; **Aarne FFC XI Die Tiere auf der Wanderschaft; BP I 75, 135, 237; Fb "væder" III 1106b, *"tyr" III 908 ab.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesian, Japanese: Dixon *203 n. 41.; Missouri French: Carrière.—Africa (Tonga): Gifford 206.—Cf. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 302 n. 108. |
| B296.1 | Animal journeys to Rome. Cock, geese, or dog go to Rome to become Pope.—Fb "hund" I 678b, "gеs" I 528b, "Rom", "mus" II 634b. |
| B297 | Musical animals. |
| B297.0.1 | Bull lows musically. Irish myth: Cross (B214). |
| B297.1 | Animal plays musical instrument. Africa (tribes of Western Sudan): Tauxier Le Noir du Yatenga 457 No. 56. |
| B297.1.1 | Bird plays timpan. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B297.1.2 | Toad and chameleon play drum and xylophone. Africa (Luba): De Clerq Zs. f. Kolonialsprachen IV 193. |
| B297.2 | Transformed women enchanted by music. |
| B297.2.1 | Women transformed to bitches enchanted by music. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B298 | Animal plays game. |
| B298.1 | Monkey plays chess. Nouvelles Récréations No. 88. |
| B299 | Other animals with human traits—miscellaneous. |
| B299.1 | Animal takes revenge on man. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| B299.1.1 | Eagle takes revenge on man. Chinese: Graham. |
| B299.2 | Animals dispute. |
| B299.2.1 | Owls and crows dispute over merits of night or day vision. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.3 | Animals discover liquor and get intoxicated. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.4 | Bear asks boy to stay with her cubs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.5 | Sympathetic animals. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B299.5.1 | Animal mutilates self to express sympathy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.5.2 | Animal fasts to express sympathy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B299.5.3 | Birds weep when man cuts off his hand. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B299.6 | Animal physician. Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 69, Meinhof 33, 36. |
| B299.7 | Festival of animals. Jewish: Neuman; S. A. Indian (Tenetehara): Wagley-Galvao BBAE CXLIII (3) 148. |
| B299.8 | Animals build bridge. |
| B299.8.1 | Tigers build bridge. S. A. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 150. |
| B299.9 | Animals cultivate crops. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 179. |
| B299.10 | Animal christening. German Grimm No. 74. |
| B300 | Helpful animal. See also entire section B300—599, especially B350.—*Krappe "Guiding animals" JAFL LV (1942) 228—246; "Warning animals" FL LIX (1948) 8—15.—*Toldo Studien zur vgl. Littgsch. VIII 38.—Irish myth: Cross.—Hindu: Penzer I 101f., V 157f., 163f., VI 291, VIII 219.—India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 316 n. 146.—Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 313. |
| B301 | Faithful animal. Köhler-Bolte I 534; Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.1 | Faithful animal at master's grave dies of hunger. *Type 75*; *Pauli (ed Bolte) No. 428; cf. Alphabet No. 270; Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.1.1 | Faithful dog follows master's dead body when cast into river. Supports body.—Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B301.1.2 | Faithful dog helps open mistress' grave—dies on it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B301.1.3 | Faithful animal doesn't allow anybody to come near to master's corpse. Þiðriks saga II 154, 386. |
| B301.2 | Faithful animal at master's grave avenges his murder. English: Wells Manual of Writings 121 (Sir Triamour).—*Hibbard 286. |
| B301.3 | Faithful animal plans suicide when it thinks master dead. English: Wells Manual of Writings 66 (Ywain and Gawain); Icel.: Boberg. |
| B301.4 | Faithful horse follows dead master to grave. *Fb "hest" IV 212a. |
