FF Network 21 [2001]: 2–7)

NETWORK FORFF THE FFOLKLOREF FELLOWS No. 34 June 2008 In this issue: ANN A -LEEN A SIIKala Kaarle Krohn’s Way 2 ANN A -LEEN A SIIKala Mythic Discourses: Questions of Finno-Ugric Studies of Myth 3–13, 16 Recent Publications of the Finnish Literature Society 14–15 HA NNE PICO LA R S EN & LIZETTE GR A DÉN Imagined Nordic Spaces 17–18 Reviews by HA NNE PICO LA R S EN TIMORT H Y R. TA N gh ER L INI MA RJUT HUU S KONEN KA R L REIC hl 19–27 A New Volume in the FF Communications 28 Publisher: The Folklore Fellows Kaarle Krohn (1863–1933), Professor of Folkloristics in the Univer- by courtesy of sity of Helsinki, was a founding member of the Finnish Academy of the Fin nish Academy of Science and Letters which celebrates its centenary this year. Plans for Science and Letters the international network of Folklore Fellows were launched already in 1907 and in 1910 it was introduced to the wider circle of international scholars in Folklore Fellows’ Communications No. 4. Photo by courtesy of the Finnish Literature Society (SKS KIA). www.folklorefellows.fi ISSN 0789-0249 Kaarle Krohn’s Way by Anna-Leena Siikala Folklore Fellows Network, Chair innish folkloristics is to celebrate a third centen- proper work done at home. I don’t have any desire Fary. Kaarle Krohn was named in 1888 as docent for foreign climes, and only patriotic duty can and in Finnish and comparative folk poetry in Helsinki may induce me.’ University, in 1898 as supernumerary professor and Kaarle Krohn was a much-loved professor, of in 1908 as full professor. Comparing these two of- whose good will, even naivety, many anecdotes ficial titles, Krohn observed: ‘A supernumerary were told. As an administrator he was not, in Matti professor does not do anything official, and an of- Kuusi’s recollection, much regarded. Now, in hind- ficial professor does not do anything of a supernu- sight, the situation appears somewhat different. merary nature.’ ‘Official’ pointed to teaching and Krohn was the president of the Finnish Literature bur eaucracy, ‘supernumerary’ on the other hand Society, and was able to assemble a colourful group to re search. Kaarle Krohn was well known for con- made up of researchers and enthusiasts. He also be- centrating on his own research above all else. Yet longed as a founding member to the Finnish Acad- many dissertations were written for him during this emy of Science and Letters, which celebrates its cen- period —21, in fact. He did not view these as need- tenary this year. The European academies’ fashion ing supervision. For he had developed a method, the for broadly encompassing all fields of study was geographical-historical research method, by means also followed in Finland. Thanks to Krohn the Finn- of which in his estimation ‘any school teacher is in a ish Academy of Science and Letters, already in its position to write a dissertation’. early existence paying more than aver age attention He inherited his methodical thinking from his to folkloristics, set in motion in 1910 the publication father, Julius Krohn, professor of Finnish language of the Folklore Fellows’ Communications series. and literature, who was also a well-known poet. Although Krohn set off hesitantly for the first in- As a scholar of mythology Julius Krohn espoused ternational conference, he later strove to reach out comparative research. He rejected the Kale vala as to an international academic public. Almost all of a source for epic research and saw that a folklor- his most important works were published both in istics must be based on an examination of poems the local languages, Finnish and Swedish, and in gathered from the mouth of the people. Research the language read internationally, at that time Ger- was to consist of a systematic comparison of po- man. The juncture of national and international etic variants. Julius Krohn drowned on a voyage has characterised Finnish folkloristics ever since in the bay of Viipuri in 1888, and his son Kaarle Krohn’s time. took up the baton to continue his work. Kaarle As a teacher, Krohn broadened the research field Krohn’s scientific heritage is part of the history of folkloristics. As topics for dissertations he gave of international folkloristics. He acquired an en- magic, folktales, riddles, minority folklore and so thusiasm for collaborative work crossing na - forth, while himself remaining a scholar of Kalevala- tion al boundaries at the Paris conference of 1889. metre poetry. The research field of folkloristics is to- When he was urged to attend the conference as the day very wide. It stretches