Tests

2,753 motifs · page 1 of 14

• Identity tests. Recognition. Elaborate means are employed in folk-literature for the recognition of persons even though they have been separated a very short time. The various means used are detailed in the following discussion. H0
• Recognition through common knowledge. H10
• Recognition through story-telling. Telling of a story known to both persons concerned brings about recognition. H11
• Recognition by telling life history. H11.1
• Recognition at inn (hospital, etc.) where all must tell their life histories. H11.1.1
• Recognition: life story painted on wall. H11.1.2
• Recognition by life history sung. (Cf. H12.) H11.1.3
• Recognition by tracing ancestry. H11.1.4
• Recognition by song (music). Person is recognized because the song is sung only by him or because he is the only one besides the listener who knows it. H12
• Missing female poet discovered through test of poetic ability. H12.1
• Recognition by verse of song. H12.2
• Recognition by matching a couplet together. H12.2.1
• Recognition by overheard conversation (usually with animals or objects). Person not daring to reveal self directly thus attracts attention and recognition. H13
• Recognition by overheard conversation with animal. H13.1
• Recognition by overheard conversation with horse. H13.1.1
• Recognition by overheard conversation with dog. H13.1.2
• Recognition by overheard conversation with cow. H13.1.3
• Recognition by overheard conversation with objects. H13.2
• Recognition by overheard conversation with bridge. Bridge which will trip up bridal party if king is not marrying an equal. Disguised princess praises bridge for its recognition of her equality with the king. H13.2.1
• Recognition by overheard conversation with stone. H13.2.2
• Recognition by overheard conversation with plant. H13.2.3
• Recognition by overheard conversation with churchdoor. H13.2.4
• Recognition by overheard conversation with cups (or other utensils). H13.2.5
• Recognition by overheard conversation with flax. By comparing her fate with that of the flax the heroine is able to reveal herself. H13.2.6
• Recognition by overheard conversation with stove. H13.2.7
• Recognition from overheard conversation of two sons. H13.3
• Recognition from overheard conversation with flower-woman. H13.4
• Recognition by observing emotional reactions of another to object of common experience. H14
• Recognition by seeing husband shed tears on sight of bird (main character in a former experience common to both husband and wife). H14.1
• Recognition by tears at recital of own exploits. H14.2
• Identity tested by account of common experiences. H15
• Identity tested by demanding that person say again what he said on former occasion. (Impostor fails.) H15.1
• Recognition by recalling common experiences. H15.2
• Recognition by describing or producing object of common knowledge. H16
• Recognition by brother king of lost brother brought about by model of their father's palace which lost brother builds of clay. H16.1
• Recognition by wounds on lip and finger received at common adventure. H16.2
• Recognition of brothers brought about by bouquet of flowers tied as father's gardener used to do. H16.3
• Recognition by describing unique bed. H16.4
• Recognition by reminders of what has been said. H17
• Recognition by password. H18
• Recognition through common knowledge – miscellaneous. H19
• Recognition by ability to identify property. H19.1
• Recognition of reincarnated person by ability to identify former weapons. H19.1.1
• Recognition by answer to conundrum (known only to two persons). H19.2
• Recognition by resemblance. H20
• Recognition through picture. Picture is publicly displayed and brings about recognition of lost person. H21
• Recognition through image. H22
• Recognition from dream. H24
• Recognition through personal peculiarities H30
• Recognition by unique ability. H31
• Recognition by unique ability to dislodge sword. Sword is stuck in a stone or tree. H31.1
• Recognition by unique ability to bend bow. H31.2
• Recognition by unique ability to swing spear. H31.3
• Only one man can lift small pot from ground. H31.4
• Recognition by unique ability to cut (carve) tree, etc. H31.5
• Recognition by unique ability to break iron apple with first stone cast. H31.6
• Recognition by unique ability to perform magic act. H31.7
• Recognition by ability to shed pearls for tears. H31.7.1
• Only one man is able to read magic book. H31.7.2