| B301.4.1 | Faithful horse lays his head on slain master's breast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.1.1 | Faithful horse weeps for coming death of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.2 | Faithful horse weeps tears of blood for master. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.3 | Faithful horse joins in keen at hero's death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.3.1 | Faithful horse lays his head in lap of dead master's wife. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.4.4 | Faithful horse allows only its master to catch and ride it. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4.5 | Faithful horse lies down in order that its mutilated master can mount it. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4.6 | Faithful horse refuses to go before its master mounts it, even when already loaded with two chests with gold.—Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4.7 | Faithful horse dies together with its master. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.4.8 | Faithful horse fights together with its master. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B301.5 | Faithful animals resuscitate master. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B301.6 | Faithful cattle fight at master's grave until they cast their horns. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.6.1 | Faithful cattle shed horns in grief for death of man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.6.2 | Faithful cow refuses to move for grief at master's death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.6.3 | Faithful cows lose milk at king's death. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B301.7 | Faithful lapdog dies when mistress dies. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B301.7.1 | Faithful dog helps open mistress' grave and dies on it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B301.8 | Faithful lion follows man who saved him. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Icel.: Boberg. |
| B310 | Acquisition of helpful animal. *Hartland Perseus III 191ff. |
| B311 | Congenital helpful animal. Born at same time as master and (usually) by same magic means.—*Hartland Perseus III 191ff.; *Types 300, 303; *BP I 534ff.; Köhler-Bolte I 179.—Irish myth: Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 83, Welsh ibid. 95; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 221. |
| B311.1 | Helpful animal foster brother. Hero reared by animal's parents. —Africa (Akan-Ashanti): Rattray Akan-Ashanti Folk Tales 206 No. 53, (Kassonke): Monteil Contes Soudanais 126ff. |
| B312 | Helpful animals obtained by purchase or gift. |
| B312.1 | Helpful animals a gift. German Grimm No. 60, 126; Irish myth: Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 40 No. 300; Icel.: Boberg, Þiðriks saga I 314—18; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B312.2 | Helpful animals obtained by exchange. *Type 300; *Hartland Perseus III 195; De Gubernatis Zool. Myth. III 36 n.—N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 329ff. |
| B312.3 | Helpful animal(s) bequeathed to hero. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Hausa): Best Black Folk Tales 71ff., Tremearne Hausa Superstitions and Customs 374ff. No. 79; Madagascar: (Marofotsy) Renel Contes de Madagascar I 65ff. No. 9. |
| B312.4 | Helpful animal purchased. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Swahili): Steere Swahili Tales 13ff., Meinhof Afrikanische Märchen 9ff. No. 1, Bateman Zanzibar Tales 99ff. No. 7. |
| B312.4.1 | Helpful dogs obtained by purchase. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B312.5 | Helpful, strong horse caught. Icel.: Boberg. |
| B313 | Helpful animal an enchanted person. *Types 314, 328 (FFC LXXXIII), 402, 510, 530, 531, 532, 533, 545, 550, 551. |
| B313.1 | Helpful animal reincarnation of parent. The dead mother appears to the heroine in the form of an animal.—*Cox Cinderella 475 n. 4; BP I 187, III 60ff.—India: *Thompson-Balys, *Cosquin Contes indiens 505ff.; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B313.2 | Helpful animal reincarnation of murdered child. German: Grimm No. 47. |
| B314 | Helpful animal brothers-in-law. *Type 552; *BP III 424ff.—Missouri French: Carrière. |
| B315 | Animal helpful after being conquered. *Type 590; BP III 1.—Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B316 | Abused and pampered horses. Hero is ordered by ogre to feed and care for certain horse and to neglect other horse. Hero disobeys and feeds neglected horse. Latter is enchanted prince and helps hero. (Cf. B181.)—*Type 314, 502; BP III 18 n. 3.—French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B317 | Helpful bird hatched by hero. Hero holds eagle's egg in hand and hatches it. Young eagle becomes his helper.—German New Guinea: Dixon 141. |
| B318 | Helpful animals transformed from other animals. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B319 | Helpful animal otherwise acquired. |
| B319.1 | Helpful animal sent by God (or a god). Irish myth: Cross. |
| B319.2 | Helpful animal acquired as reward for vigil. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| B320 | Reward of helpful animal. |
