Garth Schwer

Recent Writing

Kalevala

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The Kalevala

The Kalevala is the 19th-century compilation of Finnish and Karelian oral folklore, assembled by Elias Lönnrot. It serves as the National Epic of Finland and is one of the most significant primary sources for modern fantasy literature.

Core Narrative & Themes

Unlike the martial epics of the south (like the Iliad), the Kalevala focuses on creation, magic, and domestic tragedy rather than war and conquest.

  • The Power of the Word: Magic in the Kalevala is linguistic. To control a thing, one must know its true origin and sing it into submission.
  • The Sampo: The central conflict revolves around the forging and theft of the Sampo, a mysterious magical mill that grinds out salt, grain, and gold (infinite wealth). It is the ultimate “MacGuffin” of the North.
  • The Heroes:
    • Väinämöinen: The eternal sage and bard. He was born old and wields magic through song. (The primary inspiration for Gandalf).
    • Ilmarinen: The divine smith who forged the sky-dome and the Sampo.
    • Lemminkäinen: The reckless adventurer and lover.
    • Kullervo: The tragic, cursed anti-hero who unknowingly commits incest and eventually kills himself. (The blueprint for Tolkien’s Turin Turambar).

Influence on Fantasy

The Kalevala is the inspiration behind much of Middle-earth. J.R.R. Tolkien famously wrote, “I would that we had more of it left—something of the same sort that belonged to the English.”

  • Quenya: Tolkien’s High Elvish language is phonetically and grammatically based on Finnish.
  • Trudvang: The RPG setting Trudvang Chronicles explicitly cites the Kalevala as a tonal inspiration, particularly in its depiction of nature as a conscious, often hostile entity, and the melancholy demeanor of its Elves.

I wonder…

  • How can we adapt the “Magic of Song” (singing enemies into swamps) into a concrete RPG mechanic for Bards?
  • Does the Sampo represent technology, or is it a metaphor for the loss of a “Golden Age”?
  • How does the Kalevala’s lack of “Kings and Castles” change the way we design fantasy maps? (Focusing on homesteads and wilds rather than political borders).

References

  • Lönnrot, E. (1849). The Kalevala. (Oxford World’s Classics edition recommended).
  • Carpenter, H. (1977). J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography.
  • RiotMinds. (n.d.). Trudvang Chronicles (Core Rulebook mentions Kalevala as inspiration).

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