- The following serves as an index to the salient headers provided in the catalog of Thompson
Mythological Motifs
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| A0 | Creator(s), his identity and reasons for creation |
| A10 | Nature of the creator |
| A20 | Origin of the creator |
| A30 | Creator’s Companions |
| A40 | Creator’s Advisers |
| A50 | Conflict of good and evil creators |
| A60 | Marplot: Evil opponent attempts to mar the work of the creator |
| A70 | Creator — Miscellaneous motifs |
| A100 | Dieties |
| A110 | Origin of the gods |
| A120 | Nature and appearance of the gods |
| A140 | Gods as workmen |
| A150 | Daily life of the gods |
| A160 | Mutual relations of the gods |
| A170 | Deeds of the gods |
| A180 | Gods in relation to mortals |
| A190 | Gods — Miscellaneous motifs |
| A200 | Gods of the upper world |
| A210 | Sky gods |
| A220 | Sun god |
| A240 | Moon god |
| A250 | Star god |
| A260 | God of light |
| A270 | God of dawn |
| A280 | Weather god |
| A300 | God of the underworld |
| A310 | God of the world of the dead |
| A400 | God of earth |
| A410 | Local gods (those in cities or households) |
| A420 | God of water |
| A430 | God of vegetation |
| A440 | God of animals |
| A450 | God of trades and professions |
| A460 | Gods of abstractions (abstraction personified) |
| A490 | Miscellaneous gods of the earth |
| A500 | Demigods and culture heroes |
| A510 | Origin of the culture hero |
| A520 | Nature of the culture hero |
| A530 | Culture hero establishes law and order |
| A560 | Culture hero’s departure |
| A570 | Culture hero still lives |
| A580 | Culture hero’s divinity’s expected return |
| A590 | Culture heroes - miscellaneous |
| A600 | Creation of the Universe |
| A610 | Creation of universe by creator |
| A620 | Spontaneous creation of universe |
| A630 | Series of creations - the present universe is the last of a succession of creations |
| A640 | Other means of creating the universe |
| A650 | The Universe as a Whole |
| A660 | Nature of the Upper World |
| A670 | Nature of the Lower World |
| A690 | Miscellaneous worlds |
| A700 | Creation of the heavenly bodies |
| A710 | Creation of the Sun |
| A720 | Nature and condition of the sun |
| A740 | Creation of the Moon |
| A750 | Nature and condition of the moon |
| A760 | Creation and condition of the stars (and the constellations) |
| A770 | Origin of particular stars |
| A780 | The planets (comets, etc) |
| A790 | The heavenly lights (i.e., rainbows, sunrise, sunset ) |
| A800 | Creation of the Earth |
| A810 | Primeval water — in the beginning, everything is covered with water |
| A820 | Other means of creation of earth |
| A830 | Creation of earth by creator |
| A840 | Support of the earth |
| A850 | Changes in the earth |
| A870 | Nature and condition of the earth |
| A900 | Topography — general considerations |
| A910 | Origin of water features - general |
| A920 | Origin of the seas |
| A930 | Origin of streams |
| A940 | Origin of other bodies of water. |
| A950 | Origin of the land |
| A960 | Creation of mountains (hills) |
| A970 | Origin of rocks and stones |
| A980 | Origin of particular places |
| A990 | Other land features |
| A1000 | World catastrophe - the world is destroyed and may or may not come back |
| A1010 | Deluge - inundation of whole world or section of it. |
| A1020 | Escape from deluge |
| A1030 | World fire - a conflagration destroys the earth. Sometimes fire marks the end of the world |
| A1040 | Continuous winter destroys the race. |
| A1050 | Heavens break up at the end of the world |
| A1060 | Earth-disturbances at end of world. |
| A1070 | Fettered monster’s escape at end of the world - his escape causes earthquake and marks the end of the world. |
| A1080 | Battle at end of world |
| A1090 | World calamities and renewals — miscellaneous motifs. |
| A1100 | Establishment of natural order |
| A1110 | Establishment of present order — waters |
| A1120 | Establishment of present order — winds |
| A1130 | Establishment of present order — weather phenomena |
| A1150 | Determination of seasons |
| A1160 | Determination of the months |
| A1170 | Origin of night and day. |
| A1180 | Establishment of present order — miscellaneous motifs. |
| A1200 | Creation of man |
| A1210 | Creation of man by creator |
| A1220 | Creation of man through evolution |
| A1230 | Emergence or descent of first man to Earth. |
| A1240 | Man made from mineral substance |
| A1250 | Man made from vegetable substance |
| A1260 | Man made from miscellaneous materials |
| A1270 | Primeval human pair |
| A1280 | First man (woman) |
| A1290 | Creation of man — other motifs |
| A1300 | Ordering of human life |
| A1310 | Arrangement of man’s bodily attributes |
| A1320 | Determination of span of life |
| A1330 | Beginnings of trouble for man |
| A1350 | Origin of sex functions |
| A1360 | Man’s growth and maturity |
| A1370 | Origin of mental and moral characteristics |
| A1390 | Ordaining of human life - miscellaneous |
| A1400 | Acquisition of human culture |
| A1410 | Acquisition of livable environment |
| A1420 | Acquisition of food supply for human race. |
| A1430 | Acquisition of other necessities |
| A1440 | Acquisition of crafts |
| A1460 | Acquisition of arts |
| A1470 | Beginning of social relationships |
| A1480 | Acquisition of wisdom and learning |
| A1490 | Acquisition of culture - miscellaneous |
| A1500 | Origin of customs - general |
| A1510 | Origin of eating customs |
| A1520 | Origin of hunting and fishing customs |
| A1530 | Origin of social ceremonials |
| A1540 | Origin of religious ceremonials |
| A1550 | Origin of customs of courtship and marriage |
| A1560 | Origin of customs connected with birth |
| A1570 | Origin of regulations within the family |
| A1580 | Origin of laws |
| A1590 | Origin of other customs |
| A1600 | Distribution and differentiation of peoples - general |
| A1610 | Origin of various tribes |
| A1620 | Distribution of tribes |
| A1630 | Wandering of tribes |
| A1640 | Origin of tribal subdivisions |
| A1650 | Origin of different classes - social and professional |
| A1660 | Characteristics of various peoples in personal appearance |
| A1670 | Characteristics of various peoples in industry and warfare |
| A1680 | Characteristics of various peoples in habits |
| A1690 | Distribution and differentiation of people - miscellaneous |
| A1700 | Creation of animals |
| A1710 | Creation of animals through transformation |
| A1730 | Creation of animals as punishment |
| A1750 | Animals created through opposition of devil to god |
| A1770 | Creation of animals from unusual primeval mating. |
| A1790 | Creation of animals - other motifs |
| A1800 | Creation of mammals |
| A1810 | Creation of felidae |
| A1820 | Creation of mustelidae |
| A1830 | Creation of canidae and other carnivora |
| A1840 | Creation of rodentia |
| A1860 | Creation of primata |
| A1870 | Creation of ungulata |
| A1890 | Creation of other mammals |
| A1900 | Creation of birds |
| A1910 | Creation of passeriformes |
| A1930 | Creation of faiconiformes |
| A1940 | Creation of charidriiformes |
| A1950 | Creation of coraciiformes |
| A1960 | Creation of ciconiiformes |
| A1970 | Creation of miscellaneous birds |
| A2000 | Creation of insects |
| A2010 | Creation of hymenoptera |
| A2020 | Creation of coleoptera |
| A2030 | Creation of cliptera |
| A2040 | Creation of lepidoptera |
| A2050 | Creation of hemiptera |
| A2060 | Creation of orthoptera |
| A2070 | Creation of miscellaneous insects |
| A2100 | Creation of fish |
| A2110 | Creation of particular fishes |
| A2140 | Creation of reptiles |
| A2160 | Origin of amphibia |
