Dorothe Engelbretsdotter
Encyclopedia
Dorothe Engelbretsdotter (January 16, 1634 – February 19, 1716) was a Norwegian
author. She principally wrote hymns and poems. She has been characterized as Norway
's first recognized female author as well as Norway's first feminist before feminism
became a recognized concept.
writer famous for his flowery funeral sermons, who succeeded her father at the cathedral in 1659. They had five sons and four daughters.
. This volume of hymn
s and devotional pieces, very modestly brought out, had an unparalleled success. The first verses of Engelbretsdotter are the commonly believed to be her best. The fortunate poetess was invited to Denmark
, and on her arrival at Copenhagen was presented at court. She was also introduced to Thomas Hansen Kingo
, the father of Danish poetry, and the two greeted one another with improvised couplets, which have been preserved and of which the poetess' reply is incomparably the neater. Her Tåreoffer was dedicated to Queen Charlotte Amalia, the wife of King Christian V.
In 1683 her husband died. She had nine children, but seven of them died and two of the children lived far away from Bergen. She lost her house in the great fire in 1702 in which 90 percent of the city of Bergen was destroyed. Her sorrow is evident in examples such as the poem Afften Psalme. Her first work, Siælens Sang-offer, was published 1678. In the midst of her troubles appeared her second work, the Tåreoffer ("Sacrifice of Tears"), published for the first time in 1685. It is a continuous religious poem in four books. This was combined with the Sangoffer which was dedicated to Jesus
. No fewer than three editions of the united works were published before her death, and many after it. In 1698 she brought out a third volume of sacred verse, Et kristeligt Valet fra Verden ("A Christian Farewell to the World"), a very tame production.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
author. She principally wrote hymns and poems. She has been characterized as Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's first recognized female author as well as Norway's first feminist before feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
became a recognized concept.
Background
Engelbretsdotter was born in Bergen, Norway She was the daughter of Rector and Vicar, Engelbret Jørgenssøn and Anna Wrangel. Her father was originally head of the high school in that city, and afterwards dean of the cathedral. In 1652 she married Ambrosius Hardenbeck, a theologicalTheology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
writer famous for his flowery funeral sermons, who succeeded her father at the cathedral in 1659. They had five sons and four daughters.
Career
In 1678 her first volume appeared, Själens aandelige Sangoffer ("The Souls Spiritual Offering of Song") published at CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. This volume of hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s and devotional pieces, very modestly brought out, had an unparalleled success. The first verses of Engelbretsdotter are the commonly believed to be her best. The fortunate poetess was invited to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, and on her arrival at Copenhagen was presented at court. She was also introduced to Thomas Hansen Kingo
Thomas Hansen Kingo
Thomas Hansen Kingo was a Danish bishop, poet and hymn-writer born at Slangerup, near Copenhagen. His work marked the high point of Danish baroque poetry....
, the father of Danish poetry, and the two greeted one another with improvised couplets, which have been preserved and of which the poetess' reply is incomparably the neater. Her Tåreoffer was dedicated to Queen Charlotte Amalia, the wife of King Christian V.
In 1683 her husband died. She had nine children, but seven of them died and two of the children lived far away from Bergen. She lost her house in the great fire in 1702 in which 90 percent of the city of Bergen was destroyed. Her sorrow is evident in examples such as the poem Afften Psalme. Her first work, Siælens Sang-offer, was published 1678. In the midst of her troubles appeared her second work, the Tåreoffer ("Sacrifice of Tears"), published for the first time in 1685. It is a continuous religious poem in four books. This was combined with the Sangoffer which was dedicated to Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
. No fewer than three editions of the united works were published before her death, and many after it. In 1698 she brought out a third volume of sacred verse, Et kristeligt Valet fra Verden ("A Christian Farewell to the World"), a very tame production.
Other sources
- Engelbretsdotter, Dorothe; ed. by K. Valkner (1999) Samlede skrifter (Oslo: Aschehoug) ISBN 978-8203181160
- Akslen, Laila (1998) Norsk barokk: Dorothe Engelbrettsdatter og Petter Dass i retorisk tradisjon ( Oslo: Cappelen) ISBN 978-8245604450
External links
- Dorothe Engelbretsdatter i Dagbladet ForfatterDagbladetDagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
- Dorothe Engelbretsdatter i NRK Forfatter