Rímur
Encyclopedia
In Icelandic literature
, a ríma (literally "a rhyme", pl. rímur) is an epic poem
written in any of the so-called rímnahættir ("rímur meters"). They are rhyme
d, they alliterate
and consist of two to four lines per stanza. There are hundreds of these meters, counting variations (Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
provides 450 variations in his Háttatal), but they can be grouped in approximately ten families. The plural, rímur, is either used as an ordinary plural, denoting any two or more rímur, but is also used for more expansive works, containing more than one ríma as a whole. Thus Ólafs ríma Haraldssonar
denotes an epic about Ólafr Haraldsson in one ríma, while Núma rímur are a multi-part epic on Numa Pompilius
.
The earliest rímur date from the fourteenth century, evolving from eddaic poetry and skaldic poetry with influences from Continental epic poems. Óláfs ríma Haraldssonar, preserved in Flateyjarbók
, is the ríma attested in the oldest manuscript and is sometimes considered the oldest ríma; the earliest large collection of rímur is in Kollsbók, dated by Ólafur Halldórsson to 1480–90. Skíðaríma
, Bjarkarímur
and Lokrur
are other examples of early rímur. The key work on editing rímur focused on medieval examples like these and was undertaken by Finnur Jónsson
. However, rímur were the mainstay of epic poetry in Iceland for centuries: 78 are known from before 1600, 138 from the seventeenth century, 248 from the eighteenth, 505 from the nineteenth and 75 from the twentieth. Most have never been printed and survive only in manuscripts, mostly in the National and University Library of Iceland
: about one hundred and thirty popular editions of rímur were printed between 1800 and 1920, but there are more than one thousand nineteenth-century manuscripts containing rímur. In the large majority of cases the rímur cycles were composed on a subject about which a written story already existed.
In the nineteenth century the poet Jónas Hallgrímsson
published an influential critique on a rímur cycle by Sigurður Breiðfjörð
and the genre as a whole. At the same time Jónas and other romantic poets were introducing new continental verse forms into Icelandic literature and the popularity of the rímur started to decline. Nevertheless many of the most popular nineteenth- and twentieth-century Icelandic poets composed rímur, including Bólu-Hjálmar
, Sigurður Breiðfjörð
, Einar Benediktsson
, Steinn Steinarr
, Örn Arnarson
and Þórarinn Eldjárn
. In the late twentieth century Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
was the best known rímur poet. Steindór Andersen
is currently the leading rímur singer in Iceland: he often collaborates with the band Sigur Rós
and has also contributed to some of Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
's works.
The scholar Sigurður Nordal
wrote on the rímur.
Icelandic literature
Icelandic literature refers to literature written in Iceland or by Icelandic people. It is best known for the sagas written in medieval times, starting in the 13th century. As Icelandic and Old Norse are almost the same, and because Icelandic works constitute most of Old Norse literature, Old Norse...
, a ríma (literally "a rhyme", pl. rímur) is an epic poem
Epic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
written in any of the so-called rímnahættir ("rímur meters"). They are rhyme
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
d, they alliterate
Alliterative verse
In prosody, alliterative verse is a form of verse that uses alliteration as the principal structuring device to unify lines of poetry, as opposed to other devices such as rhyme. The most commonly studied traditions of alliterative verse are those found in the oldest literature of many Germanic...
and consist of two to four lines per stanza. There are hundreds of these meters, counting variations (Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson , a native of Iceland, was instrumental in helping to gain recognition by the Icelandic government for the pre-Christian Norse religion...
provides 450 variations in his Háttatal), but they can be grouped in approximately ten families. The plural, rímur, is either used as an ordinary plural, denoting any two or more rímur, but is also used for more expansive works, containing more than one ríma as a whole. Thus Ólafs ríma Haraldssonar
Ólafs ríma Haraldssonar
Ólafs ríma Haraldssonar is a 14th century ríma by Einarr Gilsson on the career of Saint Óláfr Haraldsson of Norway.The work is preserved in Flateyjarbók, from around 1390, and was probably composed a couple of decades earlier. The narrative follows the account of Óláfr's life in Heimskringla,...
denotes an epic about Ólafr Haraldsson in one ríma, while Núma rímur are a multi-part epic on Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius
Numa Pompilius was the legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus. What tales are descended to us about him come from Valerius Antias, an author from the early part of the 1st century BC known through limited mentions of later authors , Dionysius of Halicarnassus circa 60BC-...
