The Isle of Refuge is the island haven associated with Lemminkainen’s exile. It gives him a place to live for three summers, but the refuge proves temporary: he eventually sails away toward another island he regards as more protective.

Setting and Narrative Role

The Isle of Refuge is identified in the title of the rune devoted to Lemminkainen’s island sojourn. The account places it amid the ocean and describes hamlets on the island, but does not give a more precise location. Its importance comes from its role in Lemminkainen’s flight and temporary resettlement, rather than from a detailed description of its landscape.

Lemminkainen’s Sojourn

Lemminkainen reaches the island with provisions in abundance: fish, butter, bread, and bacon. He spends three summers in the ocean and enjoys a merry time in refuge among the island’s hamlets. The duration and the settled hamlet life distinguish this stay from a brief stop during a voyage; for a time, the island provides a place to live away from the dangers and demands of his former home.

Departure

The refuge does not become a permanent home. Lemminkainen bids farewell to his island dwelling and sets sail across the ocean toward other borders, naming another island as more protective. The account establishes his departure and his search for greater safety, but does not identify that destination here. The Isle of Refuge therefore marks a provisional shelter in his exile: a place of respite that he ultimately leaves behind.