Danish Literature

The latter half of the century (1750-1800) is called the eAge of Enlightenment,' char acterized by the crossing of many new ideas and influences. English influence was shown when the Norwegian Tullin wrote his much admired

Interesting on account of his wit and ele gant language is the °poet of the graces' Jens B: aggesen who belongs to the transition period between the old and the new of the 19th cen tury. P. A. Heiberg's comedies are also to be mentioned. In this period were published a number of periodicals. The most important are Sneedorf's 'Den patriotiske Tilskuer,' Rahbek and Pram's The thing of importance was to teach, to moralize, to popularize. This is also, in the religious field, the idea of the so-called Rationalism whose representative was Bastholm, while Bishop Balle is the orthodox leader. The typical and influential writer in this age of °enlightenment* is, without comparison, K. L. Rahbek (1760-1830), influenced by the ideas of the French revolution. This influence appears even stronger in P. A. Heiberg and Malte Brun who ventured to discuss also political questions and are sent into exile. With the 19th century came a new spirit and a new literature. The romantic movement introduces the golden age of Danish literature. The first and most promi nent name we meet is that of Adam Oehlen schlager (1779-1850), who almost at once was able to shape the new ideas to the national needs and created a peculiar Danish romanti cism. He produced one work after another which crushed all opposition of the old school and established his fame on a firm basis. After his epoch-making (1803) he chanted the praise of the genius in his

losophy, whose comparatively few poems are marked by an original and choice style, while a fresh humor is shown particularly in his un finished story 'En Students Eventyr,' and Emil Aarestrup whose glowing poems show a marked individuality. In the forties much of the literature has a political errand. The poems of Ploug advocate the close union of the Scandinavian countries, sing the praises of the Constitution (1849) and the heroes and deeds of the First Sleswick war. Goldschmidt makes in his weekly 'Corsaren> scathing attacks on absolutism. The most popular writer of this time was J. C Hostrup (1818-92) whose i comedies are superior to Heiberg's in humor and knowledge of real life. Between 1850-70 a number of talents, though no great genius, appears. Kaalund and Richardt gain much new popularity by their lyrics, Bergskie, H. F. Ewald and Cant Etlar as writers of stories. With the famous lectures of Georg Brandes (1871) a new period begins, that of Realism. While the old writers still continue in the old ways and some of the younger also associate themselves with them, the most prominent fol low the lead of Brandes. The literature is filled with modern ideas and the style is new. In fiery poems Drachmann presents the revolu tionary movements of the times, Schandorph introduces without any romantic embellishment his characters from country and city. J. P. Jacobsen from his view of life based on modern science paints his colorful pictures of the past and the present. As others of the same school may be mentioned Gjellerup and Ponto piddan who shared the Nobel literary prize of 1917, H. Bang, G. Wied, Karl Larsen. In the eighties the French Beaudelaire and symbolists exerted great influence on lyric poets who then became known, S. Michaelis, S. Clausson, J. Jorgensen, Stuckenberg and later H. Rode. Later this influence disappeared as in the poets V. Rordam, L. C. Nielsen, J. Aalcjmr. Among authors who have written stories of real life in new fields may be mentioned J. Knudsen, Skjoldborg and especially J. V. Jensen who is characterized by originality, great imagination and mastery of style.

In the 19th century Denmark produced a number of scholars of the highest rank. The thinker this country has is Soren A. Kierkegaard (1813-55) whose theological and philosophical writings have exerted great in fluence. As noted writers on philosophical subjects may, in addition, be mentioned: Sib bern, R. Nielsen, Brochner, Heading, Kromann. Great historians are Allen, C. Paludan-Mfiller, Holm, A. D. Jorgensen, Erslev, Steenstrup, Troels-Lund. In philology are such names as Rask, Westergaard, Madvig, Verner, V. Thomp sen, Wimmer, Nyrop. Famous scientists are Oersted, Schouw, Warming, Forchhammer, Schiodte, Steenstrup, J. Thomsen, Zeuthen, J. Petersen, Finsen.

Bibliography.— Petersen, N. M., den danske Literaturs Historic) (5 vols. 1872, 2d ed.) • Hansen, P., 'Illustreret dansk Litera tur historie (3d ed. by Carl Petersen now nearing completion) ; Erslew, 'Almindeligt Fortfatter-lexicon) (1843-53; Supplement 1858 68) ; Bricka, 'Dank biographisk Leksikon' (19 vols.) ; shorter works by Muller, (Winkel Horn) (translated by R. B. Anderson 1884) ; Levin and Clausen, Banning, Karl Mortensen; Rosenberg: Nordboernes Aandsliv (1885) • valuable works on different authors and periods by J. Paludan, Georg Brandes, F. Banning, K Arentzen V. Veda, V. Andersen, Brix.

Gins BOTH NE, Head of the Department of Scandinavian Lan guages and Literature, University of Minnesota.