Per Gynt

Lore & Background

Per Gynt is a figure from Norwegian folklore, with his home traditionally claimed to be the Nordre Hågå farm in Sødorp parish, now part of Nord-Fron Municipality in Innlandet county. The tales are set in the historic district of Gudbrandsdal and encompass themes of identity, relationships, and personal stories from a lonely hunter. The folk tale recounts the eponymous Per Gynt's various exploits, including rescuing three dairy-maids from trolls and confronting the Bøyg, a troll that takes the form of a gigantic serpent and hinders travelers. Per Gynt is unable to defeat the Bøyg and instead goes around it.

Reader's Guide

The fairy-tale of Per Gynt was recorded by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen in his work Norwegian Folktales (Norske Huldre-Eventyr og Folkesagn), first published in 1845. Asbjørnsen included the stories about Per Gynt in the section 'Reindeer Hunting at Rondane' (Rensdyrjakt ved Rondane). The folktale's significance extends beyond its original oral tradition, as it served as the inspiration for Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, published in 1867. Ibsen added considerable material, such as Per Gynt traveling to Africa, crossing the Sahara, and meeting a Bedouin princess—themes far beyond the original fairy-tale. The play appeared on stage in 1876, accompanied by incidental music by composer Edvard Grieg, who later prepared the Peer Gynt Suites. The original folklore thus remains a key part of Norwegian cultural heritage and a source for one of the most famous works of Scandinavian drama.

Did You Know?

• Per Gynt rescues three dairy-maids from trolls and confronts the Bøyg, a serpent-like troll, but is unable to defeat it and instead goes around it.
• Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, inspired by the folktale, was published in 1867.