Imaginary Worlds Seeing Ourselves in Norse Myths
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Nov 8, 2023 Guests Ada Palmer and Carolyne Larrington discuss the impact of Norse mythology on modern fantasy, the misinterpretation of Norse myths, the portrayal of Thor in pop culture, and the relevance of Viking values in our world. They also explore the depiction of Norse mythology in films and the reflection of fragility in ancient stories.
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Lost and Misunderstood Norse Myths
- Norse mythology is mostly lost and misunderstood due to sparse oral traditions and Christianized recorders like Snorri Sturluson.
- Many original stories about figures like Jotuns are lost, leaving huge gaps in our understanding of Viking myths.
Myth Sanitization by Nationalists
- 19th century nationalists sanitized Norse gods to fit Victorian morals, ignoring their complex and often immoral nature.
- Some poems showing godly flaws were dismissed as fake to maintain an idealized image.
Nazi Appropriation Delayed Study
- Nazis co-opted Norse mythology to support Aryan ideology, leading postwar scholars to avoid the topic for decades.
- This taint delayed unbiased academic study until the 1960s and beyond.