16 - Section Preview: This is the End (of the world, not this unit)
The Norse outlook on life was a reflection of harsh living conditions and a quickly changing world. Conquering the land around you, enduring hardships with a sense of humor and earning fame that would outlast you were the only things that mattered.
Overcoming life's roadblocks was an honorable pursuit and the harsher the circumstances the more heroic and worthy of remembering.
We'll get into this later when you look at one of the Sagas. For now, it's time for some reflection.
Twilight of the Gods (Ragnarok)
In other cultures, knowing your fate is normally a bad thing. The more one tries to fight it, the stronger that fate is sealed. It's normally something to avoid at all costs and rarely results in anything positive.
The Norsemen were well aware of what awaits them at the end. Not one moment is wasted trying to avoid it or somehow lessen the pain that will result. When it happens they'll be ready for it and will face it with humor, bravery and honor.
Ragnarok was the moment that the gods could prove themselves and ensure the defeat of their enemies even at the expense of their own lives.
Anticlimactic, short, to the point…
Step 1: Read The Story of Ragnarok: Twilight of the Gods. This resource has multiple versions of the myth, including the original. It's a short story, and it's worth seeing how various storytellers convey the story.
Step 2: Image Quiz. Now that you've read and analyzed the basics of Norse Myth, it's time to put your knowledge to the test. I hope you read the stories because this isn't like most other quizzes you've taken.
