Stefán Ólafsson is among the most celebrated Icelandic poets of the early modern period, alongside his contemporary and fellow clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674), with whom he is frequently compared. Stefán is primarily remembered for his secular songs, including his love poetry and comic verse. He was equally a religious poet, known during his lifetime for his hymns and hymn translations, but his religious compositions have largely fallen into obscurity today.
Stefán’s parents were provost and hymnist Ólafur Einarsson (1573–1651) and his wife Kristín Stefánsdóttir (c. 1582–after 1651), who were married in 1605 and moved to Stefán’s birthplace of Kirkjubær in East Iceland in 1609. Stefán was one of fifteen children: six sons and nine daughters. Three
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Citation: Parsons, Katelin. "Stefán Ólafsson of Vallanes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 29 April 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14866, accessed 09 October 2024.]