.
The earliest rímur date from the fourteenth century, evolving from eddaic poetry and skaldic poetry with influences from Continental epic poems. Óláfs ríma Haraldssonar, preserved in Flateyjarbók
Flateyjarbók
The Flatey Book, is an important medieval Icelandic manuscript. It is also known as GkS 1005 fol. and by the Latin name Codex Flateyensis.- Description :...
, is the ríma attested in the oldest manuscript and is sometimes considered the oldest ríma; the earliest large collection of rímur is in Kollsbók, dated by Ólafur Halldórsson to 1480–90. Skíðaríma
Skíðaríma
Skíðaríma is a humorous Icelandic ríma, from around 1400, of unknown authorship.The hero is the audacious and inventive beggar Skíði, who was apparently a historic figure from the 12th century. It was also a real event that he had a dream in 1195, and it is this dream that is the matter of Skíðaríma...
, Bjarkarímur
Bjarkarímur
Bjarkarímur is a 15th century Icelandic rímur cycle on the Skjöldungs , and retells among other things the adventures of Hróarr and his brother Helgi , and those of Böðvarr Bjarki...
and Lokrur
Lokrur
Lokrur is an Icelandic mythological rímur cycle dated to ca. 1400. It narrates the journey of the god Thor to Útgarða-Loki, a myth also preserved in Snorri Sturluson's 13th century Prose Edda part Gylfaginning...
are other examples of early rímur. The key work on editing rímur focused on medieval examples like these and was undertaken by Finnur Jónsson
Finnur Jónsson
Finnur Jónsson was an Icelandic philologist who made extensive contributions to the study of Old Norse literature.Finnur graduated from Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík in 1878 and went to Denmark for further studies at the University of Copenhagen. He received a doctorate in philology in 1884 with a...
. However, rímur were the mainstay of epic poetry in Iceland for centuries: 78 are known from before 1600, 138 from the seventeenth century, 248 from the eighteenth, 505 from the nineteenth and 75 from the twentieth. Most have never been printed and survive only in manuscripts, mostly in the National and University Library of Iceland
National and University Library of Iceland
Landsbókasafn Íslands — Háskólabókasafn is the national library of Iceland which also functions as the university library of the University of Iceland. The library was established on December 1, 1994 in Reykjavík, Iceland, with the merger of the former national library, Landsbókasafn Íslands...
: about one hundred and thirty popular editions of rímur were printed between 1800 and 1920, but there are more than one thousand nineteenth-century manuscripts containing rímur. In the large majority of cases the rímur cycles were composed on a subject about which a written story already existed.
In the nineteenth century the poet Jónas Hallgrímsson
Jónas Hallgrímsson
Jónas Hallgrímsson was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist. He was one of the founders of the Icelandic journal Fjölnir, which was first published in Copenhagen in 1835...
published an influential critique on a rímur cycle by Sigurður Breiðfjörð
Sigurður Breiðfjörð
Sigurður Breiðfjörð was an Icelandic poet. He learned cooperage for four years in Copenhagen and worked as a cooper in Iceland and Greenland. He was a prolific and popular traditional poet, known for his rímur cycles. Núma rímur is his best known work.-References:* Neijmann, Daisy L....
and the genre as a whole. At the same time Jónas and other romantic poets were introducing new continental verse forms into Icelandic literature and the popularity of the rímur started to decline. Nevertheless many of the most popular nineteenth- and twentieth-century Icelandic poets composed rímur, including Bólu-Hjálmar
Bólu-Hjálmar
Hjálmar Jónsson , better known as Bólu-Hjálmar , was a 19th century Icelandic farmer and poet, known for his sharp style and biting wit and for his mastery of the short Icelandic poetic narrative style known as Rímur.Hjálmar was born in Hallandi in Eyjafjörður...
, Sigurður Breiðfjörð
Sigurður Breiðfjörð
Sigurður Breiðfjörð was an Icelandic poet. He learned cooperage for four years in Copenhagen and worked as a cooper in Iceland and Greenland. He was a prolific and popular traditional poet, known for his rímur cycles. Núma rímur is his best known work.-References:* Neijmann, Daisy L....
