Norwegian Romantic Nationalisms

Project Information

NORN

Grant agreement ID: 101054618

DOI

10.3030/101054618

EC signature date 28 October 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• European Research Council (ERC)

Total cost

€ 2 497 583,25

EU contribution

€ 2 497 583,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITETET I OSLO
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NORN (Norwegian Romantic Nationalisms)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The NORN project seeks to explore how romantic nationalism in nineteenth-century Norwegian literature influenced the nation’s cultural identity, focusing on both emotional and ideological aspects. Taking Norway as its primary case study, NORN employs innovative approaches to understand how literary works have harnessed collective emotions related to nationalism, shaping societal narratives that persist to this day.

Romantic nationalism typically uses literature and the arts to foster national identity. Traditionally, this has led to a narrative that promotes a singular national vision, often sidelining minority perspectives. In Norway’s case, romantic nationalism emerged as part of the nation-building process during the nineteenth century that led to political independence in 1905. This history is integral to NORN's investigation, which comprehensively analyzes literary works from this period through both qualitative and quantitative methods.

NORN aims to achieve three main objectives: firstly, to remap the entire range of nineteenth-century Norwegian literature using machine learning, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the literary landscape; secondly, to critically reassess the way Norwegian literary history has been recorded, scrutinizing the romantic nationalist framework that shaped it; and thirdly, to redefine perceptions of Henrik Ibsen’s work and his extended relationship with romantic nationalism. Ibsen stands out as one of Norway’s most influential writers, yet his early focus on romantic nationalism is often overlooked in favor of the more recognized modern periods of his career.

By merging literary analysis, affect theory, cultural studies, and computational approaches, NORN seeks to reveal the emotional and ideological undertones within literary texts that have influenced Norwegian national identity. This endeavor promises to reshape how Norwegian literary narratives are perceived, challenging established periodization and canonization while fostering inclusivity in cultural histories. Integrating social sciences and humanities, NORN provides valuable perspectives on nationalism's impact on literature and heritage, offering significant implications for Norwegian and broader European contexts.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Since beginning in 2023, NORN has achieved substantial progress in both technical and scientific domains. Under WP1 and WP2, three PhDs and one postdoctoral fellow have pursued groundbreaking research. PhD1 utilized computational methods to explore the formal characteristics of nineteenth-century neo-romantic poetry, while PhD2 mapped out romanticism’s historical trajectory, investigating competing discourses in literature from the early 1830s. PhD3 expanded from a single-author study to examine how the term “poetic realism” has been used to marginalize works of literature from the romantic nationalist period (1840–70) that were considered insufficiently nationalist and/or romantic.

The project organized two successful start-up workshops, fostering collaboration between NORN and parallel research projects, which have proven mutually inspiring. Significant milestones include the completion of preprocessing for a nineteenth-century poetry corpus, pivotal for PhD1’s research. Planning for a collaborative publication is underway, extending project findings to wider audiences.

Within WP2, the postdoctoral fellow made progress towards a book on ethnic minorities in Norwegian literary historiography, submitting a pilot study to a peer-reviewed journal. Her work highlighted how Sámi characters were linguistically othered in nineteenth-century literature, advancing understanding of processes of national inclusion and exclusion.

In WP3, the PI completed and submitted a monograph manuscript on Ibsen’s engagement with the popular theater repertory, challenging perceptions of his influences and contributions to modern drama. This work uses novel methodologies, integrating theater studies and literary history to reconsider the popular theater’s impact on Ibsen’s works.

Achievements of note include the development of a "rhyme tagger" for poetry analysis and the establishment of IbsenBackstage, a relational performance database providing unprecedented access to metadata on the plays Ibsen staged, enhancing insights into his artistic development.

NORN's breakthroughs, such as reevaluating Ibsen’s influences and developing new methodologies for literary studies, significantly advance the research field, fostering interdisciplinary development and knowledge transfer. These achievements not only reshape our understanding of literary history but also open avenues for future exploration and scholarly collaboration.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

NORN goes beyond traditional literary studies by merging emotion-focused analysis with computational methods, offering cutting-edge insights into the dynamics of romantic nationalism in nineteenth-century Norwegian literature. It uncovers the affective and ideological dimensions that shaped national identity, contributing to both academic exploration and societal understanding.

The project’s outcomes promise significant advancements in literary historiography, shedding light on previously overlooked narratives within Norwegian romantic nationalism. By developing computational models to map literary texts, in collaboration with the National Library of Norway’s Digital Humanities Lab, NORN provides a more granular view of the literary landscape, challenging established canons and periodizations. This novel approach highlights alternative narratives, affecting both scholarly interpretations and cultural perceptions.

In summary, NORN delivers beyond the state of the art by pioneering methodologies that bridge textual emotion with computational analysis. Its impact extends from academic realms to societal discourse, with significant potential for reshaping how national literary traditions are understood and taught. As NORN culminates, its outputs promise to enrich both historical understanding and contemporary dialogues on cultural identity.

Hans Gude, Adolph Tidemand, Brudeferd i Hardanger 1848 / Nasjonalmuseet. Foto license: CC-BY