Kalevala (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Elias Lonnrot
- First Published: 1835
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Saga
- Time of Work: Mythological times
- Setting: Finland and Lapland
- Principal Characters: Väinämöinen, Ilmarinen, Lemminkäinen, Louhi, Aino, Joukahäinen, Kullervo, The Daughter of Louhi, Marjatta
- Genres: Poetry, Epic, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Folkloric or magical people, Magic or magicians, Mythology or myths, Legends, Folklore, Witches or witchcraft, Heroes or heroism, Scandinavia or Scandinavians, Fables
- Locales: Finland, Lapland
The Story:
After his mother had created the land, the sun, and the moon out of sea duck eggs, Väinämöinen was born, and with the help of Sampsa Pellervoinen he made the barren land fruitful, sowing seeds and planting trees. By the time Väinämöinen was an old man, he had gained great fame as a singer and charmer. When a brash young man named Joukahäinen challenged him to a duel of magic songs, Väinämöinen won easily and forced the young man to give him his sister Aino for a wife. Aino was greatly saddened, however, at having to marry an old man and so she drowned...
[The entire page is 3124 words long]
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