For instance (citing the Themes according to their numbering in the Thesaurus):

1) The "Murdered Girl Pattern," songs in which boy woos girl (Theme 110 Courtship), boy betrays her (Theme 245 Betrayal) by killing her (Theme 650).  Cf. "Ulinger" (here Catalog#. 03.B2b-03.2) or "Meuchelmord an der Geliebten" (here Catalog#. 03.E6-1) or "Der Kaufmannssohn" (here Catalog#. 03.C6d-06), or in der anglo-american tradition something like "Banks of the Ohio" (Laws F5) or "The Knoxville Girl." (Laws P35

2) The "False True Lover Pattern," also known as the "Broken Token Pattern" reminisent of the Odyssey,  songs in which boy and girl are in a relationship (Theme 210 Obligations in ongoing/marital relationships), boy goes off to foreign places (Theme 320 Departure) and perhaps has adventures there (Theme 571), boy returns unrecognized Theme (824), and they test one another for their faithfulness (Theme 810 Tests of Love). Cf.. "Heimkehr des Ehemannes" (here Catalog#. 04.04-04a) or "Der Markgraf von Backenweil" (here Catalog#. 04.04-06), or in der scots-american tradition something like "Young Beichan" (Child 53) or "Pretty Fair Maid in the Garden" (Laws N42).

3) The "Criminal Brought to Justice Pattern," songs in which a criminal or outlaw does asocial deeds (Theme 260 or Theme 540 or even Theme 650, Murder), is pursued (Theme 460), brought to justice (Theme 960) and ends up on the gallows (Theme 660 Execution on the Gallows). Cf. "Lindenschmied" (here Catalog#. 07.1a-04) or "Störtebecker" (here Catalog#. 07.1c-01), or in der American tradition something like "Stagolee" (Laws I 15) or "John Hardy" (Laws I 2).

Go to the Search Page or to the Instructions.