The American folklorist Stith Thompson translated Antti Aarne's motif-based classification system in 1928, enlarging its scope. With Thompson's second revisions to Aarne's catalogue in 1961, he created the AT-number system (also referred to as AaTh system), which is often used today, more commonly in its updated ATU number form.
The Aarne–Thompson Tale Type Index divides tales into sections with an "AT" number for each entry. The names given are typical, but usage varies; the same tale type number may be referred to by its central motif or by one of the variant folktales of that type, which can also vary, especially when used in different countries and cultures. The tale type does not have to be accurate for every folktale. For example, "The Cat as Helper" (545B) also includes tales where a fox helps the hero. Closely related folktales are often grouped within a type. For example, Tale Types 400-424 all feature Brides/Wives as the primary protagonist. For instance, "The Quest for a Lost Bride" (400) or the "Animal Bride" (402). Subtypes within a Tale Type are designated by the addition of a letter to the AT #, for instance: the "Persecuted Heroine" (510) has subtypes 510A, "Cinderella", and 510B, "Catskin".
Author(s): Antti Aarne, Stith Thompson
Series: Folklore Fellows Communications, 184
Edition: Second Revision
Publisher: Academia Scientiarum Fennica
Year: 1961
Language: English
Pages: 588
City: Helsinki
I. ANIMAL TALES
1—99 Wild Animals..... 21
100—149 Wild Animals and Domestic Animals..... 42
150—199 Man and Wild Animals..... 54
200—219 Domestic Animals..... 66
220—249 Birds..... 71
250—274 Fish..... 80
275—299 Other Animals and Objects..... 80
II. ORDINARY FOLK-TALES
300—749 A Tales of Magic..... 88
300—399 Supernatural Adversaries..... 88
400—459 Supernatural or Enchanted Husband (Wife) or Other Relatives..... 128
460—499 Supernatural Tasks..... 156
500—559 Supernatural Helpers..... 167
560—649 Magic Objects..... 202
650—699 Supernatural Power or Knowledge..... 225
700—749 Other Tales of the Supernatural..... 239
750-849 B. Religious Tales..... 254
850—999 C. Novelle (Romantic Tales)..... 284
1000—1199 D. Tales of the Stupid Ogre..... 346
III. JOKES AND ANECDOTES
1200—1349 Numskull Stories..... 374
1350—1439 Stories about Married Couples..... 400
1440—1524 Stories about a Woman (Girl)..... 423
1525—1874 Stories about a Man (Boy)..... 431
1525—1639 The Clever Man..... 431
1640—1674 Lucky Accidents..... 464
1675—1724 The Stupid Man..... 474
1725—1849 Jokes about Parsons and Religious Orders..... 486
1850—1874 Anecdotes about Other Groups of People..... 507
1875—1999 Tales of Lying..... 509
IV. FORMULA TALES
2000—2199 Cumulative Tales..... 522
2200—2249 Catch Tales..... 536
2300—2399 Other Formula Tales..... 537
V. UNCLASSIFIED TALES
2400—2499 Unclassified Tales..... 539