| A2170 | Origin of miscellaneous animal forms |
| A2200 | Cause of animal characteristics |
| A2210 | Animal characteristics - change in ancient animal |
| A2220 | Animal characteristics as a reward |
| A2230 | Animal characteristics as punishment |
| A2240 | Animal characteristics - obtaining another’s quality |
| A2250 | Animal characteristics - result of contest |
| A2260 | Animal characteristics - from transformation |
| A2270 | Animal characteristics from miscellaneous causes |
| A2300 | Origin of animal characteristics - body |
| A2310 | Origin of animal characteristics - body covering |
| A2320 | Origin of animal characteristics - head |
| A2330 | Origin of animal characteristics - face |
| A2350 | Origin of animal characteristics - trunk |
| A2370 | Animal characteristics - extremities |
| A2380 | Animal characteristics - other bodily features |
| A2400 | Animal characteristics - general appearance |
| A2410 | Animal characteristics - color and smell |
| A2420 | Animal characteristics - voice and hearing |
| A2430 | Animal characteristics - dwelling and food |
| A2440 | Animal characteristics - carriage (i.e. gait) |
| A2450 | Animal’s daily work |
| A2460 | Animal characteristics - attack and defense |
| A2470 | Animal’s habitual body movements |
| A2480 | Periodic habits of animals |
| A2490 | Other habits of animals |
| A2500 | Animal characteristics - miscellaneous |
| A2510 | Utility of animals |
| A2520 | Disposition of animals |
| A2540 | Other animal characteristics |
| A2600 | Origin of plants |
| A2610 | Creation of plants by transformation |
| A2620 | Plants originate from experience of holy person |
| A2630 | Other types of plant origins |
| A2650 | Origin of flowers |
| A2680 | Origin of other plant forms |
| A2700 | Origin of plant characteristics |
| A2710 | Plant characteristics as reward |
| A2720 | Plant characteristics as punishment |
| A2730 | Miscellaneous reasons for plant characteristics |
| A2750 | Interior and bark of plant |
| A2760 | Leaves of plant |
| A2770 | Other plant characteristics |
| A2800 | Miscellaneous explanations - origins |
| A2850 | Miscellaneous explanations - characteristics |
Mythical Animals
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| B0 | Mythical Animals |
| B10 | Mythical beasts and hybrids |
| B20 | Beast men |
| B30 | Mythical birds |
| B40 | Bird-beasts |
| B50 | Bird men |
| B60 | Mythical fish |
| B70 | Fish beasts |
| B80 | Fish men |
| B90 | Other mythical animals |
| B100 | Treasure animals — animals with treasured parts |
| B110 | Treasure producing parts of animals |
| B120 | Wise animals |
| B130 | Truth telling animals |
| B140 | Prophetic animals |
| B150 | Oracular animals |
| B160 | Wisdom-giving animals |
| B170 | Magic birds, fish, reptiles, etc. |
| B180 | Magic quadrupeds |
| B190 | Magic animals — miscellaneous motifs |
| B200 | Animals with human traits |
| B210 | Speaking animals |
| B220 | Animal kingdom (or community) |
| B230 | Parliament of animals |
| B240 | King of animals |
| B250 | Religious animals |
| B260 | Animal warfare |
| B270 | Animals in legal relations |
| B280 | Animal weddings |
| B290 | Other animals with human traits |
| B300 | Helpful animal |
| B310 | Acquisition of helpful animal |
| B320 | Rewarding of helpful animal |
| B330 | Death of helpful animal |
| B340 | Treatment of helpful animals - miscellaneous |
| B350 | Grateful animals |
| B360 | Animals grateful for rescue from perils of death |
| B370 | Animals grateful to captor for release |
| B380 | Animal grateful for relief from pain |
| B390 | Animal grateful for other kind acts |
| B400 | Helpful domestic beasts |
| B430 | Helpful wild beasts |
| B450 | Helpful birds |
| B470 | Helpful fish |
| B480 | Helpful insects |
| B490 | Other helpful animals |
| B500 | Magic power from animals |
| B510 | Healing by animals |
| B520 | Animals save person’s life |
| B530 | Animals nourish men, provides food shelter or other necessities |
| B540 | Animal rescuer or retriever. Rescue person or retrieve lost object |
| B550 | Animals carry men |
| B560 | Animals advise men |
| B570 | Animals serve men |
| B580 | Animals help men to wealth and greatness |
| B590 | Miscellaneous services of helpful animals |
| B600 | Marriage of person to animal |
| B610 | Animal paramour |
| B620 | Animal suitor |
| B630 | Offspring of marriage to animal |
| B640 | Marriage to person in animal form |
| B650 | Marriage to animal in human form |
| B670 | Unusual mating between animals |
| B690 | Marriage of person to animal - miscellaneous |
| B700 | Fanciful traits of animals |
| B710 | Fanciful origin of animals |
| B720 | Fanciful bodily members of animals |
| B730 | Fanciful color, smell, etc. of animals |
| B740 | Fanciful marvelous strength of animals |
| B750 | Fanciful habits of animals |
| B770 | Other fanciful traits of animals |
| B800 | Miscellaneous animal motifs |
| B810 | Sacred animals |
| B840 | Long lived animals |
| B870 | Giant animals |
Tabu
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| C0 | Contact with supernatural |
| C10 | Profanely calling up supernatural |
| C20 | Calling on ogre or destructive animal |
| C30 | Offending supernatural relative |
| C40 | Offending spirits of water, mountain, etc |
| C50 | Offending the gods |
| C60 | Disbelief |
| C70 | Offending other sacred beings |
| C90 | Other taboos in connection with sacred beings |
| C100 | Sex taboos |
| C110 | Sexual intercourse and relations |
| C120 | Kissing - usually associated with disenchantment or magic forgetfulness |
| C130 | Puberty-related |
| C140 | Connected with menses |
| C150 | Connected to childbirth |
| C160 | Connected with marriage |
| C170 | Connected with husband’s or wife’s relatives |
| C180 | Taboos confined to one sex |
| C190 | Sex taboo - miscellaneous |
| C200 | Eating |
| C210 | Eating in certain place |
| C220 | Eating certain things |
| C230 | Eating at a certain time |
| C240 | Eating food of certain person |
| C250 | Drinking |
| C260 | Drinking at certain place |
| C270 | Drinking certain things |
| C280 | Miscellaneous eating and drinking |
| C300 | Looking |
| C310 | Looking at certain person or thing |
| C320 | Looking into certain receptacle |
| C330 | Looking in certain direction |
| C400 | Speaking |
| C410 | Asking questions |
| C420 | Uttering secrets |
| C430 | Prohibition against uttering the name of a person |
| C440 | Origin - prohibition against mentioning origin of person or thing |
| C450 | Boasting |
| C460 | Laughing |
| C480 | Other vocal expressions |
| C490 | Other speaking taboos |
| C500 | Touching |
| C510 | Touching tree or plant |
| C520 | Touching ground |
| C530 | Touching (miscellaneous) |
| C550 | Class |
| C560 | Things not to be done by certain class |
| C600 | Unique prohibition - person is forbidden to do one thing everything else is free to do |
| C610 | The one forbidden place |
| C620 | Partaking of the one forbidden object |
| C630 | The one forbidden time |
| C640 | Unique prohibition - miscellaneous |
| C650 | The one compulsory thing - unless this one thing is done, misfortune comes |
| C680 | Other compulsions |
| C700 | Miscellaneous taboos |
| C710 | Taboos connected with other-world journeys |
| C720 | Attending to toilet needs |
| C730 | Resting |
| C740 | Doing deed of mercy or courtesy |
| C750 | Time-related taboos |
| C770 | Overweening pride |
| C780 | Buying, Selling, etc. |
| C810 | Heeding persuasive person or thing |
| C820 | Finding certain secret |
| C830 | Unclassified taboos |
| C900 | Punishment for breaking taboo |
| C910 | Permanent sign of disobedience for breaking taboo |
