How did the Reformation change Icelandic religious poetry?

The Reformation significantly altered the landscape of Icelandic religious poetry by shifting its focus and origins. Following the transition to Lutheranism, traditional Catholic poetry—which frequently honored the Virgin Mary, the Apostles, and other saints—was largely discarded.12

Early Lutheran bishops initially attempted to replace this body of work with hymns translated from Danish and German, which were often of poor quality. However, the tradition evolved as Lutheran teachers began to emphasize Protestant dogma through printed sermons and instructional texts. A notable development occurred with Guðbrandur Þorláksson, who, while translating the Bible, demonstrated a renewed appreciation for native poetic traditions by incorporating traditional Icelandic alliteration and form into his psalmbook.1

This period eventually gave rise to some of the most celebrated religious poetry in Icelandic history, most notably the Passion Hymns of Iceland by Hallgrímur Pétursson. Written in the 17th century, these hymns merged personal suffering with the Passion of Christ and became deeply cherished devotional works that bolstered the morale of the Icelandic people.3