Tegner, Esaias

teg-nar, Esaias (1782-1846), a Swedish poet. He was born in the county of Wermland. He was educated at the University of Lund and became professor of Greek literature. Later he was ordained priest and was appointed bishop of Wexio in 1824. His first literary work, War Song for the Militia of Scania, appeared in 1808. Svea, a poetical name of Sweden, The Children of the Lord's Supper, which has been translated into English by Longfellow, Axel, The Gotha Lion, called the national song of Sweden, and Frithjofs Saga, are other titles. Frithjofs Saga is a cycle of romances in epic form, based upon the Old Norse saga of the same name. The Gothic school of poets founded by Geijer claim Tegner as their most famous representative and he is without doubt the greatest of Swedish poets. See Geijer