| C920 | Death for breaking taboo |
| C930 | Loss of fortune for breaking taboo |
| C940 | Sickness or weakness for breaking taboo |
| C950 | Person carried to other world for breaking taboo |
| C960 | Transformation for breaking taboo |
| C980 | Miscellaneous punishments for breaking taboo |
Magic
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| D0 | Transformation (general) |
| D10 | Transformation to person of different sex |
| D20 | Transformation to person of different social class |
| D30 | Transformation to person of different race |
| D40 | Transformation to likeness of another person |
| D50 | Magic changes in man himself |
| D90 | Transformation: man to different man — miscellaneous |
| D100 | Transformation: man to animal |
| D110 | Transformation: man to wild beast (mammal) |
| D130 | Transformation: man to domestic beast (mammal) |
| D150 | Transformation: man to bird |
| D170 | Transformation: man to fish |
| D180 | Transformation: man to insect |
| D190 | Transformation: man to reptiles and miscellaneous animals |
| D200 | Transformation: man to object |
| D210 | Transformation: man to vegetable form |
| D230 | Transformation: man to a mineral form |
| D250 | Transformation: man to manufactured object |
| D270 | Transformation: man to object - miscellaneous |
| D300 | Transformation: animal to person |
| D310 | Transformation: wild beast (mammal) to person |
| D330 | Transformation: domestic beast (mammal) to person |
| D350 | Transformation: bird to person |
| D370 | Transformation: fish to man |
| D380 | Transformation: insect to person |
| D390 | Transformation: reptiles and miscellaneous animals to persons |
| D400 | Other forms of transformation |
| D410 | Transformation: one animal to another |
| D420 | Transformation: animal to object |
| D430 | Transformation: object to person |
| D440 | Transformation: object to animal |
| D450 | Transformation: object to another object |
| D470 | Transformation: material of object changed |
| D480 | Size of object transformed |
| D490 | Miscellaneous forms of transformation |
| D500 | Means of transformation in general |
| D510 | Transformation by breaking taboo |
| D520 | Transformation through power of the word |
| D530 | Transformation by putting on skin, clothing, etc |
| D550 | Transformation by eating or drinking |
| D560 | Transformation by various means |
| D600 | Miscellaneous transformation incidents |
| D610 | Repeated transformation - transformation into one form after another |
| D620 | Periodic transformation - a person is transformed at definite intervals |
| D630 | Transformation and disenchantment at will |
| D640 | Reasons for voluntary transformation |
| D660 | Motive for transformation of others |
| D670 | Magic flight |
| D680 | Miscellaneous circumstances of transformation |
| D700 | Person disenchanted |
| D710 | Disenchantment by rough treatment |
| D720 | Disenchantment by removing or destroying covering of enchanted person |
| D730 | Disenchantment by submission |
| D750 | Disenchantment by faithfulness of others |
| D760 | Disenchantment by miscellaneous means |
| D790 | Attendant circumstances of disenchantment |
| D800 | Magic object |
| D810 | Magic object as a gift |
| D830 | Magic object acquired by trickery |
| D840 | Magic object found |
| D850 | Magic object otherwise obtained |
| D860 | Loss of magic object |
| D880 | Recovery of magic object |
| D900 | Magic weather phenomena |
| D910 | Magic body of water |
| D930 | Magic land features |
| D940 | Magic forests |
| D950 | Magic tree |
| D960 | Magic garden and plants |
| D980 | Magic fruits and vegetables |
| D990 | Magic bodily members — human |
| D1010 | Magic bodily members — animal |
| D1030 | Magic food |
| D1040 | Magic drink |
| D1050 | Magic clothes |
| D1070 | Magic ornaments |
| D1080 | Magic weapons |
| D1110 | Magic conveyances and buildings |
| D1150 | Magic furniture |
| D1170 | Magic utensils and implements |
| D1210 | Magic musical instruments |
| D1240 | Magic water and medicines |
| D1250 | Miscellaneous magic objects |
| D1300 | Magic object gives supernatural wisdom |
| D1310 | Magic object gives supernatural information |
| D1330 | Magic object works physical change |
| D1350 | Magic object changes person’s disposition |
| D1360 | Magic object effects temporary change in person |
| D1380 | Magic object protects |
| D1390 | Magic object rescues person |
| D1400 | Magic object overcomes person |
| D1410 | Magic object renders person helpless |
| D1420 | Magic object draws person (thing) to it |
| D1430 | Magic object pursues or captures |
| D1440 | Magic object gives power over animals |
| D1450 | Magic object furnishes treasure |
| D1470 | Magic object as provider |
| D1500 | Magic object controls disease |
| D1520 | Magic object affords miraculous transportation |
| D1540 | Magic object controls the elements |
| D1550 | Magic object miraculously opens and closes |
| D1560 | Magic object performs other services for owner |
| D1600 | Automatic object |
| D1610 | Magic speaking objects |
| D1620 | Magic automata - statues or images that act as if alive |
| D1640 | Other automatic objects |
| D1650 | Other characteristics of magic objects |
| D1700 | Magic powers |
| D1710 | Possession of magic powers |
| D1720 | Acquisition of magic powers |
| D1740 | Loss of magic power |
| D1750 | Other characteristics of magic power |
| D1760 | Means of producing magic power |
| D1800 | Manifestations of Magic Power |
| D1810 | Magic Knowledge |
| D1820 | Magic sight and hearing |
| D1830 | Magic strength |
| D1840 | Magic invulnerability |
| D1850 | Immortality |
| D1860 | Magic beautification |
| D1870 | Magic hideousness |
| D1880 | Magic rejuvenation |
| D1890 | Magic aging |
| D1900 | Magic induced by magic |
| D1910 | Magic memory |
| D1920 | Other permanent magic characteristics |
| D1960 | Magic sleep |
| D1980 | Magic invisibility |
| D2000 | Magic forgetfulness |
| D2020 | Magic dumbness |
| D2030 | Other temporary magic characteristics |
| D2050 | Destructive magic power |
| D2060 | Death or bodily injury by magic |
| D2070 | Bewitching |
| D2080 | Magic used against property |
| D2090 | Other destructive magic powers |
| D2100 | Magic wealth |
| D2120 | Magic transportation |
| D2140 | Magic control of the elements |
| D2150 | Miscellaneous magic manifestations |
The Dead
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| E0 | Resuscitation |
| E10 | Resuscitation by rough treatment |
| E30 | Resuscitation by arrangement of members - parts of a dismembered corpse are brought together and resuscitation follows |
| E50 | Resuscitation by magic |
| E80 | Water of life - resuscitation by water |
| E90 | Tree of life - resuscitation by touching its branches |
| E100 | Resuscitation by medicines |
| E120 | Other means of resuscitation |
| E150 | Circumstances of resuscitation |
| E200 | Malevolent return from the dead |
| E210 | Dead lover’s malevolent return |
| E220 | Dead relative’s malevolent return |
| E230 | Return from dead to inflict punishment |
| E250 | Bloodthirsty revenants |
| E260 | Other malevolent revenants |
| E280 | Ghosts haunt buildings |
| E290 | Malevolent return from the dead - miscellaneous |
| E300 | Friendly return from the dead |
| E310 | Dead lover’s friendly return |
| E320 | Dead relative’s friendly return |
| E330 | Locations haunted by non-malevolent dead |
| E340 | Return from dead to repay obligation |
| E360 | Other reasons for friendly return from the dead |
| E380 | Ghost summoned |
| E390 | Friendly return from the dead - miscellaneous |
| E400 | Ghosts and revenants - miscellaneous |
