War

War
   The ancient Scandinavian Vikings had a well-deserved reputation for being a warlike people, as shown by Egils saga, a story of the life of Egil Skallagrimsson. War remains a significant theme in Scandinavian literature, from Thomas Kingo's glorification of the Danish campaign against Sweden during the years 1675-1679, to Ib Michael's opposition in 2004 to the war in Iraq. In Fänrik Stals sagner (1848-1860; tr. The Tales by Ensign Stal, 1925), Johan Ludvig Runeberg memorialized the war between Sweden and Russia in 1808-1809, through which Finland was lost by Sweden and became a Russian grand duchy. The war between Denmark and Prussia, in which Denmark lost a great deal of territory, shows up in novels by the Danes Herman Bang and Jens Peter Jacobsen, as well as in a novel by the Norwegian Herbjørg Wassmo, Lykkens sønn (1992; tr. Dina's Son).
   Although the Scandinavian countries were neutral during World War I, the experience of that war changed long-standing social customs and structures of economic power, as depicted in Johan Borgen's Lillelord trilogy (1955-1957) and Jacob Paludan's two-volume family saga Jørgen Stein (1932-1933; tr. 1966). Finland, however, experienced a brutal civil war in 1918, which deeply affected Finnish literature, for example, the work of Elmer Diktonius and Frans Eemil Sillanpaa. The latter produced two internationally successful novels related to the war, Hurskas kurjuus (1919; tr. Meek Heritage, 1938) and Nuorena nukkunut (1931; tr. The Maid Silja, 1933). Another great Finnish war novel is Väinö Linna's Tuntematon Sotilas (1954; tr. The Unknown Soldier, 1957), set during Finland's Continuation War (1941-1944).
   Both Denmark and Norway were attacked by Germany on 9 April 1940 and remained occupied for the next five years. Sweden remained neutral, while Iceland was used by American and British troops as a base. Postwar Scandinavian literature was deeply affected by the war experience. In Denmark, Kaj Munk lost his life because of his resistance to the Nazis. The Danish resistance was described by Tage Skou-Hansen in De nøgne træer (1957; tr. The Naked wassmo, herbjørg • 283
   Trees, 1959) and Dagstjernen (1962; Day Star). In Norway Jens Bjørneboe discussed the government's treatment of wartime collaborators in Under en hardere himmel (1957; Under a Harder Sky), while Sigurd Hoel, Aksel Sandemose, and Tarjei Vesaas probed the psychology of those who turned to Nazism. Knut Hamsun, Norway's greatest writer at the time, sided with the Nazis. In Sweden Paär Lagerkvist published his novel Dvaärgen (1944; tr. The Dwarf, 1945), an exploration of the Nazi personality. The Swede Eyvind Johnson (1900-1976) explored the problem of evil in his novel Drommar om rosor och eld (1949; tr. Dreams ofRoses and Fire, 1984) and of war itself in his Krilon trilogy (1941-1943). The Icelander GuSmundur Gislason Hagalin described the effects of the war on Icelandic society in Modir Island (1945; Mother Iceland).
   The 1950s brought the Cold War and widespread concern about nuclear destruction. The worry about nuclear war can be observed in the work of Bo Carpelan, Sophus Claussen, Per Christian Jersild, and Svava Jakobsdottir. The Vietnam War was bitterly opposed by many Scandinavian writers, particularly the Swedes Sara Lidman, Lars Forssell, Goäran Sonnevi, and Tomas Transtroämer.

Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Literature and Theater. . 2006.

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  • War — War, n. [OE. & AS. werre; akin to OHG. werra scandal, quarrel, sedition, werran to confound, mix, D. warren, G. wirren, verwirren, to embroil, confound, disturb, and perhaps to E. worse; cf. OF. werre war, F. querre, of Teutonic origin. Cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • War — War, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Warred}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Warring}.] 1. To make war; to invade or attack a state or nation with force of arms; to carry on hostilities; to be in a state by violence. [1913 Webster] Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • War — War, v. t. 1. To make war upon; to fight. [R.] [1913 Webster] To war the Scot, and borders to defend. Daniel. [1913 Webster] 2. To carry on, as a contest; to wage. [R.] [1913 Webster] That thou . . . mightest war a good warfare. Tim. i. 18. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • War — War, a. Ware; aware. [Obs.] Chaucer. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • War on I-4 — is the nickname for the rivalry between the Tampa Bay Storm and the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League. The teams have met at least twice and up to four times a season since 1991, and both have consistently been at the top of the… …   Wikipedia

  • War — This article is about war in general. For other uses, see War (disambiguation) and The War (disambiguation). Warfare Military history Eras …   Wikipedia

  • War on 45 — Infobox Album Name = War on 45 (2005 CD Version) Type = EP Longtype = 12 / CD Artist = D.O.A. Genre = Hardcore Label = Alternative Tentacles, Sudden Death Reviews = *Robert Christgau A [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get artist.php?id=369… …   Wikipedia

  • war — I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English werre, from Anglo French werre, guerre, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife; akin to Old High German werran to confuse Date: 12th century 1. a. (1) a state of usually …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • war — See: COLD WAR, TUG OF WAR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • war — See: COLD WAR, TUG OF WAR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • War rape — describes rape committed by soldiers, other combatants or civilians during armed conflict or war. Rape in the course of war dates back to antiquity, ancient enough to have been mentioned in the Bible. During war and armed conflict rape is… …   Wikipedia

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