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Essay On Norse Mythology

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History

When thinking about mythology, most people immediately think of the Greek culture. However, Norse mythology is also interesting and much more prominent than we think. Norse mythology is the religion of the Norse people, the ancient people of Northern Europe. It is older than national borders, and thus in many ways common to Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Between 780 and 1070 AD the Vikings were the most influential force in Europe and beyond. Wherever they went, they took their beliefs in the old gods and their poets created myths in their earliest versions. The Viking age was an age of enormous change and transformation in Nordic societies. This change is found in the development of the nation state, in the migration abroad …show more content…

Ragnarok is the doom of the gods and the humans. It will be the final battle between the Aesir gods and Jotuns (giants and monsters). The battle will take place on the plains called Vigrid. While Ragnarok is the end of the world, it is also the beginning of a new world. This new world will be a more loving world than the old one.

Norse Mythology in popular culture
Norse mythology is still omnipresent in modern society and their popularity shows no sign of diminishing in the twenty-first century. The deeds and personalities of gods continue to fascinate readers and to inspire authors and artists in a wide range of genres and media. This can be proofed with some examples.

First we see the myths returning in literature. Thor and Loki’s story has been turned into a comic book series. Also, names and characters from Norse mythology make frequent appearances in modern fiction and literature. ‘Lord of the rings’ and ‘Game of thrones’ have taken ideas from these myths. J K Rowling 's Harry Potter series had a werewolf character named Fenrir Grayback. Fenrir, also called Fenris, is the name for the great wolf in Norse mythology.

In music we have Wagner 's powerful Ring of the Nibelung, an opera which tells one of the great Norse sagas. Many heavy metal bands also make references to Valhalla, Valkyries, and other elements of Nordic

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