| E410 | The unquiet grave - dead unable to rest in peace. |
| E420 | Appearance of revenant |
| E430 | Defense against ghosts and the dead |
| E440 | Walking ghost “laid” |
| E460 | Revenants in conflict |
| E470 | Intimate relations of dead and living |
| E480 | Abode of the dead |
| E490 | Meetings of the dead |
| E500 | Phantom hosts |
| E510 | Phantom sailors and travelers |
| E520 | Animal ghosts |
| E530 | Ghosts of objects |
| E540 | Miscellaneous actions of revenants |
| E600 | Reincarnation - return from the dead in another form |
| E610 | Reincarnation as animal |
| E630 | Reincarnation in object |
| E650 | Reincarnation: other forms |
| E670 | Repeated reincarnation |
| E690 | Reincarnation: miscellaneous |
| E700 | The Soul |
| E710 | External soul - a person (often a giant or ogre) keeps his soul or life separate from the rest of his body |
| E720 | Soul leaves or enters the body |
| E730 | Soul in animal form |
| E740 | Other forms of the soul |
| E750 | Perils of the soul |
| E760 | Life index - object or animal has mystic connection with person. Changes in one correspond to changes in the other |
| E770 | Vital objects - objects that have life in them |
| E780 | Vital bodily members - members possess life independent of the rest of the body |
| E790 | The soul - miscellaneous |
The Marvels
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| F0 | Journey to Other world |
| F10 | Journey to upper world |
| F30 | Inhabitant of upper world visits earth |
| F50 | Access to upper world |
| F60 | Transportation to or from upper world |
| F80 | Journey to lower world |
| F90 | Access to lower world |
| F100 | Visit to lower world - miscellaneous outfits |
| F110 | Journey to terrestrial otherworlds |
| F130 | Location of otherworld |
| F140 | Bounds of the otherworld |
| F150 | Access to otherworld |
| F160 | Nature of the otherworld |
| F170 | Otherworld - miscellaneous motifs |
| F200 | Fairies and elves |
| F210 | Fairyland |
| F220 | Dwelling of fairies |
| F230 | Appearance of fairies |
| F240 | Possessions of fairies |
| F250 | Other characteristics of fairies |
| F260 | Behavior of fairies |
| F300 | Marriage of liaison with fairy |
| F310 | Fairies and human children |
| F320 | Fairies carry people away to fairyland |
| F330 | Grateful fairies |
| F340 | Gifts from fairies |
| F350 | Theft from fairies |
| F360 | Malevolent or destructive fairies or pixies |
| F370 | Visit to fairyland |
| F380 | Defeating or riddling oneself of fairies |
| F390 | Fairies - miscellaneous motifs |
| F400 | Spirits and demons in general |
| F420 | Water spirits |
| F430 | Weather spirits |
| F440 | Vegetation spirits |
| F450 | Underground spirits |
| F460 | Mountain spirits |
| F470 | Night spirits |
| F480 | House spirits |
| F490 | Other spirits and demons |
| F500 | Remarkable persons |
| F510 | Monstrous persons |
| F530 | Exceptionally large or small men |
| F540 | Remarkable physical organs |
| F560 | Unusual manner of life |
| F570 | Other extraordinary human beings |
| F600 | Persons with extraordinary powers |
| F610 | Remarkable strong man |
| F640 | Extraordinary powers of perception |
| F660 | Remarkable skill |
| F680 | Other marvelous power |
| F700 | Extraordinary places |
| F710 | Extraordinary bodies of water |
| F720 | Submarine and subterranean world |
| F730 | Extraordinary islands |
| F750 | Extraordinary mountains and other land features |
| F760 | Extraordinary cities |
| F770 | Extraordinary buildings and furnishings |
| F790 | Extraordinary sky and weather phenomena |
| F800 | Extraordinary rocks and stones |
| F810 | Extraordinary trees, plants, fruits, etc |
| F820 | Extraordinary clothing and ornaments |
| F830 | Extraordinary weapons |
| F840 | Other extraordinary objects and places |
| F900 | Extraordinary occurrences |
| F910 | Extraordinary swallowings |
| F930 | Extraordinary occurrences concerning seas or water |
| F940 | Extraordinary underground (underwater) disappearances |
| F950 | Marvelous cures |
| F960 | Extraordinary nature phenomena - elements and weather |
| F970 | Extraordinary behavior of trees and plants |
| F980 | Extraordinary occurrences concerning animals |
| F990 | Inanimate objects act as if living |
| F1010 | Other extraordnary events |
Ogres
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| G0 | Ogres |
| G10 | Regular Cannibalism |
| G20 | Ghouls - Persons eat corpses |
| G30 | Person becomes cannibal |
| G50 | Occasional cannibalism |
| G60 | Human flesh eaten unwittingly |
| G70 | Occasional cannibalism - deliberate |
| G80 | Other motifs dealing with cannibals |
| G100 | Giant ogre |
| G110 | Possessions of giant ogres |
| G120 | Physical characteristics of giant ogres |
| G130 | Customs of giant ogres |
| G150 | Giant ogres - miscellaneous |
| G200 | Witch |
| G210 | Form of witch |
| G220 | Characteristics of witches |
| G230 | Habitat of witches |
| G240 | Habits of witches |
| G250 | Recognition of witches |
| G260 | Evil deeds of witches |
| G270 | Witch overcome or ecaped |
| G280 | Witch - miscellaneous motifs |
| G300 | Other ogres |
| G310 | Ogres with characteristic methods |
| G350 | Animal ogres |
| G360 | Ogres with monstrous features |
| G370 | Ogres - miscellaneous |
| G400 | Person falls into ogre’s power |
| G410 | Person betrayed into ogre’s power |
| G420 | Capture by ogre |
| G440 | Ogre abducts person |
| G450 | Falling into ogre’s power-miscellaneous |
| G500 | Ogre defeated |
| G510 | Ogre killed, maimed, or captured |
| G520 | Ogre deceived into self-injury |
| G530 | Ogre’s relative aids hero |
| G550 | Rescue from ogre |
| G560 | Ogre deceived into releasing prisoner |
| G570 | Ogre overawed |
| G580 | Ogre otherwise subdued |
| G610 | Theft from ogre |
| G630 | Characteristics of ogres |
| G650 | Unclassified ogre motifs |
Tests
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| H0 | Identity Tests |
| H10 | Recognition through common knowledge |
| H20 | Recognition by resemblance |
| H30 | Recognition through personal peculiarities |
| H50 | Recognition by bodily marks or physical attributes |
| H80 | Identification by tokens |
| H90 | Identification by ornaments |
| H100 | Identification by matching parts of divided token |
| H110 | Identification by cloth or clothing |
| H120 | Identification by tokens - miscellaneous |
| H150 | Circumstances of recognition |
| H200 | Tests of Truth |
| H210 | Test of guilt or innocence |
| H220 | Ordeals |
| H240 | Other tests of truth |
| H300 | Tests connected with marriage |
| H310 | Suitor tests - suitor is put to severe tests by his prospective bride or father-in-law |
| H360 | Bride test |
| H400 | Chastity test |
| H410 | Chastity test by magic objects or ordeals |
| H430 | Chastity index - objects indicate faithfulness of separate spouse |
| H440 | Other indications of chastity |
| H460 | Wife test |
| H480 | Father tests - test as to who is unknown father of child |
| H490 | Other marriage tests |
| H500 | Test of cleverness or ability |
| H510 | Test in guessing |
| H530 | Riddles |
| H540 | Propounding of riddles |
| H570 | Means of solving riddles |
| H580 | Enigmatic statements - apparently senseless remarks or acts interpreted figuratively prove wise |
| H600 | Symbolic interpretations |
| H620 | The unsolved problem — enigmatic ending of tale |
| H630 | Riddles of the superlative |
| H660 | Riddles of comparison |
| H680 | Riddles of distance |
| H690 | Riddles of weight and measure |
| H700 | Riddles of numbers |
| H710 | Riddles of value |
| H720 | Metaphorical riddles |
| H770 | Riddles of explanation |
| H790 | Riddle-based on unusual circumstances |
