# Rune XXXIII: Kullervo and the Cheat-Cake explained — The Kalevala

> Chapter companion for The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.

## What happens

Kullervo, mistreated by Ilmarinen's wife, discovers a stone baked into his oat-loaf that breaks his precious knife. Enraged, he uses magic to transform the herd into wolves and bears, which then attack and kill the hostess when she comes to milk them.

## Themes in this chapter

### Revenge and Retribution

Kullervo's revenge against Ilmarinen's wife for her deceit and mistreatment is the central action of the chapter, culminating in her death.

### Power of Song and Magic

Kullervo uses magical songs and incantations to transform the herd into wolves and bears, demonstrating the power of words and spells.

### Family and Kinship

Kullervo's lament about his mother's broken knife highlights the importance of family heirlooms and the pain of losing a connection to his lineage.

## Character check-ins

### Kullervo

The shepherd lad who is mistreated by Ilmarinen's wife; his knife is broken by a stone in the oat-loaf, prompting him to take revenge by transforming the herd into wolves and bears.

### Ilmarinen

The blacksmith whose wife is the hostess; he is mentioned as the master of the household but does not appear directly in the chapter.

### Louhi

Not directly present; the hostess is Ilmarinen's wife, not Louhi.

### Ukko

Invoked by both the hostess and Kullervo; the hostess prays to Ukko to slay Kullervo, while Kullervo prays to Ukko to slay the hostess.

### Tuoni

Referenced as the ruler of the Death-land (Tuonela) where the hostess fears to sink.

### Kalma

Mentioned as the place of the dead where the worthiest must slumber.

## Key lines

> Only dry bread has the herdsman, Eats with pain the oaten bread-crusts, Filled with chaff his arid biscuit, Feeds upon the worst of straw-bread, Pine-tree bark, the broad he feeds on, Sipping water from the birch-bark, Drinking from the tips of grasses!

The herdsman gets only dry, crusty bread filled with chaff, while the hostess enjoys fine wheaten biscuits with butter.

_Kullervo's complaint about the disparity between his meager food and the hostess's rich fare._

> Cuts against a stone imprisoned, Well imbedded in the centre, Breaks his ancient knife in pieces; When the shepherd youth, Kullervo, Saw his magic knife had broken, Weeping sore, he spake as follows: 'This, the blade that I hold sacred, This the one thing that I honor, Relic of my mother's people!'

Kullervo cuts into the loaf and hits a stone hidden inside, breaking his treasured knife, which was a keepsake from his mother's family.

_The pivotal moment when Kullervo discovers the hostess's trick and his knife is destroyed._

> Quick as lightning fell the hostess, Quick the wife of Ilmarinen Fell and perished in the hurdles, On the ground before her cottage; Thus the death of Northland's hostess, Cherished wife of Ilmarinen, Once the Maiden of the Rainbow, Wooed and watched for many summers, Pride and joy of Kalevala!

The hostess is killed instantly by the wolves and bears, ending the life of Ilmarinen's beloved wife, who was once the Maiden of the Rainbow.

_The conclusion of the chapter, describing the hostess's death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxxiii-kullervo-and-the-cheat-cake
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters