Kalevipoeg
Sign in to saveright|thumb|The 1935 edition of Kalevipoeg, cover illustration by Kristjan Raud) right|thumb|Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (by [[Johann Köler, 1864)]] Kalevipoeg (, '''''Kalev's Son''''') is a 19th-century epic poem by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald which has since been considered the Estonian national epic.
Article
14 sectionsContents
- Origins
- History
- Characters
- Synopsis
- Structure
- Poetic structure
- Contents and synopses
- Comparative mythology
- Influences
- Editions
- Further reading
- See also
- References
- External links
right|thumb|The 1935 edition of Kalevipoeg, cover illustration by Kristjan Raud) right|thumb|Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (by [[Johann Köler, 1864)]] Kalevipoeg (, '''''Kalev's Son''') is a 19th-century epic poem by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald which has since been considered the Estonian national epic.
== Origins == In pre-Christian ancient Estonia there existed an oral tradition, known as runic song, of legends explaining the origin of the world. Within old Estonian folklore, a benevolent giant by the name of Kalev, Kalevine, Kalevipoiss, Kalevine poisikine and Kalevin poika appears, battling with other giants or enemies of the nation. Early written references are found in Leyen Spiegel in 1641 as "Kalliweh", and in a list of deities published by Mikael Agricola in 1551 as "Caleuanpoiat".