| H810 | Riddles based on the Bible or legend |
| H840 | Other riddles |
| H900 | Assignment of tasks - person’s prowess is tested by assigning him certain tasks to be performed to escape punishment or receive reward |
| H910 | Assignment of tasks in response to suggestion |
| H920 | Assigners of tasks |
| H940 | Assignment of task - miscellaneous |
| H950 | Task evaded by subterfuge |
| H960 | Tasks performed through cleverness or intelligence |
| H970 | Help in performing tasks |
| H990 | Performance of tasks - miscellaneous |
| H1000 | Nature of tasks |
| H1010 | Impossible tasks |
| H1020 | Tasks contrary to laws of nature |
| H1030 | Other impossible tasks |
| H1050 | Paradoxical tasks |
| H1090 | Tasks requiring miraculous speed |
| H1110 | Tedious tasks |
| H1130 | Superhuman tasks |
| H1150 | Tasks — stealing, capturing or slaying |
| H1180 | Miscellaneous tasks |
| H1200 | Quest |
| H1210 | Quest assigned |
| H1220 | Quest voluntarily undertaken |
| H1230 | Accomplishment of quests |
| H1240 | Other circumstances of quests |
| H1250 | Quests to the other world |
| H1260 | Quests to the upper world |
| H1270 | Quest to lower world |
| H1280 | Quests to other realms |
| H1290 | Quests to the other world - miscellaneous motifs |
| H1300 | Quests for the unique |
| H1320 | Quest for the marvelous objects or animals |
| H1360 | Quest for dangerous animals |
| H1370 | Miscellaneous quests |
| H1400 | Fear test - a person is put to various tests in the attempt to make him show fear |
| H1410 | Fear test — staying in frightful place |
| H1420 | Fearless traffic with devils |
| H1430 | Fearless traffic with ghosts |
| H1440 | The learning of fear |
| H1450 | Vigilance test |
| H1460 | Test — vigil at tomb |
| H1470 | Other vigilance tests |
| H1480 | Accomplishment of vigilance test |
| H1500 | Tests of endurance |
| H1510 | Tests of power to survive |
| H1540 | Contests in endurance |
| H1550 | Test of character |
| H1570 | Miscellaneous tests |
The Wise and The Foolish
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| J0 | Acquisition and possession of wisdom (knowledge) |
| J10 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from experience |
| J30 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from inference |
| J50 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from observation |
| J80 | Wisdom (knowledge) taught by parable |
| J100 | Wisdom (knowledge) taught by necessity |
| J120 | Wisdom learned from children |
| J130 | Wisdom (knowledge) acquired from animals |
| J140 | Wisdom (knowledge) through education |
| J150 | Other means of acquiring wisdom (knowledge) |
| J180 | Possession of wisdom |
| J200 | Choices |
| J210 | Choice between rolls |
| J230 | Choice between real and apparent values |
| J240 | Choice between useful and ornamental |
| J260 | Choice between worth and appearance |
| J280 | Quality preferred to quantity |
| J300 | Present values chosen |
| J310 | The present preferred to the past |
| J320 | Present values preferred to future |
| J330 | Gains and losses |
| J340 | Choices — little gain, big loss |
| J350 | Choices — small inconvenience, large gain |
| J370 | Choices — important and unimportant work |
| J390 | Choices — kind strangers, unkind relatives |
| J400 | Choice of associates |
| J410 | Association of equals and of unequals |
| J420 | Association of strong and weak |
| J440 | Association of young and old |
| J450 | Association of the good and the evil |
| J460 | Unnecessary choices |
| J480 | Other choices |
| J500 | Prudence and discretion |
| J510 | Prudence in ambition |
| J530 | Prudence in demands |
| J550 | Zeal - temperate and intemperate |
| J570 | Wisdom of deliberation |
| J580 | Wisdom of caution |
| J600 | Forethought |
| J610 | Forethought in conflicts with others |
| J620 | Forethought in prevention of others’ plans |
| J640 | Avoidance of others’ power |
| J670 | Forethought in defences against others |
| J680 | Forethought in alliances |
| J700 | Forethought in provision for life (general) |
| J710 | Forethought in provision for food |
| J730 | Forethought in provision for clothing |
| J740 | Forethought in provision for shelter |
| J750 | Forethought - miscellaneous |
| J800 | Adaptability |
| J810 | Policy in dealing with the great |
| J830 | Adaptability to overpowering force |
| J850 | Consolation in misfortune |
| J860 | Consolation by a trifle |
| J870 | Consolation by pretending that one does not want the thing he cannot have |
| J880 | Consolation by thought of others worse placed |
| J890 | Consolation in misfortune - miscellaneous |
| J900 | Humility |
| J910 | Humility of the great |
| J950 | Presumption of the lowly |
| J1000 | Other aspects of wisdom |
| J1010 | Value of industry |
| J1020 | Strength in unity |
| J1030 | Self-dependences |
| J1040 | Decisiveness of conduct |
| J1050 | Attention to warnings |
| J1060 | Miscellaneous aspects of wisdom |
| J1100 | Cleverness |
| J1110 | Clever persons and acts |
| J1130 | Cleverness in law court - general |
| J1140 | Cleverness in detection of truth |
| J1150 | Cleverness connected with the giving of evidence |
| J1160 | Clever pleading |
| J1170 | Clever judicial decisions |
| J1180 | Clever means of avoiding legal punishment |
| J1190 | Cleverness in the law court - miscellaneous |
| J1210 | Clever man puts another out of countenance |
| J1230 | Clever dividing |
| J1250 | Clever verbal retorts (repartee) - general |
| J1260 | Repartee based on church or clergy |
| J1270 | Repartee concerning the parentage of children |
| J1280 | Repartee with ruler |
| J1290 | Reductio ad absurdum of question or proposal |
| J1300 | Officiousness or foolish questions rebuked |
| J1310 | Repartee concerning wine |
| J1320 | Repartee concerning drunkenness |
| J1330 | Repartee concerning beggars |
| J1340 | Retorts from hungry persons |
| J1350 | Rude retorts |
| J1370 | Cynical retorts concerning honesty |
| J1380 | Retorts concerning debts |
| J1390 | Retorts concerning thefts |
| J1400 | Repartee concerning false reform |
| J1410 | Repartee concerning fatness |
| J1420 | Animal retort concerning their dangers |
| J1430 | Repartee concerning doctors and patients |
| J1440 | Repartee - miscellaneous |
| J1500 | Clever practical retort |
| J1510 | The cheater cheated |
| J1530 | One absurdity rebukes another |
| J1540 | Retorts between husband and wife |
| J1550 | Practical retorts: borrower and lenders |
| J1560 | Practical retorts: hosts and guests |
| J1580 | Practical retorts connected with almsgiving |
| J1600 | Practical retorts - miscellaneous |
| J1650 | Miscellaneous clever acts |
| J1700 | Fools |
| J1710 | Association with fools |
| J1730 | Absurd ignorance |
| J1750 | One animal mistaken for another |
| J1760 | Animal or person mistaken for something else |
| J1770 | Objects with mistaken identity |
| J1780 | Things thought to be devils, ghosts, etc |
| J1790 | Shadow mistaken for substance |
| J1800 | One thing mistaken for another - miscellaneous |
| J1810 | Physical phenomena misunderstood |
| J1820 | Inappropriate action from misunderstanding |
| J1850 | Gift or sale to animal or object |
| J1860 | Animal or object absurdly punished |
| J1870 | Absurd sympathy for animals or objects |
| J1880 | Animals or objects treated as if human - miscellaneous |
| J1900 | Absurd disregard or ignorance of animal’s nature or habits |
| J1910 | Fatal disregard of anatomy |
| J1920 | Absurd searches for the lost |
| J1930 | Absurd disregard of natural laws |
| J1960 | Other absurd disregard of facts |
| J2000 | Absurd absent-mindedness |
| J2010 | Uncertainty about own identity |
