What is an Aarne-Thompson classification?

Search: Aarne Thompson

Why: In the SurLaLune Fairy Tales article about the History of Cinderella:

The tale has its own Aarne Thompson classification which is 510A.

Answer: The Aarne-Thompson classification system is a system for classifying folktales! Finnish folklorist Antti Aarne first published his historic-geographic method of comparitive folkloristics in 1910, and American Stith (Stith?) Stith Thompson translated it in 1928 and expanded it in 1961.

The Aarne-Thompson system catalogues some 2500 basic plots from which, for countless generations, European and Near Eastern storytellers have built their tales. As Europeans and Near-Easterners travelled to the New World, the Far East, Africa, and other distant places, their tales migrated as well, often flourishing in their new environments. Hence, the Aarne-Thompson system encompasses tales found around the world.

Some include:

• The Clever Fox 1–69
• Supernatural Helpers 500–559
• The Obstinate Wife Learns to Obey 900–909
• Contest between Man and Ogre 1060–1114
• Jokes about Clergymen and Religious Figures 1725–1849

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Stith? Rachem? Bort?