• Recognition by unique ability to shoot, swim, and drink. H31.8
• Recognition by unique ability to handle easily a heavy stone. H31.9
• Recognition by unique ability to play chess. H31.10
• Recognition by unique ability to read inscription. H31.11
• Only one man is able to pluck fruits from tree. H31.12
• Bridegroom alone able to pluck flower from bride's grave. H31.12.1
• Recognition by extraordinary prowess. H32
• Recognition by unique manner of performing an act. H35
• Recognition by unique manner of playing lute. H35.1
• Recognition by unique manner of playing harp. H35.1.1
• Recognition by unique manner of playing flute. H35.1.2
• Recognition by unique cookery. Only one person could have prepared the food in this way. H35.2
• Recognition by unique needle-work. H35.3
• Recognition of false bride by inability to finish true bride's weaving. H35.3.1
• Recognition by embroidery. H35.3.2
• Recognition by unique manner of carving chips. These sent down stream for recognition. (Cf. H135.) H35.4
• Recognition by ogam carving on withe (rod, tree). H35.4.1
• Recognition by manner of throwing cakes of different weights into faces of old uncles. H35.5
• Recognition by exact fitting of clothes. H36
• Slipper test. Identification by fitting of slipper. H36.1
• Recognition by shoes with which the father had once beaten his son. H36.1.1
• Garment fits only true king. (Cf. H41.) H36.2
• Crown fits only legitimate successor to throne. H36.2.1
• Person's rank betrayed by habitual conversation. H38
• Disguised king (noble) recognized by habitual speech. H38.1
• Impostor of low origin recognized by habitual speech. H38.2
• Tailor married to princess betrays trade by calling for needle and thread. H38.2.1
• Peasant boy masking as prince betrays self by his answers. H38.2.2
• Recognition of maidservant substitute bride by her habitual conversation. H38.2.3
• Weaver married to princess betrays trade by talking in his sleep. H38.2.4
• Weaver married to princess betrays his identity when he unconsciously waves his hands as though he were weaving and asks for his shuttle. H38.2.4.1
• Substitution of low-caste boy for promised child detected when he prefers long road to short one through jungle (swimming instead of ferry, etc.) H38.2.5
• Slave recognized by his conversation, habits, and character. H38.3
• Recognition of royalty by personal characteristics or traits. (Cf. H36.2, H71.) H41
• Princess on the pea. Princess recognized by her inability to sleep on bed which has a pea under its dozen mattresses. H41.1
• High-spitting the test of a chief. H41.2
• Test of king (pope): his candle lights itself. H41.3
• Flame issuing from mouth as sign of royalty. H41.4
• Unknown prince shows his kingly qualities in dealing with his playmates. H41.5
• Unknown prince reared by fisher spends money on princely tastes. H41.5.1
• Prophecy for newborn princesses: the one who takes gold in the mouth will be married to a prince; the one who takes hawkweed, to a peasant. H41.6
• Task: to ride horse whereby one becomes king. H41.7
• Test of royalty: ability to sow, reap, and winnow rice in one day. H41.8
• King recognized by unique ability to occupy certain seat (Siege perilous). H41.9
• Chariot tilts under anyone who is not entitled to throne. H41.9.1
• Chief in disguise carries bundle so large that rank is recognized. H41.10
• Recognition by perfume. H44
• Recognition of deity. H45
• God recognized by his supernatural powers. H45.1
• Milk gushes forth from cows when they sit under tree inhabited by deity. H45.2
• Test of a god: when his image is bound it frees itself. H45.3
• God in disguise recognized by tokens on his feet and hands. H45.4
• Girl sleeping naked awakened: is she a goddess? If mortal, she will cover herself; if a goddess, will not. H45.5
• Cannibal recognized by cloud of dust raised. H46
• Cannibal nature of woman recognized when she devours dead buffalo raw. H46.1
• Demon recognized by corpse it occupies turning to worm when stake is driven through it. H47
• Animal in human form recognized. (Cf. H64.) H48
• Fox (in man's form) cries out like a fox in his sleep. H48.1
• Fox (in man's form) betrays identity when he procures fox-food for human wife. H48.2
• Recognition through personal peculiarities – miscellaneous. H49
• Unique scent of their rice betrays abandoned children. H49.1
• Recognition by bodily marks or physical attributes. H50
• Recognition by scar. (Cf. H56.) H51