| B322 | Helpful animal demands food. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "viande", "oiseau"; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B322.1 | Hero feeds own flesh to helpful animal. The hero is carried on the back of an eagle who demands food. The hero finally feeds parts of his own flesh.—*Type 301; *BP II 300 (Gr. No. 91); Chauvin VI 3 No. 181 n. 3; Panzer Beowulf 191; Clouston Tales I 241ff., Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 164 (to Gonzenbach No. 61).—Hindu: Penzer I 84 n. 1. 85, VI 122 n. 2, VII 126 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 304 No. 32; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15.—Missouri French: Carrière.—Apache: Goddard PaAM XXIV 94. |
| B322.2 | Helpful birds demand food. Chinese: Graham. |
| B325 | Animal bribed for help. English: Child I 57ff., II 144—154, 359, IV 389f., 416; Sicilian: Gonzenbach: I 99 No. 15. |
| B325.1 | Animal bribed with food. (Sop to Cerberus.)—Types 531, 551; BP III 18ff.; *Chauvin VI 6 No. 182; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 76 No. 632; Icel.: *Boberg. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 61 No. 445B, Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 308 n. 113c.—Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 273 No. 86. |
| B330 | Death of helpful animal. |
| B331 | Helpful animal killed through misunderstanding. |
| B331.1 | Faithful falcon killed through misunderstanding. Tries to warn the king against drinking water poisoned by snake.—*Chauvin II 122 No. 115, V 289 No. 173.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B331.1.1 | Faithful horse killed through misunderstanding. Tries to warn king against drinking water poisoned by snake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B331.2 | Llewellyn and his dog. Dog has saved child from serpent. Father sees bloody mouth, thinks the dog has eaten the child, and kills the dog.—*Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 257; Köhler-Bolte I 534; *BP I 425 n. I; Ward Catalogue of Romances II 170; *Penzer V 138 n. 1; *Campbell Sages lxxviii ff.; Benfey Panchatantra I 479ff.; Bødker Exempler 299 No. 64; *Chauvin II 100 No. 59, VIII 67 No. 31; Clouston Tales II 167; *Kittredge Arthur and Gorlagon 223 n. 1; *Frazer Pausanias V 421 .—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; U.S.: Baughman. |
| B331.2.1 | Woman slays faithful mongoose which has saved her child. "A Classical Indian Folk-Tale as a Reported Modern Event: The Brahman and the Mongoose" Proceedings, American Philosophical Society, LXXXIII 503—13; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B331.2.2 | Faithful dog killed by overhasty master: thinks mistakenly he has returned home against orders. (Cf. Llewellyn and his dog.)—*Emeneau "The Faithful Dog as Security for a Debt; A Companion to the Brahman and Mongoose Story-Type" Journal of American Oriental Society LXI 1—17; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B331.3 | Faithful parrot killed by mistake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B332 | Too watchful dog killed. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B335 | Helpful animal killed by hero's enemy. *Types 510, 533; *BP III 60ff.; *Cox Cinderella 477 n. 7.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda.—N. A. Indian (Menomini): Hoffman RBAE XIV 236. |
| B335.1 | Man attempts to kill faithful serpent at wife's instigation. Loses everything.—*Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 20 No. 73.—*Ward III 208; *Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 141; *Warnke Die Quellen des Esope der Marie de France 221. |
| B335.1.1 | Treacherous wife forces husband to kill helpful dog. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B335.2 | Life of helpful animal demanded as cure for feigned sickness. Penzer V 127 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B335.3 | Unsuccessful attempt by enemy to kill helpful animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B335.4 | Wife demands magic parrot who has accused her. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B335.5 | Faithful animal killed in battle. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B335.6 | A small animal (hare, bitch) gives timely warnings to the hero about the trap prepared by his enemy. Animal warning about trap killed.—Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. *452f. |
| B335.7 | Helpful cow to be killed because of refusal to help stepdaughter. Chinese: Graham. |
