Key Themes and Symbols

Bravery in the face of a harsh fate is one of the main themes of Norse mythology. Even the gods were ruled by an unalterable fate that doomed everything to eventual destruction. A hero who strove to accept his

One story from Norse mythology tells of Sigurd, a hero who used a special sword to slay the dragon Fafnir. When Sigurd roasted and ate the beast's heart, he was able to understand the language of the birds. They warned him that he was going to be killed. WERNER FORMAN/ART RESOURCE, NY.

Destiny with reckless courage, honor, and generosity might win lasting fame, regarded as the only true life after death.

The battle between good and evil is another important theme. The gods represented order in the universe, but their enemies, the giants, tried constantly to return to the state of formless chaos, or disorder that had existed before the creation. Although the gods sometimes displayed treachery, cowardice, or cruelty, in general they stood for virtue.

The natural world is an important theme in Norse mythology as well. Rather than focusing on magical elements unrelated to nature, many aspects of Norse myth arise directly from the environment. Cold and ice are found throughout Norse mythology, as one might expect in such a frigid Region. The ancient formlessness before creation contains fire and ice, and the creator Ymir is made completely of ice. The base of the world is a giant tree, and the bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard is a rainbow.