• Recognition by birthmark. H51.1
• Recognition through branding. H55
• Recognition through branding with hoof-marks. H55.1
• Sacred animals branded by conjurer. H55.2
• Recognition by tatoo. H55.3
• Recognition by wound. (Cf. H51.) H56
• Recognition by hole burned in hand when woman removes glove. H56.1
• Mutilation of children's bodies for identification. H56.2
• Recognition by missing member. H57
• Recognition of resuscitated person by missing member. H57.0.1
• Recognition by broken tooth. H57.1
• Recognition by missing finger. H57.2
• Severed finger as sign of crime. Robber bridegroom thus detected. H57.2.1
• Recognition of murdered person by severed fingernail. H57.2.2
• Recognition by missing toe. H57.3
• Recognition by description of woman with missing hands. H57.4
• Recognition by artificial hands. H57.5
• Tell-tale hand-mark. Clandestine lover is identified by paint marks left on his skin by his mistress. H58
• Disguised mistress identified by chalk marks left on back by lover. H58.1
• Clandestine lover identified by scratches left on face by lady. H58.2
• Recognition by ornaments under skin. H61
• Recognition of twins by golden chain under their skin. H61.1
• Recognition of disenchanted person by ornaments under his skin. H61.2
• Recognition by means of ring enclosed in wound. H61.3
• Recognition by grain of gold under skin. H61.4
• Recognition of transformed person (animal). (Cf. H48.) H62
• Recognition of man transformed to horse. H62.0.1
• Recognition of person transformed to animal. H62.1
• Person transformed to animal recognized by his eyes. H62.1.1
• Person transformed to animal recognized by ability to read. H62.1.2
• Horse recognizes kol transformed to look like his master and throws him off. H62.2
• Marvelous horse identified by prince though in form of miserable worn-out one. H62.3
• Recognition of other transformed persons. H63
• Woman transformed to flower is recognized by the absence of dew on petals. H63.1
• Recognition of disenchanted person by physical attributes. H64
• Recognition of disenchanted person by thread in his teeth. As werwolf he has torn woman's apron and caught thread in teeth. H64.1
• Werwolf killed and recognized by man's clothes under the wolf's skin or rosary on the neck. H64.2
• Person disenchanted from animal "unable to hide his tail." H64.3
• Person disenchanted from animal unable to eat after manner of men. H64.4
• Marks of royalty. (Cf. H41, H171.5.) H71
• Star on forehead as sign of royalty. H71.1
• Moon on forehead and stars in palm of hand as sign of royalty. H71.1.1
• Gold (silver) hairs as sign of royalty. H71.2
• Golden body of boy as sign of royalty. H71.2.1
• Pearls from hair as sign of royalty. H71.3
• Roses from lips as sign of royalty. Princess laughs roses. H71.4
• Cross between shoulders as sign of royalty (nobility). H71.5
• Bright eyes as sign of royalty (nobility). H71.6
• Luminous face as sign of royalty. H71.6.1
• Gold tint as sign of royalty. H71.6.2
• Child born with chain around neck: sign of royalty. H71.7
• Girl born with costly jewels: sign of royalty. H71.7.1
• Prince born with bow of gold and string of silver. H71.7.2
• Tears of blood: sign of royalty. H71.8
• Red teeth as sign of royalty. H71.9
• Marvel as sign of royalty. H71.10
• Tree bows before prince. H71.10.1
• Water stands still before prince. H71.10.2
• Frogs croak at prince's command. H71.10.3
• Chariot horses spring at anyone who is not entitled to throne. H71.10.4
• Two blocks of stone that move apart to allow passage of chariot of true king. H71.10.5
• Stone screams under feet of legitimate king. H71.10.6
• Arrows turn aside for prince (king). H71.10.7
• Gold in stool as sign of royalty. H71.11
• Identification by a hair. H75
• Identification by hair found floating on water. H75.1
• Identification by hair dropped by bird. H75.2
• Recognition by hair found in a fish which has swallowed it. H75.3
• Recognition by golden hair. H75.4
• Identification by wolf's hair. H75.5
• Recognition by missing hair. H75.6
• Recognition of murderers by their short hair. H75.7
• Recognition by feather. H78
• Youth shoots raven and takes feather to raven's sister as token. H78.1
• Identification by feather taken from hero when he was transformed to bird. H78.2
• Recognition by physical attributes – miscellaneous. H79
• Troll's daughter after being cooked in kettle recognized by golden fingernail. H79.1
• Identification of man by his little toe. H79.2