Culture. Nurture. Tincture. Enrapture.

The ATU classification: the patterns behind our tales

I don‘t know if you have ever dabbled into folkloric studies, but let me point out that it is a fascinating and complex world of his own. The best way I can think of giving you a glimpse of that world is by showing you some aspects of the famous Aaere-Thompson-Uther index - the reference in folklore studies.

Once upon a time…

The ATU classification was originally published by the Finnish folklorist Antti Aarne in 1910, then revised and published in English by Stith Thompson. Finally, the German folklorist Hans-Jörg Uther revised it much later (in 2004). Hence the name “ATU“. The ATU in itself is a classification of common motifs found in folklore tales and various traditions. In the words of Thompson himself:

"A motif is the smallest element in a tale having a power to persist in tradition. In order to have this power it must have something unusual and striking about it. […]When the term motif is employed, it is always in a very loose sense, and is made to include any of the elements of narrative structure"

Reading the ATU classification is the best way to realize the patterns and common elements in rich and varied traditions. Keep in mind that most tales correspond to multiple ATU motifs. Anyway, let‘s discover some of the ATU! Now, there is one problem we have to address before that. Simply put, it‘s ENORMOUS. Every motif is classified with a letter category, followed by a 3-number ID. This post will only describe very quickly the motif groups found in categories A to D. Keep in mind that categories go as far as Z! Anyway, let‘s begin!

At first, there was nothing

Obviously, also every tradition contains some kind of creation myth. Those are important. Every tradition tries to give answers to questions and what questions are more universal than the whys of the world itself?

  • A0-A99: Creator stories. Those would include the Genesis book in the Torah for example.
  • A100-A199: Gods, more generally. That would include how they interact with each other or how they came into being/power. This can be further described with the three following categories.
  • A200-A299: Gods of the upper world. That would include gods of the sky, sun, stars or heaven.
  • A300-A399: Gods of the underworld. Generally gods of the dead and aspects less pleasant to humankind.
  • A400-A499: Gods of the earth. The gods of nature except gods of wind, storms and the like (those are classified as gods of the upper world).
  • A500-A599: Demigods and Culture Heroes. Here would be all those famous Greek heroes myths!
  • A600-A649: Creation of the Universe. Self-explanatory (I think).
  • A650-A699: Nature of the Universe. Not *why* the world came to be, but what it is. The 3 next categories are subcategories of that.
  • A700-A799: The Heavens. Why is the sky like that?
  • A800-A899: The Earth. Why is the Earth like that?
  • A900-A999: Topographical features. Mountains and rivers. You get the idea.
  • A1000-A1099: World Calamities and Renewal. Many cultures have those. Think of the flood and the like.
  • A1100-A1199: Establishment of natural order. Similar to the previous category, but less catastrophic to get to its results.

This category also has a subcategory dedicated to not explaining how the world came to be, but how man itself came to be and live like he does.

  • A1200-A1699: Creation and ordering of human life.
  • A1200-A1299: Creation of man.
  • A1300-A1399: Ordering of human life/bodies.
  • A1400-A1499: Acquisition of culture.
  • A1500-A1599: Origin of customs.
  • A1600-A1699: Distribution and differentiation of peoples.

Now the same can be said for other animals we live with. This comes with the following subcategories.

  • A1700-A1799: Creation of animal life (general).
  • A1800-A1899: Creation of mammals.
  • A1900-A1999: Creation of birds.
  • A2000-A2099: Creation of insects.
  • A2100-A2199: Creation of fish and other animals.
  • A2200-A2599: Animal characteristics.
  • A2200-A2299: Various causes of animal characteristics.
  • A2300-A2399: Causes of animal characteristics: body.
  • A2400-A2499: Causes of animal characteristics: appearance and habits.
  • A2500-A2599: Animal characteristics: miscellaneous.
  • A2600-A2699: Origins of trees and plants.
  • A2600-A2649: Various origins of plants.
  • A2700-A2799: Origin of plant characteristics.
  • A2800-A2899: Miscellaneous explanations. That would include how honey or oil came to be for example.

Man‘s best friend

The second category is for common characters in tales of magical animals (talking or not). Think about Aesop‘s fables, Grimm Tales and many more. They ALL have animals prominently.

  • B0-B99: Mythical animals. This would include the phoenix for example.
  • B100-B199: Magic animals. Common animals with fantastic traits.
  • B200-B299: Animals with human traits. Also very common.
  • B300-B599: Friendly animals. I just love the name of that section.
  • B600-B699: Marriage of person to animal.
  • B700-B799: Fanciful traits of animals. For the more capricious (and human) side they exhibit.
  • B800-B899: Miscellaneous animal motifs.

Don‘t speak its name

When we think about the unique aspects of traditions, we often think about their different taboos. That is the subject of this category. Here are the highlights.

