Olaf Jacob Martin Luther Breda Bull (10 November 1883 – 29 June 1933) was a Norwegian poet. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature six times.[1]
Olaf Bull was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. His parents were author Jacob Breda Bull (1853–1930) and his second wife Maria Augusta Berglöf (1854–1922). Bull grew up and was mostly raised in Kristiania. At the age of 13, he lived for some time in Hurum in Buskerud, where his father worked as a journalist and editor. In 1899, he started gymnasium at Aars og Voss' skole. He attended Kristiania Cathedral School prior to his graduation from private school in 1902. After his graduation he lived with his family in Rome before returning to Kristiania in 1903 to begin his studies at the university.[2][3]
Olaf Bull could be considered a polymath because in addition to both modern and classical literature, he mastered philosophy, history, politics, art and science. He spent several years as a journalist for Posten and Dagbladet. He was known as the “Oslo-poet,” but he lived for extended periods in both Italy and in France where his son, poet Jan Bull (1927–1985) was born.[4]
Olaf Bull was married three times and divorced twice. Economic issues coupled with abuse of alcohol had a strong impact on his life. He had a nervous disposition and developed signs of depression. His last year was characterized by illness and alcoholism. He had physical ailments, including partial paralysis and liver damage.[citation needed] Olaf Bull died at age 49 at Ullevål Hospital in Oslo. His urn was placed at Vår Frelsers gravlund.
His poetryedit
Bull's poetry collection Digte (Poems) (1909) formed the foundation upon which he came to be recognized as Norway's foremost poet. Olaf Bull composed his poetry using what is called in Norwegiansentrallyrikk – poems about “central themes” such as love, sorrow and death. He used fixed stanza patterns and was known for his strong and emotional depictions. His poetry and work conveys a melancholy sense that all is transitory. In spite of this disconsolate tone, his recurring and powerful use of mood, faultless form and expressive voice communicate his belief that, although evanescent, art and beauty are important.[5]
Giovanni Bach described his work in this way:
"His poems reveal a masculine power and a forceful affirmation of his own individuality, notwithstanding the extreme pessimism that often envelopes them in a voluminous thick black veil. His poetry is deeply felt, rich in imaginative and intellectual quality."[6]
Bull utilized his extensive knowledge and artistic strength, but showed an underlying fear and depression. Olaf Bull was known to be anti-authority and was regarded an “outsider” in society, but his poetry demonstrated that he never totally broke with traditional form and structure. Much of his poetry showed a powerful longing for the eternal and persistent. This longing was most apparent when he wrote about classical motifs.
Bull and Joyceedit
While James Joyce was working on Finnegans Wake, he wanted to insert references to Scandinavian languages and literature, hiring five teachers of Norwegian. Bull was the first one. Joyce wanted to read Norwegian works in the original language, including Peter Andreas Munch's Norrøne Gude- og Heltesagn (Norse Tales of Gods and Heroes). He was looking for puns and weird associations across the barriers of language, which was something Bull well understood. Lines from Bull's poems echo through "this spider's web of words", as Joyce himself called Finnegans Wake, and Bull himself materializes under the name "Olaph the Oxman", a pun on his surname.
In his letters home, Bull mentioned nothing about Joyce, most likely because he often asked his family for money, which would sound unconvincing with him at the same time being a teacher for a world-famous author. It is not known how Joyce got in contact with Bull, but both frequented the bookstore Shakespeare and Company in Paris which was run by Sylvia Beach, who may have brought them in contact with each other. In 1926 Ulysses was issued as an unlicensed copy in the United States, meaning that Joyce would receive no money for it. Together with Beach he wrote a protest letter, intending it to be signed by well-known writers from the whole of Europe. Beach mentions in her memoirs that Joyce was particularly eager to have Bull sign it. Beach tracked Bull, who had left Paris to live in the French countryside. On behalf of Joyce she sent a man there to have the protest signed. Bull's wife Suzanne provided him with a copy of Bull's signature.[7]
De hundrede aar (The Hundred Years), Gyldendal, 1928
Kjærlighet (Love), Gyldendal, 1929
Oinos og Eros, Gyldendal, 1930
Ignis ardens, Gyldendal, 1932
Playedit
Kjærlighetens farse:tre akter (Love's Farce: Three Acts), Aschehoug, 1919, published 1948. Written together with Helge Krog.
