Tale type (ATU)
In short: A classification used to compare recurring plots.
Term
How does it work in the tale?
The index named for Aarne, Thompson and Uther files Cinderella under 510A. A shared number helps readers find similar plots without establishing common authorship or a place of origin.
What do 510A and 500 group together?
The number 510A leads to Cinderella plots. Type 500 gathers tales such as Rumpelstiltskin and Tom Tit Tot, in which learning the helper’s name resolves a bargain. If two texts include spinning, look for the event that actually brings about the ending. The type number gives you a way to search for that sequence.