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The Kalevala: A Journey Through Finnish Mythology and Ezra Pound's Poetic Legacy

Clay Powell

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The Kalevala

by Ezra Pound

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1986 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	444 pages
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In the annals of world literature, few works have captured the essence of a nation's mythology and its enduring impact on a writer's creative vision as profoundly as The Kalevala. This epic poem, a masterpiece of Finnish folklore, has served as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for poets, writers, and artists around the globe, including the towering figure of American modernist Ezra Pound.

The Kalevala: A Tapestry of Finnish Mythology

Elias Lönnrot, The Compiler Of The Kalevala The Kalevala Ezra Pound

The Kalevala emerged from the depths of Finland's oral tradition, a vibrant collection of songs, tales, and legends passed down through generations. In the 19th century, Elias Lönnrot, a Finnish physician and folklorist, embarked on an ambitious mission to compile and edit these fragments into a cohesive epic. The result was the seminal work known as The Kalevala, published in 1835.

The Kalevala unfolds as a grand narrative that encompasses themes of creation, heroism, love, and loss. It introduces a vibrant cast of characters, including the enigmatic Väinämöinen, the wise and enigmatic bard; Ilmarinen, the blacksmith of the gods; and Louhi, the formidable mistress of Pohjola, the land of darkness.

Ezra Pound's Encounter with The Kalevala

Ezra Pound, The Modernist Poet Inspired By The Kalevala The Kalevala Ezra Pound

Ezra Pound's encounter with The Kalevala proved to be a pivotal moment in his literary career. Introduced to the epic by his friend, the Finnish poet H.D., Pound was captivated by its raw energy, its vibrant characters, and its profound exploration of universal human themes.

Pound began to incorporate elements of The Kalevala into his own modernist masterpiece, The Cantos. This sprawling poetic work, composed over decades, became a testament to Pound's eclectic range of influences and his ongoing fascination with mythology, history, and culture.

The Kalevala's Influence on The Cantos

The influence of The Kalevala on The Cantos is evident on multiple levels. Pound borrowed characters, motifs, and themes from the Finnish epic, weaving them into the intricate tapestry of his own verse.

Väinämöinen, the wise and enigmatic bard of The Kalevala, finds his counterpart in Pound's Odysseus, the wandering hero of The Odyssey. Ilmarinen's forging of the Sampo, a magical mill that brings prosperity, becomes an allegory for the creative process and the transformative power of art in The Cantos.

Beyond these specific borrowings, The Kalevala's mythological framework and its exploration of timeless human experiences resonated deeply with Pound. Its themes of creation, destruction, and rebirth became central to the narrative arc of The Cantos, shaping its fragmented structure and its preoccupation with the cyclical nature of history.

The Kalevala stands as a testament to the enduring power of mythology to inspire and shape artistic expression. Ezra Pound's engagement with the Finnish epic demonstrates how the traditions and stories of one culture can transcend boundaries and become a source of profound creative inspiration.

Through his appropriation of The Kalevala, Pound created a work that is both a celebration of cultural heritage and a testament to the transformative power of poetry. The Cantos remains a towering achievement of modernist literature, a work that continues to captivate readers with its complexity, its mythological depth, and its enduring relevance.

The Kalevala

by Ezra Pound

4.4 out of 5