Norwegian Folktales


Norwegian Folktales is a collection of Norwegian folktales and legends by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. It is also known as Asbjørnsen and Moe, after the collectors.

Asbjørnsen and Moe

Asbjørnsen, a teacher, and Moe, a minister, had been friends for about 15 years when in 1841 they published the first volume of folktales - the collection of which had been an interest of both for some years. The work's popularity is partly attributable to Norway's newly won partial independence, and the wave of nationalism that swept the country in the 19th century; and the Norwegian written language they contributed to developing. The language of their publication of the fairy tales struck a balance in that, while it did not preserve their original dialect form in its entirety, it did import certain non-Danish features from it.
Asbjørnsen and Moe were inspired by the German folktale collectors, the Brothers Grimm, not merely to emulate their methodology, but drawing encouragement by it, their endeavor was a work of national importance, especially as the Grimms openly gave high praise for the Norske folkeeventyr. Asbjørnsen and Moe applied the principles espoused by the Grimms, for instance, using a simple linguistic style in place of dialects, while maintaining the original form of the stories. Moreover, Asbjørnsen and Moe did not publish collected folktales in the raw, but created "retold" versions, seeking to reconstruct the lost Urform of the tales—although the alterations performed were not as drastic as the Grimms sometimes allowed license for themselves. The Norwegian pair also collected tales from the field themselves, in contrast to the Grimms.

Publications

The original series, entitled Norske Folkeeventyr went into publication piecemeal. It first appeared a slim pamphlet offering a selection of a few tales, without a title page, the editor's names or table of contents. This was sufficiently well-received, and championed by P. A. Munch in a German newspaper. It led to the appearance of a reprint of the first volume in 1843 and the second volume in 1844 as proper hardcovers. The second edition appeared in 1852. Another series dubbed the "New Collection" appeared later. The tales are numbered, the original collection containing 58 tales, increased to 60 tales in later editions. The new collection held 50 tales.
Asbjørnsen as a solo project collected and published Norske Huldre-Eventyr og Folkesagn I-II, which also was expanded by a "second collection,".

Illustrators

The first fully illustrated of these book was the 1879 edition of Asbjørnsen's Norske folke- og huldre-eventyr, which featured the artwork of a battery of artists: Peter Nicolai Arbo, Hans Gude,, Eilif Peterssen, August Schneider, Otto Sinding , Adolph Tidemand, and Erik Werenskiold.
In later editions Werenskiold and Theodor Kittelsen became prominent illustrators. Kittelsen was an unknown artist when he began collaborating on the project on the recommendation of his friend Werenskiold.

Translation into English

The tales were first translated into English by Sir George Webbe Dasent. He translated all but a few of the tales from the two series of Norske Folkeeventyr. Dasent's Popular Tales from the Norse, contains all 58 tales from the initial edition of the original collection. Dasent's Tales from the Fjeld: A Second Series of Popular Tales covers the two tales added to later editions of the original collection and 45 of the tales from the new collection.
Asbjørnsen and Moe evidently approved of Dasent's translations: "In France and England collections have appeared in which our tales have not only been correctly and faultlessly translated, but even rendered with exemplary truth and care nay, with thorough mastery. The English translation, by George Webbe Dasent, is the best and happiest rendering of our tales that has appeared." The latest translation into English is by Tiina Nunnally in 2019.
H. L. Braekstad, Round the Yule Log: Norwegian Folk and Fairy Tales includes tales from the Norske Huldre-Eventyr. An abridged translation of Stroebe's Nordische Volksmärchen, rendered into English by Martens, provides additional tales from the various collections, and complements the above translations to some extent. Carl Norman's Norwegian Folktales is a selection that includes some of the tales from the Ny Samling omitted by Dasent.

