Viking Magazine - Sep/Oct 2023 - 21

Concepts from the heroic folktales of the Ash Lad have
been represented on the big screen as well, drawing inspiration
from his bold faceoffs with trolls, his affi nity for
winning the favor of kings and princesses and his admirable
underdog-style heroism. The Norwegian fi lm " Ash Lad:
In the Hall of the Mountain King, " was released in 2017,
shortly followed by the sequel " Ash Lad: In Search of the
Golden Castle, " both fi lms successful at bringing Norway's
long-beloved national hero to life.
Although it can't be proven there is any direct connection,
Ash Lad's character makeup might also remind you
of another beloved fairytale character-Cinderella.
Regarded as the lowest branch on his family's tree, if you
will, Ash Lad is ruthlessly mistreated and underestimated
by his two older brothers, who are not at all unlike
Cinderella's two evil stepsisters. Each character eventually
emerges victorious over these antagonists in their respective
stories, due to their pure intentions, hopeful demeanors
and honorable characters.
THE TALE OF THE UNDERDOG
Asbjørnsen and Moe, who were widely ridiculed and
deemed childish by their peers while collecting and transcribing
these Norwegian folktales, are now regarded as
national heroes. The tales they brought to life went from
broken oral campfi re legends to written literature that
has inspired generations of writers, poets, musicians and
fi lmmakers, only further informing the shared sense of
cultural understanding among Norwegians.
Theirs is a story not all that different from one of their
very own characters, the Ash Lad, a story that is, in fact,
one of the most commonly recurring in Norwegian
folklore-the tale of " the underdog, " or the unlikely hero.
The repetition of the underdog theme points to many of
the country's inherent values, whether they be the notion
of inner strength, the perils of judging by appearance, the
value of intellect and wit and, especially, the drive to stay
hopeful in hopeless situations.
@sonsofnorway
Norway, a country that fought for centuries to gain its
full independence, is seemingly an underdog in its own
story. And this underestimated heroism only continued
after 1905, demonstrated by the nation's massive contribution
to the Allied victory in World War II (read more on
page 10.) Almost paralleling its national folklore, Norway's
quiet strength and persistence across history has consistently
brought victory and good fortune.
Whether it be through this underdog-style heroism, the
magical qualities of Norway's breathtaking nature, or the
long-standing connection Norwegians hold to their sacred
landscapes, Norwegian folklore truly does stand as a symbol
for its country of origin, both maintaining connections
across its long lineage and spreading its beautiful (and
sometimes frightening) tales to other corners of the world.
And so, talking winds, sea kings, white bear princes and,
of course, evil trolls, will continue to live on in the minds
and hearts of Norwegians for generations to come. And
until proven otherwise, there is no reason not to imagine
they truly exist.
Sep/Oct 2023
21
Viking Magazine - Sep/Oct 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - Sep/Oct 2023
