What is a motif index?

A motif index is a list of elements that commonly appear in folklore. A motif is a characteristic of a story that sets it apart from other stories. Because many story elements are repeated in different regions and eras, an index of these motifs aids in the comparative study of folklore.

The most commonly used and original motif index is the Thompson Motif Index. Stitch Thompson created this index and originally published it in 1932, revising it in 1955 and 1989. Thompson studied folklore extensively and created 26 main categories of motifs, using the letters of the alphabet for categorization. Subcategories are then organized through a numbering system similar to the Library of Congress system. The numbering system allows for continuous updating of the index.

The use of motif indexes is for comparative folklore study. Since elements of a story appear across cultures and time, themes are catalogued in the index, allowing students to compare one story to another. Themes such as man's struggle against nature, wicked witches, or youth being educated by elders appear across many tales and the motif index allows students to study such themes.

Motif indexes include characteristics from folk-tales, ballads, myths, fables and medieval romances, as well as exempla, fabliaux, jest-books and local legends. Thompson's index, available in six volumes, categorizes thousands of characters, themes and events found in these tales.