| | | Editor'Preface [ di Alan Dundes ] |
| | 1. | The Comparative Study of Folktales |
| | 2. | Riddle Tales from Literary Sources |
| | | From Ancient Sources: Classical |
| | | From Ancient Sources: Indian |
| | | From Medieval Sources: Eastern Oriental Romances |
| | | Oriental Romances |
| | | From Medieval Sources: Western |
| | | Norse |
| | | Celtic |
| | | Cosmopolitan Tales |
| | | Overview |
| | 3. | The Princess Who Can Not Solve the Riddle |
| | | AT 851o: The Eastern Subtype |
| | | AT 851A: Turandot |
| | | AT 851B: The Unborn Hero |
| | | AT 851C: The Southern European Subtype |
| | | AT 851C + AT 570 |
| | | AT 851C in Eastern Europe and Finland |
| | | AT 851D: The Germanic Subtype |
| | | AT 851 + AT 507A |
| | | AT 851: Creole Tales |
| | | Summary |
| | | Neck Riddles and Other Riddle Tales |
| | | Other Simple Riddle Tales |
| | | The Murdered Lover (Motif H805) |
| | | Other Complex Tales with Riddles |
| | 5. | Riddle Themes |
| | I. | Cosmic Riddles |
| | II. | Monsters |
| | III. | The Dead and the Living |
| | IV. | Human Relationship, Natural and Unnatural |
| | V. | Impossibilities |
| | VI. | Puns |
| | 6. | Wisdom Tales |
| | | The Battle of Sexes |
| | | Catch the Devil Through the Riddle |
| | | Out of the Mouths of Babies |
| | | Man to Man |
| | | Oriental Wisdom Tales |
| | | Conclusion |
| | 7. | Riddles in Folk Societes |
| | | Riddles and Power |
| | | Riddles and Myths |
| | | The Interpersonal Situation |
| | | Riddles and Sex |
| | | Riddles and Education |
| | | Riddling in Tales |
| | | The Style of the Tale |
| | | Rhythm |
| | | Human Relationships |
| | | Minor Characters |
| | | The Stage: Sets and Properties |
| | | Distinctive Qualities ot the Subtypes |
| | | Novella and Märchen |
| | | Bibliography |
