Från nationalhjälte till rikstyrann: Karl XII i det svenska 1800-talets litterära minneskultur

The overall aim of the article is to investigate structure and dynamics Swedish cultural memory in nineteenth century. According micrological methodology, recommended by leading theorists memory, focuses on five representative texts: three Romantic poems written 1818 centenary Charles XII’s death (Bernhard von Beskow’s “Carl den Tolfte,” Erik Gustaf Geijer’s “Ord till Karl XII:s marsch vid Narva,” Esaias Tegnér’s XII”), two short stories, last decade century, both depicting events immediately after XII thus thematising king as communicative (Verner Heidenstam’s “En hjältes likfärd” August Strindberg’s “Vid Likvakan i Tistedalen”). Analysing poems, makes an attempt reconstruct degree zero It argued that poems’ has eclectic character requires a kind archaeological approach. In first step, identifies tissue elements, belonging pre-industrial memory: cult death, burial scenery, relic, fame, ritualization, militarization. subordinate this archaic system structures which are products century originate from one single social process: industrialization. second main part article, these industrial components analysed: subjectification, temporalization, historicization, productivization, nationalization, finally mythicization – final component investigated using Barthesian Jungian conceptual apparatus. third studies development during Two evolutionary trends, rooted different modifications Kantian notion Self, distinguished. trend, exemplified story Heidenstam, implies existential psychologization memory. represented Strindberg, based naturalistic correction Self executes subversive demythicization XII-myth.