Kalevala

Also known as The Kalevala, Kalewala

The Kalevala () is a 19th-century compilation of epic poetry, compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish, Karelian and Ingrian folklore and mythology, telling a story about the Creation of the Earth, describing the controversies and retaliatory voyages between the peoples of the land of Kalevala called Väinölä and the land of Pohjola and their various protagonists and antagonists, as well as the construction and robbery of the mythical wealth-making machine Sampo.

AI overview

The Kalevala is a 19th-century epic poem compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish, Karelian, and Ingrian folklore, telling stories of creation, conflicts between rival lands, and the magical Sampo machine. It matters because it preserves and shaped the mythology and cultural identity of Finnish and related peoples.

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Book · Open Library

Author: Elias Lönnrot
First published: 1940
Editions: 19
Subjects: Translations into Kannada, Kalevala, Criticism and interpretation, Criticism, Finnish Epic poetry, Translations into German, History and criticism, Kommentar

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Key facts

Book.name: Kalevala
Book.title_orig: Kalevala Kalewala
Book.image: Kalevala1.jpg
Book.caption: First edition, 1835
Book.author: Elias Lönnrot
Book.country: Grand Duchy of Finland
Book.language: Finnish
Book.publisher: J. C. Frenckell ja Poika, among others
Book.congress: PH324 .E5
Book.dewey: 894.5411
Book.orig_lang_code: fi
Book.native_wikisource: Kalevala
Book.wikisource: The Kalevala

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Wikidata facts

Image: Kalevala1.jpg

Show 6 more facts

Commons category: Kalevala
IPA transcription: ˈkɑle̞ʋɑlɑ
publication date: 1835-01-01
title: Kalevala
Commons gallery: Kalevala
inception: 1828-00-00

Sources (6)

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~52 min read

Article

60 sections

Contents

Collection and compilation
Elias Lönnrot
Poetry
History
Lönnrot's field trips
Methodology
Form and structure
Metre
Schemes
Poetry example
Lönnrot's contribution to the ''Kalevala''
Publishing
Finnish language
Translations
The story
Introduction
Cantos
First Väinämöinen Cycle
First Lemminkäinen Cycle
Second Väinämöinen Cycle
Ilmarinen's Wedding
Second Lemminkäinen Cycle
Kullervo Cycle
Second Ilmarinen Cycle
Theft of the Sampo
Louhi's Revenge on Kalevala
Marjatta cycle
Characters
Väinämöinen
Ilmarinen
Lemminkäinen
Ukko
Hiisi
Joukahainen
Louhi
Kullervo
Marjatta
Influence
Finnish daily life
Finnish calendar
Art
Literature
Re-tellings
Works inspired by
Music
Classical music
Folk metal
Other musical genres
Film and television
Military
Interpretations
See also
Notes
References
Further reading
Translations
Retellings
Analysis
Encyclopedia
External links

The Kalevala is regarded as the national epic of Finland and Karelia, and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature along with J. L. Runeberg's The Tales of Ensign Stål and Aleksis Kivi's The Seven Brothers. The Kalevala was instrumental in the development of the Finnish national identity and the intensification of Finland's language strife that ultimately led to Finland's independence from Russia in 1917. The work is known internationally and has partly influenced, for example, J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium (i.e. Middle-earth mythology, especially The Children of Húrin).