The Skogrså of Folklore and Strindberg's The Crown Bride

Authors

Larry E. Syndergaard, Western Michigan University

Abstract

In lieu of an abstract, the first paragraph of the essay follows:

Strindberg seems to have a folklore element at every turn in The Crown Bride (Kronbruden): herders' calls and songs, the wild hunt, riddles, the castle submerged. in a lake, curses, the child-haunt, horn-calls, the despairing riverman (forskarl or näck), the bridal crown itself--even a ballad-like interrogation at the beginning of the play. But the most surprising and perplexing folk element appears when the midwife turns her back. Suddenly we are aware that Strindberg has given us a hybrid: not just an old crone, but the fox-tailed skogsrå or wood-nymph as well. This is the erotically tempting but later derisive "courtesan of the forest" who, when she wears no animal tail, is foul and hollow behind.¹