Johannes Ewald (18 November 1743 – 17 March 1781) was a Danish nationaldramatist, psalm writer and poet. The lyrics of a song from one of his plays are used for one of the Danish national anthems,Kong Christian stod ved højen mast which has equal status of national anthem together withDer er et yndigt land. Quite until the days of romanticism, Ewald was considered the unsurpassed Danish poet. Today he is probably more lauded than read; though considered classics, only few of his works have become popular.[1][2]
He was born inCopenhagen, Denmark.Ewald grew up in a strongly pietistic parsonage.His father was Enevold Ewald (1696-1754), vicar at the orphanage in Copenhagen. His maternal grandmotherMarie Wulf (1685–1738), was a pietist and later a follower of the Moravian Church.[3]
He was fatherless from an early age. He was sent to school in theDuchy of Schleswig, his father's birthplace, and returned to enter theUniversity of Copenhagen in 1758.[4] At 15 he ran away along with his brother and enlisted in thePrussian service. Being compelled to join a regiment of artillery atMagdeburg, instead of being attached to the hussars as he had been promised, he deserted the Prussian standard in theSeven Years' War, and entered theAustrian service, where he was made a non-commissioned officer.[4] After a few months he again deserted, returned home. He had returned from the Seven Years' War seriously weakened.[5]
He began to apply himself seriously to theology and in 1762 he becamecand.theol. in 1762. Although he was educated as a theologian, but his real interest was in literature. An unhappy love for Arendse Hulegaard, inspired his later poetry deeply. After the death of his father, his mother was remarried to Arendse's uncle. Arendse later married another.[6]
The following years were spent living as a bohemian and writing poetry in Copenhagen; there were also a time of alcoholism and conflicts with his mother and step-father. For most of his life he was under their tutelage and he never took up a profession. His lifestyle had much in common with his contemporaryJohan Herman Wessel (1742–1785) although as writers they differed greatly.On the death ofFrederick V of Denmark, Ewald was requested to compose an elegy (1766). The general admiration with which it was received roused his ambition, and he soon became one of the most eminent lyric and tragic poets of his nation.[5][7]
In 1769, Ewald was severely attacked by gout which caused him to be confined to bed.From 1773 to 1775 he had a rather happy convalescence atRungstedlund (later the home ofKaren Blixen). Ewald wrote some of his best verses during this time, but a conflict with his family led to his removal to the smallNorth Zealand town ofHumlebæk (1775–77), which depressed him and worsened his alcoholism. Finally, friends brought him to Søbækshus, nearHelsingør, and where he lived for some years under growing public interest and literary fame. Johannes Ewald led a short and troubled life, marked byalcoholism and financial problems. His life darkened by illness, distress and misfortune, Ewald died at age 37 and was buried in the cemetery ofTrinitatis Church in Copenhagen. However, the cemetery largely disappeared in the aftermath of theCopenhagen Fire of 1795 (Københavns brand 1795) .[6][8]
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 (Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock), but other writers includingEdward Young andLaurence Sterne, as well asJean-Jacques Rousseau, are obvious inspirations as well. Violent expressions of feeling (happiness, sorrow and love) are typical in his writing; these elements are apparently spontaneous but, at the same time, deliberately and artificially drawn up. Behind this a clear pietist tune is felt.
Several Ewaldpoems are Danish classics. He had his break-through with a melodious and expressive commemorative poem at the death of KingFrederick V (1766). The famousRungsteds Lyksaligheder (1773 – "The Happiness of Rungsted") is an ode to 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 benefactor, during the unhappy Humlebæk period. The hymnUdrust Dig, helt fra Golgatha ("Arm Yourself, Hero of Golgatha", 1781), practically written on his death-bed, must be mentioned.
Just as important are Ewald'sdramas. Ewald was the first to rely heavily on Norse mythology, a trend which begins to point towards romanticism. He wrote the playsRolf Krage in 1770,Balders Død (Eng. transl. "The Death of Balder", 1889) in 1773, andFiskerne (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 thenational anthem of Denmark (the other isOehlenschläger's "There is a lovely Land").[9] The two playsBaldersDød andFiskerne were put in music by composerJohann Hartmann.
Ewald's main prose work was the unfinished autobiographyLevnet og Meninger ("Life and Opinions", written 1774–78, published 1804–08). It deals with the young Ewald's infatuation with Arendse and his escape to military life.[10]
