Motif List - ordered by name

Letter	Motif No.	Motif group name	No.
S. Unnatural cruelty	S300 – S399	Abandoned or murdered children	216
J. The wise and the foolish	J2000 – J2049	Absurd absent-mindedness	143
J. The wise and the foolish	J1850–J1999	Absurd disregard of facts	142
J. The wise and the foolish	J2200 – J2259	Absurd lack of logic	145
J. The wise and the foolish	J1750 – J1849	Absurd misunderstandings	141
J. The wise and the foolish	J2260 – J2299	Absurd scientific theories	146
J. The wise and the foolish	J2050 – J2199	Absurd short-sightedness	144
N. Chance and fate	N700 – N799	Accidental encounters	192
J. The wise and the foolish	J0 – J199	Acquisition and possession of wisdom (knowledge)	128
A. Mythological Motifs	A1400 – A1499	Acquisition of culture	21
J. The wise and the foolish	J800 – J899	Adaptability	132
A. Mythological Motifs	A2500 – A2599	Animal characteristics – miscellaneous	32
B. Animals	B200 – B249	Animals with human traits I	39
B. Animals	B250 – B299	Animals with human traits II	40
D. Magic	D1600 – D1649	Automatic magic objects	80
M. Ordaining the future	M200 – M299	Bargains and promises	183
J. The wise and the foolish	J2650 – J2699	Bungling fool	153
G. Ogres	G0 – G99	Cannibals and cannibalism	109
R. Captive and fugitives	R0 – R99	Captivity	209
K. Deceptions	K700 – K799	Capture by deception	161
T. Sex	T600 – T699	Care of children	224
A. Mythological Motifs	A2400 – A2499	Causes of animal characteristics: appearance and habits	31
A. Mythological Motifs	A2300 – A2399	Causes of animal characteristics: body	30
T. Sex	T300 – T399	Chastity and celibacy	221
J. The wise and the foolish	J200 – J499	Choices	129
C. Tabu	C550 – C599	Class tabu	54
J. The wise and the foolish	J1100 – J1249	Clever persons and acts	135
J. The wise and the foolish	J1500 – J1649	Clever practical retorts	138
J. The wise and the foolish	J1250 – J1399	Clever verbal retorts (repartee) I	136
J. The wise and the foolish	J1400 – J1499	Clever verbal retorts (repartee) II	137
T. Sex	T500 – T599	Conception and birth	223
K. Deceptions	K0 – K99	Contests won by deception	155
J. The wise and the foolish	J2600 – J2649	Cowardly fool	152
A. Mythological Motifs	A1700 – A1799	Creation of animal life – general	24
A. Mythological Motifs	A1900 – A1999	Creation of birds	26
A. Mythological Motifs	A2100 – A2199	Creation of fish and other animals	28
A. Mythological Motifs	A2000 – A2099	Creation of insects	27
A. Mythological Motifs	A1800 – A1899	Creation of mammals	25
A. Mythological Motifs	A1200 – A1299	Creation of man	19
A. Mythological Motifs	A600 – A649	Creation of the universe	8
A. Mythological Motifs	A0 – A99	Creator	1
S. Unnatural cruelty	S400 – S499	Cruel persecutions	217
S. Unnatural cruelty	S0 – S99	Cruel relatives	213
S. Unnatural cruelty	S200 – S299	Cruel sacrifices	215
Z. Miscellaneous groups of motifs	Z20 – Z59	Cumulative tales	257
M. Ordaining the future	M400 – M499	Curses	185
P. Society	P600 – P699	Customs	200
K. Deceptions	K1600 – K1699	Deceiver falls into own trap	168
K. Deceptions	K1800 – K1899	Deception by disguise or illusion	170
K. Deceptions	K1200 – K1299	Deception into humiliating position	164
K. Deceptions	K1000 – K1199	Deception into self-injury	163
K. Deceptions	K1700 – K1799	Deception through bluffing	169
K. Deceptions	K1500 – K1599	Deceptions connected with adultery	167
K. Deceptions	K100 – K299	Deceptive bargains	156
Q. Rewards and punishments	Q200 – Q299	Deeds punished I	204
Q. Rewards and punishments	Q300 – Q399	Deeds punished II	205
Q. Rewards and punishments	Q0 – Q99	Deeds rewarded	202
A. Mythological Motifs	A500 – A599	Demigods and culture heroes	7
D. Magic	D2050 – D2099	Destructive magic powers	85
D. Magic	D700 – D799	Disenchantment	67
