BLOGGING CLUB MAGAZINE
MR. COOK
Yuteh Journal
Blogging Club Magazine 2019/20 – Issue 7 COVER BY: MARVEL STUDIOS
FOOD – FASHION – ART – STYLE
Myth/Folklore: The Legend of Thor Article by: Edwin https://zhengwei8011.wixsite.com/website
Thor is the quintessential warrior: loyal, courageous, admirable, full Most people have heard of Thor from the Marvel comics and movies. This article explores a few of his adventures and his characteristics depicted in the Norse Mythology. Thor is one of the most notable gods of the Norse Mythology. Before Christianity was spread into the Germanic Region, he was the most well respected god. He used to have the highest reputation in the Scandinavian society during the Viking rule.
of a sense of responsibility, and having an incomparable physical strength of a hundred men. Despite of the challenges he faces when defending his homeland, he never backs down. He is the defender of Asgard, the fortress of the Aesir gods. For countless times, he stops the giants, the gods' usual enemies, from invading or destroying their holy fortress. “I choose to run towards my problems, not away from them...”
Two of his possessions further complement his superior strength: a belt and a hammer. The belt of strength (also known as the megingjarðar) doubles his ability and power. The hammer "Mjöllnir" (lightning) remains as an inseparable symbol of Thor's authority. It can be seen with him no matter where he travels to. In addition, "thunder" represents "Thor" as "lightning" is to the Hammer. Many ancient Norse paintings portrays him as an invincible hero who fights the giants, holding Mjöllnir hammer.
BLOGGING CLUB MAGAZINE
MR. COOK
Although Thor has an infinite
However, their battle becomes so
Ragnorak is considered as the end
amount of power, he often
intense that the Giant holding the
of the world and twilight of the
clashes with Jormungand, the
fishing line has to sever it,
Gods. Almost all Norse Gods,
"Midgard Serpent." (Midgard is
allowing Jormungand to escape
including the mighty Thor, is
the visible world, the entire
back into the ocean. Thor is
doomed to die at the Ragnarok.
civilization of the gods, giants,
enraged by this act of cowardice
Both Thor and Jormungand are
and the mortal humans.) This sea
that he killed the Giant.
killed by one another in this
serpent lives in the ocean which
second confrontation: Thor uses
surrounds Midgard. Its body was
From the story mentioned above,
his hammer Mjรถllnir to kill
so formidably long that it
a major Viking belief is proven:
Jormungand, whose poison then
completely encircle Midgard.
bravery, exploration, and
kills Thor. Thor's sons Magni and
Two encounters and fights
strength. Thor depicts the
Modi survive Ragnarok, inherit
between the foes are recorded in
characteristics of the Vikings,
the hammer, and uses it to
the Eddas, the book which
who emphasize on strength and
restore peace and order to the
contains Thor's legend.
power. The Vikings never tolerate
half-destroyed world.
Thor is almost fearless. He is
weakness, hence the death of the
willing to venture far into the
fearful Giant who cut the fishing
To sum up, Thor's adventures,
Giant's realm with only a disguise.
line. The second encounter
indeed, reflect his archetypes,
He has also rowed a boat far out
between the enemies occurs in
including unlimited strength,
into the ocean which surrounds
Ragnarok. Ragnorak, or "fate of
wisdom, and indomitable
Midgard, only trying to defeat
the gods", is the widespread
courage. Although Christianity
Jormungand. In that particular
destruction of the cosmos,
eventually spread into the Nordic
journey (the first encounter with
including everything in it and the
region, Thor still remains as one
Jormungand), he uses a fishing
Gods.
of the most memorable and
line to entangle the serpent.
honored heroes.