Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1989, Qupperneq 112

116
GUNNAR HAVREKI OG ÓLI DANSKI
Summary:
In 1888 Rasmus C. Effersøe (1857-1916) was
one of the organizers of the memorable
Meeting at Christmas that initiated the
struggle for the preservation and develop-
ment for Faroese language and culture.
This article describes and discusses one of
Effersøe's collections of manuscripts,
Føroya Landsbókasavn (Faroe National
Library) F XIV. In this collection there are
two letters, fifteen poems or extracts of
poems, and three plays.
The existing manuscripts of Effersøe's
first play, Gunnar Havreki, 1889, are also
discussed as are some of the linguistic modi-
fications made in subsequent publications,
especially the 4th in 1934. The plot of the
play refers to a tragedy which occurred at
sea during the night between 24th and 25th
November 1871 when a boat and its crew
were lost.
In conclusion the article evaluates the
literary merit of the plays written in Faroes
a century ago. They are not regarded as
great works in Faroese literature, but as to
the evolution of the language it is considered
very important that ever since 1889 ordinary
Faroese dialogue has been heard on stage.
Árni Dahl
Føroya Læraraskúli
Frælsið 20
FR-100 Tórshavn