Scandinavian literature

Scandinavian literature is literature in the languages ​​of the Scandinavian countries. These include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their autonomous territories including Åland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. The majority of these nations and territories speak North Germanic languages. Although no North Germanic language, but Finnish is spoken in Finland, the Finnish history and literature has a clear connection with Sweden. Linguistically related to the Finns, the Sami in Sweden, Norway and Finland.

The Scandinavian nations have produced a significant and influential literature. The Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen popularized the modern realistic drama in Europe, with pieces such as The Wild Duck and A Doll 's home. The Nobel Prize in Literature was Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Selma Lagerlof, Verner von Heidenstam, Karl Adolph Gjellerup, Henrik Pontoppidan, Knut Hamsun, Sigrid Undset, Erik Axel Karlfeldt, Frans Eemil Sillanpää, Johannes Vilhelm Jensen, Pär Lagerkvist, Halldór Laxness, Nelly Sachs, Eyvind Johnson, and Harry Martinson awarded.

• 8.2.1 Literature Prize of the Nordic Council

• 8.3.1 Finland
• 8.3.2 Norway
• 8.3.3 Sweden

The Scandinavian literature of the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages was spoken only Urnordisch and later Old Norse in Scandinavia. The oldest written records of Scandinavia are runic writings on memorial stones and other objects. Some of which contain allusions to Norse mythology and short verses in Alliterationsform. The best known example is the artful Rök Runestone (800 ) with allusions to the legends of the migration period. The earliest poems of the Edda is located at in the 9th century, although they are preserved only in manuscripts of the 13th century. They tell the myths and epics of Scandinavia. The skaldic is obtained similarly, the manuscripts have recorded the oral versions of the 9th century.

The Christianization of the 10th century brought Scandinavia in contact with the European knowledge, including the Roman alphabet and the Latin language. In the 12th century this literary bore fruit in works such as the Danish Gesta Danorum, a dedicated work of Saxo Grammaticus historical. The 13th century was regarded as the golden age of Icelandic Snorri Sturluson's Edda literature and Heimskringla.

Danish literature

The 16th century brought the Reformation to Denmark and a new period of Danish literature. One of the main authors of the time were among humanists like Chris Pedersen, who translated the New Testament into Danish, and Poul Helgesen, the well-known representatives of the Counter-Reformation. In the 16th century the first dramas of Denmark, including the works of Hieronymus Justesen ranches developed. The 17th century was an era of renewed interest in the Scandinavian roots and antiquities with scholars such as Ole Worm at the top. Although spread the Lutheran orthodoxy, the seal reached a climax in the personal expression of the Passion Hymns Thomas Kingos. Important writers of the 19th century Danish Søren Kierkegaard and Hans Christian Andersen. Among the Danish authors of the 20th century became especially Martin Andersen Nexø in Germany better known. Karen Blixen grew up in Denmark, but wrote their books in English.

Faroese literature

Faroese literature in the traditional sense of the word has really developed only in the last 100-200 years. This is mainly due to the insularity and the fact that the Faroese language until 1890 had no standardized writing format. In the Middle Ages many Faroese poems and stories were handed down orally. These works were split into the following areas: sagnir ( historical ), ævintyr (stories) and kvæði ( ballads, often with music and dance). These were finally fixed in the 19th century and provided the basis for the " late ", but impressive literature.

Finnish literature

The eventful history of Finland shows that during long periods through the government language was different from the vernacular. This exerted a strong influence on " Finnish literature ", which proposed the creation or maintenance of a strong Finnish identity in their greatest works.

The most famous collection of folk poetry is the Kalevala by far. The work force as a Finnish national epic is mainly attributed to Elias Lönnrot, although this was more involved as editor and compiler. First published in 1835 it quickly became the symbol of Finnish nationalism. The first novel was published in Finnish Seven Brothers (1870 ) by Kivi ( 1834-1872 ): he is generally considered the greatest work of Finnish literature.

Icelandic Literature

The Icelandic sagas ( Icelandic: Íslendingasögur ) are prose narratives on matters Iceland the 10th and early 11th century. You are the best known and most typical Icelandic literature of the early period dar. the late Middle Ages were Rímur for most popular form of poetic expression. Influential Icelandic authors, since the Reformation were Hallgrímur Pétursson, Jónas Hallgrímsson, Gunnar Gunnarsson or Halldór Laxness.

Norwegian literature

The period from the 14th to the 19th century is regarded as the Dark Age of Norwegian literature, although norwegischbürtige writers such as Peder Clausson Friis and Ludvig Holberg contributed their share to the general Danish-Norwegian literature. With the rise of nationalism and the struggle for independence in the early 19th century a new period of national literature came up. The dramatist Henrik Wergeland was the most influential writer of this period. In the second half of the 19th century, Henrik Ibsen and Bjørnson Bjørnstjerne Norway procured an influential place in the Western European literature. Among the most famous Norwegian authors of the 20th century include the Nobel laureate Knut Hamsun and Sigrid Undset.

Swedish literature

The Swedish Literature in the Middle Ages experienced a first climax with the Saint Bridget. As in other Scandinavian countries was also the translation of the Bible during the Reformation ( the Vasa Bible ) is of great importance. At the beginning of the 20th century seemed August Strindberg and Selma Lagerlöf. As a children's book author Astrid Lindgren has become known. Swedish authors of Kriminalromamen are Liza Marklund, Henning Mankell and the couple Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö that created the figure of Commissioner Beck. Sweden ranks fifth in the list of countries with the most Literaturnobelpreisträgern.

Prizes and awards

International prices

Nobel Prize for Literature

The Nobel Prize for Literature has been awarded numerous Scandinavians.

Regional prices

Literature Prize of the Nordic Council

The Literature Prize of the Nordic Council is awarded by a jury for Scandinavian literature (novels, drama, poetry, short stories or essays ) written in a Scandinavian language. The jury will be appointed by the Council and consists of 10 members:

• Two Danes,
• Two Finns (1 of Finnish, Swedish- 1 )
• Two Icelanders,
• Two Norwegians and
• Two Swedes.

National prices

Finland

• Finnlandia Literature Prize

Norway

• Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature
• Halldis Moren Vesaas Price
• NBU prisen
• Norwegian Thor Leif Dahl Memorial Award of the Academy
• Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of expression

Sweden

• Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
• Astrid Lindgren Prize
• Nils Holgersson - Plaque
• Selma Lagerlöf Prize for Literature
• Svenska Dagbladet Literature Prize
• August Strindberg Price
• Listeners Literature Prize Sveriges Radio
• Samfundet De Nio Price