Johannes Ewald

Johannes Ewald (1743 - 1781) was a Danish national dramatist and poet.

Biography

Ewald, normally regarded as the most important Danish poet of the 2nd half of the 18th Century, led a short and troubled life, marked by alcoholism and poor health. The son of a Copenhagen pietist vicar and fatherless from an early age, he was educated as a theologian, but his real interest was in literature. An unhappy love for a girl, Arendse, inspired his later poetry deeply (his description of this love is the first “modern” Danish poetic treatment of the subject). After a time as a soldier and war hero in the Prussian Seven Years’ War he was 1760 brought back seriously weakened. The following years were spent living as a bohemian and writing poetry in Copenhagen; they were also a time of alcoholism and conflicts with his mother and stepfather (for most of his life he was under their tutelage and he never took up a profession). His lifestyle had much in common with his contemporary Johan Herman Wessel, but, as writers they differed greatly.

From 1773-75 he had a rather happy convalescence at Rungstedlund (later the home of Karen Blixen). Ewald wrote some of his best verses during this time, but a conflict with his family led to his removal to the small North Zealand town of Humlebæk (1775-77), which depressed him and worsened his alcoholism. Finally, friends brought him to Søbækshus, near Helsingør, and where he lived for some years under growing public interest and literary fame, until his early death, caused by drinking and rheumatism.

Quite until the days of romanticism Ewald was considered the unsurpassed Danish poet. Today he is probably more lauded than read; though considered classics, only few of his works have become popular.

Works

As an author Ewald is a prominent representative of Danish sentimentalism but at the same time a forerunner of romanticism. His main inspiration was German poetry (Klopstock), but British writers like Edward Young and Sterne, as well as Rousseau, are obvious inspirations as well. Violent expressions of feeling (happiness, sorrow and love) are typical in his writing; these elements are apparently spontaneous but, at the same time, deliberately and artificially drawn up. Behind this a clear pietist tune is felt.

Several Ewald "poems" are Danish classics. He had his break-through with a melodious and expressive commemorative poem at the death of King Frederick V (1766). The famous "Rungsteds Lyksaligheder" (1773 - "The Happiness of Rungsted") is an ode to the Creator. (Rungsted is a city on Sjælland) "Ode til Sjælen" (“For the Soul”) is a worthy hailing of Man’s uniqueness. "Til min M***" (“For my M(oltke)) is a grateful praise for a noble benefactor, during the unhappy Humlebæk period. The hymn "Udrust Dig, helt fra Golgatha" (“Arm Yourself, Hero of Golgatha”, 1781), practically written on his death-bed, must be mentioned. Minor humorous verses and satires are less known today.

Just as important are Ewald's "dramas". Ewald was the first to rely heavily on Norse mythology, a trend which begins to point towards romanticism. He wrote the plays "Rolf Krage" in 1770, "Balders Død" (Eng. transl. "The Death of Balder", 1889) in 1773, and "Fiskerne" ("The Fishermen)" in 1779. From the latter play one song is still remembered by most Danes: "(Kong Kristian stod vej højen mast)((King Christian stood by the lofty mast] " this song is the royal family of Denmark's song.(our national anthem is Oehlenschläger's "There is a lovely Land" or "Der er et dejligt land").

Ewald's main prose work was the unfinished autobiography "Levnet og Meninger" (“Life and Opinions”, written 1774-78, published 1804-08).

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