List of Norwegian folktales

Norske Folkeeventyr

Legend:
NF#Modern Norwegian TitleAT indexDa#English translated title Alternate translations
1Askeladden som stjal sølvendene til trolletAT 32832"Boots and the Troll""About Ash Lad, Who Stole the Troll's Silver Ducks, Coverlet, and Golden Harp"
2GjertrudsfuglenAT 751A31"Gertrude's Bird""The Gjertrud Bird"
3Fugl DamAT 30155"The Big Bird Dan""The Griffin"
4SpurningenAT 85319"Taming the Shrew""The Quandary"
5Rike Per KremmerAT 46130"Rich Peter the Pedlar""Richman Peddler Per"
6Askeladden som kappåt med trolletAT 10005"Boots Who Ate a Match With the Troll""Ash Lad, Who Competed with the Troll" ; "The Ash Lad Who Had an Eating Match with the Troll"
7Gutten som gikk til nordenvinden og krevde igjen meletAT 56334"The Lad Who Went to the North Wind""About the Boy Who Went to the North Wind and Demanded the Flour Back" ; "The Lad and the North Wind"
8Jomfru Maria som gudmorAT 71027"The Lassie and Her Godmother""The Virgin Mary as Godmother" ; "The Child of Mary"
9De tre prinsesser i HvittenlandAT 40026"The Three Princesses of Whiteland""The Three Princesses in White Land" ; "The Three Princesses in Whiteland"
10Somme kjerringer er slikeAT 138424"Not a Pin to Choose Between Them""Some Women Are Like That"
11Hver synes best om sine barnAT 24725"One's Own Children Are Always Prettiest""Everyone Thinks Their Own Children Are Best"
12En frierhistorieAT 145914"How One Went Out to Woo""A Tale of Courtship"
13De tre mostreneAT 50128"The Three Aunts"ibid.
14EnkesønnenAT 31444"The Widow's Son""The Widow's Son" ;
15Manndatteren og kjerringdatterenAT 48017"The Two Step-Sisters""The Husband’s Daughter and the Wife’s Daughter"
16Hanen og høna i nøtteskogenAT 202154"The Cock and Hen a-Nutting""The Rooster and the Hen in the Nut Forest"
17Bjørnen og reven:N/A"The Bear and the Fox"
17.1 Hvorfor bjørnen er stubbrumpet;AT 223"Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed""Why the Bear Has a Stump of a Tail"
17.2 Reven snyter bjørnen for julekostenAT 1557"Bruin and Reynard""The Fox Cheats the Bear Out of His Christmas Meal"
18Gudbrand i LiaAT 141521"Gudbrand on the Hill-side""Gudbrand Slope" ; "Gudbrand of the Hillside"
19Kari TrestakkAT 510AB50"Katie Woodencloak""Kari Stave-Skirt" ; "Kari Woodencoat"
20Reven som gjeterAT 3710"The Fox as Herdsman""The Fox as Shepherd"
21Smeden som de ikke torde slippe inn i helveteAT 33016"The Master-Smith""The Blacksmith They Didn’t Dare Let Into Hell" ; "The Smith They Didn't Dare Let Into Hell" ; "The Smith and the Devil"
22Hanen og hønaAT 207515"The Cock and Hen""The Rooster and the Hen"
23Hanen, gauken og århanenAT 12029"The Cock, the Cuckoo, and the Blackcock""The Rooster, the Cuckoo, and the Black Grouse"
24LillekortAT 30320"Shortshanks""Lillekort"
25Dukken i gressetAT 40252"Doll i' the Grass""The Doll in the Grass"
26Pål AndrestuaAT 172558"Tom Totherhouse""Paal Next-Door"
27Soria Moria slottAT 40056"Soria Moria Castle"ibid. ; ;
28HerreperAT 545B42"Lord Peter""Sir Per" ; "Squire Per"
29Vesle Åse GåsepikeAT 870A59"Little Annie the Goose-Girl""Little Aase Goosegirl"
