Esaias Tegner
The biography focuses on the life of Esaias Tegnér, a Swedish poet and Lutheran bishop. Born in 1782, he studied theology at Lund University before becoming a priest. His poetry career began with the publication of his first collection in 1808. He is best known for his epic poem "Frithiof's Saga", which was published in three parts between 1820 and 1825. The work tells the story of a Viking warrior, drawing on Norse mythology and history. Tegnér's poetry often explored themes of love, nature, and Swedish identity. He served as bishop of Växjö from 1814 until his death in 1846.
By Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen · First published 1875 · Genre: Biography, Literary Criticism, History · 24,828 words
First lines
The genius of the Scandinavian north has never found a more complete and brilliant incarnation than the Swedish poet Esaias Tegner. Strong, cheerful, thoroughly wholesome, with a boyish delight in prowess, adventure, and daring deeds, he presents a most agreeable contrast to the moonshine singers and graveyard bards of the phosphoristic school, who were his contemporaries. To Tegner, in his prime, life was a brisk and exhilarating sail, with a fresh breeze, over sunny waters; and he had no patience with those who described it as a painful and troublous groping through the valley of the shadow of death. There was, in other words, a certain charming juvenility in his attitude toward existence, which presented to him no riddles that a man with a strong arm and an honest heart might not solve with comparative ease. All problems were to him soluble with the sword; and Alexander, when he cut the Gordian knot, must have appeared to him wiser, as he was surely more admirable, than either Plato or Socrates. This scorn of all metaphysical subtleties, and reliance upon strength and Swedish manhood, are, perhaps (from an advanced European point of view), indicative of a little intellectual immaturity; but they are thoroughly characteristic of the Scandinavian nationalities. The love of brave words and brave deeds, the exaltation of the man of action above the man of thought, the pleasure in reckless gallantry and foolhardy adventure, are, however, not confined to Swedes and Norwegians, but are characteristic of the boyhood of every nation. In the Scotchman, Robert Louis Stevenson, this jaunty juvenility, this rich enjoyment of bloody buccaneers and profane sea-dogs, is carried to far greater lengths, and the great juvenile public of England and America, both young and old, rises up and calls him blessed.
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Esaias Tegner is listed on Textopian as a novel by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen, dated 1875 CE.
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- Work type: Novel
- Author: Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen
- Date: 1875 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Literary Criticism, History, Cultural Studies
- Length: 24,828 words
- Structure: 1 section, 168 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Biography — The book provides a detailed account of the life and works of Esaias Tegnér, focusing on his personal and professional journey.
- Literary Criticism — It includes analysis and critique of Tegnér's literary contributions and his impact on literature.
- History — The narrative places Tegnér's life within the historical context of his time, offering insights into the era's cultural and social dynamics.
- Cultural Studies — The book explores the cultural significance of Tegnér's work and his influence on Scandinavian culture.
Tags
Biography · Poetry · Swedish Literature · 19th Century Literature · Literary Criticism · Historical Figure · National Romanticism · Folklore · Mythology · Symbolism · Allegory · Autobiographical