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A National Song of Denmark by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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This poem serves as a powerful war anthem that honors three legendary Danish naval heroes: King Christian IV, Admiral Nils Juel, and Peter Wessel Tordenskjold, each of whom defeated their foes at sea.

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Core theme
Courage
The PoemFull text

A National Song of Denmark

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

King Christian stood by the lofty mast In mist and smoke; His sword was hammering so fast, Through Gothic helm and brain it passed; Then sank each hostile hulk and mast, In mist and smoke. "Fly!" shouted they, "fly, he who can! Who braves of Denmark's Christian The stroke?" Nils Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar, Now is the hour! He hoisted his blood-red flag once more, And smote upon the foe full sore, And shouted Loud, through the tempest's roar, "Now is the hour!" "Fly!" shouted they, "for shelter fly! Of Denmark's Juel who can defy The power?" North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel rent Thy murky sky! Then champions to thine arms were sent; Terror and Death glared where he went; From the waves was heard a wail, that rent Thy murky sky! From Denmark, thunders Tordenskiol', Let each to Heaven commend his soul, And fly! Path of the Dane to fame and might! Dark-rolling wave! Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight Goes to meet danger with despite, Proudly as thou the tempest's might Dark-rolling wave! And amid pleasures and alarm; And war and victory, be thine arms My grave!

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Sourced from Project Gutenberg

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§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This poem serves as a powerful war anthem that honors three legendary Danish naval heroes: King Christian IV, Admiral Nils Juel, and Peter Wessel Tordenskjold, each of whom defeated their foes at sea. Longfellow translated it from Danish to pay tribute to Denmark's fighting spirit and love of freedom. In the final stanza, the speaker vows that the sea — the very battlefield of these heroes — should be his own resting place.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. King Christian stood by the lofty mast / In mist and smoke;

    Editor's note

    The opening stanza depicts King Christian IV of Denmark as a legendary warrior, fearlessly standing at the ship's mast amidst the cannon smoke. His sword slices through enemy helmets and skulls with such precision that it causes entire hostile ships to sink around him. The repeated phrase — "In mist and smoke" — acts like a drumbeat, emphasizing the chaos of battle and the king's steady dominance within it. The enemies' frantic cry, "Fly! fly, he who can!", shows that Christian is not only winning — he is instilling terror.

  2. Nils Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar, / Now is the hour!

    Editor's note

    The second stanza focuses on Admiral Nils Juel, the historical figure from the 1677 Battle of Køge Bay. He perceives the storm not as a danger but as a call to action — "Now is the hour!" — and hoists his crimson battle flag. The raging tempest turns into his ally instead of an adversary, and his assault is so intense that the enemy retreats for cover. The repeated line "Now is the hour!" imbues the stanza with a feeling of captured fate, suggesting that remarkable individuals know precisely when to make their move.

  3. North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel rent / Thy murky sky!

    Editor's note

    The third stanza honors Peter Wessel Tordenskjold, the daring Norwegian-Danish naval hero from the early 18th century. His very presence "rents" — tears through — the dark sky above the North Sea like a flash of lightning. The language intensifies: "Terror and Death" accompany him, and the waves wail in despair as he draws near. The line "From Denmark, thunders Tordenskiol'" portrays him as a natural force, a storm personified. His enemies are advised to commend their souls to Heaven before they run — survival is impossible against him.