from the observation of delegate for Finnish folkloristics, he had doubts modern culture to new interpretations of past ways whether the journey made sense. ‘The status of Fin- of life. Kalevala-metre poetry has nonetheless contin- land in this scientific field is that of a great power, ued to cast its spell on new young folklorists from and a gathering may always produce new ideas for one generation to another. Their methods are not the organisation of the collecting of Finnish folk those of Krohn, but a strong devotion to research poet ry. On the other hand I could get a lot more continues Kaarle Krohn’s way of doing things. ■ - 2 - Mythic Discourses: Questions of Finno-Ugric Studies of Myth by Anna-Leena Siikala, Professor Emerita of Folklore Studies University of Helsinki n this article I consider mythic traditions of the over little willow sprout, which you yourself were eating– IFinno-Ugric peoples, especially of the Siberian behold, there you fell down.» Mansi and Khanty, and the possibilities of research The hind says to the elk bull: «I, having got seven snow-running elk calves of second into them. If we investigate mythic corpuses of half-year age, small groups, and whole narratives and songs bear- having got these seven snow-running two-years-old elk ing the characteristic signs of myth, instead of in- hind calves, dividual myths, we shall better understand the na- how can I so? ture of myths and the reasons for their longevity. But, fine elk bull, fine elk bull, what if you will be killed? The article is based both on field work in 1991–2006 Is it not you who will be killed?!» among the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia and on * textual collections of folk-poetry material collected They spent the night; now the day began to break in the morning. in the nineteenth century. As the sun already rose; at that time, now, the weather got windy, Myths Written on the Heavens the weather turned to be snowy. The elk bull runs alone out of his land. The Khanty and their closely related neighbours From his running place he looks back: the Mansi are among the small peoples of Siberia, There a bloody-handed son of Moś man living to the east of the Urals along the great River just sneaks up. Ob and its tributaries. The Khanty and Mansi, who The elk hind the small twig sprouts grown this summer, the small willow sprouts grown this summer lived on fishing, hunting and reindeer-husbandry, stands eating. have been objects of interest for linguistic and folk- That bloody-handed son of Moś man poetry research since the mid-nineteenth century. then an eagle-feather feathered pointed arrow In 1888 the Hungarian linguist Bernát Munkácsi set on the curved bow’s bend he put, out to research the Mansi language in Siberia. He and he shot it. gathered a broad collection of folk poetry, includ- from the other side of that elk hind’s body ing the following song depicting the hunting of the now the blood-red stalk broke out. Over the little twig sprouts, which she herself was eating , elk. Anna Widmer and Vladimir Napolskikh have there she fell, translated the poem into English and German for over the little willow sprouts, which she herself was Mansi Mythology (Gemuyev et al. 2008) along with eating, an interpretation. there she fell. * Song of the Elk Star Those seven snow-running two-years-old elk hind calves, those seven snow-running elk calves of second half- Fine elk bull, fine elk bull year age, went up to his elk hind. now run together with their elk bull-father. «Fine elk hind, fine elk hind, They put one of their forelegs – this night I dreamt with a bad dream.» the birchwood land is left behind; – «What bad dream did you dream?» they put one of their legs – – «As I was dreaming the pinery land is left behind. a snow-stormy day arose, That bloody-handed son of Moś man, a wind-stormy day arose. now he skis forward. At the time of rising sun, I look: One his leg on one side he pulls – behold! A bloody-handed son of Moś man the birchwood land is left behind; is stealing up. One his leg on the other side he pulls – Then an eagle-feather feathered pointed arrow the pinery land is left behind. was shot on you, The spade-end of his birchen snow-stick just as if a blood-red stalk thrust up as he sets there from the other side of your body. a crucian carp lake appears, Over little twig sprout, which you yourself were eating, an an’s’er-fish lake appears. - 3 - On some place, as the elks run, to the sacral sea glittering at the end of the world the elk-father to the running behind, snow-running he came down.

Load more