Eskimo Folk-Tales

In Short

This volume serves as a vital repository of Greenlandic oral history, featuring stories gathered directly from native storytellers by the explorer Knud Rasmussen. The collection encompasses myths, legends, and cautionary tales that explain the origins of natural phenomena, the complexities of human relationships, and the persistent presence of the supernatural in daily life. Rich in cultural texture and primal power, these narratives have endured because they capture the essence of a traditional way of life, reflecting the resilience, humor, and profound connection to the environment that defined the Eskimo experience.

The Story

The stories within this collection traverse the full breadth of the human—and superhuman—experience. Many narratives focus on the struggles of survival and the intricate social codes of remote communities. In "The Two Friends Who Set Off to Travel Round the World," two men embark on a lifelong journey to map the globe, only to return as aged men, their drinking horns worn down to nothing by the sheer vastness of the world they traversed. Other tales, such as the account of the strong man Qujâvârssuk, detail the rise of legendary hunters who, through wizardry or brute strength, provide for their people while navigating the dangerous, shifting politics of neighboring settlements.

The supernatural is never a distant abstraction here; it is an active, often physical force. Characters frequently interact with "inland-dwellers," ghosts, and malevolent trolls. In the story of the lame boy Qalagánguasê, the lonely child finds companionship with a group of ghosts who play and laugh in his house, eventually leading him to abandon the world of the living for the comfort of the spirit realm. This fluidity between states of being is a constant; the story of the Moon Man and the "Obstinate One" demonstrates how even celestial figures are subject to earthly squabbles, as the Moon Man threatens the end of tides and daylight to escape a man who refuses to yield.

Vengeance and retribution form the backbone of many arcs. When the natural order is disrupted—whether by an insult, a forbidden act, or an act of violence—the consequences are often fatal. Yet, these stories also offer moments of dark, wry humor. The tales of the raven, once a bird that could speak in riddles and contradictions, serve as playful explanations for the world's peculiarities. Similarly, the exploits of Qasiagssaq, a compulsive liar who constantly invents grand feats to gain status, provide a humanizing, albeit frustrating, portrait of social ambition.

The collection concludes with accounts of wizards who, like Tungujuluk and Saunikoq, wield transformative powers to settle petty jealousies, or like Atdlarneq, find themselves tested by supernatural hosts who demand impossible feats of gluttony. These stories do not always end in moral triumph; they often end in survival, or in the stark reality of loss. Whether it is a mother mourning her lost son or a hunter seeking to avenge a slight, the characters are driven by profound, recognizable emotions, set against a landscape where the stakes are always life and death.

How It Unfolds

The cosmic beginning The opening tales establish the scale of the world and the origins of its people, emphasizing that humanity has grown fewer and more frail over time. These initial narratives frame the subsequent legends as echoes of a more robust, ancient era.

The test of the hunter Stories transition into the practical and mystical challenges faced by individuals, focusing on the acquisition of food and the necessity of navigating the spirit world. Wizards and strong men emerge as central figures, balancing the needs of their kin with the dangers of the supernatural.

The intrusion of the spirit The middle section explores the porous border between the living and the dead, featuring encounters with ghosts, trolls, and shapeshifters. Characters find themselves drawn into the underworld or forced to contend with spirits who demand respect or offer forbidden knowledge.

The triumph of the trickster The narrative arc shifts to focus on human fallibility and the social dynamics of small villages, highlighting characters who lie, boast, or defy taboos. These stories examine the social cost of arrogance and the way communities react to those who disrupt the established order.

The final reckoning The collection closes with stories of ultimate transformation and the resolution of long-standing grudges between powerful individuals. These final pieces underscore the permanence of death and the way folklore provides a framework for understanding the inexplicable end of life.

The People

The characters are defined by their appetites and their resilience. Qujâvârssuk is a paragon of the provider—a strong man whose ability to hunt never fails, making him the center of community stability and the target of envy. In contrast, Qasiagssaq serves as the quintessential anti-hero; his life is a series of elaborate lies designed to mask his insignificance, and he remains largely unchanged by the shame his actions bring upon his wife.

The Obstinate One represents the dangers of unyielding pride. His refusal to back down, even when confronted by the Moon Man, reveals a man so caught up in his own will that he threatens the very cycles of nature. Qalagánguasê, the lame boy, serves as a poignant figure of isolation. His transition from a lonely child to a member of the ghost community highlights the way these stories offer agency and belonging to those marginalized by the physical demands of their harsh environment. Finally, Tungujuluk and Saunikoq act as mirrors to one another; their rivalry, fueled by jealousy and expressed through shape-shifting, shows how even the most gifted individuals can be consumed by petty, mortal concerns.

In Its Own Voice

"The two men who were setting out had each newly taken a wife, and had as yet no children."

This introduction to the travelers highlights the humble, domestic beginnings of their epic journey around the world.

"The raven began, and painted the other black, with a nice white pattern showing between."

This line captures the mythic, almost domestic tone used to explain the origins of natural colors and animal traits.

"He had but just sat down, when he began to sniff, and said: 'Hum! There is a smell of people here.'"

This moment emphasizes the terrifying, predatory perspective of the supernatural beings encountered by mortal travelers in the underworld.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this collection is an investigation into the concept of balance. The narratives suggest that the world is a dangerous, limited space where every action—be it killing a seal, lying to a neighbor, or violating a taboo—has a direct, often immediate consequence. The stories interrogate the boundaries between civilization and wilderness, and between the living and the dead, suggesting that survival depends on adhering to complex social and spiritual laws. There is an underlying tension between the individual’s desire for power or autonomy and the communal need for order. Ultimately, the book asks how a people can maintain their humanity in an environment that is indifferent to their suffering, finding the answer in the preservation of shared stories that define their identity.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the austere beauty of folklore and the raw, unvarnished nature of oral tradition will find much to admire here. There is a bracing quality to these tales; they do not coddle the reader with easy morals or sentimental resolutions. Instead, they present a world where the magical and the mundane are inextricably linked. For those interested in Arctic history or the power of myth, these stories offer an invaluable window into a worldview where nature is a living, breathing, and often vengeful participant.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the starkness of the content. The attitudes reflected in the text are those of a different time and a remote culture, occasionally featuring violence and a casual brutality that might be jarring. The editing by W. Worster aims for clarity, yet the archaic structure of the oral tales remains, which can make the progression feel repetitive or disjointed to those accustomed to Western narrative conventions. If you can move past these initial hurdles, you will find a book that is profoundly grounding. It stays with you because it speaks to the oldest human impulses: the fear of the dark, the joy of a successful hunt, and the desperate need to make sense of a world that is far larger, and stranger, than we often care to admit.