Tests

2,753 motifs · page 3 of 14

• Holmgang to decide who is to be king. H217.4
• Trial by combat. Guilt or innocence established in judicial combat. H218
• Vindication by champion. Usually noble lady or king accused. H218.0.1
• Judicial combat interrupted by friends of loser. H218.1
• Wrestling to test legitimacy of son. H218.2
• Ordeals. Guilt or innocence thus established. H220
• Ordeal by fire. Suspected person must pass through or jump over fire to determine guilt or innocence. H221
• Ordeal by burning coal. H221.1
• Ordeal: carrying live coals in robe or cloak without harm to garment or bearer. H221.1.1
• Sanctity of person tested by survival in burning house. H221.1.2
• Sanctity of books tested by throwing them into fire. H221.1.3
• Ordeal by hot iron. H221.2
• Ordeal: virgin to pull on hot iron and name men. Only with guilty will she and he be burnt. H221.2.1
• Ordeal by red-hot iron applied by druids. H221.2.2
• Ordeal by burning oil. H221.3
• Ordeal by boiling water. H221.4
• Ordeal by spitting. Extinguishing fire is proof of innocence. H221.5
• Ordeal by water. Guilt or innocence shown by ability to swim. H222
• Ordeal by water applied by druids. H222.0.1
• Legitimacy of children tested by dipping them in river. H222.1
• Ordeal by holy water. If simpleton closes his eyes to holy water he is possessed; if he laughs he is merely an idiot. H222.2
• Guilt or innocence shown by effect of enchanted water. H222.3
• Sanctity of books tested by throwing them into water. H222.4
• Ordeal by poison. H223
• Ordeal by crocodiles (snakes). Judgment depends on whether person is devoured or rejected by crocodiles. H224
• Ordeal by kissing poisonous serpents. H224.1
• Ordeal by rope-walking. H225
• Ordeal: walking on ladder of knives. H225.1
• Ordeal: walking on eggs. H225.2
• Ordeal by balance. Defendant is weighed twice. He must be lighter second time. H226
• Ordeal: carrying murdered man's blood. Must not spill it. H227
• Ordeal by creeping under a sod partially detached from the earth without its falling down. H228
• Ordeal by bread and cheese. Declaration: if I am not innocent may I choke on bread and cheese. H232
• Ordeal: taking stone out of bucket. Color indicates guilt or innocence. H233
• Ordeal: names of suspected persons are placed in chalice on altar: the one to whom the lot falls is guilty. H233.1
• Scales test: weighing witch against Bible. H234
• Ordeal: cock under pot crows when guilty person touches pot. H235
• Ordeal by exposure. (Cf. S141, S331.) H236
• Other tests of truth. H240
• Worn-out shoes as proof of long journey. H241
• Credential tests: proof that messenger comes from certain person. H242
• Riding speckled horse as credential test. H242.1
• Nature fruitless if false judgment is passed. H243
• Person magically disfigured when he speaks falsely. H244
• Casting lots as truth test. H245
• Incantation which when recited over certain "lots" causes them to distinguish between guilt and innocence. H245.1
• Test of death: to see whether person is dead or feigning. H248
• Sham-dead person tested by hot lead poured on hand. H248.1
• Sham dead tested by stinging insects down back. H248.2
• Crocodile masking as dead obeys suggestion that he make flesh quiver. H248.2.1
• Sham dead tested by pricking. H248.3
• Test of death by putting burning wood in the mouth of fallen warriors. H248.4
• Sham dead detected by batting eyes. H248.5
• Test of truth by magic object. H251
• Bocca della Verità. Person swearing oath places hand in mouth of image. If oath is false the hand is bitten off. H251.1
• Oath of truth before magic lion. If oath is false perjurer is dismembered. H251.1.1
• Stone of truth. When one stands on it he must utter truth. H251.2
• Stone cannot be moved by one who speaks falsehood. H251.2.1
• Magic stone detects perjury: sheds water. H251.2.2
• Stone on which saint was born pours forth water when perjury is committed under it. "But if (the) oath be true, the stone remains in its proper nature." H251.2.3
• Other magic object tests truth. H251.3
• Tree tests perjury. H251.3.1
• Thief detected by psalter and key. Closed Bible with key inside at magic text loosely held by diviner and client. Name of suspected thief on end of key. As verse is spoken, if name is that of thief, book and key will turn around. H251.3.2
• Thief detected by sieve and shears. Sieve put on open shears and then grasped by two fingers so as to balance. Charm recited. If sieve trembles when name is called, that person is guilty. H251.3.3
