Poetry
Olvir is quoted by Snorri Sturluson in the Skaldskaparmal as having composed the following stave about the god Thor: "Æstisk allra landa umbgjörð ok sonr Jarðar." ("The encircler of all lands and Iord's son became violent.") Another poetic fragment attributed to him in the Skaldatal reads: "Maðr skyldi þó molda megja hverr of þegja kenni-seiðs þó at kynni klepp-dæg Hárrs lægvar." ("Yet every man should know how to hold his peace even though -").
William Pencak compared Olvir's poetic career unfavorably with that of his grandnephew Egil: "A tyrant needs insincere poets to praise him, and Olvir's career illustrates the problem of artists and thinkers serving political ends ... the saga does not quote any of his poems. First Olvir is the slave of a woman, then of a king. The difference between his poetry and Egil's will demonstrate the opportunities for talent a free society opens up."
Read more about this topic: Olvir Hnufa
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