30Gutten og fandenAT 115853"The Lad and the Devil""The Boy and the Devil" ; "The Lad and the Devil" ; "The Young Fellow and the Devil"
31De syv foleneAT 47143"The Seven Foals"ibid.
32GiskeAT 135333"Goosey Grizzel""Gidske"
33De tolv villenderAT 4518"The Twelve Wild Ducks"ibid. ;
34MestertyvenAT 1525A-F35"The Master Thief"ibid.
35Høna tripper i bergetAT 3113"The Old Dame and her Hen""The Three Sisters Who Were Taken Into the Mountain"
36Risen som ikke hadde noe hjerte på segAT 3029"The Giant Who Had No Heart in His Body""About the Giant Troll Who Never Carried His Heart With Him" ; "The Giant who had no Heart" ; "Anent the Giant Who Did Not Have His Heart About Him"
37GrimsborkenAT 53140"Dapplegrim""Dappleband"
38Det har ingen nød med den som alle kvinnfolk er glad iAT 58036"The Best Wish""Nothing is Needed by the One That All Women Love"
39Askeladden som fikk prinsessen til å løgste segAT 8527"Boots Who Made the Princess Say, 'That's A Story'""Ash Lad, Who Got the Princess to Say He Was Lying" ; "The Ash Lad who made the Princess Say "You're a Liar" " ; "Ashiepattle who made the Princess tell the Truth at last"
40De tre bukkene BruseAT 122E37"The Three Billy-Goats Gruff""The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Who Were Supposed to Go Up to the Mountain Pasture to Fatten Up" ; "The Three Billy Goats who went up into the Hills to get Fat"
41Østenfor sol og vestenfor måneAT 4254"East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon"ibid. ; ;
42Høna som skulle til Dovre forat ikke allverden skulle forgåAT 20C49"The Cock and Hen That Went to the Dovrefell""The Hen Who Had to Go to Dovre Mountain, or Else the Whole World Would Perish"
43Mannen som skulle stelle hjemmeAT 140839"The Husband Who Was to Mind the House""The Man Who Had to Keep House" ; "The Man who was going to Mind the House"
44TommelitenAT 70051"Thumbikin""Tom Thumb"
45Håken BorkenskjeggAT 9006"Hacon Grizzlebeard""Haaken Speckled-Beard"
46MestermøAT 31311"The Mastermaid""Master Maiden" ; "Master Girl"
47Vel gjort og ille lønnetAT 15438"Well Done and Ill Paid""Well Done and Poorly Rewarded"
48Tro og UtroAT 6131"True and Untrue"ibid.
49Per, Pål og Espen AskeladdAT 57746"Boots and His Brothers""Per and Paal and Esben Ash Lad"
50Kvernen som står og maler på havsens bunnAT 5652"Why the Sea is Salt""The Mill That Keeps Grinding at the Bottom of the Sea" ; "The Mill that Grinds at the bottom of the Sea"
51Jomfruen på glassbergetAT 53013"The Princess on the Glass Hill""The Maiden on the Glass Mountain"
52SmørbukkAT 327C18"Buttercup""Butterball" ; "Smorbukk "
53Store-Per og Vesle-PerAT 153547"Big Peter and Little Peter""Big-Per and Little-Per"
54LurvehetteAT 71148"Tatterhood""Ragged-Cap"
55BuskebruraAT 40345"Bushy Bride""The Bushy Bride"
56Kjetta på DovreAT 116112"The Cat on the Dovrefjell""The Tabby-Cat on Dovre Mountain"
57Bonde VærskjeggAT 32541"Farmer Weathersky""Farmer Weather-Beard"
58Det blå båndetAT 59022"The Blue Belt""The Blue Twine"
59Den rettferdige firskillingAT 165162"The Honest Penny""The Honest Four-Skilling Coin" ; "The Four-Shilling Piece"
60Han far sjøl i stuaAT 168A66"Father Bruin in the Corner""The Old Man of the House"