| B336 | Helpful animal killed (threatened) by ungrateful hero.—Spanish Exempla: Keller.—Africa (Hausa): Mischlich Neue Märchen aus Afrika 164ff. No. 22, Frobenius Atlantis IX 277ff., 287ff., Nos. 74 and 75, (Swahili): Steere Swahili Tales 13ff., Meinhof Afrikanische Märchen 9ff. No. 1, Bateman Zanzibar Tales 99ff. No. 7. |
| B338 | Weapons made from bones of helpful horse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B339 | Death of helpful animal—miscellaneous. |
| B339.1 | Truth-telling dog killed so as to hide murder. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B340 | Treatment of helpful animals—miscellaneous. |
| B341 | Helpful animal's injunctions disobeyed. Disaster follows.—Type 531; MacCulloch Childhood 229; Missouri French: Carrière; N. A. Indian (Menomini): Hoffman RBAE XIV 183, (Zuсi): Cushing 54. |
| B342 | Cat leaves house when report is made of death of one of his companions. His master has been told to say "Robert is dead". As soon as this is said, the cat leaves. —*Boberg Sagnet om den store Pans Dod, København 1934.—Irish: Beal III 66.—U.S.: Baughman; Taylor Washington University Studies X (Hum. Ser.) 60ff. |
| B343 | Large reward given for return of helpful animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B350 | Grateful animals. *Types 329, 480, 531, 554, 554*, 559: *BP I 207ff. (Gr. No. 24), 227, II 21 (Gr. Nos. 17, 62, 191), 454 n. 1, III 18ff. (Gr. No. 126), 365 (Gr. No. 191); Hartland Perseus III 193ff.; Clouston Tales I 223ff.; Penzer I 100f., V 157ff., VI 291, VIII 219, IX 156; *Chauvin II 107 No. 71; *Saintyves Perrault 32ff.—Irish myth: Cross.—Greek: **Marx Griechische Märchen von dankbaren Tieren; *Frazer Apollodorus I 86 n. 2; Arabian: Burton SV 326; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 322; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "fourmi".—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 316 n. 146a., CColl II 327f., 333, 342, 417; Indonesian: De Vries's list Nos. 56, 65ff., 135; Malay: Dixon 216; *ibid. 218 n. 23; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 167.—Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 214 No. 31. |
| B360 | Animals grateful for rescue from peril of death. *Types 554, 554*, 560; *BP II 21f., 454; *Dh IV 147ff.; Chauvin II 109 No. 73; Hartland Perseus III 194; *Brown Iwain 16 and passim, 132 n. 3; Hüsing (G.) "Zum Etanamythos" Archiv f. Religionswiss. VI 178ff.; Alphabet No. 166; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 338, 339), 127 (ST 353), Halm Aesop Nos. 92, 130; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 648.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg (B364.5).—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 321ff.; Ikeda; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 29 No. 17; Korean: Zong in-Sob 175 f. No. 76.—Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 163 No. 32; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| B361 | Animals grateful for rescue from pit. *Type 160; Chauvin I 106 No. 71; Ward II 196; Bødker Exempler 304 No. 75; *Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 119; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 346), 127 (ST 357), Phaedrus III 2; BP IV 139f; *Moe Samlede Skrifter I 192ff.; Hilka Compilatio Singularis Exemplorum 23; Wesselski Märchen 246 No. 56.—Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 31; Spanish Exempla: Keller; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 649.—Hindu: *Penzer V 157; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 30.—Africa: Frobenius Atlantis IX 385 Nos. 103f., (Swahili): Steere 423, (Zanzibar): Bateman 81 No. 6, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 163 No. 32. |
| B362 | Animal grateful for rescue from drowning. Wienert FFC LVI 59 (ET 201), 127 (ST 356), Halm Aesop No. 296 (dove rescues ant).—India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Korea: Ikeda. |
| B363 | Animal grateful for rescue from net. *Type 75; Crane Vitry 194 No. 145.—India: Thompson-Balys—Africa (Zanzibar): Bateman: 81 No. 6. |
| B363.1 | Lion is freed from net by mouse. Mouse asks that his son marry lion's daughter. Request granted. The mouse is trampled to death by his bride.—Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B364 | Animal grateful for other rescue. |
| B364.1 | Animal grateful for rescue from trap. Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 336; India: Thompson-Balys—Africa (Lamba): Doke XXXII No. 15. |
| B364.2 | Animal grateful for rescue from fire. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B364.3 | Insect having fallen on back grateful for being turned over. Africa (Ganda): Baskerville King of the Snakes 8ff. |
