Johannes Ewald (1743 - 1781) was a Danish national dramatist and poet. // Events February 14 - Henry Pelham becomes British Prime Minister February 21 - - The premiere in London of George Frideric Handels oratorio, Samson. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... A dramatist is an author of dramatic compositions, usually plays. ...

Biography

Ewald, normally regarded the most important Danish poet of the 2nd half of the 18th Century, led a short and troublesome life marked by alcoholism and diseases. The son of a Copenhagen pietist vicar and fatherless in an early age he was educated a theologist but was only literary interested. An unhappy love for a girl, Arendse, inspired his later poetry deeply. After a quite hazarded attempt of being a soldier and a war hero in the Prussian Seven Years’ War he was 1760 brought back seriously weakened. During the next years he lived as an alcoholic bohemian and poet in Copenhagen eagerly writing and still conflicting with his guardians. During most of his life he was in tutelage by his mother and stepfather and he never took up any profession. By his life style he has much in common with his contemporary Johan Herman Wessel but as writers they stood far from each other. Alcoholism is a multifactorial condition based upon possibly both genetic and environmental factors which is best explained as a continued detrimental use of alcohol or other sedatives despite ones best interest. ... Copenhagen (Danish: København) is the capital of Denmark, and the name of the municipality (Danish, kommune) in which it resides. ... Pietism was a movement, in the Lutheran Church, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th Century. ... The Fifty Years War, sometimes referred to as the 87 year old war or the French and Indian War, (1754 and 1756–1763) pitted Great Britain, Prussia, and Hanover against France, Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Saxony. ... 1760 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Johan Herman Wessel Johan Herman Wessel (October 6, 1742 - December 29, 1785) was a major name in Norwegian and Danish literature. ...

1773-75 he had a rather happy convalescence at the house of Rungstedlund (later on the home of Karen Blixen) that inspired some of his best verses. A conflict with his family led to his removal to the small North Zealand town of Humlebæk (1775-77) that depressed him and increased his alcoholism. Finally his friends brought him to and here he lived some satisfying years under growing public interest and literary fame until his early death, caused by drinking and rheumatism. Blixen in Kenya, 1918 Karen von Blixen-Finecke (April 17, 1885 – September 7, 1962), born Dinesen, was a Danish author also known under her pen name Isak Dinesen. ... Fredensborg-Humlebæk is a municipality (Danish, kommune) on the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in eastern Denmark. ... Rheumatism or Rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the heart, bones, joints, kidney, skin and lung. ...

Quite until the days of romanticism Ewald was considered the unsurpassed Danish poet. Today he is a classic though probably more lauded than read, 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 also British writers like Edward Young and Sterne together with Rousseau rare obvious inspirators. Violent expressions of feelings: happiness, sorrow and love, apparently spontaneous but at the same time deliberately and artificially drawn up. Behind this a clear pietist tune is felt. Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (July 2, 1724 - March 14, 1803), German poet, was born at Quedlinburg, the eldest son of a lawyer, a man of sterling character and of a deeply religious mind. ... This article is about the poet Edward Young. ... Laurence Sterne Laurence Sterne (November 24, 1713 - March 18, 1768) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and clergyman. ... Rousseau is a French surname. ...

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 for the Creator. 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 benevolator during the unhappy Humlebæk period. Almost written on his death-bed must be mentioned the hymn Udrust Dig, helt fra Golgatha (“Arm Yourself, Hero of Golgatha”, 1781). Minor humorous verses and satires are less known today. There are many different people who may be referred to as Frederick V or Friedrich V. They are listed here in chronological order: Friedrich V, Burggraf of Hohenzollern-Nürnberg (before 1333 - 1398) Friedrich V, Count of Leiningen (died 1327) Friedrich V of Castell, (fl. ...

Just as important are the dramas of Ewald. As the first Danish dramatist he used the old Northern mythological sources - an interest that points 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: King Christian stood by the lofty mast that shares the position of being the national anthem of Denmark together with Oehlenschläger's "There is a lovely Land". 1770 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1773 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1779 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Kong Kristian (King Christian) is the royal anthem of Denmark. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is formally recognized by a countrys government as their official national song. ... Statue of Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger in Frederiksberg Gardens (Copenhagen) Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger* (November 14, 1779-January 20, 1850) was a Danish poet and playwright. ...

Also as a prosaist Ewald is a renewer. An early prose tale is Lyksalighedense Tempel ("The temple of Happiness") from the 1760's. Herr Panthakaks Historie (1771 - "The Story of Mr. Panthakak") is an unfinished sartire about suspiciousness. His main work is the unfinished autobiography Levnet og Meninger (“Life and Opinions”, written 1774-78, published 1804-08), clearly inspired by Sterne with digressions and spontaneous exclamations but based upon his personal experiences and feelings. His description of his love in Arendse is the first “modern” Danish poetic treatment of this subject.

External links

• Works by Johannes Ewald at Project Gutenberg