  • C0-C99: Taboo connected with supernatural beings.
  • C100-C199: Sex taboo.
  • C200-C299: Eating and drinking taboo. Would include practices like Ramadan fasting and the like.
  • C300-C399: Looking taboo. Here we would find the Greek tale Orpheus and Eurydice.
  • C400-C499: Speaking taboo.
  • C500-C549: Touching taboo.
  • C550-C599: Class taboo. Here would be the highly debated Hindu caste system.
  • C600-C699: Unique prohibitions and compulsions.
  • C700-C899: Miscellaneous taboos.
  • C900-C999: Punishment for breaking taboo.

Abracadabra!

Of course, we love some fantastic elements in our stories. This category is exclusively for those magic elements we love!

First, transformations:

  • D10-D99: Transformation: man to different man.
  • D100-D199: Transformation: man to animal.
  • D200-D299: Transformation: man to object.
  • D300-D399: Transformation: animal to person.
  • D400-D499: Other forms of transformation.
  • D500-D599: Means of transformation.
  • D600-D699: Miscellaneous transformation incidents.
  • D700-D799: Disenchantment (how to end transformations).

Then, of course, magic artifacts:

D800-D899: Ownership of magic objects. (Finding, stealing, recovering, etc.)

And different types of magic objects:

  • D900-D989: Magical natural things (water, trees, fruits, rocks, etc.).
  • D990-D1029: Magic body members (a magic finger for example).
  • D1030-D1039: Magic Food.
  • D1040-D1049: Magic Drink.
  • D1050-D1069: Magic Clothes.
  • D1070-D1079: Magic Ornaments.
  • D1080-D1109: Magic Weapons.
  • D1110-D1299: Other magic items.

After the types, we see the effects of these magic items:

  • D1300-D1379: Magic objects that change persons (wisdom, information, physical change or change of character).
  • D1380-D1439: Protective magic objects.
  • D1400-D1439: Magic objects that give power over other persons (subdue, charm, kill, etc.) There is a whole subgenre of pursuing objects (D1430). Literally objects chasing people down. That would include pots. Quite silly (in a good way).
  • D1440-D1449: Magic object that gives power over animals.
  • D1450-D1469: Magic object that furnishes treasures.
  • D1470-D1499: Magic object as a provider (of wishes or supplies mainly).
  • D1500-D1519: Magic object that controls/cures diseases.
  • D1520-D1539: Magic object that offers miraculous transportation.
  • D1540-D1549: Magic object that controls the elements.
  • D1550-D1559: Magic object that opens and closes things. Think here “Sesame“.
  • D1560-D1599: Magic object that performs other services. Here would be included items that act as valets.
  • D1600-D1699: Characteristics of magic objects. Very broad subcategory. A good way to realize just how important magic objects are to our stories.

The final subcategory is for magical powers and those who wield them.

  • D1700-D1799: Possession and means of employment of magic powers (who has it, how you can get it and what you need to do to perform it).
  • D1800-D1949: Lasting magic qualities (magic knowledge, magic sight/hearing, magic strength, invulnerability, immortality, beautification/hideousness, rejuvenation/aging, love, memory and others).
  • D1950-D2049: Temporary magic characteristics (magic sleep, invisibility, forgetfulness, dumbness and others).
  • D2050-D2099: Destructive magic powers (death, injury, curses, bewitching whether it's used on humans, animals or nature).
  • D2100-D2119: Magic wealth.
  • D2120-D2139: Magic transportation/journey.
  • D2140-D2149: Magic control over the elements.

What we left behind

As I said, there are MANY more categories. Let me at least list them:

  • E = The Dead
  • F = Marvels
  • G = Ogres (and Satan)
  • H = Tests
  • J = The Wise and the Foolish
  • K = Deceptions
  • L = Reversal of Fortune
  • M = Ordaining the future
  • N = Chance and Fate
  • P = Society
  • Q = Rewards and Punishment
  • R = Captives and Fugitives
  • S = Unnatural Cruelty
  • T = Sex
  • U = The Nature of Life
  • V = Religion
  • W = Traits of Character
  • X = Humor
  • Z = Miscellaneous. Yup: even a classification that detailed cannot include everything.

The End

Sorry if that post is a bit different from the usual. I have been especially busy and I must admit that the ATU classification might have been a bit more than what I could digest quickly. Still, I read it entirely and loved it. Take this post as a brief invitation to read it as well. You won‘t regret it!

You know what? I think I will reserve my next project to giving we something more complete about the ATU classification…

Anyway, see you next time.

References

S. Thompson. Motif-index of folk-literature : a classification of narrative elements in folktales, ballads, myths, fables, medieval romances, exempla, fabliaux, jest-books, and local legends. Revised and enlarged. edition. Bloomington : Indiana University Press, 1955-1958.