Ritmennt - 01.01.2005, Page 163

RITMENNT
ABSTRACTS
Ármann Jakobsson: Munnur skáldsins. Um vanda
þess og vegsemd að vera listrænn og framgjarn
íslendingur í útlöndum. Ritmennt 10 (2005), pp.
63-79.
This article discusses how the different func-
tions of the mouth are portrayed in a short 13th
century Icelandic tale, The Tale of Sarcastic Halli.
The earliest lcnown version of this tale is to be
found in Morkinskinna (ca 1220). There are fre-
quent references to the mouth and its numerous
roles in this tale. Halli uses his mouth to curry
favour at court. He also puts it to use by making
vulgar jokes. The mouth can also present a danger
hoth to Halli and others. He employs it to black-
mail people but is also ordered to make use of it to
eat himself to death. Finally his mouth can be put
to use both to honour the king with a laudatory
poem, which was considered to be the most excel-
lent art form of the time, and also to the ignoble
task of eating porridge. These diverse functions
are used to shed light on Norwegian court society
as well as the identity and position of Halli as
courtier, Icelander and rogue.
Birgir Þórðarson: Skáldið, sem þjóðin gleymdi.
Jakob Jónsson á ísólfsstöðum. Ritmennt 10 (2005),
pp. 80-111.
Jakob Jónsson was an 18tli century poet, well
known to the public during ltis lifetime. Now lie is
all but unknown. An attempt is made to describe
Jakob's origins and life but sources regarding him
are scarce. Much of Jalcob's poetry lras survived,
mainly in manuscripts, but very little has been
published. His poetry is optimistic in spite of the
fact that these were hard times. His main themes
touch on historical events and characters, even
events in other parts of the world of which he
seems to have surprising knowledge considering
thc paucity of sources wliicli he presumably could
have had access to. The article includes a sum-
mary of all Jalcob's lcnown poetry along with a dis-
cussion of the main themes which are illustrated
with examples. Also included is an inventory of
his belongings at the time of his death, as well as
a comprehensive list of his collection of boolcs,
which may be regarded as exceptional amongst
Icelandic farmers of the period.
Benedikt S. Benedikz: Frá leyndarárum leyndar-
skjalavarðarins - Benediktssafn opnar smágátt.
Ritmennt 10 (2005), pp. 112-23.
This is an edition of some letters in Danish
and English written by Grímur Jónsson Thorltelin
(1752-1829), Royal Archivist of Denmark (1791-
1829) while he was resident in England in 1790-
91,to various friends and acquaintances, with one
exception. The letters were bought by Dr. Bene-
dikt S. Þórarinsson, the great benefactor of the
University of Iceland, from Ellis, bookseller in
Wiltshire, and show a remarkably attractive side
of Thorkelin's character, usually given as miserly
and unduly fond of the great and good to the detri-
ment of lesser folk. Most interesting are those to
Charles (Henry) Wilson (1757-1808) a lawyer and
very minor literary man who became Thorkelin's
friend, but of whom little else is known.
Hubert Seelow: Konrad von Maurer. Brjóstmynd
af réttarsögufræðingnum eftir Joseph Anton
Echteler. Ritmennt 10 (2005), pp. 124-32.
A bust of Konrad Maurer (1823-1902) Professor
of Legal History, University of Munich, by the
German sculptor Joseph Anton Echteler (1853-
1908) is displayed in the Manuscript Department
of the National and University Library of Iceland.
It is explained why the bust was presented to
the National Library, and the life of the artist
is briefly outlined.
Vilborg Auður ísleifsdóttir: Oddur norski og Nýja
testamentið 1540. Ritmennt 10 (2005), pp. 133-
50.
The publication in 1540 of Oddur Gottskállcs-
son's translation of the New Testament into
Icelandic/Old Norse is generally regarded as one
of the landmarks in tlie history of the Icelandic
language. Oddur's achievement and the context
in which he grew up and lived in Iceland and
Norway is discussed, and an attempt is made
to provide answers to questions relating to the
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