| J2020 | Inability to find own members, etc |
| J2030 | Absurd inability to count |
| J2040 | Absurd absent-mindedness miscellaneous |
| J2050 | Absurd short-sightedness |
| J2060 | Absurd plans — air castles |
| J2070 | Absurd wishes |
| J2080 | Foolish bargains |
| J2100 | Remedies worse than the disease |
| J2120 | Disregard of danger to object or animals |
| J2130 | Foolish disregard of personal danger |
| J2160 | Other short-sighted acts |
| J2200 | Absurd lack of logic - general |
| J2210 | Logical absurdity based upon certain false assumptions |
| J2220 | Other logical absurdities |
| J2260 | Absurd scientific theories — general |
| J2270 | Absurd astronomical theories |
| J2280 | Other absurd scientific theories |
| J2300 | Gullible fools |
| J2310 | Nature of gullibility |
| J2350 | Talkative fools |
| J2370 | Inquisitive fools |
| J2400 | Foolish invitation |
| J2410 | Types of foolish imitation |
| J2420 | Foolish imitation - miscellaneous |
| J2450 | Literal fool |
| J2460 | Literal obedience |
| J2470 | Metaphors literally interpreted |
| J2490 | Literal fool - miscellaneous |
| J2500 | Foolish extremes |
| J2550 | Thankful fools |
| J2600 | Cowardly fools |
| J2650 | Bungling fools |
| J2700 | The easy problem made hard |
| J2750 | Other aspects of wisdom and foolishness |
Deceptions
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| K0 | Contest won by deception—general |
| K10 | Athletic contest won by deception |
| K30 | Hunting contest won by deception |
| K40 | Labor contest won by deception |
| K50 | Endurance contest won by deception |
| K60 | Absurd contest won by deception |
| K70 | Contest in strength won by deception |
| K80 | Contests in other physical accomplishments won by deception |
| K90 | Other contests won by deception |
| K100 | Deceptive bargain |
| K110 | Sale of pseudo-magic objects |
| K120 | Sale of false treasure |
| K130 | Sale of worthless animals |
| K140 | Sale of other worthless objects |
| K150 | Sale of other worthless services |
| K170 | Deception through pseudo-simple bargain |
| K200 | Deception in payment of debt |
| K210 | Devil cheated of his promised soul - The man saves it through deceit. |
| K220 | Payment precluded by terms of the bargain |
| K230 | Other deceptions in the payment of debt |
| K250 | Other deceptive bargains |
| K300 | Thefts and cheats—general |
| K310 | Means of entering house or treasury |
| K330 | Means of hoodwinking the guardian or owner |
| K360 | Other means of theft |
| K400 | Thief escapes detection |
| K420 | Thief loses his goods or is detected |
| K440 | Other cheats |
| K500 | Escape from death or danger by deception |
| K510 | Death order evaded |
| K520 | Death escaped through disguise, shamming, or substitution |
| K540 | Escape by overawing captor |
| K550 | Escape by false plea - A captive makes a request or proposes an action that permits him to eventually to escape |
| K580 | Captor persuaded into illusory punishment |
| K600 | Murderer or captor otherwise beguiled |
| K620 | Escape by deceiving the guard |
| K630 | Escape by disarming (making pursuit difficult) |
| K640 | Escape by help of confederate |
| K650 | Other means of escape |
| K700 | Capture by deception |
| K710 | Victim enticed into voluntary captivity or helplessness |
| K730 | Victim trapped |
| K750 | Capture by decoy |
| K770 | Other deceptive captures |
| K800 | Fatal deception |
| K810 | Fatal deception into trickster‘s power |
| K840 | Deception into fatal substitution |
| K850 | Fatal deceptive game |
| K870 | Fatal deception by narcotic (intoxication) |
| K890 | Dupe tricked into killing himself |
| K910 | Murder by strategy |
| K930 | Treacherous murder of enemy’s children or charges |
| K940 | Deception into killing own children or animals |
| K950 | Various kinds of treacherous murder |
| K960 | Other fatal deceits |
| K1000 | Deception into self-injury |
| K1010 | Deception through false doctoring |
| K1020 | Deception into disastrous attempt to procure food |
| K1040 | Dupe otherwise persuaded to voluntary self-injury |
| K1080 | Persons duped into injuring each other |
| K1110 | Deceptions into self-injury—miscellaneous |
| K1200 | Deception into humiliating position |
| K1210 | Humiliated or baffled lovers |
| K1240 | Deception into humiliating position—miscellaneous |
| K1300 | Seduction |
| K1310 | Seduction by disguise or substitution |
| K1330 | Girl tricked into man‘s room (or power) |
| K1340 | Entrance into girl’s (man‘s) room (bed) by trick |
| K1350 | Woman persuaded (or wooed) by trick |
| K1380 | Seduction—miscellaneous |
| K1400 | Dupe‘s property destroyed |
| K1410 | Dupe’s goods destroyed |
| K1440 | Dupe‘s animals destroyed or maimed |
| K1460 | Members of dupe’s family killed |
| K1500 | Deception connected with adultery |
| K1510 | Adulteress outwits husband |
| K1550 | Husband outwits adulteress and paramour |
| K1570 | Trickster outwits adulteress and paramour |
| K1580 | Other deceits connected with adultery |
| K1600 | Deceiver falls into own trap |
| K1610 | Deceiver falls into his own trap—miscellaneous incidents |
| K1700 | Deception through bluffing |
| K1710 | Ogre (large animal) overawed |
| K1760 | Other bluffs |
| K1800 | Deception by disguise or illusion |
| K1810 | Deception by disguise |
| K1840 | Deception by substitution |
| K1860 | Deception by feigned death (sleep) |
| K1870 | Illusions |
| K1890 | Other deceptions by disguise or illusion |
| K1900 | Impostures |
| K1910 | Marital impostures |
| K1920 | Substituted children |
| K1930 | Treacherous impostors |
| K1950 | Sham prowess |
| K1970 | Sham miracles |
| K1980 | Other impostures |
| K2000 | Hypocrites |
| K2010 | Hypocrite pretends friendship but attacks |
| K2030 | Double dealers |
| K2050 | Pretended virtue |
| K2060 | Detection of hypocrisy |
| K2090 | Other hypocritical acts |
| K2100 | False accusations |
| K2110 | Slanders |
| K2130 | Trouble-makers |
| K2150 | Innocent made to appear guilty |
| K2200 | Villains and traitors |
| K2210 | Treacherous relatives - relatives whose treachery seems to be uppermost than their cruelty |
| K2220 | Treacherous rivals |
| K2230 | Treacherous lovers |
| K2240 | Treacherous officers and tradesmen |
| K2250 | Treacherous servants and workmen |
| K2260 | Dark traitors - persons dark by race, habitual occupation, or complexion or even marvelously colored |
| K2270 | Deformed villains |
| K2280 | Treacherous churchmen |
| K2290 | Other villains and traitors |
| K2300 | Other deceptions |
| K2310 | Deception by equivocation |
| K2320 | Deception by frightening |
| K2350 | Military strategy |
| K2370 | Miscellaneous deceptions |
Reversal of Fortune
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| L0 | Victorious youngest child |
| L10 | Victorious youngest son |
| L50 | Victorious youngest daughter |
| L70 | Youngest of group victorious |
| L100 | Unpromising hero (heroine) |
| L110 | Types of unpromising heroes (heroines) |
| L130 | Abode of unpromising hero (heroine) |
| L140 | The unpromising surpasses the promising |
| L160 | Success of the unpromising hero (heroine) |
| L200 | Modesty brings reward |
| L210 | Modest choice best |
| L220 | Modest request best |
| L250 | Modest business plans best |
| L290 | Modesty brings reward - miscellaneous |
| L300 | Triumph of the weak |
| L310 | Weak overcomes strong in conflict |
| L330 | Easy escape of weak (small) |
| L350 | Mildness triumphs over violence |
| L390 | Triumph of the weak—miscellaneous |
| L400 | Pride brought low |
| L410 | Proud ruler (deity) humbled |
| L420 | Overweening ambition punished |
| L430 | Arrogance repaid |
