Information about the author:

Abstract:

The article deals with the problem of interpretation of Oriental motives and images in Danish literature of 19^th century and their influence to the growth of Danish national self-identification in the period of Romanticism. The development of Romantic ideas in Denmark raises the interest to the national past — the time of Vikings and the same time — the interest to Orient, which is a very specific feature of Danish literature and art. Combination of Romantic nationalism and Orientalism is a result of the intention to look for roots of the national culture, when according to Old Norse sources the motherland of ancient Scandinavian gods is Asia. The notable text of Danish Romanticism is the poetic drama “Aladdin” by A.G. Oehlenschläger, which is an interpretation of the fairy tale from “1001 Nights” collection. This drama had a new form and unusual plot. Piece of prose “Aly and Gulhyndy” is the first Danish literary fairy tale. In this text Oriental images and motives were interpreted in the romantic way. That time the very positive image of the Orient exists in Danish literature, it is visible in the books of the most prominent Danish writers and scholars including H.C. Andersen. His fairy tale “The Tinderbox” is also one of interpretations of story about Aladdin.