Spiegelbilder des Krieges. Grenzverletzungen als literarische Katalysatoren der nationalen und existentiellen Selbstreflexion
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Ivy York Möller-Christensen
Abstract
Germany versus Denmark in the years 1864 and 1940. Nationalistic and military confrontations reflected in Danish literature. Border violations as catalysts for self-reflection in relation to nationality and existence.
The purpose of this article is to throw light on nationalistic and military confrontations acting as literary catalysts for self-reflection in relation to Danish nationality and existence. Highlighted in this article are two major discourses of this, both originating in the 19th century. One of these is rooted in an idealistic, universal romanticism, and the other is characterized by an existentialistic discourse of modernity.
The analysis demonstrates how the first mentioned, idealistic and national-romantic school of thought builds on the identity-creative elements of history, nature, language and national character. These factors form a common ideological frame of reference for two of the most influential writers during the World War 2 German occupation of Denmark: Valdemar Rørdam and Kaj Munk, who nevertheless ended up on either side of the table; the former advocating the national-socialistic ideology, and the latter as an uncompromising critic and opponent of the occupational power.
The existentialistic discourse of modernity – of which the author Herman Bang is one of the most significant representatives during the last part of the 19th century – has shown to be the most vigorous and viable, and even to-day it is forming an artistic and ideological background for a critical, existential and national self-reflection which up to now has left its mark on the rich Danish war literature.
© 2014 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Karen Blixen’s “The Poet” and Søren Kierkegaard’s Gjentagelsen
- Ibsen Exposed: Atle Næss’s Sensommer and Niels Fredrik Dahl’s Henrik og Emilie
- Nur über seine Leiche: Knut Faldbakkens Maude danser als phantastische Groteske und Märchentravestie
- Spiegelbilder des Krieges. Grenzverletzungen als literarische Katalysatoren der nationalen und existentiellen Selbstreflexion
- Gute Europäer um 1800. Beiträge anlässlich des 250. Geburtstags von Jens Baggesen
- Baggesen in Frankreich
- Senklassicistisk omgang med tekster. Om åbenbare og skjulte citater i Jens Baggesens Labyrinten
- Der Wiedergänger. Jens Baggesens Nachleben in der deutschen Literatur
- ”I känslofulla sköna!” Bengt Lidner, Göttingen och den kvinnliga läsaren
- Reviews
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Karen Blixen’s “The Poet” and Søren Kierkegaard’s Gjentagelsen
- Ibsen Exposed: Atle Næss’s Sensommer and Niels Fredrik Dahl’s Henrik og Emilie
- Nur über seine Leiche: Knut Faldbakkens Maude danser als phantastische Groteske und Märchentravestie
- Spiegelbilder des Krieges. Grenzverletzungen als literarische Katalysatoren der nationalen und existentiellen Selbstreflexion
- Gute Europäer um 1800. Beiträge anlässlich des 250. Geburtstags von Jens Baggesen
- Baggesen in Frankreich
- Senklassicistisk omgang med tekster. Om åbenbare og skjulte citater i Jens Baggesens Labyrinten
- Der Wiedergänger. Jens Baggesens Nachleben in der deutschen Literatur
- ”I känslofulla sköna!” Bengt Lidner, Göttingen och den kvinnliga läsaren
- Reviews
