Peter Christen Asbjørnsen
Quick Summary
Peter Christen Asbjørnsen was a Norwegian author and collector of folklore. Alongside Jørgen Engebretsen Moe, he published Norske folkeeventyr (Norwegian Folktales), a significant work in Norwegian literature.1
Asbjørnsen and Moe gathered tales that had evolved from Old Norse mythology, preserving the oral traditions and unique characteristics of Norwegian folklore. They developed a linguistic style that bridged the gap between the Dano-Norwegian written language and local dialects, influencing the development of the Norwegian language. Their work helped reawaken a sense of national identity in Norway and stimulated further research into folklore. Asbjørnsen also worked as a naturalist, botanist, and zoologist.21
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
- Norske folkeeventyr
…of folktales and legends, by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe, that had survived and developed from Old Norse pagan mythology in the mountain and fjord dialects of Norway. The authors, stimulated by a revival of interest in Norway’s past, gathered the tales of ghosts, fairies, gods, and mountain…
Read More…of folktales and legends, by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe, that had survived and developed from Old Norse pagan mythology in the mountain and fjord dialects of Norway. The authors, stimulated by a revival of interest in Norway’s past, gathered the tales of ghosts, fairies, gods, and mountain…
Read More
Norwegian literatureThe 19th century…Tales), compiled and published by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe between 1841 and 1844, was a landmark of the period. Ivar Aasen sought to establish a contemporary literary language connected to Old Norse. The early works of Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne
Read More…Tales), compiled and published by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe between 1841 and 1844, was a landmark of the period. Ivar Aasen sought to establish a contemporary literary language connected to Old Norse. The early works of Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne
Read More

