Aukrust, Olav

Related Category: Scandinavian Literature: Biographies

(ō´läv ou´krst), 1883–1929, Norwegian lyric poet. Aukrust's work, which contains strong religious and nationalist sentiment, draws much of its inspiration from Norway's peasant life, traditions, and majestic landscape. His best-known volumes of poetry include Himmelvarden [the mountain cairn] (1916) and Solrenning [sunrise] (1930). Aukrust writes symbolically of the individual's struggle against dark, elemental powers and his redemption through Christian faith. He uses this theme as a metaphor for Norwegian national development.