When the Fire Goes Out

On Firy Tales, Mediation, and Possibilities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33112/millimala.16.1.4

Keywords:

folktales, fairy tales, Ævintýragrunnurinn, ATU 480

Abstract

The article sheds light on a database (Ævintýragrunnurinn) that was put together in order to facilitate research into and the comparison of Icelandic fairy tales. The database was originally a teaching project at university level and available in a few printed copies, but was finally merged with the already existing database on legends (Sagnagrunnur.com) in 2016. In 2022, both databases were transferred to Ismus.is, where their interface was changed, and the search options were increased (https://www.ismus.is/tjodfraedi/aevintyri/). The article demonstrates the possibilities that the database has to offer and its usefulness when it comes to researching Icelandic fairy tales. An example is given by the fairy tale type ATU 480 (The Kind and the Unkind Girls) which enjoyed considerable popularity in Iceland. Basically, this fairy tale tells of a farm girl who is sent to fetch fire. She arrives at a cave of a supernatural being, where she shows her good qualities and is richly rewarded. In the end, the variants of the given type are compared to the late medieval Illuga saga Gríðarfóstra, which falls under the same basic pattern.

Author Biography

  • Aðalheiður Guðmundsdóttir, University of Iceland - School of Humanities

    Aðalheiður Guðmundsdóttir (f. 1965) lauk doktorsprófi í íslenskum bókmenntum frá Háskóla Íslands árið 2002. Hún var dósent í þjóðfræði við Félagsvísindasvið Háskóla Íslands um árabil og gegnir nú starfi prófessors í íslenskum bókmenntum fyrri alda við Hugvísindasvið sama skóla.

Published

2025-03-27

Issue

Section

Peer-reviewed articles