  4. Path of the Dane to fame and might! / Dark-rolling wave!

    Editor's note

    The final stanza shifts from historical heroes to the speaker's personal voice, blending the poem's intimacy with its universal themes. The dark, rolling sea — once a battlefield — is now directly addressed as a form of destiny. The speaker asserts that a true Dane doesn’t shy away from danger but confronts it with "despite" (defiance). The closing lines echo a soldier's vow: let the sea, the same sea where these heroes achieved glory, be his resting place. It represents a proud, even joyful acceptance of death in service to one’s country.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is triumphant and martial throughout — this is a battle hymn, not a meditation. There’s no grief here, no uncertainty about the cost of war. The mood leans more towards a raised fist than a bowed head. In the final stanza, a hint of personal devotion emerges, almost tender, as the speaker directly addresses the sea and offers his life to it. The overall effect resembles a crowd singing together, chests out, which is fitting: this is a national song, meant to resonate in the body as much as in the mind.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The lofty mast
The mast represents authority and visibility; standing by it in battle signifies a refusal to retreat. It identifies the hero as a leader who confronts challenges openly, visible to both his crew and the enemy.
The blood-red flag
Juel's blood-red flag signals a fierce dedication to battle — no quarter asked, none given. The red represents not only the color of war but also national identity, sending a strong message that Denmark will stand its ground.
The dark-rolling wave / the sea
The sea serves as both a battlefield and a burial ground — the site of Danish victories and the resting place of its heroes. By the last stanza, it takes on a divine quality, as the speaker calls upon it and entrusts it with his body and legacy.
Mist and smoke
The phrase "mist and smoke" encapsulates the chaos of naval battles, where cannon smoke could be blinding. It also implies that these heroes function in situations that would leave most men frozen in fear. Their ability to see through the confusion is what elevates them to legendary status.
Thunder / the tempest
Storm imagery flows through all three hero stanzas, connecting each man to a natural, unstoppable force. Tordenskjold's name literally translates to "thunder shield" in Danish, making the storm metaphor a clever play on words—essentially, the poem is naming him for what he already embodies.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Longfellow published this poem in 1839, translating "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast," a Danish patriotic song by Johannes Ewald from 1779. Ewald's piece was set to music and eventually became one of Denmark's two national anthems. The poem references three real heroes: King Christian IV (1577–1648), who fought in the Thirty Years' War and various naval battles; Admiral Nils Juel (1629–1697), known for his victory at the Battle of Køge Bay against Sweden in 1677; and Peter Wessel Tordenskjold (1690–1720), who became a folk hero for his bold raids during the Great Northern War. Throughout his career, Longfellow had a fascination with Scandinavian literature—he later wrote *The Song of Hiawatha* using a meter inspired by the Finnish epic *Kalevala*—and this early translation showcases his enduring interest in the heroic traditions of northern Europe.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Who are the three heroes mentioned in the poem?

They are King Christian IV of Denmark, Admiral Nils Juel, and Peter Wessel Tordenskjold. All three were notable historical figures known for their naval victories. Christian IV was active in the early 17th century, Juel secured a win at the Battle of Køge Bay in 1677, and Tordenskjold was a bold commander in the early 1700s.

Did Longfellow write this poem himself or is it a translation?

It’s a translation. The original Danish poem, "Kong Christian stod ved højen mast," was penned by Johannes Ewald in 1779. Longfellow translated it into English and published it in 1839. Over time, the poem became one of Denmark's two national anthems.

What does 'Tordenskiol'' mean?

"Tordenskjold" is a Danish-Norwegian name that translates to "thunder shield." The poem cleverly connects this by portraying Wessel as thunder ripping through the sky — both the metaphor and the man's name convey the same idea.

Why does the speaker want the sea to be his grave in the last stanza?

The speaker conveys his deepest sense of patriotism: he would choose to die in the same waters where Denmark's greatest heroes earned their glory. This isn’t merely a death wish; it's a declaration of his values — he prefers to fall in battle at sea rather than live without such courage and dedication.

What is the effect of the repeated refrains in each stanza?

Each stanza features a two-line refrain that opens the section and is repeated near the end — "In mist and smoke," "Now is the hour!" and others. This call-and-response format lends the poem a song-like quality, inviting collective participation and reinforcing the key phrases in our minds, much like a memorable chorus.

What does 'despite' mean in the line 'Goes to meet danger with despite'?

Here, "despite" takes on an older meaning of defiance or contempt — the speaker approaches danger with a sense of scorn rather than fear. This archaic usage was still in vogue during Longfellow's era and aligns well with the poem's elevated, heroic tone.

Why did Longfellow translate a Danish national anthem?

Longfellow was passionate about Scandinavian and northern European literature and languages. He taught modern languages at Harvard and explored numerous works in German, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish. His translation of Ewald's anthem was a key part of his effort to introduce European literary traditions to American readers.

Is this poem anti-war or pro-war?

It clearly supports war, or at the very least, the warrior. There’s no irony, no grief for the fallen, and no doubt about the violence. It functions as a national anthem in the purest form — meant to instill pride and bravery, rather than reflect on the consequences of battle. Interpreting it as a critique of war would contradict the poem's entire purpose.

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "A National Song of Denmark." Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/a-national-song-of-denmark-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/.

APA

Longfellow, H. W. (n.d.). A national song of denmark. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/a-national-song-of-denmark-henry-wadsworth-longfellow/

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

In 'A National Song of Denmark,' Longfellow constructs heroism as a collective, almost liturgical performance, with each stanza serving as a ritual through which the nation rehearses its own mythology so insistently that the repetition …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
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