Themes and Motifs of Myths and Fairy Tales

Motifs
Theme Origin Details Examples
Yggdrasil Norse Mythology Associated with Odin, the Ash Tree, an immense and sacred tree in Norse Cosmology, around it exists all else, including the 9 worlds. Poetic Edda, Prose Edda
Sacred Oak of Dodona Norse Mythology Associated with Zeus, oak tree was sacred across cultures through history, associated with the supreme gods (Zeus, Jupiter, Dagda, Perun, Thor); Mistletoe associated as growing on oaks, assoc. wwith rainfall;
Castalian Spring Greek, Delphi The Castalian Spring, in the ravine between the Phaedriades at Delphi, is where all visitors to Delphi — the contestants in the Pythian Games, and especially pilgrims who came to consult the Delphic Oracle — stopped to wash themselves and quench their thirst (wikipedia)
Themes
Theme Origin Details Examples
The road goes only onward
The portal fantasy