Norske Folkeeventyr Ny Samling

New Collection. The NF# will be given contiguous from the original collection.
NF#Modern Norwegian TitleAT indexDa#English translated title Alternate translations
61Væren og grisen som skulle til skogs og bo for seg selvAT 130101"The Sheep and the Pig Who Set up House""The Ram and the Pig who went into the Woods to live by Themselves"
62Venner i liv og dødAT 47086"Friends in Life and Death"
63Gutten som skulle tjene tre år uten lønnAT 56088"Three Years without Wages""The Youth Who Was to Serve Three Years Without Pay"
64Kjerringa mot strømmenAT 1365AB94"Goody Gainst-the-stream""The Old Woman against the Stream"
65Den syvende far i husetAT 72687"The Father of the Family""The Seventh Father of the House" ; "The Seven Fathers in the House"
66Tre sitronerAT 40884"The Three Lemons"ibid.
67Kjæresten i skogenAT 95597"The Sweetheart in the Wood"
68Ikke kjørende og ikke ridendeAT 87595"How to Win a Prince""Not Driving and not Riding"
69Skipperen og Gamle-ErikAT 117993"The Skipper and Old Nick""The Skipper and Sir Urian"
70Gutten som gjorde seg til løve, falk og maurAT 30296"Boots and the Beasts""The Boy Who Became a Lion, a Falcon, and an Ant"
71TobakksguttenAT 61181"Master Tobacco"
72Gullslottet som hang i luftenAT 531102"The Golden Palace That Hung in the Air""The Golden Castle that Hung in the Air"
73Haren som hadde vært giftAT 9676"The Hare and the Heiress""The Hare who had been Married"
74Bjørnen og reven:N/AThe Bear and the Fox
74.1 Slipp granrot og ta i revefotAT 577"Slip Root, Catch Reynard's Foot"
74.2 De vedder om flesk og humlebolAT 775"Pork and Honey""The Bear and the Fox Who Made a Bet"
74.3 De skulle ha åker i sameieAT 103079"Bruin and Reynard Partners"
74.4 Mikkel vil smake hestekjøttAT 47A80"Reynard Wants to Taste Horse-Flesh"
75Bamse BrakarAT 11678"Bruin Goodfellow""Brave Old Bruin"
76Rødrev og AskeladdenAT 30099"Osborn Boots and Mr. Glibtongue"
77Gutten som ville fri til datter til mor i krokenAT 402104"Mother Roundabout's Daughter""The Youth Who Wanted to Win the Daughter of the Mother in the Corner"
78Dumme menn og troll til kjerringerAT 140690"Silly Men and Cunning Wives""Foolish Men and Scolding Wives"
79Askeladden og de gode hjelperneAT 513106"Boots and his Crew""The Ash Lad and the Good Helpers"
80Gutten som ville bli handelskarAT 1538100"This is the Lad who Sold the Pig"
81Hårslå, som aldri ville hjem gåAT 201598"How they Got Hairlock Home"
82KullbrennerenAT 164182"The Charcoal Burner"ibid.
83GullfuglenAT 550110"The Golden Bird "ibid.
84Den grønne ridderAT 432105"The Green Knight"
85Tyrihans som fikk kongsdatteren til å leAT 57191"Taper Tom""Taper Tom - Who Made the Princess Laugh" ; "Hans who made the Princess Laugh"
86Presten og klokkerenAT 92285"The Priest and the Clerk""The Parson and the Sexton" ; "The Parson and the Clerk"
87Gale-MattisAT 1696108"Silly Matt"
88Klokkeren i bygda vårAT 153789"Our Parish Clerk"
89Småguttene som traff trollene på HedalsskogenAT 30392"The Trolls in Hedale Wood""The Boys Who Met the Trolls in the Hedal Woods" ; "The Lads who Met the Trolls in the Hedale Wood"
90Kvitebjørn kong ValemonAT 425109"King Valemon, the White Bear""Valemon - The White Bear King"
91Skrinet med det rare iAT 225083"The Box with Something Pretty in It""The Box with the Funny Thing in it"
92Hjemmusa og fjellmusaAT 112107"The Town-mouse and the Fell-mouse""The House Mouse and the Country Mouse"
93God dag, mann! -- ØkseskaftAT 1968J68"Goodman Axehaft""'Good Day, Fellow!' 'Axe Handle!'"
94Hanen og revenAT 6167"Reynard and Chanticleer "
95Verden lønner ikke annerledesAT 15573"The Way of the World"
96Mumle GåseggAT 650A65"Grumblegizzard""The Greedy Youngster" ; "Murmur Goose-egg"
97Veslefrikk med felaAT 592103"Little Freddy With his Fiddle""Little Freddie and his Fiddle"
98Gjete kongens harerAT 57060"Osborn's Pipe""Ashiepattle and the King's Hares" : "The King's Hares"
99Krambugutten med gammelostlastenAT 50670"The Shopboy and His Cheese"
100FølgesvennenAT 507A69"The Companion""The Companion" ; "The Comrade"
101PeikAT 154271"Peik"ibid.
102Kjetta som var så fæl til å eteAT 202764"The Greedy Cat"The Cat Who Could Eat So Much
103Hanen som falt i bryggekaretAT 202263"The Death of Chanticleer"
104PannekakenAT 202574"The Pancake"ibid. ; "The Chronicle of the Pancake"
105Gutten med øldunkenAT 33272"Death and the Doctor"
106Fanden og futenAT 1186N/AN/A"The Devil and the Baliff"
107Stabbursnøkkelen i rokkehodetAT 1453N/AN/A"The Key in the Distaff"
108Tsju pus, vil du ned av bordet!AT 1456N/AN/A
109Sju år gammal grautAT 1462N/AN/A
110HerremannsbrudenAT 1440N/AN/A"The Squire's Bride"

