Folktale Index

The Folktale Index is a scholarly categorization system that organizes traditional stories from around the world based on their core narrative elements and themes. Developed by renowned folklorist Stith Thompson, it assigns each story type a unique number and classification, making it easier for researchers to identify, compare, and analyze similar tales across different cultures. Think of it as a library catalog for folk stories, helping to trace common motifs, origins, and variations, while acknowledging the rich diversity of storytelling traditions globally.