CSV

Motif-Index of Folk-Literature - CSV

The Motif-Index of Folk-Literature is a six-volume catalogue of folk-literature motifs compiled by American folklorist Stith Thompson. The first edition was published between 1932 and 1936, with a revised and expanded edition released from 1955 to 1958. It classifies motifs found in folktales, legends, myths, ballads, fables, medieval romances, exempla, fabliaux, jest-books, and local legends from around the world into 23 categories from A to Z (excluding I, O, and Y), containing thousands of motifs. It is widely used as an international standard tool in comparative folklore studies.

folklore folktales motif folk-literature comparative studies classification system Thompson

code,slug,name,description
A,mythological-motifs,Mythological Motifs,"Motifs related to creators, gods, demigods, cosmogony, and establishment of natural order."
B,animals,Animals,"Motifs concerning mythical animals, magic animals, and relationships between humans and animals."
C,tabu,Tabu,"Motifs of taboos related to supernatural beings, sex, eating, looking, speaking, and punishments for breaking them."
D,magic,Magic,"Motifs of transformation, magic objects, and magical powers and their manifestations."
E,the-dead,The Dead,"Motifs concerning resuscitation, ghosts and revenants, reincarnation, and the soul."
F,marvels,Marvels,"Motifs of otherworldly journeys, marvelous creatures, and extraordinary places and things."
G,ogres,Ogres,"Motifs concerning ogres, giants, witches, devils, and other monsters."
H,tests,Tests,"Motifs of identity tests, marriage tests, wisdom tests, tasks, and quests."
J,the-wise-and-the-foolish,The Wise and the Foolish,"Motifs of acquiring wisdom, wise acts, foolish acts, cleverness, and folly."
K,deceptions,Deceptions,"Motifs of deception for victory, fraudulent bargains, theft, and trickery."
L,reversal-of-fortune,Reversal of Fortune,"Motifs of humble heroes triumphing, fall of the proud, and unexpected changes in fortune."
M,ordaining-the-future,Ordaining the Future,"Motifs of prophecies, vows, bargains, curses, and other acts that determine the future."
N,chance-and-fate,Chance and Fate,"Motifs of good luck, bad luck, chance discoveries, and the power of fate."
P,society,Society,"Motifs concerning royalty, nobility, occupations, family relations, and social institutions."
Q,rewards-and-punishments,Rewards and Punishments,"Motifs of rewards for good deeds, punishments for evil deeds, and karmic justice."
R,captives-and-fugitives,Captives and Fugitives,"Motifs of captivity, escape, pursuit, and rescue."
S,unnatural-cruelty,Unnatural Cruelty,"Motifs of cruel relatives, abandonment of children, persecution, and inhumane acts."
T,sex,Sex,"Motifs of courtship, marriage, sexual relations, birth, and domestic life."
U,the-nature-of-life,The Nature of Life,"Motifs concerning truths about life, nature of the world, and philosophical insights."
V,religion,Religion,"Motifs of religious acts, saints, miracles, and faith."
W,traits-of-character,Traits of Character,"Motifs of virtues, vices, and character traits."
X,humor,Humor,"Motifs of jokes, jests, comic situations, and satire."
Z,miscellaneous-groups-of-motifs,Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs,"Motifs not classified elsewhere including formulistic elements, cumulative tales, and symbolic numbers."