A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

A man who repeatedly oversleeps the hunting day finally launches his kayak in the evening. He rights another capsized boat and recognizes its occupant as one of the people beneath the earth. The rescued man offers decorated equipment, but the hunter instead explains his debilitating sleepiness. The figure, also called Fire Man in this telling, welcomes him ashore and establishes conditions for the ensuing help, including secrecy.

The hunter subsequently rises early and returns with abundant seals. A wife who tires of preparing so much meat asks how he succeeds. His first partial answer is followed by reduced success; full disclosure ends the gift and restores his sleepiness. She eventually leaves him, leading to the story's separate insect-suitor episode. The rescued figure's subterranean affiliation does not prevent his sea journey, and the alternate English designation does not justify making a second duplicate creature.

People associated with beneath the earthCan travel in kayaksGift of hunting success depends on secrecy
01

Origins & earliest records

The volume's final source list assigns this narrative to South-East Greenland. Knud Rasmussen collected the material; W. Worster edited and translated the1921 English selection. No individual storyteller is named for this episode. Worster explicitly states that he selected clear versions and omitted or edited passages, so this is not an unabridged oral-performance transcript.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected narrative and regional source-list entry read. The Insects that Wooed a Wifeless Man, complete tale beginning printed p.52. The editorial omission and translation limitations recorded in the introduction remain explicit.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Eskimo Folk-Tales

    Knud Rasmussen, collector; W. Worster, editor and English translator · 1921

    The Insects that Wooed a Wifeless Man, complete tale beginning printed p.52. Complete episode and regional source-list attribution checked.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Primary textRasmussen/Worster1921: The Insects that Wooed a Wifeless Man, complete tale beginning printed p.52.Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

FT·2465 · RESEARCH EDITION 01Back to top ↑