Tale
Norwegian Folk Tales
Norske Folkeeventyr
Synopsis
The collection brings together folk tales gathered in the Norwegian countryside. In it we meet trolls, giants and the devil, the North Wind in person, talking animals, the bear and the fox, three billy goats who must cross a bridge guarded by a troll, and a girl who set out east of the sun and west of the moon. Above all, Askeladden, the youngest son scorned by his brothers, triumphs over trials by cunning or by luck.
Context
Publication began in 1841 with a thin pamphlet, followed by volumes in 1843 and 1844; the 1852 edition, with an introduction by Moe, brought the whole together. The collectors followed the manner of the Brothers Grimm: a simple language, in which words and turns of phrase from the speech of eastern Norway mingle with written Danish, and which served as a model for Bokmål. The illustrated edition of 1879 opened the way for Werenskiold and Kittelsen, whose trolls have remained famous.
Who it is for
Short tales, in simple language, readable by children; several French translations have existed since 1930.
Prizes and reception
The collection that helped shape written Norwegian, translated into English as early as 1859 by George Webbe Dasent.
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The pages consulted to check this page.