Adam Oehlenschläger

Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger was a Danish poet and playwright. He is considered the founder of Danish national literature and is known for his works such as The Golden Horns, Aladdin, and The Elves. He was born in Copenhagen and studied law at the University of Copenhagen. He was a member of the Danish Golden Age literary movement and was a major influence on the Romantic movement in Denmark. He wrote many plays, poems, and novels, and was a major figure in the Danish cultural scene. He was also a... AI Generated Content

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Biography

Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger was born on November 14, 1779, in Vesterbro, Copenhagen, to a Danish mother and a German father who served as organist at Frederiksberg Church and later as keeper of the royal palace. Growing up in the beautiful parks and gardens of Frederiksberg, young Adam developed an early love for nature that would profoundly influence his later poetry. By age nine, he was already writing fluent verses, and at twelve, he caught the attention of poet Edvard Storm, who introduced him to Scandinavian mythology.

After a brief, unsuccessful career as an actor, Oehlenschläger entered the University of Copenhagen in 1800 to study law, but his true calling lay in literature. The pivotal moment of his career came in 1802 when he met Norwegian philosopher Henrik Steffens, fresh from Germany with new Romantic ideas. Their sixteen-hour conversation transformed Oehlenschläger overnight - he destroyed a manuscript ready for publication and wrote 'Guldhornene' (The Golden Horns), marking the birth of Danish Romanticism. His first collection, 'Digte' (1803), revolutionized Danish literature with works like 'Sanct Hansaften-spil' and established him as the leading poet of Denmark by age 26.

From 1805 to 1809, Oehlenschläger traveled extensively through Europe, meeting Goethe in Weimar and other Romantic luminaries. Upon his return, he was appointed professor of aesthetics at the University of Copenhagen in 1810. He continued to produce influential works, including his masterpiece tragedy 'Hakon Jarl' and the epic cycle 'Helge' (1814). In 1819, he wrote 'Der er et yndigt land,' which became Denmark's national anthem. His crowning achievement came in 1829 when Swedish poet Esaias Tegnér crowned him 'the Nordic King of Poetry' in Lund Cathedral, cementing his status as Scandinavia's greatest Romantic poet.

Major Works & Series

Nordic Mythological Works (1807-1819)

Oehlenschläger's revolutionary series drawing from Norse mythology and Scandinavian sagas, establishing Nordic themes as legitimate literary material.

Nordiske Digte (Nordic Poems) (1807)

Baldur hin Gode (Baldur the Good) (1808)

Helge (1814)

Nordens Guder (The Gods of the North) (1819)

Historical Tragedies (1807-1847)

Epic dramas based on Danish and Scandinavian history, bringing ancient heroes to life on the modern stage.

Hakon Jarl hin Rige (Earl Haakon the Great) (1807)

Palnatoke (1809)

Axel og Valborg (1810)

Erik og Abel (1820)

Kiartan og Gudrun (1847)

Masterpiece: Aladdin (1805)

A poetic drama that became synonymous with Danish Romanticism, using the Aladdin story as an allegory for poetic genius and creativity. The work's lamp symbolizes intuitive inspiration, and its blend of exotic Eastern settings with universal themes made it a cornerstone of Danish literary culture until the early 20th century.

Literary Significance & Legacy

Oehlenschläger single-handedly introduced Romanticism to Danish literature, marking the end of 18th-century neoclassical dominance. His poem 'Guldhornene' is considered the manifesto of Scandinavian Romanticism, while his innovative use of Nordic mythology and saga material created a new national literary identity for Denmark. He revolutionized Danish poetic language with colorful, sensual imagery and introduced European verse forms to Danish poetry, becoming the great linguistic innovator of his time.

His influence extended far beyond Denmark's borders - he inspired Swedish poet Esaias Tegnér's 'Frithiofs Saga' and Finnish poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg's works, making him the spiritual father of Scandinavian Romantic nationalism. Many quotations from his 'Aladdin' entered Danish vernacular as proverbs still used today. His national anthem 'Der er et yndigt land' became a symbol of Danish identity, while his dramatic works dominated Scandinavian theaters for decades, earning him recognition as the architect of modern Nordic literature.

"Oehlenschläger's dramatic masterpiece being his first tragedy, Hakon Jarl. His name remains to this day synonymous with Scandinavian romance."

Encyclopædia Britannica

Quick Facts

Crowned 'Nordic King of Poetry' by Esaias Tegnér in Lund Cathedral, 1829
Wrote Denmark's national anthem 'Der er et yndigt land' in 1819
Met Goethe personally and spent months in daily conversation with him in Weimar
His sixteen-hour conversation with Henrik Steffens in 1802 sparked Danish Romanticism
Appointed Professor of Aesthetics at University of Copenhagen in 1810
First major European poet to extensively use Norse mythology as literary material
His works were translated into German and gained international recognition
Decorated as Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Dannebrog by the Danish king

Best Starting Points

Guldhornene (The Golden Horns)
The poem that launched Danish Romanticism - a perfect introduction to Oehlenschläger's revolutionary style and themes of ancient Nordic heritage versus modern life.
Der er et yndigt land
Denmark's beloved national anthem showcases Oehlenschläger's ability to capture national spirit and natural beauty in accessible, memorable verse.
Sanct Hansaften-spil (A Midsummer Night's Play)
A charming lyrical drama combining romance, nature mysticism, and gentle satire - demonstrates his versatility and wit while remaining highly readable.
Aladdin
His most influential work, blending Eastern exoticism with Romantic philosophy. Essential for understanding Oehlenschläger's impact on Danish culture and his concept of poetic genius.

Famous Characters

Aladdin
The dreamy, inspired poet-hero whose magical lamp represents creative genius and intuitive inspiration in Oehlenschläger's most famous dramatic work.
Hakon Jarl
The proud pagan earl torn between old Norse gods and the advancing Christian faith, representing the conflict between tradition and change.
Gulnare
Aladdin's beloved in the poetic drama, representing both earthly love and spiritual aspiration, singing some of the most beautiful lyrics in Danish literature.
Baldur
The Norse god of light and purity in Oehlenschläger's mythological works, embodying Romantic ideals of innocence destroyed by evil.
Helge
The tragic hero of the verse-romance cycle, caught between love, friendship, and fate in a story that inspired both Swedish and Finnish national epics.
Axel and Valborg
Star-crossed lovers from Danish history whose tragic romance became one of Oehlenschläger's most performed tragedies.