| B364.4 | Bird grateful for being saved from attacking serpent. Cook Islands: Beckwith Myth 269. |
| B364.5 | Animal grateful for rescue from mud. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B365 | Animal grateful for rescue of its young. *Hartland Perseus III 194; Köhler-Bolte I 440, 545, 560, *561.—Japanese: Mitford 261, Ikeda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B365.0.1 | Bird grateful for rescue of its young. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B365.1 | Animal grateful for rescue of its mate. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B365.2 | Animal grateful to hero for preventing destruction of nest. |
| B365.2.1 | Ant grateful for preventing destruction of nest. German: Grimm No. 62. |
| B365.3 | Animal grateful for release of relative. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 65. |
| B366 | Animal grateful for ransom from captivity. BP II 451 (Gr. No. 104a), *454 n. 1.; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 337), 127 (ST 354, 489); Halm Aesop No. 6.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B370 | Animal grateful to captor for release. |
| B371 | Small animal released from jaws of large one: grateful. |
| B371.1 | Lion spared mouse: mouse grateful. Later releases lion from net. (Cf. B363.)—Jacobs Aesop 203 No. 11, Halm Aesop 256, cf. Type 75.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B371.2 | Lion spares fly: fly grateful. Later warns lion.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B374 | Other animals grateful for release. |
| B374.1 | Lion rescued from snake: thankful. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B375 | Release of animal by hunter (fisher). Africa (Angola): Chatelain 159 No. 19 (deer).—German: Grimm No. 60, 191.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.1 | Fish returned to water: grateful. *Fb "fisk"; Hartland Science 174.—India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.—Two special forms of this motif are common; in both the fish is returned to the water and rewards the captor. (1). The "King of the Fishes" form: a man captures the king of fishes (B243) who as a reward for the release tells the man to feed parts of his body (when he is later captured) to his wife and parts to certain animals. As a result the hero and congenital helpful animals (B311) are born: *Type 303; BP I 528 (Gr. Nos. 60, 85); Sébillot Incidents s.v. "poisson", Gaster Exempla 251 No. 373.; Missouri French: Carrière.—For other references see B243.—(2) The "Fisher and his Wife" form. The king of the fishes in this case grants the man's wife the power of fulfilling all her wishes; *Type 555; BP I 138 (Gr. No. 19); see C773.1.2. |
| B375.1.1 | Grateful fish grants mad hero his wish: to impregnate a princess. Later the fish saves the hero and his family from death at sea.—Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B375.1.2 | Fish grateful for being transferred from tank to river. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.2 | Frog returned to spring: grateful. Teaches hero animals' language (Cf. B217).—*Type 670B; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.3 | Bird released: grateful.—*Chauvin II 117 No. 97; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B375.3.1 | Eagle released: grateful. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *320. |
| B375.4 | Squirrel released: grateful and helpful. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.5 | Monkey released: grateful. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.6 | Rat released: grateful. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B375.7 | Leopard released: grateful. Africa (Fang): Tessman 195f. |
| B375.8 | Turtle released: grateful. Korean: Zong in-Sob 169 No. 73. |
| B375.9 | Serpent released: grateful. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 55. |
| B375.10 | Jackal released: grateful. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B376 | Wasp released from vase full of honey: grateful. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| B380 | Animal grateful for relief from pain. Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B380.1 | Grateful hyena leads lost hermit from wilderness as reward for his help. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| B381 | Thorn removed from lion's paw (Androcles and the Lion). In gratitude the lion later rewards the man.—*Type 156; *BP III 1 n. 2; Cf. Type 74*; Jacobs Aesop 205 No. 23; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 345), 127 (ST 357); *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXIX 29; **Brodeur (A.G.) "The Grateful Lion" PMLA XXXIX 485; Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 210; Penzer V 162 n. 1, IX 47 n. 1; Alphabet No. 451; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 278.—*Loomis White Magic 58—61.—Spanish Exempla: Keller.—India: *Thompson-Balys.—Chinese: Graham.—N. A. Indian (Wyandot): Barbeau GSCan XI 106 No. 29. |