A. Mythological Motifs	A1600 – A1699	Distribution and differentiation of peoples	23
C. Tabu	C250 – C299	Drinking Tabus	50
K. Deceptions	K1400 – K1499	Dupe’s property destroyed	166
C. Tabu	C200 – C249	Eating Tabus	49
K. Deceptions	K500 – K599	Escape by deception I	159
K. Deceptions	K600 – K699	Escape by deception II	160
R. Captive and fugitives	R200 – R299	Escapes and pursuits	211
A. Mythological Motifs	A1100 – A1199	Establishment of natural order	18
F. Marvels	F900 – F999	Extraordinary occurrences I	107
F. Marvels	F1000 – F1099	Extraordinary occurrences II	108
F. Marvels	F700 – F799	Extraordinary places and things	105
F. Marvels	F800 – F899	Extraordinary rocks and stones	106
F. Marvels	F200 – F299	Fairies and elves	97
F. Marvels	F300 – F399	Fairies and mortals	98
G. Ogres	G400 – G499	Falling into ogre’s power	116
K. Deceptions	K2100 – K2199	False accusations	173
B. Animals	B700 – B799	Fanciful traits of animals	45
W. Traits of character	W0 – W99	Favorable traits of character	234
J. The wise and the foolish	J2500 – J2599	Foolish extreme	151
J. The wise and the foolish	J2400 – J2449	Foolish imitation	149
J. The wise and the foolish	J1700 – J1749	Fools (general)	140
J. The wise and the foolish	J600 – J799	Forethought	131
Z. Miscellaneous groups of motifs	Z0 – Z19	Formulas	256
E. The Dead	E300 – E399	Friendly return from the dead	90
D. Magic	D1300 – D1339	Function of magic objects I	73
D. Magic	D1340 – D1369	Function of magic objects II	74
D. Magic	D1370 – D1399	Function of magic objects III	75
E. The Dead	E400 – E499	Ghosts and revenants – miscellaneous I	91
E. The Dead	E500 – E599	Ghosts and revenants – miscellaneous II	92
G. Ogres	G100 – G199	Giant ogres	110
A. Mythological Motifs	A400 – A499	Gods of the earth	6
A. Mythological Motifs	A300 – A399	Gods of the underworld	5
A. Mythological Motifs	A200 – A299	Gods of the upper world	4
P. Society	P500 – P599	Government	199
J. The wise and the foolish	J2300 – J2349	Gullible fools	147
N. Chance and fate	N800 – N899	Helpers	193
B. Animals	B300 – B349	Helpful animals – general	41
Z. Miscellaneous groups of motifs	Z200 – Z299	Heroes	260
J. The wise and the foolish	J900 – J999	Humility	133
X. Humor	X800 – X899	Humor based on drunkenness	244
X. Humor	X500 – X599	Humor concerning other social classes	241
X. Humor	X600 – X699	Humor concerning races or nations	242
X. Humor	X700 – X799	Humor concerning sex	243
X. Humor	X100 – X199	Humor of disability	238
X. Humor	X0 – X99	Humor of discomfiture	237
X. Humor	X900 – X909	Humor of lies and exaggeration	245
X. Humor	X300 – X499	Humor of social classes: . Humor dealing with professions	240
X. Humor	X200 – X299	Humor of social classes: Humor dealing with tradesmen	239
K. Deceptions	K2000 – K2099	Hypocrites	172
H. Tests	H0 – H199	Identity tests: Recognition	119
T. Sex	T400 – T499	Illicit sexual relations	222
K. Deceptions	K1900 – K1999	Impostures	171
M. Ordaining the future	M0 – M99	Judgments and decrees	181
K. Deceptions	K800 – K999	Killing or maiming by deception	162
B. Animals	B400 – B499	Kinds of helpful animals	42
D. Magic	D900 – D999	Kinds of magic objects I	69
D. Magic	D1000 – D1099	Kinds of magic objects II	70
D. Magic	D1100 – D1199	Kinds of magic objects III	71
D. Magic	D1200 – D1299	Kinds of magic objects IV	72
Q. Rewards and punishments	Q400 – Q499	Kinds of punishment I	206
Q. Rewards and punishments	Q500 – Q549	Kinds of punishment II	207
Q. Rewards and punishments	Q550 – Q599	Kinds of punishment III	208
A. Mythological Motifs	A950 – A999	Land features	16
D. Magic	D1800 – D1949	Lasting magic qualities	83
X. Humor	X1100 – X1199	Lie: great hunters and fishermen	249
X. Humor	X960 – X1019	Lie: remarkable person's skills	247
