Danish literature underwent a significant transformation from the beginning of the 19th century to the end of the 20th. The period covers Romantic ideals, the realism of the Modern Breakthrough, interwar experiments, and the diversity of voices in the postwar years. For a Danish audience, this period can be seen as a mirror of society’s changes: from absolutism to democracy, from agrarian society to welfare state, and from national self-image to global outlook.
The 19th Century: Romanticism and Realism
Romanticism and National Sentiment
In the early 19th century, Romanticism was the dominant literary movement. Art was seen as a tool to express the beautiful, the true, and the spiritual. Adam Oehlenschläger was a central figure, and his poem The Golden Horns (1802) is regarded as the manifesto of Romanticism in Danish literature. Oehlenschläger linked national sentiment with mythic and historical themes, helping to strengthen a Danish cultural identity in a period of political upheaval.
Biedermeier and Everyday Realism
Alongside Romanticism, a more down-to-earth style emerged, often referred to as Biedermeier. Here everyday life was depicted in small, manageable forms. Writers such as Thomasine Gyllembourg produced stories focused on the home, the family, and bourgeois virtues.
Realism and the Modern Breakthrough
In the latter half of the century, Romantic ideals were challenged by realism. Georg Brandes launched in 1871 the demand that literature should “set problems up for debate.” This initiated the Modern Breakthrough, where writers addressed social and critical themes such as gender, morality, and class.
- Henrik Pontoppidan explored the conflict between countryside and city, particularly in his novel Lucky Per (1898–1904), portraying an individual caught between faith, ambition, and social norms.
- J.P. Jacobsen brought poetic and psychological depth into realism, especially in Niels Lyhne (1880), a novel about the collapse of faith and the confrontation with life’s meaninglessness.
- Amalie Skram, although Norwegian, greatly influenced Danish literature with her naturalist novels on women’s lives and marriage.
The Turn of the Century: Symbolism and Neo-Romanticism
Around 1900, writers reacted against the harshness of realism. Symbolism and neo-romanticism turned inward toward imagination, moods, and the musicality of language.
- Sophus Claussen and Johannes Jørgensen wrote symbolist poetry aiming to capture spiritual experiences.
- Herman Bang stood out by blending impressionistic style with social engagement. His novel Ved Vejen (At the Roadside, 1886) portrays the quiet tragedy of a woman trapped by provincial conventions.
The Interwar Period: Experiments and Modernism
Social Realism and Social Critique
After World War I, a new generation of writers depicted social inequality and the conditions of modernity. Martin Andersen Nexø produced working-class novels such as Pelle the Conqueror (1906–1910) and Ditte, Child of Man (1917–1921), highlighting the lives and struggles of the underclass.
Modernist Tendencies
The interwar years also saw modernist experiments. Tom Kristensen’s Havoc (1930) is a landmark of Danish modernism, where the protagonist’s alcoholic downfall becomes an allegory of interwar crises and loss of values.
The Postwar Years: Existentialism and New Realism
Existentialist Currents
World War II left deep marks on Danish literature. Many writers addressed themes of responsibility, freedom, and guilt. Karen Blixen gained international recognition with collections such as Seven Gothic Tales (1934), combining classic storytelling with philosophical reflection.
The New Realism
In the 1950s and 1960s, a new realism emerged, often called concrete realism, portraying everyday life with precision and clarity. Hans Scherfig used satire to critique society, notably in Stolen Spring (1940). Tove Ditlevsen depicted childhood, women’s lives, and addiction in poetry and prose, including Childhood’s Street (1943) and Dependency (1971).
The 1960s and 1970s: Political Engagement and Experimentation
Women’s Literature and the Redstocking Movement
The women’s movement left a strong mark on Danish literature in the 1970s. Suzanne Brøgger challenged conventions on gender and sexuality in Deliver Us from Love (1973). Kirsten Thorup portrayed outsiders in a consumer society, for instance in her novel Baby (1973).
Experimental Forms
The 1960s and 1970s also saw linguistic and formal experimentation inspired by international modernism. Per Højholt combined poetry and theory, while Klaus Rifbjerg was prolific as novelist, poet, and playwright. His novel Terminal Innocence (Den kroniske uskyld, 1958) is a classic tale of youth, friendship, and loss.
1980–2000: Postmodernism and New Voices
Postmodern Currents
From the 1980s, literature was influenced by postmodernism, marked by irony, intertextuality, and playful use of genres. Peter Høeg achieved international success with Smilla’s Sense of Snow (1992), blending crime fiction, philosophy, and social critique.
New Female Voices
Authors such as Hanne Vibeke Holst and Helle Helle emerged in the 1990s. Helle Helle became known for her minimalist style and depictions of ordinary provincial lives, exemplified in Rødby-Puttgarden (2005).
Globalization and Migration
By the 1990s and towards 2000, literature also began reflecting themes of globalization and migration. Authors with multicultural backgrounds, like Yahya Hassan later on (from 2013), built on this development.
Conclusion
Danish literature from 1800 to 2000 moves from Romantic idealism to postmodern play with form and identity. Along the way, it has addressed society’s great questions as well as the intimate experiences of individuals. For today’s Danish readers, this period provides a rich backdrop in which both classics and more recent writers help us understand how we became who we are.
Sources
- Den Store Danske Encyklopædi, Gyldendal.
- Litteratursiden.dk – articles on Danish literary history.
- Pil Dahlerup (ed.): Dansk litteraturhistorie, vols. 3–6, Gyldendal.
- Aage Henriksen et al.: Dansk litteraturhistorie, Gyldendal.
- Finn Hauberg Mortensen: Det moderne gennembrud og dets betydning, in Dansk litteraturhistorie.