Ásgrímur Magnússon

Katelin Parsons (Árna Magnússon Foundation for Icelandic Studies)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Nicole Kennedy (University of Newcastle), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

Born c. 1600
Died 1679

Places

Active in Iceland

Activities

Primary

Poet

Resources

Magnússon's Works

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Ásgrímur Magnússon of Höfði in Höfðaströnd (d. 1679) was a North Icelandic poet, best known for composing a rímur cycle based on the Icelandic Víglundar saga. He is also thought to have collaborated with his neighbour and brother-in-law, Rev. Guðmundur Erlendsson of Fell in Sléttuhlíð (c. 1595–1670), on a poem describing a Christmas visit by the ogress Grýla to their farms. This poem,

Grýlukvæði

, is the oldest known poem to associate Grýla with Christmas.

Ásgrímur’s parents were Magnús Sigurðsson, a farmer from Hvammur in Hörgárdalur, and his wife, Herdís Guðmundsdóttir. His sister, Þórunn Magnúsdóttir, married the Reverend Jón Pálsson, a clergyman. He also had at least one brother, Sigurður Magnússon (died 7 March 1670), who was a farmer at Tjarnir

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1073 words

Citation: Parsons, Katelin. "Ásgrímur Magnússon". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 May 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=15420, accessed 20 June 2025.]