- In full:
- Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig
- Born:
- September 8, 1783, Udby, Denmark
- Died:
- September 2, 1872, Copenhagen (aged 88)
- Movement / Style:
- Romanticism
- Subjects Of Study:
- Icelandic literature
- saga
- Christianity
N.F.S. Grundtvig
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Who was N.F.S. Grundtvig?
N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783–1872) was a Danish bishop, poet, and theologian who founded Grundtvigianism, a movement that revitalized the Danish Lutheran Church. He was also a hymn writer, historian, educator, and a pioneer in early Scandinavian literature studies.
After earning a theology degree in 1803, Grundtvig studied the Eddas and Icelandic sagas. His Nordens mythologi (1808) and early poems reflected Romanticism. A spiritual awakening led him to become his father’s curate in 1811. From 1813 to 1821, his criticism of rationalism in the Danish Lutheran Church made it difficult for him to find a pastorate.
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What roles did Grundtvig have in Danish society?
N.F.S. Grundtvig was a Danish bishop, poet, hymn writer, historian, and educator. He founded Grundtvigianism, a theological movement that revitalized the Danish Lutheran church.
Grundtvig's roles in Danish society:
* Clergyman As a pastor and later a bishop, Grundtvig preached and wrote extensively, seeking to renew the spirit of Martin Luther within the Danish church.
* Educator He advocated for education rooted in Danish language, history, and biblical knowledge. His critique of elitist classical schools led to the establishment of folk high schools, which offered education to young people of all classes and inspired adult education throughout Scandinavia.
* Political Figure Grundtvig was actively involved in the movement that led to the introduction of parliamentary government in Denmark in 1849, reflecting his liberal views.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What kinds of poems and writings did Grundtvig create?
N.F.S. Grundtvig was a Danish bishop, poet, historian, educator, and hymn writer. His writings include poems, theological works, historical analyses, and educational philosophy.
Grundtvig's early poems and Nordens mythologi (1808; "Northern Mythology") were inspired by Romanticism. His Verdens krønike (1812; "World Chronicle") was his first attempt to write history from a Christian perspective. Other works include poems in Roskilde-riim (1814; "The Roskilde Rhymes"), Bibelske prædikener (1816; "Biblical Sermons"), Christelige prædikener (1827–30; "Christian Sermons"), a new Nordens mythologi (1832; "Northern Mythology"), and Haandbog i verdenshistorien (1833–43; "Handbook of World History"). Sang-værk til den danske kirke (1837–81; "Song Collection for the Danish Church") contains his many original hymns.
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How did Grundtvig influence education in Denmark?
N.F.S. Grundtvig, a Danish bishop and poet, significantly influenced education in Denmark through his theological movement, Grundtvigianism, which revitalized the Danish Lutheran church.
Grundtvig's criticism of classical schools as elitist inspired the creation of voluntary residential folk high schools after 1844. These schools aimed to educate young people from all classes by teaching Christian beliefs and peasant culture to instill pride in Danish heritage. These folk high schools, inspired by Grundtvig, later spread throughout Scandinavia and influenced adult education in other countries. Following Denmark’s military defeat by Prussia in 1864, folk high schools served as a powerful instrument of national regeneration.
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What was Grundtvig's view on religion and society?
N.F.S. Grundtvig, a Danish bishop and poet, founded Grundtvigianism, a movement for religious freedom among Danish Lutherans.
Grundtvig wanted to make Christianity the spiritual expression of Danish national life, shrinking from every form of denomination or confessionalism. His criticism of classical schools as elitist inspired the founding of folk high schools, where young people of every class were encouraged to be educated. His liberal views also found political expression in the movement leading to the introduction of parliamentary government in Denmark in 1849.
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Why is Grundtvig still important to Danes today?
N.F.S. Grundtvig, a Danish bishop, poet, and theologian, is still important to Danes today because of his lasting impact on Danish culture and education. As the founder of Grundtvigianism, a movement that revitalized the Danish Lutheran Church, Grundtvig inspired a new sense of Christian awareness. He championed the knowledge of Danish history, religion, and cultural heritage for all, leading to the establishment of folk high schools that promoted pride in Danish heritage and identity. His contributions extend to hymn writing, with many of his original hymns remaining well-known in Scandinavia and beyond.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
N.F.S. Grundtvig (born September 8, 1783, Udby, Denmark—died September 2, 1872, Copenhagen) was a Danish bishop and poet, founder of Grundtvigianism, a theological movement that revitalized the Danish Lutheran church. He was also an outstanding hymn writer, historian, and educator and a pioneer of studies on early Scandinavian literature.
After taking a degree in theology (1803) from the University of Copenhagen, Grundtvig studied the Eddas and Icelandic sagas. His Nordens mythologi (1808; “Northern Mythology”) marked a turning point in this research; like his early poems, it was inspired by Romanticism.
In 1811, after a spiritual and emotional conflict that ended in a “Christian awakening,” Grundtvig became his father’s curate. His first attempt to write history from a Christian standpoint, Verdens krønike (1812; “World Chronicle”), attracted much attention. From 1813 until 1821, his criticism of the rationalist tendencies that were then predominant in Denmark’s Lutheran church made it impossible for him to find a pastorate. In poems such as those in Roskilde-riim (1814; “The Roskilde Rhymes”) and other collections and in Bibelske prædikener (1816; “Biblical Sermons”), he called for a renewal of the spirit of Martin Luther, and in his opposition to the Romantic philosophers he foreshadowed Søren Kierkegaard. During these years he also opened the way for research into Anglo-Saxon literature with his version of Beowulf (1820).
In 1825 he was the central figure in a church controversy when in his Kirkens gienmæle (“The Church’s Reply”) he accused the theologian H.N. Clausen of treating Christianity as merely a philosophical idea. Grundtvig maintained that Christianity was a historical revelation, handed down by the unbroken chain of a living sacramental tradition at baptism and communion. His writings were placed under censorship, and in 1826 he resigned his pastorate but continued to develop his view of the Christian church in theological writings and in Christelige prædikener (1827–30; “Christian Sermons”). He expounded his philosophy in a new and inspired Nordens mythologi (1832; “Northern Mythology”) and in his Haandbog i verdenshistorien (1833–43; “Handbook of World History”). As an educator—e.g., in Skolen for livet (1838; “Schools for Life”)—he stressed the need for the thorough knowledge of the Danish language and of Danish and biblical history, in opposition to those who favoured the study of the classics in Latin. His criticism of classical schools as elitist inspired the founding, after 1844, of voluntary residential folk high schools, in which young people of every class were encouraged to be educated. These schools spread throughout Scandinavia and inspired adult education in several other countries.
In 1839 Grundtvig was given the position of preacher at Vartov Hospital in Copenhagen, and in 1861 he was given the rank of bishop. His liberal outlook found political expression in his active part in the movement leading to the introduction of parliamentary government in Denmark in 1849.
Particularly lasting is Grundtvig’s position as the greatest Scandinavian hymn writer. His Sang-værk til den danske kirke (1837–81; “Song Collection for the Danish Church”) contains new versions of traditional Christian hymns, as well as numerous original hymns, many of them well known in Norwegian, Swedish, German, and English translations.
N.F. Grundtvig: Selected Writings, in English translation, was published in 1976.
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