Sixteenth-century Norwegian literature influenced by Humanism is best represented by the works of Absalon Pederssøn Beyer (1528-1575), who wrote Om Norigs Rike ('About the Kingdom of Norway'), and Peder Claussøn Friis (1545-1614), who wrote Diur, Fiske, Fugle og Træer udi Norrig ('Animals, Fish, Birds and Trees in Norway'). These two works were later recognised as having laid the foundations of historical and topographical literature in Norway, but in their own time they remained unpublished due to fears of the Danish government that they might enflame national sentiment. In subsequent years Norwegian topographical writing found expression principally through the medium of hymns, prayer books, sermons and biblical rhymes.

The first significant Norwegian poet to make a contribution to the common literary heritage was clergyman Petter Dass (1647-1707) of Nordland County, who combined hymns and topographical poetry. In his topographical poem Nordlands tropmet ('The Trumpet of Nordland', printed 1739), he fused Baroque influences with themes from Lutheran Christianity. Dass also re-wrote Luther’s catechism in resounding verse as Katechismesange (1714). Some of his psalms are still sung in the churches of Norway.

After studying in Copenhagen, Ludvig Holberg (1684-1754) became a professor and from the 1720s laid the foundations for a number of literary genres in Danish. Often referred to as ‘the Father of Danish and Norwegian Literature’, he is generally regarded to have made theatre accessible to a new middle-class audience, writing classical comedies in the tradition of Molière such as Jeppe på bjerget ('Jeppe of the Hill') and Erasmus Montanus.

The classical and pre-romantic tradition which characterised the literature of the Age of Enlightenment (late 18th century) is typified in the work of Danish-Norwegian poet Christian Brunmann Tullin (1728-1965), particularly his pioneering work Maidagene ('The Days of May'). Following this tradition, a group of Norwegian students in Copenhagen formed the group Det Norske selskab (The Norwegian Society) in 1772, aiming to promote Norwegian literature and aesthetics. The group included Johan Nordahl Bruun (1745-1816), author of For Norge, kiempers fødeland ('For Norway, Land of the Giants'), and perhaps the most prominent author of this time, Johan Herman Wessel (1742-1785), who wrote the tragic parody Kjærlighed uden strømper ('Love without Stockings'). The society ceased to operate in 1813 when its members, like many of their contemporaries, became pre-occupied with politics in the years leading up to the secession with Denmark.