Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 19

TROLLS, ELVES, DWARVES AND GODS.
These are just a few of the many fabled creatures
that are deeply embedded in our popular culture,
from comic books to movies to video games. But
where did they originate? Many of them came from
Norse mythology and folklore.
The oral traditions of a country offer a glimpse
into the heart of its history, people and culture. In
the early days, natural phenomena such as weather
events and the northern lights were attributed to
gods and other mythical creatures before they
could be explained scientifically. On a smaller scale,
parents invoked the wrath of supernatural beings to
frighten their children into behaving.
So who dreamt up these stories? Prior to adopting
Christianity, the Vikings developed their own belief
system as a way to make sense of the world. They
didn't shy away from the hardships they were facing,
and their stories weren't based around saving souls.
Instead, Viking mythology focused on life's wonders,
particularly the ones found in nature.
NORSE MYTHOLOGY MEETS POP CULTURE
The majority of early Norse mythology was passed
down orally. But sometime around the year 1220,
the Icelandic historian and poet Snorre Sturlason
began recording it. What resulted were two pieces
of in-depth literature called the " Prose Edda " and
the " Poetic Edda. " The books included detailed
accounts of the world's creation as told by the Norse
myths, as well as the varied adventures of the gods.
These tales worked their way into the fabric of
everyday life. A popular example is J.R.R. Tolkien's
novel, " The Hobbit, " which was published in
1937. Growing up in Oxford, England, Tolkien
was introduced to Nordic folklore by his Icelandic
nanny. As an adult, the author created a fantasy
world known as Middle Earth, which reportedly was
inspired by the geography of Iceland and by Norse
mythology. Seventeen years later, Tolkien penned
" The Lord of the Rings, " his modern take on a
traditional heroic epic.
In addition, Tolkien's character Gandalf has been
compared to the Norse god Odin. In the 1960s,
Odin made his debut in Marvel comic books. Odin's
son Thor was introduced in 1962 by Atlas Comics
(later renamed Marvel) and also appears in multiple
Marvel films. Here's a look at some of our favorite
gods and creatures from Scandinavian folklore.
In the 1960s, characters
from Norse mythology
started to make their
way onto the pop culture
scene. Marvel Comics'
representation of Thor,
for example, has been
an important element
in the Marvel Universe
since his debut in 1962.
Marvel is one of the
most prominent creators
of modern tales of the
Norse gods.
sonsofnorway.com VIKING APRIL 2021 19

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Viking Magazine - April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - April 2021

Contents
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - Cover1
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - Cover2
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - Contents
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 4
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 5
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 6
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 7
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 8
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 9
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 10
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 11
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 12
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 13
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 14
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 15
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 16
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 17
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 18
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 19
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 20
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 21
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 22
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 23
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 24
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 25
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 26
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 27
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 28
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 29
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 30
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - 31
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - Cover3
Viking Magazine - April 2021 - Cover4
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