Swedish Literature: From Children’s Classics to Dark Drama!

#59 Week 13

Author

Sigrun Sørumgård
March 24, 2025

Match the books, authors, and characters that have made Swedish literature unforgettable!

  1. Which Swedish author wrote the famous novels Gösta Berling's Saga (1891) and Nils Holgersson's Wonderful Journey Through Sweden (1906/7)?

  2. Which children's book by Astrid Lindgren features the mysterious country of Nangijala?

  3. Jan Guillou has had great success with a series of novels about which intelligence agent?

  4. Which Swedish author is the creator of the policeman Kurt Wallander?

  5. Which author is considered Albert Åberg’s “mother”? She wrote 25 picture books about Albert Åberg and his everyday life with his father Åberg.

  6. Which Swedish crime writer is known for the Fjällbacka series?

  7. Stieg Larsson is known for having written, for example, the Millennium series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005) and The Girl Who Played with Fire (2006), and a third script was completed, namely The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (published 2007). What are the names of the main characters in the books; a hacker and an investigative journalist?

  8. The journalist Annika Bengtzon is the main character in a long series of exciting and effective crime novels, written by whom?

  9. Which Swedish author developed her poetry from classical simplicity to free modernism and thematized the conflict between individual freedom and societal norms? She was greatly affected by World War II, which led to her committing suicide?

  10. Which Swedish poet wrote the collection 17 poems?

The Wonder Wall

  • The oldest written sources in Swedish are runic inscriptions dating from the 9th century. The Rök Stone from the 9th century marks the beginning of Swedish literary history. The stone stands outside Rök Church in Östergötland, Sweden.

  • Although most of it was written in Latin in the Middle Ages, there is some secular literature in Swedish, the most famous being the Erikskrönikan from the 14th century.

  • Emil in Lønneberget, Ronja Røverdatter, Pippi Longstocking, We at Saltkråkan, Alle vi Barna i Bakkebygrenda – there are many characters to thank the Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren for. Even over 50 years after the Swedish children's TV classics were first shown, they are still popular among today's young people. In recent times, a separate Astrid Lindgren's World has also been built in Småland, where it is possible to visit both Emil's hometown, Katthult, and Pippi's Villa Villekulla.

Friday´s Questions & Answers

  1. Which gemstone is famous for its rich green colour and is associated with Cleopatra?

    Emerald is the bluish green to green variety of beryl, a mineral species that includes aquamarine.

  2. In what country can you find The Green Mountains?

    The Green Mountains are a mountain range in the U.S. state of Vermont and are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. The range runs primarily south to north and extends approximately 250 miles (400 km) from the border with Massachusetts to the border with Quebec, Canada.

  3. Which green drink is traditionally consumed in Japan and is made from powdered tea leaves?

    Matcha green tea

  4. What country does the type of wine is known as “Vinho Verde” (Green Wine (Young Wine)) originates from?

    Portugal

  5. From 1977 to 2011 which country's flag was simply all green, without any design or details?

    Under Muammar Gaddafi's leadership, Libya had a red-white-black flag from 1969 to 1977, and it was replaced by the all-green flag from 1977 to 2011, during which it was the only national flag in the world to have one colour and no design.

  6. What is the name of the green ghost that appears in the original Ghostbusters movie?

    Slimer, originally referred to as "Onionhead" and sometimes "the Mean Green Ghost" and "Ugly Little Spud"

  7. Which green ingredient is commonly used in pesto sauce?

    Basil

  8. As part of a long running tradition, which American city's river is dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

    Chicago's (Chicago River)

  9. What was green in a children's book by Dr. Seuss, first published on August 12, 1960?

    Eggs (Green Eggs and Ham)

  10. Which Viking explorer founded the first European settlement in Greenland?

    According to Icelandic sagas, it was during his exile from Iceland that Erik discovered Greenland. Erik the Red is credited with discovering Greenland and being the first permanent European settler in the country.