"The Kalevala, the national epic of Finland, enjoys enormous and enduring impact on Finnish art, culture and national identity. A new exhibition at the Finnish Embassy introduces a world of mythological tales which also inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to create characters of his own. The story is told through large scale prints of important Finnish Kalevala art, photograph, thematically illuminating videos, films, and rock videos.
“The Finnish legends greatly affected me.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings
(DAMN STRAIGHT!)
THE KALEVALA is a compilation of orally transmitted folk poetry collected and transcribed by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian singers between the 1820s and the 1840s. The tales of the Kalevala describe great events in mythical ancient history. The magnificent cosmic drama opens with the creation of the world and the first human being. As it ends, the god who created the world is obliged to depart from it, leaving behind for future generations only his musical instrument, the kantele, and a child.
THE KALEVALA was first published in 1835 and continues to enjoy an enormous and ongoing impact on Finnish art, culture, and national identity. The epic has inspired artists in many disciplines, from the visual arts to opera, comic strips, heavy rock, poetry, prose, drama, and dance. The Kalevala has been translated into 61 languages – more than any other work of Finnish literature.
THE KALEVALA has also been a model for other epics around the world. For example, in 1855, imitating the metre and style of the Kalevala, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote The Song of Hiawatha based on Native American Indian legends."
like the good finn i am, i read the kalevala. the first part. the first chapter. OK I OWN IT. but i HAVE seen the extended version of all 3 LOTR movies. and the extras. thats gotta count for something? (other than making me a ginormous dork)
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