, Einar Benediktsson
Einar Benediktsson
Einar Benediktsson was an Icelandic poet and lawyer.Einar Benediktsson's poetry was a significant contribution in the nationlistic revival leading to Iceland's independence. To this end, he was active both in establishing Landvarnarflokkurinn in 1902 and as the editor of Iceland's first daily...
, Steinn Steinarr
Steinn Steinarr
Steinn Steinarr was an Icelandic poet.Many Icelanders regard Steinn Steinarr as their greatest poet, although he remains almost unknown outside of Iceland, due perhaps to a lack of effective translations of his poetry...
, Örn Arnarson
Örn Arnarson
Örn Arnarson is a backstroke swimmer from Iceland, who won his first major title in 1998 at the European SC Championships in Sheffield. There he captured the title in the 200 m backstroke....
and Þórarinn Eldjárn
Þórarinn Eldjárn
Þórarinn Eldjárn is an Icelandic writer born on 22 August 1949. He studied at the University of Lund and the University of Iceland. He has written numerous poems, stories, and novels. He has also translated numerous books into Icelandic, including Alice in Wonderland. In addition, he has produced...
. In the late twentieth century Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson
Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson , a native of Iceland, was instrumental in helping to gain recognition by the Icelandic government for the pre-Christian Norse religion...
was the best known rímur poet. Steindór Andersen
Steindór Andersen
Steindór Andersen is an Icelandic musician.Andersen is noted for his Rímur chanting, and is most widely known for his collaborations with the band Sigur Rós...
is currently the leading rímur singer in Iceland: he often collaborates with the band Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
and has also contributed to some of Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson
Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson , also known as HÖH , is a musician, an art director, and allsherjargoði of Ásatrúarfélagið ....
's works.
The scholar Sigurður Nordal
Sigurður Nordal
Sigurður Nordal was an Icelandic scholar, writer and ambassador. He was influential in forming the theory of the Icelandic sagas as works of literature composed by individual authors....
wrote on the rímur.
Samples
- - Rimur (Icelandic folk musicMusic of IcelandThe music of Iceland includes vibrant folk and pop traditions. Well-known artists from Iceland include medieval music group Voces Thules, alternative rock band The Sugarcubes, singers Björk and Emiliana Torrini, and post-rock band Sigur Rós. Iceland's traditional music is related to Nordic music...
) from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection: go to http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/help/view.html and search for 'rimur'. - KVÆDASKAPUR: Icelandic Epic Song, by Hreinn Steingrímsson. Includes recordings of a number of performers.
- Kvæðamennafélagið Iðunn Eponymous homepage of a society devoted to the revival of traditional Icelandic singing; includes information in Icelandic on traditional performance styles, and an online edition of Bragfræði og Háttatal by Sveinbjörn BeinteinssonSveinbjörn BeinteinssonSveinbjörn Beinteinsson , a native of Iceland, was instrumental in helping to gain recognition by the Icelandic government for the pre-Christian Norse religion...
which catalogues the meters used by rímur poets, with examples performed by the author. - Fridþiófs rímur A rímur cycle based on Friðþjófs saga ins frœknaFriðþjófs saga ins frœknaFriðþjófs saga hins frœkna is a legendary saga from Iceland which in its present form is from ca 1300. It is a continuation from The Saga of Thorstein Víkingsson . It takes place principally in Norway during the 8th century.-Synopsis:King Beli of Sogn, Norway had two sons and a daughter named...
- Skikkju rímur 15th century rímur based on a French FabliauFabliauA fabliau is a comic, often anonymous tale written by jongleurs in northeast France between ca. 1150 and 1400. They are generally characterized by an excessiveness of sexual and scatological obscenity. Several of them were reworked by Giovanni Boccaccio for the Decamerone and by Geoffrey Chaucer...
. - Fernir forníslenskir rímnaflokkar "Four Old Icelandic Rímur Cycles" (Lokrur, Þrymlur, Griplur, Völsungsrímur), about Norse gods and heroes, edited by Finnur Jónsson.
- Icelandic Ballads on the Gowrie Conspiracy, ed. by W. A. Craigie (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1908), http://www.archive.org/details/skotlandsrmuric00craigoog.