Norse Mythology Historical Background Course Target I will

Norse Mythology: Historical Background Course Target: I will read analyze technical selections, legends, myths, short stories, epic poems, poems and plays for theme, journey genre, and purpose Daily Target: I will learn some background about Norse Mythology to successfully analyze its purpose.

Where does Norse Mythology Come From? ! Primarily Norway, Sweden and Finland! Our Minne “sodan” heritage! Ya sure you betcha!

This is Norway-ask Ms. Charboneau about it-she’s been there!

• Norse Mythology has its roots in the Proto-Norse Iron Age • Proto-Norse was a language spoken in Scandinavia that was thought to have evolved from Proto-Germanic over the first centuries AD. It is the language used in the oldest Scandinavian inscriptions, spoken during the 3 rd 7 th centuries. It evolved into the dialects of the Old Norse language at the beginning of the Viking Age.

What happened to Norse Mythology? • Norse Mythology flourished during the Viking age (3 th-11 th centuries when the Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare). • Then there was the Christianization of Scandinavia somewhere around the 10 th century. • Norse Mythology passed into Scandinavian folklore and there are some aspects surviving to the modern day. • It then became a large influence on modern literature and pop culture.

Why should we care about Norse Mythology? • It will be part of our study relating to Joseph Campbell’s The Monomyth-the hero cycle-a cycle that will help us analyze literatures. • It has influenced literature and pop culture in Western Culture, which can help us to make connections in the world around us.

Some influences in Pop Culture and Modern Literature • J. R. R. Tolkien’s writings were heavily influenced by pre-Christian Northern Europeans. The Lord of the Rings includes elements of mythology including elves and dwarves • Marvel Comics The Mighty Thor • Heavy metal lyrics including bands like Manowar, Therion, Bathory, Amon Amarth, and Tyr • Video games! Final Fantasy, Too Human, Age of Mythology, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Ragnarok Online, Viking: Battle for Asgard, Dark Age of Camelot, Guild Wars, etc.