The Shepherd's Horn and Norwegian Romantic Nationalism
Scandinavian Studies
The Shepherd’s Horn and Norwegian Romantic Nationalism The concept of romantic nationalism is defined as a “form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs.” In the context of Maurits Hansen’s short story “The Shepherd’s Horn”, romantic nationalism was a movement in Norway between 1840 and 1867 in art, literature, and popular culture that “emphasized the aesthetics of Norwegian nature and the uniqueness of the Norwegian national identity.” Throughout this text, representations of both the concerns and the ideals of Norwegian Romantic Nationalism make themselves known through descriptions of the Norwegian scenery and the country’s loyal inhabitants. The overarching purpose of this analysis is to point these concerns and ideals and reveal why these might have been in place at this critical point in history. From the outset of this story, the story teller, who goes by the name Carl Mohlmann, lays out an idealistic description of the Norwegian country-side that draws the reader in:
I could have the desire, dear friend, to date this letter from the true Norway, for no other district has struck me as being so genuinely Scandinavian, - so proud and yet so mild. Why should we continually admire those Swiss vistas anyway? Why do we never adorn our walls with views of our fatherland? This district seems to me to be able to measure up to the most beautiful landscape. One isn’t struck by wildly roaring waterfalls – or by sheer vertical cliffs – or by dizzyingly deep abysses; - but the whole, my friend – the tone, - as you painters call it, - is so high, so indescribably lovely.
Emphasis on such phrases as “the true Norway”, “the whole”, and “the tone” paint vivid pictures in the readers’ mind and provide a glimpse of the true patriotism that is running through the blood of its citizens. The excerpt points out how they should no longer admire the mountains of their
The Shepherd’s Horn and Norwegian Romantic Nationalism The concept of romantic nationalism is defined as a “form of nationalism in which the state derives its political legitimacy as an organic consequence of the unity of those it governs.” In the context of Maurits Hansen’s short story “The Shepherd’s Horn”, romantic nationalism was a movement in Norway between 1840 and 1867 in art, literature, and popular culture that “emphasized the aesthetics of Norwegian nature and the uniqueness of the Norwegian national identity.” Throughout this text, representations of both the concerns and the ideals of Norwegian Romantic Nationalism make themselves known through descriptions of the Norwegian scenery and the country’s loyal inhabitants. The overarching purpose of this analysis is to point these concerns and ideals and reveal why these might have been in place at this critical point in history. From the outset of this story, the story teller, who goes by the name Carl Mohlmann, lays out an idealistic description of the Norwegian country-side that draws the reader in:
I could have the desire, dear friend, to date this letter from the true Norway, for no other district has struck me as being so genuinely Scandinavian, - so proud and yet so mild. Why should we continually admire those Swiss vistas anyway? Why do we never adorn our walls with views of our fatherland? This district seems to me to be able to measure up to the most beautiful landscape. One isn’t struck by wildly roaring waterfalls – or by sheer vertical cliffs – or by dizzyingly deep abysses; - but the whole, my friend – the tone, - as you painters call it, - is so high, so indescribably lovely.
Emphasis on such phrases as “the true Norway”, “the whole”, and “the tone” paint vivid pictures in the readers’ mind and provide a glimpse of the true patriotism that is running through the blood of its citizens. The excerpt points out how they should no longer admire the mountains of their