„Allt hafði annan róm [...]“

Kvæði Bjarna Borgfirðingaskálds um hrönun Íslands

Abstract

The poem Aldasöngur by the poet Bjarni Jónsson from the first decades of the 17th century is one of the most famous Icelandic poems from that period. The traditional interpretation of the poem has focused on the paradigm that the Lutheran reformation resulted in a great decline in Icelandic society and culture. The article examines whether or not the poet adhered to this understanding.

It is argued that the poem is largely religious and shaped by Lutheran theology. The poet also asserts that a great decline has occurred in the church life of the nation as well as in other domains. In particular, he thinks that social justice has declined and churches and graveyards have been neglected. The problems he describes can mostly be explained by changes in climate (the Little Ice Age), volcanic eruptions and plagues. The poet also criticizes the growing contrasts between the poor and the rich, which can be explained by the fact that property was concentrated among fewer families when the population of the country decreased.