Parts 16 and 17 Summary

This section returns the focus of the narrative to Vainamoinen, telling the story of his efforts to complete a magical boat.

Part 16 - Vainamoinen plans to construct a boat, and sends his friend Sampsa on a quest around the world in search of wood. After several trees deny him permission to cut them down and make them into a boat, Sampsa discovers an oak tree that agrees to his proposal. He cuts down the tree, shapes the wood, and takes it back to Vainamoinen, who constructs his boat. As it nears completion, he discovers he is missing three magic words that would make it fully seaworthy, and after unsuccessfully searching for the words in the forest, he journeys to the Underworld. At the entrance, he at first lies to the Daughter of the Underworld about what brought him there, referring to...