WR115: The Kalevala

• Rune 25: Ilmarinen and his Bride arrive in the Kalevala (home of the heroes) to a huge welcoming party. The purpose of this section is to remind everyone of Ilmarinen’s seven-year saga to land a wife.

• Runes 26-27: Lemminkainen finds out that Ilmarinen has already gotten married and take noff, so Lemminkainen decides to go to Pohyola (the north lands) to stir up trouble amongst the people still partying; his mother warns him not to and consequences are had. This section is letting the reader know what kind of special dip wad Lemminkainen is and how being stupid doesn’t mean being weak or powerless. 
• What are Lemminkainen’s other names? Why does he have so many? Support and explain.
• Is Lemminkainen going to Kalevala or Pohyola? Why is he going? How do you know?
• What are the warnings (there are six-ish) that lemminkainen’s mother gives him? Why does he ignore her? Support and explain.
• Is Lemminkainen expecting to have a party or a battle? Support and explain.
• How does Lemminkainen get past the eagle? The ravine? The bear and the wolf? Support and explain.
• What’s the deal with the demon-serpents? How does Lemminkainen get past them? Support and explain.
• What is the singular purpose of Lemminkainen’s speech when he arrives in Pohyola? Support and explain.
• Why does Lemminkainen get upset? What does The Hostess of Sariola (first town of Pohyola) do? Support and explain.
• Why does Lemminkainen curse everyone at the part? Support and explain.
• Who does Lemminkainen fight with? How do you know? Support and explain.
• How does Lemminkainen win? Support and explain.
• What’s next for Lemminkainen? Support and explain.
• What does Sariola’s Hostess do after her husband’s death? Support and explain.

• Rune 28-30: Lemminkainen faces enemies from Pohyola and at home ; his mother sends him to the Isle of Refuge, but he must flee after pissing of the local men—at home things are worse: home is gone, mom is hiding out, and he can’t even get revenge thanks to Louhi freezing the seas (and boats). This message seems pretty clear: seed the wind, reap the whirlwind.
• After not listening to his mother and starting a war, why does Lemminkainen now take her advice?
• Where does he go? How does it work out for him?
• Why does Lemminkainen leave the Isle of Refeuge? 
• What does he find when he returns home? Who is actually to blame?
• Who stops Lemminkainen’s revenge trip? Why and how?
• Why does this section end on a happy note? Is it deserved?

• Rune 39-43 of The Kalevala and answer the following questions, and come up with five of their own questions (with answers) or write a summary (what was it about? what was the message?) for each Rune.
• What is each section about? What is the message of each section?
• How do Lemminkainen, Vainamoinen, and Ilmarinen come together? Whose idea is it for them to steal the Sampo? Why steal the Sampo?
• What does the Sampo do for the people who own it? What will its loss do to the Northlands?
• What magical properties would a dead fish (Pike) give Vianamoinen’s instrument? What does it do? Is its loss to the ocean a real loss? Explain.
• What are Louhi’s four most interesting “obstacles” to the brothers’ escape with the Sampo?

• What message does this epic ultimately send when Finland wins and Louhi’s people lose everything? Explain.