A Glimpse of Danish Literature [Part 3]

In the last three decades of the 19th century, Danish modern literature and all of Nordic modern literature emerged thanks to the role of literary critic G. Brandes.

Modern Literature Period (1)

Modern literature was born:

Literary critic G. Brandes.

In the last three decades of the 19th century, Danish modern literature and all of Nordic modern literature emerged thanks to the role of literary critic G. Brandes (1842-1927).

He criticized outdated, frivolous, and unrealistic Romanticism. Influenced by Hegelian philosophy (Germany), the objective criticism of Sainte-Beuve (France), and the pragmatic literary studies of Taine (France), he followed realism and naturalism, demanding that literature closely adhere to reality, be scientific, progressive, and oppose reactionary politics .

1871 was a pivotal year for Nordic literature: Brandes' lectures at the University of Copenhagen on Political Movements in 19th-Century European Literature opened a breakthrough into the stronghold of Romanticism.

Later, Brandes's ideas gradually shifted towards the aristocratic radicalism of the German philosopher Nietzsche.

J.P. Jacobsen (1847-1885) popularized Darwinian thought. He wrote atheistic novels, opposing Christianity (though he changed his mind towards the end). His works have a tragic tone, heavily imbued with hopelessness and helplessness.

H. Bang (1837-1912) wrote novels, short stories, criticism, and impressionistic poetry. His novel, *The Hopeless Generation*, exposed the decadent bourgeois morality, written according to genetic theory, and he was prosecuted in court. He sympathized with those who lived in obscurity, struggling hopelessly, and his writing style was naturalistic, leading to pessimism.

H. Drachman (1846-1908) wavered between bourgeois radicalism and conservatism. His poetry collection expressed sympathy for the Paris Commune. However, he later severed ties with the Brandes radical group, writing novels and impulsive romantic poetry.

The realist novels of H. Pontoppidan (1857-1943, Nobel Prize 1917) paved the way for the modern novel. An outstanding representative of Danish critical realist literature, he delved deeply into social psychology. He contrasted modern man, marked by economic , technological, and social changes, with traditional man deeply rooted in the land. His novel *Per the Red* demonstrates that in capitalist society, hard work and talent are ineffective; success depends on money, power, and ruthlessness. The main characters all seek escape by distancing themselves from society or doing good with their wealth.

In response to pessimistic naturalism, some young writers sought a new ideal, an introspective, lyrical, symbolic, or mystical neo-romantic aesthetic, such as J. Jorgensen, H. Rode, L. Holstein, S. Clausen, G. Wied, and Vigo Stuckenberg.

By the early 19th century, from 1890 to World War I, Nordic literature underwent a rather complex transformation, but it also followed the general trend of European literature at that time: young poets reacted to the dominance of Symbolism and Neo-Romanticism of the 1890s. Although the Symbolist tradition persisted to this day, in the Nordic countries they resisted the absolute "self," opening up new horizons (industrial themes, big cities, linguistic experimentation). Psychological realism was expressed in novels and theater, addressing socialist issues. Local literature and literature written by peasants and workers themselves also flourished.

In Denmark, a wave of materialist, neo-realist literature, tinged with socialist ideology, emerged. The most prominent figure was J.V. Jensen (1873-1950). Influenced by the English poet Kipling, who praised imperialism and its civilizing influence, he created characters who were action-oriented and practical, extolling the technological age and the industrial revolution. He wrote poetry, novels, and short stories praising his hometown of Jutland and depicting the lives of peasants in the late 19th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1944.

J.V. Jensen represented a local literary trend encompassing many writers from Southern Jutland. Notably, there was the novelist J. Knudsen (1858-1915). Jensen sought a path to the future in modern technology and superior people, while Knudsen found it in Christian faith. Following a naturalist tendency, he depicted souls to raise questions of good and evil. His important work is *The False Priest*.

Another trend in literature at that time was literature that fueled social struggle. M. Andersen-Nexoe (1869-1954) was the first reputable writer representing the Danish workers' movement, introducing new material and placing the proletariat at the center of his works.

The world- famous novel *Pele the Conqueror* (celebrating class enlightenment, solidarity among the exploited, and reflecting belief in social justice) is a testament to his work. After the Russian October Revolution, he joined the Danish Communist Party and wrote the novel *Ditche, Daughter of a Man* (celebrating the kindness of proletarian women). At the age of 82, he emigrated to the German Democratic Republic, where he lived until his death.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mot-thoang-van-hoc-dan-mach-ky-3-246833.html