Pär Lagerkvist Criticism
Pär Lagerkvist, a prolific Swedish writer and Nobel Prize laureate, is esteemed for his profound exploration of existential and spiritual dilemmas that confront humanity. His works such as The Dwarf and Barabbas are particularly noted for their allegorical depth and engagement with themes of good versus evil, faith versus nihilism, and the mundane versus the spiritual. In Barabbas, Lagerkvist poignantly depicts a man's search for spiritual redemption, a theme thoroughly examined in Herod and Barabbas: Lagerkvist and the Long Search.
Lagerkvist's early exposure to modernist art movements and his upbringing in a religious household influenced his thematic focus and stylistic development. His initial works, such as the expressionist poetry collection Ångest, marked a departure from Naturalism towards symbolic and epic narratives. This shift is notable in his critique of Henrik Ibsen, as analyzed in Ibsen and Lagerkvist Revisited. Lagerkvist's literary journey from early pessimism towards a nuanced engagement with modern spiritual quandaries parallels the works of Kafka, Mann, and Camus.
Lagerkvist's prose, characterized by its clarity and poetic succinctness, addresses profound philosophical inquiries and existential doubts. His influence extends beyond his contemporaries, impacting later writers like Artur Lundkvist, as discussed in Steven P. Sondrup's analysis. Despite the complexity of his themes, Lagerkvist's works, including The Dwarf, as examined by Roger Ramsey, critique dogma and explore existential and religious conflicts. His play "Mariamne" similarly delves into the symbolic struggle between primitive and spiritual aspects of human nature, as noted by Irene Scobbie.
Lagerkvist's poetry, including Aftonland, presents challenges in translation yet remains a testament to his mastery of language and insight into the human condition, as observed by Robin Fulton. Through his enduring exploration of human existence and existential quests for meaning, Lagerkvist secures his place as a pivotal figure in 20th-century literature, with his impact and relevance persisting in contemporary literary studies, as highlighted in Pär Lagerkvist: Modernist of Timelessness.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Lagerkvist, Pär (Vol. 13)
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The Hidden God
(summary)
In the following essay, Gunnel Malmström explores the central theme of Pär Lagerkvist's work as a search for meaning in a Godless world, highlighting the dual sense of alienation and the paradoxical influence of a hidden God in his characters, with particular focus on his major works such as "Barabbas" and "The Sibyl."
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On Lagerkvist's 'Evening Land'
(summary)
In the following essay, Rexroth explores the existential and philosophical themes in Pär Lagerkvist's work, highlighting the influence of socialism, the absence of religious belief, and how Lagerkvist's poetry, particularly in Evening Land, resonates with Buddhist concepts of the Void and personal despair in a post-war context.
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The Hidden God
(summary)
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Lagerkvist, Pär (Vol. 10)
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Pär Lagerkvist: 'The Dwarf' and Dogma
(summary)
In the following essay, Ramsey examines Pär Lagerkvist's novel The Dwarf as a critique of dogma, portraying the titular character as a parody of existentialism and religious dogmatism, emphasizing the author's recurring themes of religious skepticism and the dangers of rigid beliefs.
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An Interpretation of Lagerkvist's 'Mariamne'
(summary)
In the following essay, Irene Scobbie examines Lagerkvist's "Mariamne," highlighting its symbolic exploration of the conflict between primitive and spiritual human nature through the characters of Herod and Mariamne, ultimately suggesting that human suffering and purity can lead to spiritual evolution.
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The Eternal Enigmas
(summary)
In the following essay, Robin Fulton critiques the limited accessibility of Pär Lagerkvist's poetry in English, noting its resistance to translation due to its simplicity and musicality, and observes that W. H. Auden's translation of Aftonland struggles with maintaining the original's fluidity and depth.
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Pär Lagerkvist: 'The Dwarf' and Dogma
(summary)
- Lagerkvist, Pär (Vol. 7)
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Lagerkvist, Pär
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The Mythical Female in the Fictional Works of Pär Lagerkvist
(summary)
In the following essay, Bloch investigates the role of the mythical female in Lagerkvist's fictional works.
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Ibsen and Lagerkvist Revisited
(summary)
In the following essay, Rovinsky determines Henrik Ibsen's influence on Lagerkvist.
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Literary Symbols and Religious Belief
(summary)
In the following essay, Linnér notes the religious language and imagery in Lagerkvist's work.
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Herod and Barabbas: Lagerkvist and the Long Search
(summary)
In the following essay, Schwab asserts that in his novels Barabbas and Herod and Mariamne Lagerkvist depicts mankind with reference to one of the most significant events in religious history and reveals the same turmoil, confusion, and incompleteness that has always defined man.
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Mythological Syncretism in the Works of Four Modern Novelists
(summary)
In the following essay, Bloch finds similarities between the main influences on and themes found in the work of Lagerkvist, Thomas Mann, Nikos Kazantsakis, and Jacques Roumain.
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The Stylistic Legacy of Religious Literature in Pär Lagerkvist's Poetry
(summary)
In the following essay, Brantly explores the religious influences on Lagerkvist's poetry.
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The Origins and Development of Lagerkvist's Barabbas
(summary)
In the following essay, Scobbie traces Lagerkvist's creative process through an examination of Barabbas.
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Terms of Divergence: The Vocabularies of Pär Lagerkvist's Ångest and Artur Lundkvist's Glöd
(summary)
In the following essay, Sondrup considers the influence of Lagerkvist on the poetry of Artur Lundkvist.
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‘Myten om Människorna’: The Myth of Modern Man in Pär Lagerkvist's Novels
(summary)
In the following essay, Weiss traces Lagerkvist's use of mythology in his work, highlighting how Lagerkvist can be seen as a maker of modern myth, drawing from ancient and medieval sources to recreate a myth of modern man and his dilemma.
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Pär Lagerkvist: Modernist of Timelessness
(summary)
In the following essay, Algulin offers an overview on Lagerkvist's life and career, discussing his role as the first modernist in Swedish literature and his exploration of existential questions, artistic innovation, and the tension between faith and skepticism.
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Introduction to Pär Lagerkvist: Five Early Works
(summary)
In the following essay, Swanson traces Lagerkvist's literary development and delineates the defining characteristics of his work.
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Poetic Naivism: Czeslaw Milosz and Pär Lagerkvist
(summary)
In the following essay, Nilsson finds historical, biographical, and religious similarities between Czeslaw Milosz's poem “Father in the Library” and Lagerkvist's untitled poem from his collection The Road of the Happy Man.
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A Blackened Sea: Religion and Crisis in the Work of Pär Lagerkvist
(summary)
In the following essay, Polet discusses how Lagerkvist's characters mirror his own search for eternal peace and the Kingdom of God, by exploring the connection between social order and freedom and the deepest questions of what he called “human destiny.”
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The Mythical Female in the Fictional Works of Pär Lagerkvist
(summary)
- Further Reading