Ewald, Johannes

Ewald, Johannes (yōhän`əs ā`väl), 1743–81, Danish poet. Ewald's elegant verse made him the leading poet of his time. He studied for the ministry but soon turned to writing. His lyrical tragic drama Adam and Eve (1769) showed the influence of Klopstock. A prose work, Rolf Krage (1770), was based on a Danish legend from Saxo Grammaticus. The verse tragedy Balder's Death (1774) was a landmark in the revival of interest in Scandinavian mythology. His operetta The Fishermen (1779) contains the Danish national anthem, King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast. The central figure of the Danish Literary Society, Ewald exerted marked influence on later writers. His name also appears as Evald.

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Ewald, Johannes

(born Nov. 18, 1743, Copenhagen, Den.—died March 17, 1781, Copenhagen) Danish poet and dramatist. By age 19 he was becoming known as a writer. At 30, addicted to alcohol, he adopted a more solitary life and began producing his mature works, including The Death of Balder (1774), in which he became the first Danish poet to use themes from Scandinavian myth and saga. Of his dramatic works, only the operetta Fiskerne (1779; “The Fishermen”) is still performed. He is especially known for his great personal odes and for songs such as “King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast,” used as a national anthem, and “Lille Gunver,” the first Danish romance. He is considered one of Denmark's greatest lyric poets. His memoirs (published 1804) are his greatest prose work.

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Ewald, Johannes 

Born Nov. 18, 1743, in Copenhagen; died there Mar. 17,1781. Danish writer.

In his early works Ewald followed the examples of French classicism, for example, his tragedy Adam and Eve (1769). He later turned to themes drawn from Scandinavian mythology and history. Ewald’s dramas Rolf Krage (1770) and Balder’s Death (1775) prepared the way for the romantic national drama. The heroes of his tragedy The Fishermen (1779) are simple working men. Ewald wrote an autobiographical narrative The Life and Opinions of Johannes Ewald (1774–78). In his unfinished philosophical novel The History of Mr. Panthakak (begun 1771), he harshly criticized the concept of Enlightenment optimism. He also published odes and cantatas, as well as lyric poems. Ewald’s song “King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast” became Denmark’s national anthem.

WORKS

Samlede skrifter vols. 1–6. Copenhagen, 1914–24.

REFERENCE

Frandsen, E. Johannes Ewald. Copenhagen, 1968.