Aarne-Thompson
ale type index
folktale motifs
single element/idea in story (e.g., magic ring)
Motif-Index of Folk-Literature
folktale types
a) myth = gods; in remote past
b) legend = heroes; in recent past
c) folktale = lesser supernatural figures or ordinary people; no set time d) often overlap
b) legend = heroes; in recent past
c) folktale = lesser supernatural figures or ordinary people; no set time d) often overlap
AT Tale Type 720
“My Mother She Killed Me; My Father He Ate Me”
“The Juniper Tree”
German
1. first wife dies when son is born; second wife has daughter 2. second wife kills son (beheaded)
3. black pudding
1. first wife dies when son is born; second wife has daughter 2. second wife kills son (beheaded)
3. black pudding
4. daughter (named Marlinchen) puts brother’s bones under juniper tree 5. mist/fire = bird emerges from tree
8. gifts: gold chain, red shoes, millstone
15. after death of step-mother = son appears from smoke/flames
Marlinchen
“The Crow’s Nest”
hungary
1. mother has daughter and son
2. kills son
3. stewed cabbage
4. daughter puts brother’s bones in tree 5. bones become crow/boy
8. gifts: cloak, crutch-stick, millstone
1. mother has daughter and son
2. kills son
3. stewed cabbage
4. daughter puts brother’s bones in tree 5. bones become crow/boy
8. gifts: cloak, crutch-stick, millstone
“The Rose Tree”
England
1. first wife has daughter; second wife has son 2. second wife kills daughter (beheaded)
3. stewed heart/liver
4. son buries sister’s bones under rose tree
5. white bird appears on tree
8. gifts: red shoes, gold watch/chain, millstone
1. first wife has daughter; second wife has son 2. second wife kills daughter (beheaded)
3. stewed heart/liver
4. son buries sister’s bones under rose tree
5. white bird appears on tree
8. gifts: red shoes, gold watch/chain, millstone
AT Folktale Type 425
“The Search for the Lost Husband”
1. maiden promised in marriage to monster 2. monster = enchanted prince (or god)
3. maiden lives with husband in palace
4. only spends time with husband at night 5. tricked by women into doing #6
6. causes husband to show true and/or monstrous form 7. loses husband and palace
8. searches for husband
9. must perform seemingly impossible tasks
10. tasks done to please other woman
11. maiden is helped in tasks (by gods/animals)
12. collects/uses magical items
13. defeats/wins over other woman
14. is reunited with husband
15. they live happily ever after
1. maiden promised in marriage to monster 2. monster = enchanted prince (or god)
3. maiden lives with husband in palace
4. only spends time with husband at night 5. tricked by women into doing #6
6. causes husband to show true and/or monstrous form 7. loses husband and palace
8. searches for husband
9. must perform seemingly impossible tasks
10. tasks done to please other woman
11. maiden is helped in tasks (by gods/animals)
12. collects/uses magical items
13. defeats/wins over other woman
14. is reunited with husband
15. they live happily ever after
“Cupid and Psyche”
Psyche was the most beautiful in all the village Venus was jealous that she was being compared to her, sent cupid to make her ugly, cupid did but then he felt bad made her beautiful again. parents went to Apollo the oracle they told them that she was destined to marry a monster than is irresistible to gods and man.
Went to the forest to cry because was going to marry a monster, when she woke up there was a house, she went in and servants told her it was hers. cupid would come but only at night when she couldn’t see him. Sisters came to visit convinced psyche to put lamp over cupid while sleeping and cut off his head. She did but could not kill him but injured him with the wax from the lamp. He left her for her betrayal. Went looking for cupid everywhere finally wen to Venus, she made her do three different tasks, organize grains, get wool, and get beauty. cupid tried to help, last one she opened the box and it was a sleeping test, cupid ran away to help her so she could finish her task and then they lived happily ever after.
Went to the forest to cry because was going to marry a monster, when she woke up there was a house, she went in and servants told her it was hers. cupid would come but only at night when she couldn’t see him. Sisters came to visit convinced psyche to put lamp over cupid while sleeping and cut off his head. She did but could not kill him but injured him with the wax from the lamp. He left her for her betrayal. Went looking for cupid everywhere finally wen to Venus, she made her do three different tasks, organize grains, get wool, and get beauty. cupid tried to help, last one she opened the box and it was a sleeping test, cupid ran away to help her so she could finish her task and then they lived happily ever after.
Cupid
Baby with arrow, husband of psyche, son of venus
Psyche
most beautiful girl in the village, compared to venus, venus does not like that sends cupid to take away beauty, cupid falls in love with her, curiosity messes everything up for her
Venus
Mother of cupid, most beautiful, jealous of psyche
Lucius Apuleius
“The Singing, Soaring Lark”
1. maiden promised in marriage to monster (lion)
2. monster = enchanted prince
5. no #5 (but goes to weddings of sisters)
6. causes husband to become dove (candlelight)
12. collects magical items to complete tasks (casket, egg, nut)
11. maiden is helped in tasks (by “gods”: sun, moon, south wind)
10. tasks done to please princess (formerly dragon)
13. defeats princess (griffin, nut)
14. is reunited with husband
15. they find their son at home
2. monster = enchanted prince
5. no #5 (but goes to weddings of sisters)
6. causes husband to become dove (candlelight)
12. collects magical items to complete tasks (casket, egg, nut)
11. maiden is helped in tasks (by “gods”: sun, moon, south wind)
10. tasks done to please princess (formerly dragon)
13. defeats princess (griffin, nut)
14. is reunited with husband
15. they find their son at home
Tale of Tulisa
1. Tulisa promised in marriage to voice in well
2. monster = enchanted prince
5. tricked by male demon Sarkasukis (in disguise as old women) into doing #6 6. causes husband to show true and monstrous form (snake; Basnak Dau)
10. pre-#10 task
11. Tulisa is helped in task (by squirrels, bees) 12. collects egg from Huma bird
10. tasks done to please mother-in-law (queen of snakes; Sarkasukis is henchman) 11. Tulisa is helped in tasks (by squirrels, bees)
13. defeats mother-in-law when egg hatches (pecks out snake’s eyes)
14. is reunited with Basnak Dau (king of snakes)
15. Tulisa becomes queen
2. monster = enchanted prince
5. tricked by male demon Sarkasukis (in disguise as old women) into doing #6 6. causes husband to show true and monstrous form (snake; Basnak Dau)
10. pre-#10 task
11. Tulisa is helped in task (by squirrels, bees) 12. collects egg from Huma bird
10. tasks done to please mother-in-law (queen of snakes; Sarkasukis is henchman) 11. Tulisa is helped in tasks (by squirrels, bees)
13. defeats mother-in-law when egg hatches (pecks out snake’s eyes)
14. is reunited with Basnak Dau (king of snakes)
15. Tulisa becomes queen
India
origins of Tulisa
Tulisa
Daughter of woodchipper, courted by snake king
Nur-Singh
Father of Tulisa, woodcutter
Basnak Dau
Name of the Husband of Tulisa
Sarkasukis
Mother of snake king tricks Tulisa into asking husband for his name and releasing his power back to the mother
