Myth, oral storytelling and nature in Peder Frederik Jensen's Rans vilje
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7557/13.8524Keywords:
Peder Frederik Jensen, the sea, myth, oral narrative, memoryAbstract
This article analyzes Peder Frederik Jensen’s Rans vilje (2023) with a focus on the interplay between mythology, oral storytelling traditions, and ecocriticism. While the novel is anchored in Lolland in the historical storm surge of 1872, this article interprets the event through the figure of the Sailor, whose memory and worldview are shaped by Norse myths. His narratives and perception of the natural world present the sea as an active force with its own agency, situating the catastrophe within a cosmic and deep-time framework. The article therefore argues that Rans vilje can be read as a contribution to ‘green’ and ‘blue’ ecocriticism, in which ancient myths are reactivated to address contemporary ecological concerns.
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