The actual history of Norwegian literature as a produet in Norway of purely national condi tions finds its at the time of the separa tion of the Kingdom, in 1814, from Denmark. The 'Norwegian Society' presently changed the scene of its activity from Copenhagen to Christiania, but, although its traditions subsequently MIN enced popular taste. it never afterwards played an active part in literature. The first poetry which arose under these new conditions in Nor way was vehemently patriotic, and is called by the Norwegians themselves, from the day of the adoption of the Norwegian Constitution, Sytten driani-Pousi, the 'poetry of the 17th of May.' From among the numerous writers of the time three only, the so-called 'Trefoil,' may be men tioned as of especial significance, the lyric poet C. N. `chwwach (1793-1800), the poet and dramat ist H. A. Bjerregaard (1792-1842), and the novel ist :\lauritz Christotfer llansen (1794-1842), whose best work is contanwd in his stories of peasant life. Tlw first great poet of modern Norway, Henrik \Vergeland (1808-45), became, as no other writer in Norway before him, the poet of the people. Ilk first great success was achieved with a volume of lyrics, published in 1829. In 1830 appeared the long dramatic poem Skabelsen, Mennesket og .11essias, "The Creation, Nan, and 2\lessiah," wIdch drew out, in 1832, a pamphlet on "Henrik \Vergeland's Poetic Art and Poetry," by Johan Sebastian Welhaven (1807-73), mercilessly attacking him for his sins of poetic-al commission. The controversy between the two poets. at first personal, subsequently as sumed a wider character and presently divided the whole country into a national and a critical faction, the one the embodiment of the pro Norwegian spirit of the 17th of i\lay, the other the party of 'intelligence,' which looked to per petuate what were in reality the hereditary ten dencies of the 'Norwegian Society,' and to de velop Norwegian culture harmoniously with that of Europe and especially that of Denmark. The contest was waged even more violently after the publication, in 1834, of Welhaven's polemical poem, a cycle of sonnets called Norycs, Dearing, "Norway's Twilight," in which he vigorously censured the mistaken zeal of the ultra-national faction which \Vergeland represented. The battle was ultimately to WelhaVPII and his followers, who had, in point of fact, revolutionized the ;esthetic taste of Norway, and by the introduction of a sound criticism had determined the direction of its future literary development. Welhaven, between 1839 and 1859, published numerous lyrical poems. His critical prose is among the finest that Norway has ever produced. \Verge land's best work was done after the downfall of his fortunes and his popularity. Ilis last poem, Den engelske Lods, "The English Pilot," is his greatest. .Andreas Almich (1811-84), poet and dramatist, followed the direction pointed out by WeMaven. His first work of importance was the romance Den Eensontinc, "The Solitary," pub lished in 1840. fret Yord og Slid, "Pictures from North and South," is considered one of the best prose in the language.
Important for its bearing upon the develop ment of a national literature in Norway was the attention that was presently paid to the wealth of native material contained in the old folk-tales and popular poetry, which has been preserved among the peasantry in great abun dance, and under the peculiar conditions of the country has retained an essentially national char acter in manner and matter. The principal workers in this field at the beginning were the naturalist Peter Christian A sbjornsen ( 1S12 85) and Jurgen Sloe (1813-82). who published conjointly, in 1841, Norsk(' Fo/kr-Erentyr, "Nor wegian Popular Tales." Asbjllrnsen published subsequently Yorske Holdre-Erent yr og say( a, which contains descriptions of his own of natural scenery and popular life. The recogni tion of this material pointed out a new direction in Norwegian literature and has had a profound effect upon latter-day writers.
The present period of Norwegian literature, and the period of its broadest development, be gins with Iljiirnson and Ibsen, the greatest writ ers that Norway has produced. \\ ith them liter
ature enters upon a new era of productivity at home, and, what had not been the ease la-fore, of influence abroad; for the work of these two poets, even at an early time in their career, had carried the name and fame of Norwegian litera ture far beyond the outlines of Norway and of Scandinavia, until now, and principally through them. it has become in the widest sense a living and forceful part of the literature of the world.
I For details see ILI iit:NSON ; .lonas Lie (b.1533), who plainly shows the influ ence of Iljr.rnson, has written sea-stories that have attained great popularity. llis first novel, Den Fmnsynte, —rhe isionary." in 1570. I1 is most successful and widely known novel is Lorban oy bons Hastru, Pilot and Ilis Wife." Ile attains, however, a higher ar tistic result in his later novels of modern social life, Livssalen, "The Life Convict ;" Familien paa jr, "TIn• Family at Gilje;" En llalstrina, "A Maelstrom;" and others that have been writ ten since 1553. Anna 'Nlagdalena Thoresen (1519-1903) also shows the influence of Itjiirn son in her tales of nature and popular life. ]ter Billeder fro idnatssolens Land, "Pictures from the Land of the ...\lidni!dit Sum," is possibly her best work. The most original of the woman writers of Norway is Camilla Collet (1513-95), the sister of the poet Wergeland, whose most important novel is the realistic Thttre, "The :Magistrate's Daughters." After Ibsen, Bj;irnson. and Lie, the fourth great name in Norwegian literature of the present period is Alexander Kjelland (1).1849). Although his sub jects are exclusively Scandinavian, he belongs, more than any of countrymen. in his literary affinities less to Norway and inure to Europe. whose general cultural tendencies he reflects. Kjelland's best work is contained in his short stories, the first volume of which appeared as Norelb Her in 1879. his novels, the greatest of which is Worse, whose theme is the pietistic movement in Norway, are all novels of endency.
Learned literature in Norway. although it has made important contributions to theology. to the physieal sciences, and to philosophy.has found its highest. and most characteristic expression in his tory. The founder of historical writing in Nor way was lthdolf Keyser (1503-64). who wrote Not-TR Historic, "Ilistory of Norway:" nen Norsk,- liirhe.s 11 istorie, "History of the Church in Norway:" and other works on the history and antignilies and literature of his native country. His pupil, Peter Andreas Munch (1510-fi3t. wrote, ns his most important work. net tiorske , "History of the Norwegian Peo ple." In erdlaborntion with Keyser and with Carl 1:iehard (1517-97), he also did work of value in editing Old Norse texts. Johan Ernst Sars (11.1535). in his ril.ciy/ ovrr d, n norske lli.ctorir, "Review of Norwegian 'His tory," has produced one of the most notable prose works in the latromge.
In every field of literary activity modern Nor way has unfolded, and is still unfolding, an extraordinary development, and this not only from the point of productivity, but in the quality and character of the work produced. The most distinct tendencies in Norwegian literature of the present period are the pessimistic-natural istie direction originally pointed out by Ibsen, and the optimistic-realistie direction of 13j?irnson and his followers, but there are writers who be long to [Hither school. Other writers than those mentioned have made a name outside of Norway, as well as at home. Among them are Aasmund Olafsson Vinic (151S-70), KristotTer Janson (b.1S41), Arm. Garborg (1).1851), Amalie Skram th.1.557). and still more recently. Knot Ilanisun, Gabriel Finite, and Krag.
Consult: Horn, 1/i.s.tory of the Literature of the Scandinavian North, trans. by Anderson (Chi cago, 1854) ; Gosse, Xort/orn Studies (London, n. d.) Sehweitzer, Gcsehichte der skandina schen Litt, ratur ((era • 159G): :Leger, Norsk Litt rat urhistoric (Christiania, 159G lIalvorsen, Norsk ForfatterIcsikon, 1814.56 (ib., 1551).