X. Humor	X910 – X959	Lie: the remarkable man – his birth, growth, death, physical powers, strength	246
X. Humor	X1200 – X1399	Lies about animals	250
X. Humor	X1500 – X1599	Lies about geography and topography	252
X. Humor	X1400 – X1499	Lies about plants, fruits, vegetables, and trees	251
X. Humor	X1600 – X1699	Lies about weather and climate	253
X. Humor	X1700 – X1799	Lies: logical absurdities	254
U. The nature of life	U0 – U99	Life's inequalities	225
J. The wise and the foolish	J2450 – J2499	Literal fools	150
C. Tabu	C300 – C399	Looking tabu	51
T. Sex	T0 – T99	Love	218
N. Chance and fate	N400 – N499	Lucky accidents	189
B. Animals	B100 – B199	Magic animals	38
D. Magic	D1500 – D1549	Magic object controls disease	78
D. Magic	D1440 – D1499	Magic object gives power over animals	77
D. Magic	D1400 – D1439	Magic object gives power over other persons	76
D. Magic	D1550 – D1599	Magic object miraculously opens and closes	79
E. The Dead	E200 – E299	Malevolent return from the dead	89
T. Sex	T100 – T199	Marriage	219
B. Animals	B600 – B699	Marriage of person to animal	44
H. Tests	H300 – H499	Marriage tests	121
T. Sex	T200 – T299	Married life	220
D. Magic	D500 – D599	Means of transformation	65
C. Tabu	C700 – C829	Miscellaneous Tabus	57
B. Animals	B800 – B899	Miscellaneous animal motifs	46
J. The wise and the foolish	J1650 – J1699	Miscellaneous clever acts	139
A. Mythological Motifs	A2800 – A2899	Miscellaneous explanations	35
X. Humor	X1800 – X1899	Miscellaneous lies and exaggerations	255
D. Magic	D2150 – D2199	Miscellaneous magical manifestations	87
D. Magic	D600 – D699	Miscellaneous transformation incidents	66
L. Reversal of fortune	L200 – L299	Modesty brings reward	178
B. Animals	B0 – B49	Mythical animals I	36
B. Animals	B50 – B99	Mythical animals II	37
Q. Rewards and punishments	Q100 – Q199	Nature of rewards	203
H. Tests	H1000 – H1199	Nature of tasks	125
A. Mythological Motifs	A650 – A699	Nature of the universe	9
G. Ogres	G500 – G599	Ogre defeated	117
A. Mythological Motifs	A1300 – A1399	Ordering of human life	20
A. Mythological Motifs	A1500 – A1599	Origin of customs	22
A. Mythological Motifs	A2700 – A2799	Origin of plant characteristics	34
A. Mythological Motifs	A2600 – A2699	Origin of trees and plants	33
H. Tests	H1400 – H1599	Other Tests	127
J. The wise and the foolish	J1000 – J1099	Other aspects of wisdom	134
D. Magic	D1650 – D1699	Other characteristics of magic objects	81
K. Deceptions	K2300 – K2399	Other deceptions	175
D. Magic	D400 – D499	Other forms of transformation	64
Z. Miscellaneous groups of motifs	Z60 –Z99	Other formulistic motifs	258
N. Chance and fate	N600 – N699	Other lucky accidents	191
D. Magic	D2100 – D2149	Other manifestations of magic power	86
G. Ogres	G600 – G699	Other ogre motifs	118
G. Ogres	G300 – G302	Other ogres	112
G. Ogres	G304 – G399	Other ogres	115
G. Ogres	G303.1 – G303.21	Other ogres: devil I	113
G. Ogres	G303.22 – G303.25	Other ogres: devil II	114
P. Society	P100 – P199	Other social orders	195
P. Society	P300 – P399	Other social relationships	197
F. Marvels	F0 – F149	Other world journeys I	95
F. Marvels	F150 – F199	Other world journeys II	96
D. Magic	D800 – D899	Ownership of magic objects	68
F. Marvels	F600 – F699	Persons with extraordinary powers	104
D. Magic	D1700 – D1799	Possession and means of employment of magic powers	82
L. Reversal of fortune	L400 – L499	Pride brought low	180
M. Ordaining the future	M300 – M399	Prophecies	184
J. The wise and the foolish	J500 – J599	Prudence and discretion	130
C. Tabu	C900 – C999	Punishment for breaking tabu	59
R. Captive and fugitives	R300 – R399	Refuges and recapture	212
E. The Dead	E600 – E699	Reincarnation	93
V. Religion	V300 – V399	Religious beliefs	230
V. Religion	V100 – V199	Religious edifices and objects	228
