Det naive og sentimentale geni

Om Schillers og Goethes betydning for Oehlenschlägers og Baggesens satiriske konflikt 1802-1807

Abstract

This article offers a new perspective on the satirical confrontation between Adam Oehlenschläger and Jens Baggesen in the first decade of the 19th century. Though the conflict continues into the 1810s, I am only concerned with its formative years from 1803-1807. Traditionally the basis of the conflict is seen as one between the young romanticist Oehlenschläger and the older classicist Baggesen. I will argue, rather, that an idea of the classical, deriving mainly from Schiller and Goethe, is at the center of the satirical argument. Finally I will argue that an overlooked but fascinating intertextual connection is to be found between two of their most important literary texts from 1807. In early March of that year Baggesen publishes his great satirical poetics Giengangeren in which he formulates a new vision for the future of Danish literature. Christiane Heger, Oehlenschläger’s fiance, sends this book to Oehlenschläger in Paris who responds indirectly to Baggesen’s suggestions in his foreword to Nordiske Digte. As such these two texts mark the early poetological culmination of their satirical enmities.