TEGNER, ESAIAS (1782-1846). A Swedish poet, born at Kyrkerud, in Wennland. graduated from the University of Lund (1802) and in 1805 became sub-librarian of the university and lecturer on :esthetics. In 1811 his poem on Sweden (Srea) won him universal admiration and an academic prize. Already his war-songs and national odes had attracted the attention of the King and Government. In 1812 he was made professor of Greek at Lund, and for the next decade gave himself al most wholly to clerical duties and theological studies. During these years he wrote the remark able religious idyls, The Priest's Consecration and The Children of the Lord's Supper (Yatt rardsbarnen, 1820), as well as the fine romantic poem Axel (1822). His fame, however, rests on the Frithjof's Saga, finished in 1S25, which remains the most popular poem in Swedish, though it lacks originality and unity. adhering very closely to the legend on which it is founded and being less an epic than a series of ballads and odes. Even while unfinished it had sufficed to secure for TegnOr the nomination of the clergy to the Bishopric of Wexiii (1824). In 1840 the insanity that afflicted his family unmistakably asserted itself. After a period in an asylum he returned for a little while to active work, but soon became paralytic and so lingered till death.
Thus it appears that Tegnilr's significant pro duction is confined to the years 1811-25, and more strictly speaking to the last six of these, which saw The Priest's Consecration, The Chil dren of the Lords Supper, Axel, Frithjof. Frith jof has been rendered into many languages and nineteen times into English, best by Longfellow, who also translated Nattrardsbarnen. It was effective in banishing. classical French taste from Sweden and in introducing the literary ideals of the Romantic school, though Tegner always kept the clearness and artistic finish that go with calm objectivity. His verse is melodious, grace ful, dignified, yet fresh, vigorous, and not without national or religious enthusiasm, in spite of its impersonality. See SWEDISH LITERATURE.
Tegiler'S Works were collected in 7 vols. (Stockholm, 1847-51). Three volumes of supple mentary writings were printed (ib., 1873-74), and a new collected edition made of the works in 8 vols. (ib., 1882-85). The more important poems are in English. French and German trans lations. A Life by is prefixed to the first collected edition of the Works. Consult also Brandes, Em-incnt Authors, trans. (New York, 1886) ; and Erdmann, Esaias Tegn& (Stockholm, 1896).