Posthumously published worksedit
Ekko og regnbue: notater fra en dikters verksted (Echo and Rainbow: Notes From a Poet's Workplace), Gyldendal, 1987. Edited by Frans Lasson.
Olaf Bull: brev fra en dikters liv (Olaf Bull: Letters from a Poets Life), 2 vols., Gyldendal, 1989. Edited by Frans Lasson
Ild og skygger: spredte notater fra et dikterliv (Fire and Shadows: Scattered Notes from a Poet's Life), Nørhaven, Viborg, 1991. Edited by Frans Lasson
Olaf Bull, a wretched giant of Scandinavian literature (Petter Næss, 1990)
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Olaf Bull
January 01, 1970
olaf, bull, confused, with, bull, olaf, jacob, martin, luther, breda, bull, november, 1883, june, 1933, norwegian, poet, nominated, nobel, prize, literature, times, born, 1883, november, 1883kristiania, norwaydied29, june, 1933, 1933, aged, kristiania, norwayk. Not to be confused with Ole Bull Olaf Jacob Martin Luther Breda Bull 10 November 1883 29 June 1933 was a Norwegian poet He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature six times 1 Olaf BullBorn 1883 11 10 10 November 1883Kristiania NorwayDied29 June 1933 1933 06 29 aged 49 Kristiania NorwayKnown for6 Nobel nominations Olaf Bull 1919 Contents 1 Biography 2 His poetry 3 Bull and Joyce 4 Bibliography 4 1 Works published during his lifetime 4 2 Play 4 3 Posthumously published works 5 References 6 Other sources 7 External linksBiography editOlaf Bull was born in Kristiania now Oslo Norway His parents were author Jacob Breda Bull 1853 1930 and his second wife Maria Augusta Berglof 1854 1922 Bull grew up and was mostly raised in Kristiania At the age of 13 he lived for some time in Hurum in Buskerud where his father worked as a journalist and editor In 1899 he started gymnasium at Aars og Voss skole He attended Kristiania Cathedral School prior to his graduation from private school in 1902 After his graduation he lived with his family in Rome before returning to Kristiania in 1903 to begin his studies at the university 2 3 Olaf Bull could be considered a polymath because in addition to both modern and classical literature he mastered philosophy history politics art and science He spent several years as a journalist for Posten and Dagbladet He was known as the Oslo poet but he lived for extended periods in both Italy and in France where his son poet Jan Bull 1927 1985 was born 4 Olaf Bull was married three times and divorced twice Economic issues coupled with abuse of alcohol had a strong impact on his life He had a nervous disposition and developed signs of depression His last year was characterized by illness and alcoholism He had physical ailments including partial paralysis and liver damage citation needed Olaf Bull died at age 49 at Ulleval Hospital in Oslo His urn was placed at Var Frelsers gravlund His poetry editBull s poetry collection Digte Poems 1909 formed the foundation upon which he came to be recognized as Norway s foremost poet Olaf Bull composed his poetry using what is called in Norwegian sentrallyrikk poems about central themes such as love sorrow and death He used fixed stanza patterns and was known for his strong and emotional depictions His poetry and work conveys a melancholy sense that all is transitory In spite of this disconsolate tone his recurring and powerful use of mood faultless form and expressive voice communicate his belief that although evanescent art and beauty are important 5 Giovanni Bach described his work in this way His poems reveal a masculine power and a forceful affirmation of his own individuality notwithstanding the extreme pessimism that often envelopes them in a voluminous thick black veil His poetry is deeply felt rich in imaginative and intellectual quality 6 Bull utilized his extensive knowledge and artistic strength but showed an underlying fear and depression Olaf Bull was known to be anti authority and was regarded an outsider in society but his poetry demonstrated that he never totally broke with traditional form and structure Much of his poetry