Norse Mythology
The Influence of Mythology on Fantasy Fiction
Shubam Tayal
10ENGA Miss Love
NORSE MYTHOLOGY
The Influence of
Mythology on the
Fantasy Genre
The nature of mythology has naturally allowed fantasy authors to speculate and expand on the already
established stories. Mythology has inspired fantasy writers to explore alternate worlds and beings to
represent the traditional beliefs held by groups through history.
What is Norse
Mythology?
The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in Northern European and the North
Atlantic, and is made up by the countries with Scandinavian roots. Before the Norse (a.k.a. the
Vikings) converted to Christianity during the Middle Ages, they had their own native religion that
was centred around Norse mythology.
What counties did Nordic
mythology originate in?
Norse mythology is the body of mythology practised in Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark)
stemming from paganism and continuing after the introduction of Christianity.
Origins and Significance
The Norse religion that contained these myths never had a true name – those who practiced it just
called it “tradition.” However, people who continued to follow the old ways after the arrival of
Christianity were sometimes called “heathens,” which originally meant simply “people who live on
the heaths” or elsewhere in the countryside, and the name has stuck.
Why were Nordics called heathens?
Heathenry is a term used to describe the religious practices of two main groups of people, one
historical and one modern.
NORSE MYTHOLOGY
The original Heathens were the pre-Christian North European peoples who lived a thousand and more
years ago in the lands around what is now called the North Sea. These included the peoples of AngloSaxon England, Scandinavia, Germany and Frisia.
What did Norse mythology provide for Vikings?
Religions are attempts by mankind to reach the numinous, and the Norse religion was of course no
exception. It provided a divine purpose for the Vikings and provided a means for all that they did.
Why do you think people still explore Norse Mythology?
Norse mythology appeals to our love of fantasy adventure with its powerful gods, brave heroes,
beautiful women and dangerous monsters. Beings central to epic fantasy (elves, dwarves, trolls, giants,
etc.) are all founded on the Norse mythos, people today continue to be inspired by the vitality and
wonder of the Norse myths and the gods who inhabit them.
Watch the following video and answer the questions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj6t5AO_650&t=5
83s
Why do you think some of the Nordic myths were lost over time?
The Old Norse religion was suppressed from the 11th century, when Norway's kings forcibly imposed
the Christian religion and tore down or burned buildings like the god house at Ose to enforce worship
in the new Christian churches.
Describe the following realms:
Niflheim
The cold, dark, misty world of the dead, ruled by the goddess Hel. In some accounts it was the last of
nine worlds, a place into which evil men passed after reaching the region of death (Hel).
Muspelheim
Muspelheim is known as "The Realm of Fire", stated to be the source of all heat in the Nine Realms.
It is the home of Surtr the brave and his descendants, the Fire Giants, that are prophesied to burn
down and destroy the God Realm of Asgard during Ragnarök.
Ginnungagap
Ginnungagap, in Norse and Germanic mythology, the void in which the world was created. The story
is told, with much variation, in three poems of the Elder Edda, and a synthesis of these is given by
Snorri Sturluson in his Prose Edda.
NORSE MYTHOLOGY
Who was Buri
Buri was the first god in Norse mythology. He is the father of Borr and grandfather of Óðinn, Vili and
Vé. He was licked out of a block of ice by the divine cow, Audhumla. He lived alongside the primeval
giant, Ymir
How do Nordic people believe the world was created? (Refer to Ymir)
The world was created from the remains of the giant Ymir in Norse mythology. They threw the brain
up in the air and it became the clouds, and the skull became the sky, Ymir's skull would be the lid that
covered the new world. The brothers grabbed some of the sparks shooting out from Muspelheim, the
land of fire.
What is Yggdrasil?
Yggdrasil is a gargantuan living ash tree with branches extending above the heavens and a trunk
strongly latched into the ground by three great roots. Here, the gods assemble and meet, seek
sustenance from its life-giving branches, and watch over the worlds. Radiating from this center span
the nine realms of existence, including Asgard, the home of the gods and the hall of Valhalla, and
Midgard, the land of the human mortals.
What is the Jormungandr?
Jörmungandr is also known as the Midgard Serpent because he was a sea monster so large that he
wrapped all the way around Midgard (the world of humans). When this gigantic beast stirs, storms,
earthquakes, and tidal waves erupt. Jörmungandr lies in the depths of the sea, encircling the earth,
holding his own tail in his mouth, waiting for the day of Ragnarok.
What is Ragnarök?
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of events, including a great battle, foretold to lead to the
death of a number of great figures, natural disasters and the submersion of the world in water.
Who is Fenrir?
Fenrisúlfr, also referred to as Hróðvitnir and Vánagandr, or Vanargand, is a wolf in Norse mythology.
Fenrir, together with Hel and the World Serpent, is a child of Loki and giantess Angrboða.
Who does Thor defeat?
NORSE MYTHOLOGY
Thor, also a son of Odin and described here as protector of the earth, furiously fights the serpent,
defeating it, but Thor is only able to take nine steps afterward before collapsing.
What is The Aesir and Vanir?
In Norse mythology, gods and goddesses usually belong to one of two tribes: the Aesir and the Vanir.
Throughout most of the Norse tales, deities from the two tribes get along fairly easily, and it’s hard to
pin down firm distinctions between the two groups. But there was a time when that wasn’t the case.
Read through the ‘Gallery of
the Gods’ and create a
character summary grid
using the following
God/ Godess
Odin
Balder
Tyr
LOKI THE TRICKSTER
Role as a God
Leader of the Æsir gods.
He is also a
battle‐god as he
determines the
outcomes of earthly
battles
Balder is the wisest of
the gods.
A valiant swordsman
and a brave warrior,
Half Giant, God outcast
Good or Evil
Good
One Interesting Fact
Wednesday
(Odin or Woden’s day)
is named for him.
Good
Favorite son of both
Odin and Frigga.
Tuesday (Tyr’s day) is
named for him.
Adopted
Good
Evil