The story of Kullervo

Resource Information

The work The story of Kullervo represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Oklahoma Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

The story of Kullervo

Statement of responsibility

J.R.R. Tolkien ; edited by Verlyn Flieger

Title variation

Kullervo

Creator

• Tolkien, J. R. R., (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973

Contributor

• Flieger, Verlyn, 1933-

Subject

• Magic in literature
• Epic poetry, Finnish -- History and criticism
• Tragic, The, in literature
• Twins -- Fiction
• Heroes in literature
• Magicians -- Fiction
• Slavery -- Fiction
• Fate and fatalism -- Fiction
• Revenge -- Fiction
• Magic -- Fiction
• Brothers and sisters -- Fiction
• Young men -- Fiction
• Kalevala -- Adaptations
• Finland -- Fiction
• Epic poetry, Finnish -- Adaptations
• Revenge in literature
• Wizards -- Fiction
• Fate and fatalism in literature

Genre

• Adaptations
• Fiction

Language

eng

Summary

• "The first publication of a previously unknown work of fantasy by J.R.R. Tolkien. Kullervo, son of Kalervo, is perhaps the darkest and most tragic of all J.R.R. Tolkien's characters. "Hapless Kullervo," as Tolkien called him, is a luckless orphan boy with supernatural powers and a tragic destiny. Brought up in the homestead of the dark magician Untamo, who killed his father, kidnapped his mother, and tried three times to kill him when he was still a boy, Kullervo is alone save for the love of his twin sister, Wanona, and the magical powers of the black dog Musti, who guards him. When Kullervo is sold into slavery he swears revenge on the magician, but he will learn that even at the point of vengeance there is no escape from the cruelest of fates. Tolkien himself said that The Story of Kullervo was "the germ of my attempt to write legends of my own," and was "a major matter in the legends of the First Age." Tolkien's Kullervo is the clear ancestor of Turin Turambar, tragic incestuous hero of The Silmarillion. Published here for the first time with the author's drafts, notes, and lecture essays on its source work, the Kalevala, The Story of Kullervo is a foundation stone in the structure of Tolkien's invented world. "--
• Brought up in the homestead of the dark magician Untamo, who killed his father, kidnapped his mother, and tried three times to kill him when he was still a boy, Kullervo is alone save for the love of his twin sister, Wanona, and the magical powers of the black dog Musti, who guards him. When Kullervo is sold into slavery he swears revenge on the magician, but he will learn that even at the point of vengeance there is no escape from the cruelest of fates. The story-- only forty pages long-- is followed by essays and commentaries on Tolkien's work, and on the source material

Member of

• Kalevala

Assigning source

Provided by publisher

Cataloging source

DLC

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

no index present

LC call number

PR6039.O32

LC item number

S86 2016

Literary form

mixed forms