| B381.1 | Wolf fetches a man to remove thorn from his children's paws. Does not attack the man's livestock.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *156A. |
| B381.2 | Thorn removed from monkey's tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B382 | Animal grateful for removal of bone lodged in its throat. India: Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 685. |
| B383 | Man called by animal for help to his cubs in danger. *Loomis White Magic 59. |
| B384 | Saint cures the blind young ones of a hyena or wolf by the sign of the cross and the application of his saliva. (Cf. D1500.1.8.1.) The animal mother is grateful.—*Loomis White Magic 59 f. |
| B385 | Serpent relieved from sand blown in eyes: grateful. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B386 | Tigress grateful for opening of abscess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B387 | Tiger grateful for woman assisting tigress as midwife. Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 29. |
| B388 | Cobra grateful for cure of ulcer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B390 | Animals grateful for other kind acts. |
| B391 | Animal grateful for food. *Types 300, 531, 550, 554; Warnke Quellen des Esope der Marie de France 221ff.; *BP II 21f., 463; Halm Aesop No. 173; Wienert FFC LVI 70 (ET 347), 127 (ST 358); Ward III 208; Oesterley Gesta Romanorum No. 141 (Cf. B335.1.)—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 387.—Danish: Fb "kalv"; Missouri-French: Carrière—India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Mitford 185f., 270, Anesaki 313, Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 29.—Africa (Benga): Nassau No. 33. |
| B391.1 | Child feeds snake from its milk-bottle. *Type 285; BP II 459, cf. II 463.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B391.1.1 | Cobra grateful to prince for milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B391.1.2 | Snake grateful because man feeds her young snakes milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B391.1.3 | Snake grateful for pouring milk into its hole. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B391.2 | Child shares food with toad. German: Grimm No. 105. |
| B391.3 | Hero kills horse to feed young ravens. German: Grimm No. 17. |
| B391.4 | Animals given water to drink: grateful. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 150. |
| B392 | Hero divides spoil for animals. *Type 300; Fb "dele" IV 96b; *BP II 22 n. 1.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *554A.; Italian Novella: Rotunda.—Missouri-French: Carrière; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 70 No. 3. |
| B392.1 | Animals grateful for being given appropriate food. Hero finds dog with hay and horse with meat. He changes it about.—Köhler-Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. VI 63 (to Gonzenbach No. 13.); Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B393 | Animals grateful for shelter. Japanese: Mitford 270. |
| B394 | Cow grateful for being milked. (Cf. B411.)—Type 510A; Cox passim. |
| B395 | Buffaloes grateful for care of their calves. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B395.1 | Buffaloes grateful for being cleaned and combed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B396 | Cows grateful for hero's housekeeping for them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B400 | Helpful domestic beasts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B401 | Helpful horse. *Type 314, 502, 531, 532; BP III 94ff., III 18ff., II 273ff; *Fb "hest"; *Köhler-Bolte I 468.—Wienert FFC LVI *70 (ET 347), 127 (ST 358); Halm Aesop No. 173 (Cf. BP III 290ff.); Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 94; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 372 n. 1.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: Rotunda.—Breton: *Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux"; French Canadian: *Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15; Missouri French: Carrière; Cape Verde Islands: *Parson MAFLS XV (1) 277 No. 91, 281 No. 92.—India: *Thompson-Balys.—Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 280, 284. |