• Stick with money in it breaks and betrays thief who swears his innocence. H251.3.4
• Oath taken before image. If oath is false the image turns around (or changes color). H251.3.5
• Chain around neck tests truth. Tightens when wearer speaks falsehood. H251.3.6
• Magic object cast on water sinks if person is guilty. H251.3.7
• Magic object clings to hand of guilty person. H251.3.8
• Magic spring detects perjury: disfigures perjurer. H251.3.9
• Magic spring detects parricide and idolatry. H251.3.9.1
• Well rises for sheep only for rightful owner. H251.3.9.2
• False judgment by judge causes fruit to fall. Just judgment by judge causes fruit to be perfect. H251.3.10
• Pig that can be boiled only after four true stories are told. H251.3.11
• Truth-testing vessel. H251.3.12
• Magic cup as test of truth and falsehood. H251.3.13
• Calumniated princess' dead body fails to rot; accuser repudiated. H251.3.14
• Act of truth. Person asserts a thing as true declaring: "If my words are true, may this or that happen." H252
• Test: telling true stories. H252.0.1
• Placing hand on genitals as test of truth. H252.1
• Amount of blood in spittle as test of complete subjection. Incomplete till all is blood. H252.2
• If oath is false, fruit will fall. (Cf. H251.3.10.) H252.3
• Oath taken on boy's head: boy to die if false. H252.4
• Act of truth: boy falls dead though what has been said is the truth; when lie is told he is resuscitated. H252.4.1
• Women swear falsely by their husbands and children, who immediately fall dead. H252.4.2
• Act of truth: island sinks into sea, after hanging of man who has appealed to God to cause the phenomenon as indication of his innocence. (Cf. F948.) H252.5
• Act of truth: cursed church clock never runs correctly. H252.6
• Oaths before gods as test of truth. H253
• Test: which of twins is elder. Younger unthinkingly hands chopsticks to elder and thus betrays his junior rank. H255
• Test of innocence: apple and gold offered. Innocent person takes apple. H256
• Test of child's innocence: onyx stone and coal of fire offered. (Cf. H501.) H256.1
• Holiness of saint tested: asked to perform miracles. H257
• Grade of holiness tested: one whose candle burns down first. H257.1
• Gold in the Bible. A man professes to be a great Bible reader. King leaves a piece of money in the Bible. On his next visit it is still there. H261
• Test of sin. H263
• Exposure in boat as test of sin. H263.1
• Footsteps in manure (dust) as proof that dead man has walked. H264
• Tests connected with marriage. H300
• Excessive demands to prevent marriage. H301
• Task: to win ogress' daughter for a bride. H305
• Suitor tests. A suitor is put to severe tests by his prospective bride or father-in-law. H310
• Tests for hero, husband of supernatural (divine) wife. H310.1
• Brother unwittingly qualifies as bridegroom of sister in test. H310.2
• Inspection test for suitors. Suitors for princess's hand must present themselves for public inspection. (Cf. H362, T55.7.) H311
• Physical and mental requirements for suitors. H312
• Successful suitor to be without blotches. H312.1
• Successful suitor must have gold teeth. H312.2
• Suitors chosen with feet as only part seen. H312.3
• Successful suitor must have whitest hands. Blacksmith qualifies because of frequent washing of hands. H312.4
• Successful suitor must have the prettiest hands; not whitest, but dark with scars and gold rings. H312.4.1
• Successful suitor must have cheeks like blood, skin like snow and hair like a raven. (Cf. Z65.1.) H312.5
• Suitor test: correct wearing of clothes. H312.6
• Suitor test: to be able to go through a wall. H312.7
• Bridegroom-to-be has to have three pecks, three quarts of gold and an animal with a horn on his head pointing to the sky, and a large red hair. H312.8
• Suitor test: obedience and humility before bride. H313
• Princess will marry whoever will give her anything she wishes for a month. H313.1
• Fairy will marry king only if he will either cut off son's head or give up fasting on eleventh day. H313.2
• Suitor's sincerity tested. H314
• Suitor's sincerity tested by reporting girl's death. All but one make excuses for not helping with funeral. H314.1
• Suitor's sincerity tested by seven years' banishment. H314.2
• Suitor test: to whom the princess turns. Rival suitors sleep with princess. The one she turns to is to have her. They vie in enticements. H315
• Suitor test: to make the princess fall in love with him. H315.1
• Suitor contest: bride offered to suitor giving the token of the greater love. H315.2