| L450 | Proud animal less fortunate than humble |
| L460 | Pride brought low—miscellaneous |
Ordaining The Future
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| M0 | Judgments and decrees |
| M10 | Irrevocable judgments |
| M20 | Short-sighted judgments |
| M50 | Other judgments and decrees |
| M90 | Judgments and decrees—miscellaneous motifs |
| M100 | Vows and oaths |
| M110 | Taking of vows and oaths |
| M120 | Vows concerning personal appearance |
| M130 | Vows concerning sex |
| M150 | Other vows and oaths |
| M200 | Bargains and promises |
| M210 | Bargain with devil |
| M220 | Other bargains |
| M250 | Promises connected with death |
| M260 | Other promises |
| M290 | Bargains and promises—miscellaneous |
| M300 | Prophecies |
| M310 | Favorable prophecies |
| M340 | Unfavorable prophecies |
| M360 | Other prophecies |
| M370 | Vain attempts to escape fulfillment of prophecy |
| M390 | Prophecies—miscellaneous motifs |
| M400 | Curses |
| M410 | Pronouncement of curses |
| M420 | Enduring and overcoming curses |
| M430 | Curses on persons |
| M460 | Curses on families |
| M470 | Curses on objects or animals |
| M490 | Curses—miscellaneous |
Chance and Fate
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| N0 | Wagers and gambling |
| N10 | Wagers on wives, husbands, or servants |
| N50 | Other wagers |
| N90 | Wagers and gambling—miscellaneous |
| N100 | Nature of luck and fate |
| N110 | Luck and fate personified |
| N120 | Determination of luck or fate |
| N130 | Changing of luck or fate |
| N140 | Nature of luck and fate—miscellaneous motifs |
| N170 | The capriciousness of luck |
| N200 | The good gifts of fortune |
| N250 | Persistent bad luck |
| N270 | Crime inevitably comes to light |
| N300 | Unlucky accidents |
| N310 | Accidental separations |
| N320 | Person unwittingly killed |
| N330 | Accidental killing or death |
| N340 | Hasty killing or condemnation |
| N350 | Accidental loss of property |
| N360 | Man unwittingly commits crime |
| N380 | Other unlucky accidents |
| N400 | Lucky accidents |
| N410 | Lucky business ventures |
| N440 | Valuable secrets learned |
| N450 | Secrets overheard |
| N500 | Treasure trove |
| N510 | Where treasure is found |
| N530 | Discovery of treasure |
| N550 | Unearthing hidden treasure |
| N570 | Guardian of treasure |
| N590 | Treasure trove—miscellaneous motifs |
| N600 | Other lucky accidents |
| N610 | Accidental discovery of crime |
| N620 | Accidental success in hunting or fishing |
| N630 | Accidental acquisition of treasure or money |
| N640 | Accidental healing |
| N650 | Life saved by accident |
| N660 | Accidental escapes |
| N680 | Lucky accidents—miscellaneous |
| N700 | Accidental encounters |
| N710 | Accidental meeting of hero and heroine |
| N730 | Accidental reunion of families |
| N760 | Other accidental encounters |
| N770 | Experiences leading to adventures |
| N800 | Helpers |
| N810 | Supernatural helpers |
| N820 | Human helpers |
Society
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| P0 | Royalty and nobility |
| P10 | Kings |
| P20 | Queens |
| P30 | Princes |
| P40 | Princesses |
| P50 | Noblemen (knights) |
| P60 | Noble (gentle) ladies |
| P90 | Royalty and nobility—miscellaneous |
| P100 | Other social orders |
| P110 | Royal ministers |
| P120 | Church dignitaries |
| P150 | Rich men |
| P160 | Beggars |
| P170 | Slaves |
| P190 | Other social orders—miscellaneous |
| P200 | The family |
| P210 | Husband and wife |
| P230 | Parents and children |
| P250 | Brothers and sisters |
| P260 | Relations by law |
| P270 | Foster relatives |
| P280 | Steprelatives |
| P290 | Other relatives |
| P300 | Other social relationships |
| P310 | Friendship |
| P320 | Hospitality |
| P340 | Teacher and pupil |
| P360 | Master and servant |
| P400 | Trades and professions |
| P410 | Laborers |
| P420 | Learned professions |
| P430 | Financiers and merchants |
| P440 | Artisans |
| P460 | Other trades and professions |
| P500 | Government |
| P510 | Law courts |
| P550 | Military affairs |
| P600 | Customs |
| P700 | Society—miscellaneous motifs |
| P710 | Nations |
| P720 | Population |
Rewards and Punishments
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| Q0 | Rewards and punishments |
| Q10 | Deeds rewarded |
| Q20 | Piety rewarded |
| Q40 | Kindness rewarded |
| Q60 | Other good qualities rewarded |
| Q80 | Rewards for other causes |
| Q100 | Nature of rewards |
| Q110 | Material rewards |
| Q140 | Miraculous or magic rewards |
| Q150 | Immunity from disaster as reward |
| Q170 | Religious rewards |
| Q190 | Rewards—miscellaneous |
| Q200 | Deeds punished |
| Q210 | Crimes punished |
| Q220 | Impiety punished |
| Q240 | Sexual sins punished |
| Q260 | Deceptions punished |
| Q270 | Misdeeds concerning property punished |
| Q280 | Unkindness punished |
| Q300 | Contentiousness punished |
| Q320 | Evil personal habits punished |
| Q330 | Overweening punished |
| Q340 | Meddling punished |
| Q380 | Deeds punished—miscellaneous |
| Q400 | Kinds of punishment |
| Q410 | Capital punishment |
| Q430 | Abridgement of freedom as punishment |
| Q450 | Cruel punishments |
| Q470 | Humiliating punishments |
| Q500 | Tedious punishments |
| Q520 | Penances |
| Q550 | Miraculous punishments |
| Q560 | Punishments in hell |
| Q570 | Punishment and remission |
| Q580 | Punishment fitted to crime |
| Q590 | Miscellaneous punishments |
Captives and Fugitives
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| R0 | Captivity |
| R10 | Abduction |
| R40 | Places of captivity |
| R50 | Conditions of captivity |
| R70 | Behavior of captives |
| R100 | Rescues |
| R110 | Rescue of captive |
| R130 | Rescue of abandoned or lost persons |
| R150 | Rescuers |
| R170 | Rescue—miscellaneous motifs |
| R200 | Escapes and pursuits |
| R210 | Escapes |
| R220 | Flights |
| R260 | Pursuits |
| R300 | Refuges and recapture |
| R310 | Refuges |
| R350 | Recapture of fugitive |
Unnatural Cruelty
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| S0 | Cruel relatives |
| S10 | Cruel parents |
| S20 | Cruel children and grandchildren |
| S30 | Cruel step- and foster relatives |
| S40 | Cruel grandparents |
| S50 | Cruel relatives-in-law |
| S60 | Cruel spouse |
| S70 | Other cruel relatives |
| S100 | Revolting murders or mutilations |
| S110 | Murders |
| S140 | Cruel abandonments and exposures |
| S160 | Mutilations |
| S180 | Wounding or torturing |
| S200 | Cruel sacrifices |
| S210 | Children sold or promised |
| S220 | Reasons for promise (sale) of child |
| S240 | Children unwittingly promised (sold) |
| S250 | Saving the promised child |
| S260 | Sacrifices |
| S300 | Abandoned or murdered children |
| S310 | Reasons for abandonment of children |
| S330 | Circumstances of murder or exposure of children |
| S350 | Fate of abandoned child |
| S400 | Cruel persecutions |
| S410 | Persecuted wife |
| S430 | Disposal of cast-off wife |
| S450 | Fate of outcast wife |
| S460 | Other cruel persecutions |
Sex
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| T0 | Love |
| T10 | Falling in love |
| T30 | Lovers’ meeting |
| T50 | Wooing |
| T70 | The scorned lover |
| T80 | Tragic love |
| T90 | Love—miscellaneous motifs |
| T100 | Marriage |
| T110 | Unusual marriage |
| T130 | Marriage customs |
| T150 | Happenings at weddings |
| T160 | Consummation of marriage |
| T190 | Marriage - miscellaneous motifs |
| T200 | Married life |
| T210 | Faithfulness in marriage |
| T230 | Faithlessness in marriage |
| T250 | Characteristics of wives and husbands |
| T280 | Other aspects of married life |
| T300 | Chastity and celibacy |
