Ewald, Johannes

(1743-1781)

   A Danish poet and dramatist, Ewald was plagued by ill health most of his life. A transitional figure between neoclassicism and romanticism, his work is marked both by adherence to the formal strictures of the neoclassicists and by romanticism's focus on the individual. Ewald's dramatic debut was a neoclassical play about the Fall entitled Adam og Ewa eller Den ulykkelige Prøve (1769; Adam and Eve, or, The Unlucky Test). It was followed by Rolf Krage (1770), an action drama with the subject taken from the Danish history written by Saxo Grammaticus, a 13th-century historian. Another drama on an Old Norse theme is Balders Død (1774; tr. The Death of Balder, 1889), which inspired Adam Oehlenschlager. The play Fiskerne (1779; The Fishermen) tells about a daring rescue and contains one of Ewald's best-known poems, "Kong Christian stod ved højen Mast" (King Christian Stood by Lofty Mast).

   Ewald's fragmentary autobiography bears the title Levnet og Meeninger (1773—1777; published 1804—1808; Life and Opinions), and it gives the reader a good sense of the challenges he had to face in his personal life. He is, however, remembered chiefly for his poetry. He was a master of the occasional poem, one of which is the ode "Rungsteds Lyksaligheder" (1775; The Joys of Rungsted), which not only celebrates a country place to which his mother had sent him in order to help him overcome his alcoholism, but which also expresses his religious faith. "Poenitenten" (1777; The Penitent One), "Følelser ved den hellige Nadvere" (1777; Feelings at Holy Communion), and "Til Sielen. En Ode" (1777; Ode to the Soul) all express his religious feelings. The ode "Til min Moltke" (1777; To My Moltke), on the other hand, expresses his gratitude toward an earthly benefactor.

   See also Theater.