Saga of the Volsungs Breakdown Essay

Thor, Odin, and Loki, all good marvel characters, but they didn’t originate in the minds of Stan Lee. In fact they originated nearly 1300 years earlier, in the Viking age. In that time Norse mythology was born in its entirety. The way it was shaped was an effect of the Viking way, and the Viking way was affected by their mythology. Norse mythology didn’t stay inclusive to their own gods because of their raids and trading they learned different religions. Norse mythology integrated another mythology into theirs. This in turn cause wars between those said gods, specific to this essay the Aesir-Vanir War. This affected how Vikings saw the use of Seidr and this event was directly related to them raiding and trading with other lands.

The poet uses the literary device, frame story, to compare and contrast men and their deeds to Beowulf to highlight the aspects of the heroic code. The first story the poet uses is that of Siegmund’s Adventures (p. 39). Siegmund was a warrior that fought giants and killed a dragon with such might that it gained him fame, glory, and king-like treasures. This story was told after Beowulf’s triumph over Grendel as a comparison of Beowulf’s strength and accomplishment to those of

Introductions established, The Edda continues by exhibiting the questioning of Odin, chief of the Gods, by Gylfi, a traveling king (Snorri, 10). Gylfi asks about the race of Gods, to which Odin tells the story of his wife Frigg and their favorite son Balder. The purity of whom foreshadows his future significance. Balder, Odin responds, suffered from a series of foreboding dreams which prompts Frigg’s to take maternal action. She traveled the world, requiring an oath from every substance and material that they will not harm her son. Thus protected, Balder could bear the abuse of swords, sticks and fire without sustaining injury (Snorri, 65).

Loki is known as the trickster god of Norse mythology and is even said to be one of the first anti-heroes. He is also probably one of the most well-known tricksters as well. In the Norse myths, he is often portrayed as being very mischievous and is always causing trouble for the gods. In fact, “he was so outrageously mischievous that he even sneaked his way into becoming a god” (Allen, and Saunders, par. 1). However, even though he almost always seems to be getting the gods into some kind of trouble, he also helps them at times in an attempt to get them out of their predicaments…even if those predicaments are his own fault to begin with.

Odin only has one eye; it blazes like the sun. He gave his other eye for a drink from the Well of Wisdom. Odin has a spear, Gungnir, that never misses its target. He owns an eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, two wolves, Geri and Freki, and two raven, Huginn and Muninn. Wednesday is named after him (pantheon/odin).

     There are many similarities between the hero of the poem Beowulf and the heroes of the two Icelandic sagas, The Saga of The Volsungs and The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki. The former saga is an Icelandic saga representing oral traditions dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries, when Attila the Hun was fighting on the northern fringes of the Roman Empire; the latter is an Icelandic saga representing 1000 years of oral traditions prior to the 1300’s when it was written.

Beowulf is an epic poem that has been handed down orally for centuries, but was finally written down in the eighth century. It is the story of an epic hero, named Beowulf, who travels with his men, the Geats, to conquer the many beasts who terrorize the lands of the Danes. The scops describe Beowulf as “greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world”(110-111). This example shows one of many qualities that make Beowulf the epic hero that he is. He uses his strength to demonstrate both the dedication and bravery needed to bring peace and justice to the people who have been terrorized for such a long time. Cultural elements exemplified in Beowulf occur in the aspects of the mead hall, the warriors, and their belief system.

There are several myths that revolve around Odin and his endless quest for wisdom and how he is able to use that to his advantage (Holland,186). In myth 15 he learns wisdom from a giant named Vafthrudnir, in the story he challenges the giant to a contest by asking each other questions and the wager is their heads. After asking multiple questions to see who is wiser, Odin defeats the giant. In myth 28, Odin goes about reaching ultimate knowledge in a different way. In the myth he raises seeresses from the dead to gain knowledge and even sacrifices himself to win the occult wisdom possessed only by the dead; and came back to life to use that knowledge in the world of living (Holland, 187).

There is a wicked side to Odin. He can be erratic and at times abuse his power by causing or initiating wars. This has surfaced with many rulers throughout history. If Odin were to be compared to a

The epic poem of Beowulf is a story filled with majesty and mourning. Heroes and villains, struggles and victory. Men die, all the time. Along with all of this there is an underlying theme ever present throughout the script. It is the basis for actions, the reason for such passion behind a man's own bloody sword, the lust in his hungry eyes for revenge and conquers. In this time where the afterlife is uncertain, and familiarity is only known to a name, true heroism is the only assurance of identity and remembrance.

Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, is an oral story about a Norse hero. Beowulf is a pagan story with Christian influences. This story takes place in the Norse kingdoms of Denmark, and Sweden. The basic Viking tenants included “courage” (2), and “greatness” (2). However, there are values that are displayed by people who are greater than the common man. These values include being “prudent” (19), and being a good leader. In Norse culture, honor is a key aspect in defining a person’s status in a kingdom. Honor is defined by one’s respect, wealth and power. The primary Norse traditions are funerals (burning a ship), sailing, being a warrior, and giving gifts as sign of respect and peace. In several instances, there is a threat to civilization, or society. In most of these cases, a glorious hero saves the day. Beowulf is this hero. Beowulf arrives in Heorot hall to maintain order, in order to gain glory, and save the Danes. However, these heroes do not last forever. Beowulf’s downfall occurs because he did not listen to Hrothgar’s advice, he was a good king; but his followers did not come to his aid, and his actions, attitudes and beliefs.

Town. This furthers the argument that reality, in the novel, is nothing more but a stage that one can step on and step out at will. Again, the book plays on the power of Gods to manipulate their involvement on Earth and not. However, it doesn’t seem a power every God possesses, which can possibly be attributed to the fact that Wednesday, as Odin, has much more power than the other Gods as he has gathered belief in him not only from humans, but also from the other Gods. By going “behind the scenes”, Wednesday has effectively taken Shadow “out of time”, which furthers the idea that time and reality are not as concrete as one believes these two things to

This epic takes place in a Scandinavian society in which the people’s lives revolve around constant feuding and warfare (Lecture 12/7). In order to be a well-renown warrior, one must make a name for themselves through boasting and showing their skill in battle. When Beowulf, a Geat, hears of Grendel, a monster terrorizing the Danish people, he sees a great opportunity to not only defend the Danes but to assert his worth. He arrives in Denmark and is given the approval by Hrothgar, the Danish King, to assist

In the saga of Sigurd the Volsung, the supernatural is often treated as a natural occurrence. Phenomenal events that should cause awe and wonder are simply taken as typical experiences. Those who are without extraordinary abilities know their human limitations; however, they rely and believe in the supernatural capabilities of their heroes. As part of their philosophy, the future, past, and present all blend together. It is excepted by the culture that the spiritual and the natural are inseparable.

Loki is the embodiment of, “Of course it was Loki. It 's always Loki.” Loki is unquestionably the biggest question mark within Norse mythology. He is portrayed as a scheming, mischievous deity who has no real loyalties, his role is shrouded in mystery; what was his purpose in the ancient stories. Loki’s character arises questions about his role; was he a plot device, a foil for the Aesir, or maybe he was meant to be used as a warning to child? Within the pantheon of Norse gods, he was an anomaly; his fellow gods are mostly one dimensional and Loki is anything but. Loki is the antithesis to the culture the Norse gods represented; honor, courage, fidelity, truth, discipline, hospitality, industriousness, self reliance, perseverance. Loki is