Norske Huldre-Eventyr

Legend:
Hu#Modern Norwegian TitleYearBr#English translated title Alternate translations
Hu1Kvernsagn 184317"Legends of the Mill""The Haunted Mill" ; "Self Did It"
Hu2Ekebergkongen1838
Hu3Matthias skytters historier18383"Matthias the Hunter's Stories"
Hu4Berthe Tuppenhaugs fortellinger184313"Mother Bertha's Stories""The Troll Wedding"
Hu5En aftenstund i et proprietærkjøkken184529"An Evening in the Squire's Kitchen""The Troll-Wife"
Hu6Huldreætt1843
Hu7En halling med kvannerot1845
Hu8Lundeætten1845
Hu9En gammeldags juleaften18431"An Old-Fashioned Christmas Eve"
Hu10En natt i Nordmarken1845"The Neighbor Underground"
Hu11En aften ved Andelven1845"The Hat of the Huldres"
Hu12Graverens fortellinger1845"Following the Witch" and "The Witches's Sabbath"
Hu13Jutulen og Johannes Blessom184424"The Giant and Johannes Blessom""The Lord of the Hill and John Blessom" ; "The Jutul and Johannes Blessom"
Hu14Fra fjellet og seteren1845

Hu#Modern Norwegian TitleYearBr#English translated title Alternate translations
Hu15Høyfjellsbilleder: 1848
Hu15.11: En søndagskveld til seters "Ola Storbaekkjen"
Hu15.22: Rensdyrjakt ved Rondane 16"Peter Gynt"
Hu16Plankekjørerne 1848"Making the Devil Carry the Cat" and "The Cardplayers and the Devil"
Hu17En tiurleik i Holleia 18489"A Day with the Capercailzies"
Hu18En signekjerring 184832"The Witch"
Hu19En sommernatt på Krokskogen 184831A Summer Night in a Norwegian Forest
Hu20Tatere 1848
Hu21En aften i nabogården 1853
Hu22Fra Sognefjorden 1855
Hu23Til Haus
Hu23.1Skarvene fra Utrøst18496"The Cormorants of Udröst""The Isle of Udrost" ; "The Cormorants from Utröst"
Hu23.2Tuftefolket på Sandflesa 1851"Lucky Andrew" ; "The Tufte-Folk on Sandflesa"
Hu23.3Makrelldorg 185120"Mackerel Trolling""Storm Magic"
Hu23.4På høyden av Aleksandria 1852"Hexe Pfarrerin"

Other pieces

Tales not from any of the proceeding series that are usually included alongside them in later collections:
#Modern Norwegian TitleYearAT MotifEnglish translated title Alternate translations
*De tre kongsdøtre i berget det blå "The Three Princesses in the Mountain in the Blue"
*En prestehistorie
*Prinsessen som ingen kunne målbinde AT 853"The Princess who always had to have the Last Word "
*En vestlandsk Skovdal
*Fiskersønnene AT 303
*Grisen og levemåten hans AT 211"The Pig and his Way of Life"
*Gullfebla
*Jomfru Maria og svalen
*Julebesøket i prestegården
*Prestens mor
*Reve-enka
*Vårherre og St. Peder på vandring

Influence

The Soria Moria castle, which appeared in Dasent's translations of the tales, inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to use the name Moria for a fabulous subterranean complex in his Middle-earth stories.

Footnotes

Explanatory notes

Citations