showed a powerful longing for the eternal and persistent This longing was most apparent when he wrote about classical motifs Bull and Joyce editWhile James Joyce was working on Finnegans Wake he wanted to insert references to Scandinavian languages and literature hiring five teachers of Norwegian Bull was the first one Joyce wanted to read Norwegian works in the original language including Peter Andreas Munch s Norrone Gude og Heltesagn Norse Tales of Gods and Heroes He was looking for puns and weird associations across the barriers of language which was something Bull well understood Lines from Bull s poems echo through this spider s web of words as Joyce himself called Finnegans Wake and Bull himself materializes under the name Olaph the Oxman a pun on his surname In his letters home Bull mentioned nothing about Joyce most likely because he often asked his family for money which would sound unconvincing with him at the same time being a teacher for a world famous author It is not known how Joyce got in contact with Bull but both frequented the bookstore Shakespeare and Company in Paris which was run by Sylvia Beach who may have brought them in contact with each other In 1926 Ulysses was issued as an unlicensed copy in the United States meaning that Joyce would receive no money for it Together with Beach he wrote a protest letter intending it to be signed by well known writers from the whole of Europe Beach mentions in her memoirs that Joyce was particularly eager to have Bull sign it Beach tracked Bull who had left Paris to live in the French countryside On behalf of Joyce she sent a man there to have the protest signed Bull s wife Suzanne provided him with a copy of Bull s signature 7 Bibliography editWorks published during his lifetime edit Digte Poems Gyldendal 1909 Nye Digte New Poems Gyldendal 1913 Mitt navn er Knoph My Name is Knoph Narveson 1914 Digte og noveller Poems and Short Stories Gyldendal 1916 Samlede digte 1909 1919 Collected Poems Gyldendal 1919 Stjernerne Stars Gyldendal 1924 Metope Gyldendal 1927 De hundrede aar The Hundred Years Gyldendal 1928 Kjaerlighet Love Gyldendal 1929 Oinos og Eros Gyldendal 1930 Ignis ardens Gyldendal 1932 Play edit Kjaerlighetens farse tre akter Love s Farce Three Acts Aschehoug 1919 published 1948 Written together with Helge Krog Posthumously published works edit Ekko og regnbue notater fra en dikters verksted Echo and Rainbow Notes From a Poet s Workplace Gyldendal 1987 Edited by Frans Lasson Olaf Bull brev fra en dikters liv Olaf Bull Letters from a Poets Life 2 vols Gyldendal 1989 Edited by Frans Lasson Ild og skygger spredte notater fra et dikterliv Fire and Shadows Scattered Notes from a Poet s Life Norhaven Viborg 1991 Edited by Frans LassonReferences edit Nomination Database www nobelprize org Retrieved 2017 04 20 Erik Bjerck Hagen Olaf Bull Store norske leksikon Retrieved April 1 2018 Erik Bjerck Hagen Jacob Breda Bull Store norske leksikon Retrieved April 1 2018 Erik Bjerck Hagen Jan Bull Store norske leksikon Retrieved April 1 2018 Fredrik Wandrup Olaf Bull Norsk biografisk leksikon Retrieved April 1 2018 Giovanni Bach The History of the Scandinavian Literatures edited by Frederika Blankner 1938 Dial Press Inc New York Fredrik Wandrup Norsklaerer Bull Dagbladet June 22 2004Other sources editSuzanne Bull 1974 Ni ar mitt liv med Olaf Bull Oslo Aschehoug ISBN 978 8203061691 Nete Smith ed 2004 Twentieth Century Norwegian Writers Gale Dictionary of Literary Biography vol 297 ISBN 978 0787668341 Fredrik Wandrup 1995 Olaf Bull og hans samtid En uro som aldri dor Oslo Gyldendal ISBN 978 8205219762External links editOlaf Bull a wretched giant of Scandinavian literature Petter Naess 1990 nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to Olaf Bull nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olaf Bull nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Olaf Bull Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Olaf Bull amp oldid 1160902914, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