| T310 | Celibacy and continence |
| T320 | Escape from undesired lover |
| T330 | Anchorites under temptation |
| T350 | Chaste sleeping together |
| T360 | Chastity and celibacy—miscellaneous |
| T400 | Illicit sexual relations |
| T410 | Incest |
| T450 | Prostitution and concubinage |
| T460 | Sexual perversions |
| T470 | Illicit sexual relations—miscellaneous motifs |
| T500 | Conception and birth |
| T510 | Miraculous conception |
| T540 | Miraculous birth |
| T550 | Monstrous births |
| T570 | Pregnancy |
| T580 | Childbirth |
| T590 | Conception and birth—miscellaneous motifs |
| T600 | Care of children |
| T610 | Nurture and growth of children |
| T640 | Illegitimate children |
| T670 | Adoption of children |
| T680 | Care of children—miscellaneous motifs |
The Nature of Life
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| U0 | Life’s inequalities |
| U10 | Justice and injustice |
| U30 | Rights of the strong |
| U60 | Wealth and poverty |
| U100 | Nature of life—miscellaneous motifs |
| U110 | Appearances deceive |
| U120 | Nature will show itself |
| U130 | The power of habit |
| U140 | One man‘s food is another man’s poison |
| U150 | Indifference of the miserable |
| U160 | Misfortune with oneself to blame the hardest |
| U170 | Behavior of the blind |
| U180 | In vino veritas |
| U210 | Bad ruler, bad subject |
| U220 | Forced peace valueless |
| U230 | The nature of sin |
| U240 | Power of mind over body |
| U250 | Shortness of life |
| U260 | Passage of time |
| U270 | Security breeds indifference |
Religion
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| V0 | Religious services |
| V10 | Religious sacrifices |
| V20 | Confession of sins |
| V30 | Sacrament |
| V40 | Mass |
| V50 | Prayer |
| V60 | Funeral rites |
| V70 | Religious feasts and fasts |
| V80 | Religious services—miscellaneous |
| V100 | Religious edifices and objects |
| V110 | Religious buildings |
| V120 | Images |
| V130 | Other sacred objects connected with worship |
| V140 | Sacred relics |
| V150 | Sacred objects—miscellaneous |
| V200 | Sacred persons |
| V210 | Religious founders |
| V220 | Saints |
| V230 | Angels |
| V250 | The Virgin Mary |
| V290 | Other sacred persons |
| V300 | Religious beliefs |
| V310 | Particular dogmas |
| V320 | Heretics |
| V330 | Conversion from one religion to another |
| V340 | Miracle manifested to non-believers |
| V350 | Conflicts between religions |
| V360 | Christian and Jewish traditions about each other |
| V380 | Religious beliefs—miscellaneous |
| V400 | Charity |
| V410 | Charity rewarded |
| V420 | Reward of the uncharitable |
| V430 | Charity—miscellaneous motifs |
| V440 | Other religious virtues |
| V450 | Religious orders |
| V460 | Clerical virtues and vices |
| V470 | Clerical vows |
| V500 | Religious motifs—miscellaneous |
| V510 | Religious visions |
| V520 | Salvation |
| V530 | Pilgrimages |
| V540 | Intervention of Providence saves person‘s life |
Traits of Character
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| W0 | Favorable traits of character |
| W10 | Kindness |
| W20 | Other favorable traits of character |
| W100 | Unfavorable traits of character |
| W110 | Unfavorable traits of character—personal |
| W150 | Unfavorable traits of character—social |
| W200 | Traits of character—miscellaneous |
Humor
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| X0 | Humor of discomfiture |
| X100 | Humor of disability |
| X110 | Humor of deafness |
| X120 | Humor of bad eyesight |
| X130 | Other physical disabilities |
| X200 | Humor of social classes |
| X210 | Jokes about millers |
| X220 | Jokes about tailors |
| X230 | Jokes about butchers |
| X240 | Jokes about cobblers (shoemakers) |
| X250 | Jokes about other artisans and tradesmen |
| X300 | Humor dealing with professions |
| X310 | Jokes on lawyers |
| X330 | Jokes on magistrates |
| X350 | Jokes on teachers |
| X370 | Jokes on scholars |
| X410 | Jokes on parsons |
| X460 | Humor concerning other professions |
| X500 | Humor concerning other social classes |
| X510 | Jokes concerning usurers |
| X520 | Jokes concerning prostitutes |
| X530 | Jokes concerning beggars |
| X540 | Jokes on madmen |
| X550 | Jokes on secret societies |
| X600 | Humor concerning races or nations |
| X610 | Jokes concerning Jews |
| X650 | Jokes concerning other races or nations |
| X680 | Jokes concerning various cities |
| X700 | Humor concerning sex |
| X750 | Jokes on old maids |
| X760 | Jokes on courtship |
| X800 | Humor based on drunkenness |
| X910 | Lie: the remarkable man |
| X920 | Lie: the large man |
| X930 | Lie: remarkable person’s physical powers and habits |
| X940 | Lie: remarkably strong man |
| X960 | Lie: remarkable person’s skills |
| X980 | Lie: occupational or professional skills |
| X1010 | Lie: remarkable mental skills |
| X1020 | Lie: remarkable possessions of remarkable man |
| X1030 | Lie: remarkable buildings |
| X1060 | Lie: other possessions of remarkable man |
| X1070 | Extraordinary man’s family |
| X1080 | Lie: occupations of remarkable man |
| X1100 | Lie: the remarkable hunter |
| X1110 | Lie: the wonderful hunt |
| X1120 | Lie: the great marksman |
| X1130 | Lie: hunter’s unusual experiences |
| X1150 | Lies about fishing |
| X1200 | Lie: remarkable animals |
| X1210 | Lies about mammals |
| X1250 | Lies about birds |
| X1280 | Lies about insects |
| X1300 | Lies about fish |
| X1320 | Lies about reptiles |
| X1340 | Lie: extraordinary amphibia and other animals |
| X1370 | Lies about imaginary animals |
| X1400 | Lies about plants, fruits, vegetables and trees |
| X1410 | Lies about fruits |
| X1420 | Lies about vegetables |
| X1450 | Lies about field crops |
| X1470 | Lies about trees |
| X1480 | Lies about flowers |
| X1490 | Lie: miscellaneous plant motifs |
| X1500 | Lies about geography and topography |
| X1510 | Lies about land features |
| X1520 | Lies about mountains and hills |
| X1530 | Lies about remarkable soil |
| X1540 | Lies about water features |
| X1550 | Geography and topography—miscellaneous motifs |
| X1560 | Lies about cities |
| X1600 | Lies about weather and climate |
| X1610 | Lies about winds and storms |
| X1620 | Lies about cold weather |
| X1630 | Lies about hot weather |
| X1640 | Lies about dry weather |
| X1650 | Lies about precipitation and dampness |
| X1660 | Lies about climate |
| X1700 | Lies: logical absurdities |
| X1710 | Lies about numbers |
| X1720 | Absurd disregard of anatomy |
| X1740 | Absurd disregard of natural laws |
| X1750 | Absurd disregard of the nature of objects |
| X1760 | Absurd disregard of the nature of non-material things |
| X1780 | Absurdity based on the nature of the object |
| X1790 | Other logical absurdities |
| X1800 | Miscellaneous lies and exaggerations |
| X1810 | Tall tales about miscellaneous objects |
| X1850 | Other tall tales |
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| Z0 | Formulas |
| Z10 | Formulistic framework for tales |
| Z20 | Cumulative tales - tales arranged in chains |
| Z30 | Chains involving a single scene or event without interdependence among individual actors |
| Z40 | Chains with interdependent members |
| Z50 | Cumulative tales—miscellaneous |
| Z60 | Other formulistic motifs |
| Z80 | Formulistic Rimes |
| Z90 | Miscellaneous formulas |
| Z100 | Symbolism |
| Z110 | Personifications |
| Z140 | Color symbolism |
| Z150 | Other symbols |
| Z200 | Heroes |
| Z210 | Brothers as heroes |
| Z230 | Extraordinary exploits of hero |
| Z300 | Unique exceptions |
| Z310 | Unique vulnerability |
| Z320 | Object will fit only one thing (or person) |
| Z350 | Other unique exceptions |