Runoelmaa

Runoelmaa is the partitive form of the Finnish noun runoelma, a term used in literary discussion to describe a dreamlike, poetic fantasy or atmosphere in a text. It refers to a mode where imagery, rhythm, and metaphor create a sense of otherworldly experience, often resembling a dream. The term functions as a descriptive concept rather than a formal genre and is commonly employed by critics and poets when analyzing tone and stylistic effects.

The word combines runo (poem) with elements associated with fantasy or illusion, signaling the overlap between lyrical language and dreamlike perception. As a concept, runoelmaa denotes a quality more than a rigid category, and it is frequently identified in analyses of contemporary Finnish poetry and prose from a stylistic perspective.

In criticism and literary discussion, runoelmaa describes works in which sound, metaphor, and imagery produce a fluid, shifting sense of reality. It is commonly linked with lyric poetry and surreal or fantastical elements, but it does not constitute a formal school; rather, it signals mood, atmosphere, or a particular aesthetic effect.

Examples of usage include statements such as teoksen runoelmaa hallitsee unenomaisuus or runoelmaa korostava kieli. The term appears mainly in Finnish-language discussions and is less common in everyday description.

See also: unelma, runo, fantasia, surrealismi.