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The Tales Of Ensign Stål

 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
type
TVTItem
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
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The Tales Of Ensign Stål
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
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TheTalesOfEnsignStal
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
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The Tales of Ensign Stål (Swedish title: Fänrik Ståls sägner, Finnish: Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat) is a Finnish collection of poems written in Swedish by the poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg and published in two parts, the first in 1848, the second in 1860. The poems tell the story of the disastrous Finnish war (1808-1809), a part of The Napoleonic Wars where the Russian Empire defeated the Swedish armies and conquered Finland, which had been a part of Sweden since the middle ages. Finland would not become a independent nation until 1917, but during the Russian domination, both Finnish and Swedish speaking Finns developed a strong sense of nationalism. In the genre of this nationalistic Finnish literature, The Tales of Ensign Stål is second only to The Kalevala.The frame story of the book tells of a young, nameless Finnish student (implied to be a young Runeberg) who befriends an old ensign named Stål, who starts telling the man tales from the Finnish war. Some of the poems talk of real historical people, others about fictional characters. The main theme of the story is a nationalistic love of Finland and a celebration of the bravery of the soldiers in the war. Interestingly enough, the Russian enemies are not demonized, but Runeberg is instead deeply critical of some of the Swedish commanders like King Gustav IV Adolph, or field marshal Mauritz Klingspor, pretty much blaming the disastrous end of the war entirely on them.
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
fetched
2023-05-24T15:58:23Z
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
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2023-05-24T15:58:23Z
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
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DBTropes
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_1235f055
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Dirty Coward
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_1235f055
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Dirty Coward: The book accuses the Swedish commander Carl-Olof Cronstedt, who surrendered the fortress of Sveaborg to the Russians, of being this. Ensign Stål even refuses to say his name, considering it to be too shameful to speak out loud. Cronsted is somewhat subject to Historical Villain Upgrade. He overestimated the hopelessness of his situation and the Russian forces. The boyfriend of Girl of the Croft, who has deserted because of her mother's advice.
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_1235f055
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_1e1afc1b
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Framing Device
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_1e1afc1b
comment
Framing Device: The poems are all stories told by Ensign Stål.
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_3b0479f2
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You Shall Not Pass!
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_3b0479f2
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You Shall Not Pass!: The book contains a classic and rather interesting example of this. One of the poems tell the story of the brave but incredibly stupid soldier Sven Dufva who, in the middle of a battle against the Russians misunderstands an order to retreat and instead attacks the enemies in front of him. He single handedly manages to hold a bridge until reinforcements can arrive, sacrificing his life in the process. *  The general leading the reinforcements comments, upon examining his corpse, in a line made immortal in the Swedish language that the bullet made a wise choice: Instead of hitting his weak head, it went through his brave heart.
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The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_3b0479f2
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_44cdd259
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War Is Glorious
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_44cdd259
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War Is Glorious: Another theme of the book, though how straight it is played is the topic of much academic debate. While the narrative exalts the deeds of certain fighters, the general tone also indicates that all that courage was ultimately abused
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_4604fd4d
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Worthy Opponent
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_4604fd4d
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Worthy Opponent: The Russian officer Yakov Kulnev, one of the most popular Russian military leaders at the time is described as this. It is noted that he is a lovable Boisterous Bruiser and Chick Magnet that is even liked by his enemies.
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_6439de78
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Heroic Sacrifice
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_6439de78
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Heroic Sacrifice: Many of the poems have this as a main theme, most famously Sven Dufva and The Cloud's Brother.
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_6bda9a30
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Meaningful Name
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_6bda9a30
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Meaningful Name: Many characters have Swedish "soldier names" where the soldier was named after something military sounding or after something describing his personality. Ensign Stål's last name for example literally means "Steel."
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The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_6bda9a30
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Like an Old Married Couple
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_6e0a57d6
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Major von Konow and Corporal Brask have saved each others' lives multiple times, and settle down together after the war. None of which stops them from bickering Like an Old Married Couple.
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Upper-Class Twit
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_9cc1a329
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Upper-Class Twit: King Gustavus IV Adolphus. Just like in real life, he is obsessed with matching the exploits of his predecessors with none of the ability that made things work for them.
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_9cc1a329
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_a8f905e3
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While Rome Burns
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_a8f905e3
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While Rome Burns: Field marshall Sandels, a Big Eater who does not let reports of the Russian army moving in stop him from enjoying his breakfast. That is, until one of the messengers accuse him of being a coward, which makes him leap into action.
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_bc74ef27
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Berserk Button
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_bc74ef27
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Berserk Button: For most characters, being called a coward is by far the worst insult imaginable. Also, God have mercy on the enemy whose salvoes ruined lieutenant colonel von Törne's new coat.
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_bc74ef27
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_c75df49a
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Shout-Out
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_c75df49a
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Shout-Out: Lotta Svärd lent her name to various Women's Auxiliary organisations, both in Sweden and Finland.
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_c75df49a
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_cf331024
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Camp Follower
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_cf331024
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Camp Follower: The sutler Lotta Svärd.
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_d7fc9fd0
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Vitriolic Best Buds
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_d7fc9fd0
comment
Vitriolic Best Buds: The two dragoons Lod and Stål, who are just as willing to risk their lives to save each other as they are to risk their lives to show each other up. Major von Konow and Corporal Brask have saved each others' lives multiple times, and settle down together after the war. None of which stops them from bickering Like an Old Married Couple.
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 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_e16217f8
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Historical Villain Upgrade
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_e16217f8
comment
Cronsted is somewhat subject to Historical Villain Upgrade. He overestimated the hopelessness of his situation and the Russian forces.
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål / int_e16217f8
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The Tales Of Ensign Stål

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
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During the War / int_428e34d2
 Notable Swedish Monarchs
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The Tales Of Ensign Stål
 The Tales Of Ensign Stål
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War Is Glorious / int_428e34d2