Norwegian folktales
Most Norwegians are familiar with Norwegian folktales, and ‘Asbjørnsen og Moe’ is an established term. Indeed so much so that it is almost unthinkable to mention one of the two without mentioning the other.
Wouldn’t we all like to be an Espen Askeladd (the Ash Lad in english), to show the entire world what we really are, despite expectations or prejudices. Who hasn’t looked under their beds at night after having heard the tale about the three billygoats, just to make sure that the troll is not hiding there? Grown-ups probably recognize themselves in the the tale about The seventh father in the house. The story about the traveller who late in the evening, hungry and tired, came to a house seeking shelter and food. He politely asked for this, but none of the people living there could tell him either yes or no. Finally, when he had almost given up hope, the seventh father in the house gave him permission to stay.
Still, what we remember best of all from all these stories are the trolls. The big and tall creatures who can be both good and bad. They may be stupid and easy to fool, but are definitely exciting!
These days we don’t meet trolls that often, but I am convinced that you have seen their shadows when you have been in the woods. A tree root, or perhaps a rock that looks like a troll. Perhaps it is a troll, who lies completely still, just waiting for you to pass…….
The folk tales which Asbjørnsen and Moe collected, have been published in many versions and with illustrations by many famous Norwegian artists. We imagine the trolls to look the way Th. Kittelsen and Erik Werenskiold depicted them. Enter any bookshop, and you will find Norwegian folk tales available in many different price classes. They are also available in other languages, for example German and English.
If you would like to know more about Norwegian folk tales and the people who collected them, try some of the links.
Wouldn’t we all like to be an Espen Askeladd (the Ash Lad in english), to show the entire world what we really are, despite expectations or prejudices. Who hasn’t looked under their beds at night after having heard the tale about the three billygoats, just to make sure that the troll is not hiding there? Grown-ups probably recognize themselves in the the tale about The seventh father in the house. The story about the traveller who late in the evening, hungry and tired, came to a house seeking shelter and food. He politely asked for this, but none of the people living there could tell him either yes or no. Finally, when he had almost given up hope, the seventh father in the house gave him permission to stay.
Still, what we remember best of all from all these stories are the trolls. The big and tall creatures who can be both good and bad. They may be stupid and easy to fool, but are definitely exciting!
These days we don’t meet trolls that often, but I am convinced that you have seen their shadows when you have been in the woods. A tree root, or perhaps a rock that looks like a troll. Perhaps it is a troll, who lies completely still, just waiting for you to pass…….
The folk tales which Asbjørnsen and Moe collected, have been published in many versions and with illustrations by many famous Norwegian artists. We imagine the trolls to look the way Th. Kittelsen and Erik Werenskiold depicted them. Enter any bookshop, and you will find Norwegian folk tales available in many different price classes. They are also available in other languages, for example German and English.
If you would like to know more about Norwegian folk tales and the people who collected them, try some of the links.
