Villem Grünthal-Ridala
Encyclopedia
Villem Grünthal-Ridala, born Grünthal-Wilhelm (May 30, 1885 in Kuivastu
, Muhu
, Estonia
- January 16, 1942 in Helsinki
, Finland
) was an Estonia
n poet, translator, linguist and folklorist
.
. He first attended the parish school in Hellamaa (Pühalepa) and then the private school of Eisenschmidt as well as the national high school
of Kuressaare
. From 1905 he studied Finnish Literature at the University of Helsinki
. In 1911 he completed his doctorate.
From 1910 until 1919 Villem Grünthal-Ridala was professor at the University of Tartu
in Estonia
. From 1910 until 1914 he was editor of the magazine "Estonian Literature" (Eesti Kirjandus); from 1914 to 1916 and also worked as editor in "Üliõpilaste leht".
From 1923 until his death Grünthal-Ridala was professor of Estonian Language and Literature at the University of Helsinki
. In 1941 he received a doctorate in Baltic-Finnic languages.
. Primarily his epic "Toomas ja Mai" (1924), as well as collection of ballads "Sinine kari" (1930), served as a model for the Estonian poetry of the time. The poems are influenced by Impressionism
, with the landscapes of his island homeland and life by the sea being the primary motif. He belonged to the Estonian literary movement Young Estonia
(Noor-Eesti), founded in 1905.
Kuivastu
Kuivastu is a village in the eastern coast of the island of Muhu and a seat of the primary port of Saaremaa, the biggest island of Estonia. The corresponding port on the continental side is Virtsu. Muhu and Saaremaa are distinct islands, but are connected with the largest bridge in Estonia, the...
, Muhu
Muhu
Muhu , is an island in the Baltic Sea. With an area of 198 km² it is the third largest island belonging to Estonia, after Saaremaa and Hiiumaa....
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
- January 16, 1942 in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) was an Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n poet, translator, linguist and folklorist
Estonian folklore
The earliest mentioning of Estonian singing dates back to Saxo Grammaticus Gesta Danorum . Saxo speaks of Estonian warriors who sang at night while waiting for a battle. Henry of Livonia in the beginning of the 13th. century describes Estonian sacrificial customs, gods and spirits. In 1578...
.
Life
Villem Grünthal-Ridala was born as a son of an inn keeper on the island of MuhuMuhu
Muhu , is an island in the Baltic Sea. With an area of 198 km² it is the third largest island belonging to Estonia, after Saaremaa and Hiiumaa....
. He first attended the parish school in Hellamaa (Pühalepa) and then the private school of Eisenschmidt as well as the national high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
of Kuressaare
Kuressaare
Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706 Kuressaare is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706...
. From 1905 he studied Finnish Literature at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
. In 1911 he completed his doctorate.
From 1910 until 1919 Villem Grünthal-Ridala was professor at the University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. From 1910 until 1914 he was editor of the magazine "Estonian Literature" (Eesti Kirjandus); from 1914 to 1916 and also worked as editor in "Üliõpilaste leht".
From 1923 until his death Grünthal-Ridala was professor of Estonian Language and Literature at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
. In 1941 he received a doctorate in Baltic-Finnic languages.
Lyrical poet
Villem Grünthal-Ridala had become renowned for his poems in the Estonian languageEstonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
. Primarily his epic "Toomas ja Mai" (1924), as well as collection of ballads "Sinine kari" (1930), served as a model for the Estonian poetry of the time. The poems are influenced by Impressionism
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
, with the landscapes of his island homeland and life by the sea being the primary motif. He belonged to the Estonian literary movement Young Estonia
Young Estonia
Young Estonia was a neo-romantic literary group established around 1905 and led by the poet Gustav Suits and short story writer Friedebert Tuglas. Other members of the group included Villem Grünthal-Ridala and Johannes Aavik. Gustav Suits articulated the ideology of the group thus:"What buoys up...
(Noor-Eesti), founded in 1905.
Selected Poems
- "Villem Grünthali laulud" (1908)
- "Kauged rannad" (1914)
- "Ungru krahv ehk Näckmansgrund" (1915)
- "Merineitsit" (1918)
- "Saarnak" (1918)
- "Toomas ja Mai" (1924)
- "Tuules ja tormis" (1927)
- "Sinine kari" (1930)
- "Meretäht" (1935)
- "Laulud ja kauged rannad" (1938)
- "Väike luuleraamat" (1969)
- "Valitud värsid" (1986)
- "Püha Rist" (2005; ISBN 9949-13-275-4)