Ferrari, Fulvio. Attraverso gli specchi della riscrittura

• Author: Ferrari, Fulvio
• Title: Attraverso gli specchi della riscrittura: il Sonatorrek di Egill Skalla-Grímsson e le traduzioni italiane di Ibsen
• Published in: Studi Germanici 44/3
• Year: 2006
• Pages: 423-39
• E-text:
• Reference: Ferrari, Fulvio. “Attraverso gli specchi della riscrittura: il Sonatorrek di Egill Skalla-Grímsson e le traduzioni italiane di Ibsen.” Studi Germanici, 44/3 (2006): 423-39.

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Annotation

In this article Henrik Ibsen’s Hærmændene på Helgeland is examined both as the historical play that was prompted by the Icelandic sagas and as the source text that its Italian translations do not render fully properly. The drama is reminiscent of Völsunga saga and especially of Egils saga: act IV displays Ørnulfs drapa, a poem that resembles the famous Sonatorrek in both themes and functions, while also reproducing some of its lexical elements, metaphors and motifs. However, it is highlighted how Ibsen crafted these components anew in what he had conceived of as a ‘scenic saga’ that was meant to celebrate and remind Norwegians of their glorious national past. Conclusive remarks are dedicated to the difficulty in translating a highly specific poem such as Ørnulfs drapa.

References

Chapter 80: er lokið var kvæðinu: "In the saga, as well as in Ibsen’s drama [Hærmændene på Helgeland], the inclusion of the poem is not purely ornamental: it is thanks to it indeed that the character-author re-engages in action and is able to contribute to the narration again." (Italian text: “Nella saga come nel dramma ibseniano [Hærmændene på Helgeland] l’inclusione del carme non svolge un ruolo puramente esornativo: è grazie ad esso, infatti, che il personaggioautore riprende parte attiva all’azione ed è in grado di contribuire nuovamente al procedere della narrazione.” (p. 431).)

Links

• Written by: Martina Ceolin
• Icelandic translation: