Around the mid-1920s, the debate about worldview reached its peak. A new generation of lyric poets emerged.
Modern Literature Period (2)
The period between World War I and World War II:
Early period: Following the devastation of World War I, a wave of lyrical poetry arose, celebrating the pleasures of life, love, and the modern woman liberated from social conventions and the rhythm of a technologically advanced life.
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| Poet E. Bonnelycke. |
E. Bonnelycke (1893-1953) In his passionate poetry (from the collection "Songs of Asphalt"), poet and writer Tom Kristensen (1893-1974) enthusiastically expressed the joy of living, the wonders of technology, and the coming revolutions, but even within this passion lay a touch of melancholy.
O. Gelsted (1888-1968) was the first poet to denounce the emptiness of modern life, Americanization, noise, and an abundance of advertising, which prevented people from concentrating on their thoughts. Sympathetic to Marxism, he denounced the Nazi German invasion of his country (from the poem "Dark Birds ," in the collection "Exile Poems ").
While Gelsted criticized modern civilization, J. Paludan (1896-1975) also criticized it, but looked to the past. He spoke of the harmful effects of Americanization that J.V. Jensen praised. In his novel *Western Roads*, he exposed the phenomena of the decline of American capitalist society. The two-volume novel *Jorn Stein* is a major work of Danish critical realist literature; the author describes the development of society after World War I (from 1919 to 1933) and criticizes Americanization. He romanticized bourgeois society before 1914.
Intermediate musical passage: Around the mid-1920s, the debate about worldview reached its peak. A new generation of lyric poets emerged. The spiritual crisis temporarily subsided.
J.A. Schade (1903-1978) wrote humorous, surrealist poetry, expressing cosmic sentiments and a subjective view of life. He celebrated sexuality (both in his novels).
Paul La Cour (1902-1956) aspired to connect with all living things and empathize with all people. His poetry combines intellectual instinct, irrationality, and reason.
The poet Per Lange (1901-1991) rejected religion and adopted an ascetic attitude rooted in ancient philosophy. His writing style was clear and classical.
Gustaf Munch Petersen (1912-1938), who died in the Spanish Civil War against fascism, had socialist leanings.
Period of ideological conflict: Marked by restlessness, anxiety, and nihilism. The most prominent example is Nis Petersen (1897-1943). His novel *Shoemaker's Street*, set in ancient Rome, depicts the bewilderment of a society whose values are constantly changing (the book has been translated into ten languages).
Hans Kirk (1898-1962) collaborated with communist newspapers from 1930. His novels and socio-political stories depicted class struggle, opposition to capitalism and fascism. *The Fishermen* portrays the development of a social collective rather than individual characters.
Lek Fischer (1904-1956) wrote plays and novels depicting the anxieties of society in the 1930s, as Nazism loomed. M. Klitgaard (1906-1945) employed American novelistic techniques to portray life in the capital. J. Niesen (1902-1945) wrote novels about his hometown of Jutland, with a critical attitude towards provincial life. A. Dons (born 1903) specialized in psychological novels. Along with Kirk, he was one of the most famous Marxist writers of the time. He wrote detective novels depicting bourgeois society with a satirical style. K. Becker (1891-1974) wrote a long series of novels depicting Danish society with a critical pen.
Theatre: Journalist Carl Erik Soya (1896-1983) wrote satirical plays with psychoanalytic elements, exposing everyday deceptions. K. Abell (1901-1961) revolutionized Danish theatre. He opposed bourgeois and petty-bourgeois stereotypes and fascism. He tended to incorporate symbolic elements into his plays, leading to abstract humanism (particularly influenced by existentialism).
The pinnacle of prose: During the interwar period, several writers reached their peaks. Karen Blixen (1885-1962), from an aristocratic landowner family, owned a coffee plantation in Kenya (Africa), where she lived from 1931 to 1941. She held a generally humanist viewpoint, often contrasting good and evil. Her first collection of short stories, written in English – Seven Gothic Tales , published in the United States (1934) – employed a style of imitation, ironically and engagingly recreating the literary style of the past. Memories of Africa provided the material for her simple and moving stories – Farm in Africa (1937).
Like Blixen, H.C. Branner (1903-1966) held a skeptical and liberal attitude towards contemporary ideological, moral, and social systems. He addressed the psychological and social conflicts of the German occupation. His humanist perspective emphasized the importance of preserving individual morality over social reform. His novels depict the alienation and loneliness of individuals in capitalist society.
Martin A. Hansen (1909–1955) wrote novels and short stories. Initially, he wrote works of critical realism; in some books from the 1940s, he leaned toward religious and anti-naturalistic tendencies. His anti-communist leanings became increasingly apparent. His radio novel * The Liar* (1950) was a bestseller in 1999, with a daily newspaper ranking his works third among Danish novels.
Faroe Islands Literature: The islands became an autonomous region of Denmark in 1948. There has long been a tradition of oral Faroese literature. Two famous Faroese writers in Northern Europe wrote in Danish. Jorgen-Frantz Jaconsen (1900-1938) left behind poetry and the novel Barbasa (1939) about life in the islands in the 18th century. W. Heinesen (1900-1991) wrote poetry with cosmic sentiment. His stories and novels reacted to social conditions, possessing elements of folk poetry and romantic mysticism. He wrote in Danish, except for one play in Faroe.
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