Aasmund Olavsson Vinje facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aasmund Olavsson Vinje
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| Born | Aasmund Olavsson Vinje 6 April 1818 Vinje, Telemark, Norway |
| Died | 30 July 1870 (aged 52) Gran in Hadeland, Oppland, Norway |
| Occupation | Journalist, poet, essayist |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
Aasmund Olavsson Vinje (born April 6, 1818 – died July 30, 1870) was a famous Norwegian poet and journalist. He is remembered for his beautiful poems, interesting travel stories, and for being one of the first to use a new Norwegian language called Landsmål (now known as Nynorsk).
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Aasmund Vinje grew up in a poor family in a place called Vinje, in Telemark, Norway. Even though his family didn't have much money, they loved to read. Aasmund loved learning too! He worked hard to support himself, partly by teaching others. He even went to the same school as the famous writer Henrik Ibsen. Later, he studied law and became a lawyer.
Starting a Newspaper
In 1858, Vinje started his own newspaper called Dølen (which means The dales-man). In this paper, he wrote about his travels and shared his thoughts on art, language, and politics. These writings help us understand what life was like in Norway during his time. Dølen stopped being published in 1870.
Vinje was very good at showing the differences between city life and country life in Norway. He was also a big supporter of Norwegian romantic nationalism. This was a movement that celebrated Norwegian culture and history. But Vinje was also known for his "dual vision." This meant he could look at both sides of an issue, always thinking critically. He was so involved in politics that the government actually fired him from his job as an attorney because he criticized their foreign policy!
Famous Writings and Poems
One of Vinje's most famous books is Ferdaminni fraa Sumaren 1860. This title means Travel memories from the summer of 1860. In this book, he describes a long walk he took from Oslo to Trondheim. He made this journey to report on the coronation of King Charles at the Nidarosdomen cathedral for his newspaper Dølen. The book is special because Vinje wrote more warmly about the everyday people he met on his journey than about the fancy royalty at the coronation.
In 1863, he wrote a book called A Norseman's View of Britain and the British. This book was later translated into Norwegian.
Many of Vinje's poems are still popular in Norway today. Two of his most loved poems are Ved Rundarne (meaning At Rondane) and Våren (meaning The Last Spring). The famous composer Edvard Grieg even set these poems to music! In 1881, Grieg published a collection called Tolv Melodier til Digte af A. O. Vinje (Twelve melodies to Poems of A. O. Vinje), which included these two beautiful songs.
Later Life and Legacy
Sadly, Aasmund Vinje became ill with stomach cancer. He decided to spend his last days in the peaceful countryside. He passed away on July 30, 1870, at the home of his friend, Anton Christian Bang, in Gran in Hadeland. He is buried nearby at the Sister churches at Granavollen. In 1873, a large monument with a statue of Vinje was put up there to honor him.
Today, you can find "Vinje paths" in many Norwegian cities and towns, like Oslo, Stavanger, and Trondheim. This shows how much he is still remembered and respected.
A Famous Slogan
In 2014, a newspaper article said that Vinje created one of the most Norwegian sayings: "Det er saa viktig aa kosa seg!" This means: "It is so important to enjoy oneself!"
Selected Works
- En Ballade om Kongen og Kongehuset (1853)
- Ferdaminni fraa Sumaren 1860 (1861)
- A Norseman's View of Britain and the British (1863)
- Diktsamling (1864)
- Storegut (1866)
- Blandkorn (1867)
- Dølen i eiget Hus atter (1868)
- Um vaart nationale Stræv (1869)
Memorials
- In 1918, a statue of Vinje was put up in Skien.
- In 1947, a bronze statue of him was placed at the Vinjar community hall in Vinje.
- In 1959, a memorial was built for Vinje at Eidsbugarden, where he used to have a private hut.
- In 1968, for the 150th anniversary of his birth, the Norwegian postal service Posten Norge released a stamp with his picture.
- In 1968, another statue of Vinje was put up in Sogn Student Village in Oslo.
- In 1984, Vinje's picture was featured on Norway's 50-krone banknote.
See Also
- Vinjerock
