ATU 500 The Name of the Supernatural Helper

ATU 500

The Name of the Supernatural Helper

Aarne–Thompson–Uther tale-type index · Tales Of Magic · The full type description is not served here; the number and name are the classification facts.

Motifs the recorded variants carry

Guessing name of supernatural creature gives power over him. (Tom-Tit-Tot). 6 variants
Magic spinning. Usually performed by a supernatural helper. 6 variants
Tasks assigned because of mother's foolish boasting. The mother foolishly boasts to the king that the daughter can perform an impossible task (often spinning). 6 variants
Secret name overheard by eavesdropper. 6 variants
Task: spinning gold. 3 variants
Task: spinning impossible amount in one night. (Cf. H1022.2.) 3 variants
Test: guessing unknown propounder's name. 2 variants
Prince plans to kill wicked father for cruelty. 2 variants
Woman promises her unborn child to appease offended witch. 2 variants

Type numbers and names after Aarne–Thompson–Uther, via Hagedorn, trilogy (2022), CC-BY-NC-SA; motif links weighted by the dataset’s recorded tale variants. Served as classification facts with attribution.