Kalevala, Rune III summary
Rune III of 52 · 15 min to read the rune
In Rune III, Youkahainen challenges Wainamoinen, who defeats his boasts with magic song and traps him in quicksand until he promises his sister Aino as a bride. The bargain saves Youkahainen but brings sorrow to Aino, while their mother welcomes the proposed marriage and dismisses her daughter's grief.
What happens
- Envious of Wainamoinen's fame, Youkahainen ignores his parents' warnings and drives to challenge him.
- Their sleighs collide, and Youkahainen demands a contest of knowledge, but Wainamoinen rejects his claims about creation.
- After Youkahainen threatens him, Wainamoinen sings his belongings into other forms and sinks him into quicksand.
- Wainamoinen refuses offers of wealth and possessions but releases Youkahainen when he promises Aino as a bride.
- Youkahainen returns home grieving over his promise, but his mother celebrates the match.
- Aino weeps over losing her youth and childhood home, while her mother tells her to stop grieving.
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In this rune
Quick check
Which offer persuades Wainamoinen to release Youkahainen?
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