Minor ATU Subtypes of Beauty and the Beast

Last week I discussed the ATU 425 subtypes A, B, and C. I wanted to share a listing of the other minor subtypes D-P, etc.

These subtypes remain in the new ATU system:

ATU 425D The Vanished Husband (previously Vanished Husband Learned of by Keeping Inn [Bath-house]): There are three of these tales in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

ATU 425E The Enchanted Husband Sings Lullaby (Including the previous type 425L): There are three of these tales in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

ATU 425M The Snake as Bridegroom (previously Bathing Girl’s Garments Kept): There are three of these tales in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

ATU 425* The Insulted Bridegroom Disenchanted (previously Enchanted Animal Husband Insulted by Guests)--None of these tales are included in my book.

These were folded into other subtypes or tale types, using the AT designation:

AT 425F Bird Steals Jewel from Girl--Folded into ATU 425D: This tale is very rare. The only English translation of any version I have read appears as "The Prince and the Daughter of the Thornseller" in Folktales of Iraq (Dover Books on Anthropology and Folklore) by E. S. Stevens (Editor)

AT 425G False Bride Takes Heroine’s Place--Folded into ATU 425A: There are four of these tales in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

AT 425H Short form of the tale--Folded into ATU 425C: There is one tale of this type in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

AT 425J Service in Hell to Release Enchanted Husband--Folded into ATU 425B: There is one tale of this type in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

AT 425K Search in Men’s Clothing--Folded into ATU Type 884 The Forsaken Fiancee: Service as Menial: There are two of these tales in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

AT 425L The Padlock on the Enchanted Husband--Folded into ATU 425E: There is one tale of this type in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

AT 425N Bird Husband--Folded into ATU 425B: There are four of these tales in Beauty and the Beast Tales From Around the World

AT 425P Enchanted Wife Lost and Found--Folded into ATU 425B--None of these tales are included in my book. These, as you can see from the title, are hero tales or Animal Bride tales which I did not include in the book. There simply wasn't room. That book will come someday, primarily as Swan Maidens since that is the most popular Animal Bride type.

I won't go into descriptions for each of these, mostly the significant variation is described in the type title, especially those that were folded into larger types were limited to a small geographic region of Europe. For example, AT 425J Service in Hell to Release Enchanted Husband appears strictly in Ireland as an Irish-Gaelic variant. All of them are fascinating variants of the tales.