| B401.1 | Helpful water-horse. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B402 | Helpful ass. *Fb "æsel" III 1155a.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B403 | Helpful mule. Breton: "Sébillot Incidents s.v. "mule", "animaux". |
| B405 | Helpful camel. India: Thompson-Balys. Africa (Hausa): Tremearne FL XXII 464ff. No. 50, Hausa Superstitions and Customs 380ff. No. 80. |
| B411 | Helpful cow. (Cf. B354.)—*Type 510A; Cox passim.—Halm Aesop No. 173, Wienert FFC LVI *70 (ET 347), 127 (ST 358).—Irish myth: Cross.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux"; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 52 No. 32. |
| B411.1 | Helpful bull. (Cf. B182.3.1.)—Cox Cinderella 365 (Swedish).—Irish myth: Cross.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "animaux".—India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian (Wyandot): Thompson CColl II 412; Missouri-French: Carrière. |
| B411.2 | Helpful ox. French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15.—Irish myth: Cross.—India: Thompson-Balys.—Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 76 No. 12, 240 No. 35, (Kaffir): Theal 169. |
| B411.3 | Helpful calf. Fb "kalv". |
| B411.4 | Helpful buffalo. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| B411.4.1 | Helpful bison. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B411.5 | Helpful bullock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B411.6 | Helpful steer. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B412 | Helpful sheep. Type 510; *Cox 477 n. 7.; Missouri-French: Carrière; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B413 | Helpful goat. Type 510; Cox 473f. n. 2.—Irish myth: Cross, Beal XXI 325; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chevre", "animaux"; Missouri French: Carrière; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 294 No. 9, 298 No. 13, 325 No. 4.—Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Africa (Angola): Chatelain 53 No. 2, (Benga): Nassau 202 No. 32. |
| B414 | Helpful hog. Fb "svin" III 676a.—Irish myth: Cross.—India: Thompson-Balys.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 144, 197. |
| B414.1 | Helpful boar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B421 | Helpful dog. (Cf. B524.1.1, B268.2.1. War-dogs.) *Types 300, 400, 560; *BP II 455ff., I 331, 547; *Emeneau "The Faithful Dog as Security for a Debt," Journal of the American Oriental Society LXI 1—17; *Hartland Perseus III 191ff.; *Aarne MSFO XXV 48; *Dh IV 147ff.—Fable: Halm Aesop No. 173; *BP III 290; Wienert FFC LVI *70 (ET 347), 127 (ST 358).—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: *Boberg.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chien", "mort", "nourriture"; *Fb "hund" IV 226b; Alphabet of Tales No. 271.—English: Wells Manual of Writings 121 (Sir Triamour); Scotch: Campbell I 7; French Canadian: *Barbeau JAFL XXIX 15, 20; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 48 No. 327; Jamaican: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 270 No: 82.—Jewish: Neuman. India: *Thompson-Balys.—Japanese: Anesaki 322, Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 93 No. 51.—Africa (Zulu): Callaway 51, 142, (Basuto): Jacottet 56 No. 9, 140 No. 20, (Kaffir): Kidd 226 No. 1, Theal 126, (Benga): Nassau 140 No. 16, (Angola): Chatelain 127 No. 12; N. A. Indian (Thompson River): Teit JAFL XXIX 304 (Type 403). See references in B524.1. |
| B422 | Helpful cat. *Types 402, 545, 560; *BP I 325, II 30, 455, III 487; *Aarne MSFO XXV 48; *Dh IV 147ff.; *Fb "kat" II 108a.—Irish myth: Cross; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chat"; Missouri French: Carrière; Scotch: Campbell II 279, *284ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Mitford 253; Korean: Zong in-Sob 28 No. 12; Tonga: Gifford 201. |
| B430 | Helpful wild beasts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B431 | Helpful wild beasts—felidae. |
| B431.1 | Helpful leopard. Africa (Akan-Ashanti): Rattray Akan-Ashanti Folk Tales 206 No. 53. |
| B431.2 | Helpful lion. (Cf. B549.1.)—*Type 156 (see all references for B381), *Type 590; *BP III 1 (Gr. No. 121); *Fb "löve" II 518b; Dickson Valentine and Orson 107 n. 17, 118 n. 51.—Icel.: Boberg.—Irish myth: Cross; English: Wells 66 (Ywain and Gawain), 118f. (Octavian).—*Hibbard 271 n. 3.—Spanish Exempla: Keller.—Italian Novella: Rotunda.—Saintyves Saints Successeurs 252.—French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; Missouri French: Carrière.—Jewish: Neuman.—India: *Thompson-Balys. —Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 131 No. 24, (Zanzibar): Bateman 82 No. 6. |
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