Bengt Holbek (April 1, 1933 – August 27, 1992)[1][2] was a Danish folklorist known for his unorthodox approach to folklore theory.

Bengt Knud Holbek was born 1 April 1933 in Copenhagen and was the fourth of ten children.

[2] Holbek studied Danish and Latin at the University of Copenhagen, and eventually earned a M.A.

In 1968 he also began work as the director of the Nordic Institute of Folklore, a post which he held until 1972.

At the beginning of a fairy tale, the protagonist, who can be either male or female, generally starts out as an unmarried youth of low status.

The tension between male and female is negotiated at the end by the marriage between the protagonist and their lover, rendering the space between the front and back of the cube irrelevant.