What does the story of the Kalevala begin with?

What does the story of the Kalevala begin with?

The Kalevala begins with the traditional Finnish creation myth, leading into stories of the creation of the earth, plants, creatures and the sky. Creation, healing, combat and internal story telling are often accomplished by the character(s) involved singing of their exploits or desires.

What is the last canto of the Kalevala?

Although the Kalevala depicts the conditions and ideas of the pre-Christian period, the last canto seems to predict the decline of paganism: the maid Marjatta gives birth to a son who is baptized king of Karelia, and the pagan Väinämöinen makes way for him, departing from Finland without his kantele and songs.

Who is the water mother in the Kalevala?

Ilmatar, the daughter of the air, descends to the sea and is fertilised; she becomes the Water-mother. She gestates for centuries to no avail and laments her lot. Time passes, and Sotka, a goldeneye floats over the water seeking a place to rest and make her nest.

Who is the son of Untamo in the Kalevala?

Kullervo, a miraculously strong child, is the son of Kalervo, who is slain by his brother Untamo. The boy is brought up in Untamo’s house as a servant. Untamo attempts to kill him but fails. Kullervo is sold to smith Ilmarinen to work as a serf.

How did the Kalevala come to like Elias lonnrota?

The Kalevala came to like the work and art of Elias Lönnrota. The epic begins with an introductory song in which the narrator states that his thoughts make him want to sing and then he gets ready to talk and sing like his ancestors.

Who is the main god in the Kalevala?

“The Kalevala” is a Finnish national epic. It begins with the Earth’s creation and concludes with the disempowerment of the main God (Shaman Väinämöinen) who appears throughout the book and is portrayed in almost all the songs.

Who is the author of the cantos of the Kalevala?

This is a summary of the cantos of the Kalevala . The Kalevala is considered the national epic of Finland. It was compiled and edited from the songs of numerous folk singers by Elias Lönnrot while he was a district health officer in eastern Finland, at that time under the governance of Russia as Grand Duchy of Finland.