Norske Folkeeventyr

Inspired by the example of the Grimm brothers, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe collected Norwegian fairy and folk tales. They published the collection as Norske Folkeeventyr (Norwegian Folk Tales 1845-52).

In a joint letter from 1844, they describe how “an early acquaintance with your honorable Kinder- und Hausmärchen, and an intimate knowledge of the lore and life of the people in our homeland, gave us the idea … of preparing a collection of Norwegian folk tales.”

Norske FolkeeventyrWomen apparently tended to narrate deep, mystical, and eerie themes, while men related humorous, sometimes bawdy stories.

The best known characters are trolls and Askeladden, the Ash-lad.

The collection was part of the project of European Romanticism to investigate and document the unique cultural heritage of nations.

It was (and remains) extremely popular in Norway.

Trolls, and the Norwegian movie, Troll Hunter (2011)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLEo7H9tqSM

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

East of the Sun and West of the Moon: Old Tales from the North. Kay Nielsen, illustrator. New York: George H. Doran, 1914.

“East of the Sun and West of the Moon”

(Aarne-Thompson type 425A, the search for the lost husband).

Many elements of the tale are very similar to the Hellenistic romance of Eros and Psyche

East of the Sunand West of the Moon

Illustration by P.J. Lynch

“Snow Queen & Polar Bear,” cover illustration of " East of the Sun and West of the Moon" by Peter Asbjorsen and illustrated by Kay Nielsen.

Illustration by Amanda Clark

The Lass and the Ice Bear

Kay Nielsen, illustrator.

East of the Sunand West of the Moon

Illustration by Rosie Lauren Smith

From The Fairy Tale Cookbook, Illustrated by Debby L. Carter

Illustration by P. J. Lynch

Images by Kay Nielsen, illustrator.

East of the Sunand West of the Moon

Kay Nielsen, illustrator.

And the next morning, the castle was gone and the lass was left alone in the forest wearing the rags she had arrived with.

Kay Nielsen, illustrator.

East of the Sunand West of the Moon

Edna Cooke, Illustrator.

Illustrated by P. J. Lynch

The North Wind blows her to the Castle of the Troll Queen

Kay Nielsen, illustrator.

East of the Sunand West of the Moon

Illustration by Meghan Boody

At the Castle of the Troll Queen

Illustrations by Mercer Mayer

Kay Nielsen, illustrator.

East of the Sunand West of the Moon

Recent novels based on “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”

More recent novels based on a girl and her polar bear.

Film The Golden Compass,From Phillip Pullman’s trilogy, His Dark Materials (1995-2000)

Trailer for The Subtle Knife: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iTryZRjiXE