Chiesa di ghiaccio e castello di ghiaccio. Architetture naturali e simboliche in Ibsen e Vesaas

Considering two quite different works, Ibsen’s Brand and Vesaas’ Is-slottet, this article analyses the role of the ice church and the ice castle, respectively, and their connection with the development of the characters. In both works it is possible to identify a couple of characters linked in some way to the two “buildings”, i.e. Brand-Gerd and Siss-Unn. In the various stages of their stories, the two ice structures are given different functions, which can be defined as “target” – “shelter/home” – “tomb”, and play an essential symolic role in the two works.