Peer Gynt

Per Gynt (Norwegian: [peːr ˈjʏnt, - ˈɡʏnt]) is a Norwegian fairy tale which originated in the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The fairy tale inspired the famous 1867 play Peer Gynt by Henrik Ibsen.

Plot of the Play
Peer Gynt is a useless braggart and son of Åse, a peasant’s widow. Åse was upset at Peer Gynt for his lack of responsibility for life and for running away from his problems. She criticizes his lack of focus and vivid imagination, as well as ruining his chances with Ingrid, the daughter of the richest farmer. Peer goes to Ingrid's wedding against his mother's wishes and kidnaps her. He is then banished and wanders into the Norwegian mountains, where he encounters a group of trolls. After unknowingly impregnating the troll king's daughter (as troll reproduction is magical and different than humans), he flees and builds a cabin. There he is met by Solvieg, a newcomer's daughter, who wishes to spend the rest of her life with Peer. Peer again escapes and travels to North Africa, where he lives for many years. He mistakes the sphinx of Egypt for the Bøyg — a Scandinavian creature who has no real description in the play. After returning to his homeland as an old man, Peer realizes that he has wasted much of his life running away and never facing himself. The troll king states that he has lived as a troll, not a man, for most of his life. The devil confronts Gynt for his sins. He returns to Solveig and asks her to forgive him for his sins, but she states "You have not sinned at all, my dearest boy." Solveig has faithfully loved Peer the entire time. He sobs in her lap as she cradles him, before he presumably dies.

Music
Peer Gynt, Op. 23, is the incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's 1867 play of the same name, written by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg in 1875. It premiered along with the play on 24 February 1876 in Oslo. This is regarded as Grieg's most known work with In the Hall of the Mountain King and Morning Mood being the most famous.