• Suitor test: apple thrown indicates princess's choice. (Often golden apple.) H316
• Orange (lemon) thrown to indicate princess's choice. H316.1
• Flowers thrown to indicate princess's choice. H316.2
• Ball (goblet) thrown indicates princess's choice. H316.3
• Suitor test: garland thrown indicates girl's choice. H316.4
• Expressing love by throwing little stones. H316.5
• Long term of service imposed on suitor. H317
• Seven years of service imposed on suitor. H317.1
• Two years of silence imposed on suitor. H317.2
• Gardener's son to marry princess if he remains in prison twelve years. H317.3
• Test of suitor's love and endurance by constant postponing. H317.4
• Suitor preferred who will pay enormous sum for bride. H318
• Suitor test: hiding from princess. She has magic sight. H321
• Suitor test: finding princess. H322
• Suitor test: finding object hidden by princess. H322.1
• Suitor test: to get to imprisoned princess in a year's time. H322.2
• Suitor test: bringing leg that fits into dragon claw left by the beloved of the princess. H322.3
• Suitor test: bringing maiden's lost shoe. H322.4
• Suitor test: learning girl's name. H323
• Suitor test: choosing princess from others identically clad. H324
• Suitor test: choosing sweetheart's sedan chair from thirty others like it. H324.1
• Suitor test: skill. H326
• Suitor test: aptness in handicrafts. H326.1
• Suitor test: constructing automatic peacock. H326.1.1
• Suitor test: skill in archery. H326.1.2
• Suitor test: eating a pomegranate without letting a single seed fall. H326.2
• Suitor test: skill in hunt. H326.3
• Suitor test: skill in fishing. H326.4
• Suitor test: cleverness and learning. H327
• Suitor test: power of endurance. H328
• Suitor test: resisting intoxication after much drinking. H328.1
• Suitor test: being swung by mustache without shedding tears. H328.2
• Suitor test: enduring blow from spear. H328.3
• Suitor test: standing naked in river through a winter night. H328.4
• Suitor test: bathing in boiling water. H328.5
• Princess to be married to man who withstands twelve years' fight. H328.6
• Suitor contests: bride offered as prize. H331
• Suitor contest: difficult riding. H331.1
• Suitor contest: riding up glass mountain. H331.1.1
• Suitor contest: riding to fourth story of tower. H331.1.2
• Suitor contest: jumping horse over palace. H331.1.2.1
• Suitor contest: riding up mast (spear). H331.1.3
• Suitor test: jumping over high hedge. H331.1.3.1
• Suitor contest: riding across pit. H331.1.4
• Suitor contest: riding through fire. H331.1.5
• Suitor contest: jumping river on horseback. H331.1.6
• Suitor contest: jumping ditches and hedges of spears. H331.1.6.1
• Contest in reaping: best reaper to get beautiful girl as wife. H331.1.7
• Suitor contest: tournament. H331.2
• Suitor contest: success in battle. H331.2.1
• Suitor contest: bride offered to the one distinguishing himself most in battle. Girl loves both suitors equally. H331.2.1.1
• Suitor contest: prize to one whose staff blooms. Told of Joseph in contest for Virgin Mary. H331.3
• Suitor contest: shooting. H331.4
• Suitors contest with bride's father in shooting. H331.4.1
• Suitor contest: bending bow of woman's absent husband. H331.4.2
• Suitor contest: race. H331.5
• Loser in bride-race must die. H331.5.0.1
• Race with princess for her hand. H331.5.1
• Apple thrown in race with bride. Distracts girl's attention and as she stops to pick it up, suitor passes her. (Atalanta.) H331.5.1.1
• Hero's confederate slows down princess with his breath. Extraordinary blower blows against her so that she is retarded and loses race. H331.5.1.1.1
• Suitor contest: race with bride's father. H331.5.2
• Suitor test: winning horse-race three times. H331.5.3
• Suitor test: boat race. H331.5.4
• Suitor contest: wrestling. (Cf. H1562.9.) H331.6
• Suitor contest: wrestling with bride. H331.6.1
• Princess wins wrestling match with suitor by revealing her breast. He looks and is beaten. H331.6.1.1
• Suitor contest: aiming with missile. H331.7
• Suitor contest: splitting antlers. H331.8
• Suitor contest: trapping. H331.9
• Suitor contest: carrying one hundred jugs of water from sea to castle in one day. H331.10
• Princess given to the one confessing all his treachery. H331.11
• Suitor contest: splitting block of wood. H331.12
• Suitor contest: cheating. H331.13
• Suitor contest: trial of strength. H331.14
• Suitor contest: animal fight. H331.15
• Suitor contest: cockfight. H331.15.1
• Suitor contest: bullfight. H331.15.2