Great Plains Studies, Center for
Date of this Version
1995
Abstract
In an essay written in 1933 Einar Haugen briefly mentions that "RØlvaag's most delicate observations take the form of music, and rhythmic sound becomes to him the highest form of beauty." Haugen refers merely to the sonorous qualities of the prairie and never delves into the songs-both Norwegian folk songs and hymns-that surface through O. E. RØlvaag's immigrant trilogy. Since 1933, critics have explored a multitude of themes related to Giants in the Earth, Peder Victorious, and Their Father's God, and much attention has been given to the issue of cultural integrity as espoused by RØlvaag. Language, religion, and folklore often stand as the three primary focal points of cultural identity for critics of his novels, while music is mentioned only in passing, as a subset of religious folklore. But the music within the text-both its tradition and its lyrics-effectively unites language, religion, and folklore to communicate more concisely RØlvaag's feelings concerning cultural identity while simultaneously mirroring thematic and character developments within the novels.
Comments
Published in Great Plains Quarterly 15:2 (Spring 1995). Copyright © 1995 Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.