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Askeladden
Ashlad (Norwegian "Askeladden" or "Oskeladden", full name "Esben Askelad" or "Espen Askeladd" or "Espen Oskeladd") is a main character in several tales collected in Asbjørnsen and Moe's Norwegian Folktales.
The character starts out being regarded as an incapable underachiever, but eventually proves himself by overcoming some prodigious deed, succeeding where all others have failed.
The character's name appeared as Boots in Dasent's 19th-century English translations.
The name Askeladden (meaning 'ash-lad') or Askeladd is the standard form which Asbjørnsen and Moe eventually settled for. However, the storytellers used this alongside other variant names such as Askefis, sometimes interchangeably within the same tale.
The most frequently recorded original name was Oskefisen or Askefis, glossed as a person who blows on the coal to stoke the fire. The latter word is attested since the 15th century, in proverbs. This would make sense, as the job of blowing on the embers was often assigned to the person of the household who was considered the least fit for other, more demanding chores – typically a fragile grandmother or a small child.
But because the editors felt Askefis to be too rustic, they favoured the name Askeladden (or altered it to Askepot), which seemed more refined. This adulteration was derided by P. A. Munch as overly prim and lacking courage. In Asbjørnsens's first edition (1843), the name appears as Askepot, which in Norway is commonly associated with Cinderella. The name was changed to Askeladden in the second edition, but strangely enough, in the first tale ("About Askeladden who Stole from the Troll"), the name Askepot was still retained in the narrative itself.
The form Esben Askepot was later changed to Esben Askelad in the second edition by Asbjørnsen and Moe, then later to Espen Askeladd by Moltke Moe
Askelad or Askeladd (without the definite -en suffix) are Danized, or Dano-Norwegian forms. The Norwegian form Oske-ladd is composed of oske 'ash' and ladd 'hair sock' (related to loden 'hairy, shaggy'), with the explanation that ashes allowed to cling to the feet seem like furry socks.
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Askeladden
Ashlad (Norwegian "Askeladden" or "Oskeladden", full name "Esben Askelad" or "Espen Askeladd" or "Espen Oskeladd") is a main character in several tales collected in Asbjørnsen and Moe's Norwegian Folktales.
The character starts out being regarded as an incapable underachiever, but eventually proves himself by overcoming some prodigious deed, succeeding where all others have failed.
The character's name appeared as Boots in Dasent's 19th-century English translations.
The name Askeladden (meaning 'ash-lad') or Askeladd is the standard form which Asbjørnsen and Moe eventually settled for. However, the storytellers used this alongside other variant names such as Askefis, sometimes interchangeably within the same tale.
The most frequently recorded original name was Oskefisen or Askefis, glossed as a person who blows on the coal to stoke the fire. The latter word is attested since the 15th century, in proverbs. This would make sense, as the job of blowing on the embers was often assigned to the person of the household who was considered the least fit for other, more demanding chores – typically a fragile grandmother or a small child.
But because the editors felt Askefis to be too rustic, they favoured the name Askeladden (or altered it to Askepot), which seemed more refined. This adulteration was derided by P. A. Munch as overly prim and lacking courage. In Asbjørnsens's first edition (1843), the name appears as Askepot, which in Norway is commonly associated with Cinderella. The name was changed to Askeladden in the second edition, but strangely enough, in the first tale ("About Askeladden who Stole from the Troll"), the name Askepot was still retained in the narrative itself.
The form Esben Askepot was later changed to Esben Askelad in the second edition by Asbjørnsen and Moe, then later to Espen Askeladd by Moltke Moe
Askelad or Askeladd (without the definite -en suffix) are Danized, or Dano-Norwegian forms. The Norwegian form Oske-ladd is composed of oske 'ash' and ladd 'hair sock' (related to loden 'hairy, shaggy'), with the explanation that ashes allowed to cling to the feet seem like furry socks.