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literati re.
491
salighetens ö" (The Island of Felicity), inspired by a medieval legend, is one
of the most beautiful poetical works created by Romanticism.
Another no less typical representative of the Romantic School (who did not,
however, belong to Atterbom’s circle) is E. J. Stagnelius (1793 — 1823).
Stagnelius is a mystic, whose poetry, permeated and coloured by gnosticism, alternates
between ardent sensuality and deep pain at the failings of earthly life. No
Swedish poet has created such harmoniously euphonious stanzas as he. Stagnelius
attempted all the departments of poetry, even that of the drama, and he chose
his subjects from widely different spheres — the world of antiquity, the ancient
times of Scandinavia, and ancient Christian legends. Still another representative
is E. Sjöberg (1794—1828, nom de plume, Vitalis), who was influenced by
neo-romanticism, applied its principles independently in his noble, melancholy poems
and also with jesting satire combated its exaggerations.
Esaias Tegnér.
Despite these superior poetical powers, the Romantic tendency never really
became popular in Sweden. It lacked too much that clearness which the
nation likes; and it was not through the New School, but by the side of it,
that Swedish literature at this time attained almost classical perfection. The
men who gave rise to this flourishing condition were Esaias Tegnér (1782—1846)
and E. O. Geijer (1783—1847). These two, representing different sides of the
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