V. Religion	V500 – V599	Religious motifs – miscellaneous	233
V. Religion	V450 – V499	Religious orders	232
V. Religion	V0 – V99	Religious services	227
V. Religion	V400 – V449	Religious virtues	231
X. Humor	X1020 – X1099	Remarkable man's extraordinary possessions	248
F. Marvels	F500 – F539	Remarkable persons I	102
F. Marvels	F540 – F599	Remarkable persons II	103
R. Captive and fugitives	R100 – R199	Rescues	210
E. The Dead	E0 – E199	Resuscitation	88
S. Unnatural cruelty	S100 – S199	Revolting murders or mutilations	214
P. Society	P0 – P99	Royalty and nobility	194
V. Religion	V200 – V299	Sacred persons	229
K. Deceptions	K1300 – K1399	Seduction or deceptive marriage	165
B. Animals	B500 – B599	Services of helpful animals	43
C. Tabu	C100 – C199	Sex Tabu	48
P. Society	P700 – P799	Society – miscellaneous motifs	201
C. Tabu	C400 – C499	Speaking tabu	52
F. Marvels	F400 – F449	Spirits and demons I	99
F. Marvels	F450 – F479	Spirits and demons II	100
F. Marvels	F480 – F499	Spirits and demons III	101
Z. Miscellaneous groups of motifs	Z100 – Z199	Symbolism	259
C. Tabu	C0 – C99	Tabu connected with supernatural beings	47
C. Tabu	C500 – C549	Tabu: touching	53
J. The wise and the foolish	J2350 – J2399	Talkative fools	148
D. Magic	D1950 – D2049	Temporary magic characteristics	84
H. Tests	H500 – H699	Tests of cleverness I	122
H. Tests	H700 – H899	Tests of cleverness II	123
H. Tests	H1200 – H1399	Tests of prowess: quests	126
H. Tests	H900 – H1199	Tests of prowess: tasks	124
H. Tests	H200 – H299	Tests of truth	120
A. Mythological Motifs	A800 – A899	The earth	14
J. The wise and the foolish	J2700 – J2799	The easy problem made hard	154
P. Society	P200 – P299	The family	196
A. Mythological Motifs	A100 – A149	The gods in general part 1	2
A. Mythological Motifs	A150 – A199.	The gods in general part 2	3
A. Mythological Motifs	A700 – A709	The heavens	10
A. Mythological Motifs	A740 – A759	The moon	12
U. The nature of life	U100 – U299	The nature of life – miscellaneous motifs	226
E. The Dead	E700 – E799	The soul	94
A. Mythological Motifs	A760 – A799	The stars and the heavenly lights	13
A. Mythological Motifs	A710 – A739	The sun	11
N. Chance and fate	N100 – N299	The ways of luck and fate	187
K. Deceptions	K300 – K399	Thefts and cheats I	157
K. Deceptions	K400 – K499	Thefts and cheats II	158
A. Mythological Motifs	A900 – A949	Topographical features of the earth	15
P. Society	P400 – P499	Trades and professions	198
W. Traits of character	W200 – W299	Traits of character – miscellaneous	236
D. Magic	D0 – D99	Transformation (general)	60
D. Magic	D300 – D399	Transformation: animal to person	63
D. Magic	D100 – D199	Transformation: man to animal	61
D. Magic	D200 – D299	Transformation: man to object	62
N. Chance and fate	N500 – N599	Treasure trove	190
L. Reversal of fortune	L300 – L399	Triumph of the weak	179
C. Tabu	C830 – C899	Unclassified Tabus	58
W. Traits of character	W100 – W199	Unfavorable traits of character	235
C. Tabu	C650 – C699	Unique Prohibitions and Compulsions. The One Compulsory Thing	56
C. Tabu	C600 – C649	Unique Prohibitions and Compulsions. The One Forbidden Thing	55
Z. Miscellaneous groups of motifs	Z300 – Z399	Unique exceptions	261
N. Chance and fate	N300 – N399	Unlucky accidents	188
L. Reversal of fortune	L100 – L199	Unpromising hero (heroine)	177
A. Mythological Motifs	A2200 – A2299	Various causes of animal characteristics	29
L. Reversal of fortune	L0 – L99	Victorious youngest child	176
K. Deceptions	K2200 – K2299	Villains and traitors	174
M. Ordaining the future	M100 – M199	Vows and oaths	182
N. Chance and fate	N0 – N99	Wagers and gambling	186
G. Ogres	G200 – G299	Witches	111
A. Mythological Motifs	A1000 – A1099	World calamities and renewals	17