The Norse Myths [Paperback]

Here are thirty-two classic myths that bring the pre-Christian Scandinavian world vividly to life. Gods, humans, and monstrous beasts engage in prodigious drinking bouts, contests of strength, greedy schemes for gold, and lusty encounters. Included are tales of Odin, the wisest and most fearsome of all the gods; Thor, the thundering powerhouse; and the exquisite mafic-wielding Freyja. Their stories bear witness to the courage, passion, and boundless spirit that were hallmarks of the Norse world.

With black-and-white drawings throughout
Part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore LibraryAcknowledgments  /  xi
 
Introduction  /  xiv
     The Norse World  /  xiv
     Cosmology  /  xx
     The Pantheon  /  xxv
     Sources  /  xxxii
     The Literary Structure of the Myths  /  xxxvi
     Approach  /  xxxix
 
The Myths
1. The Creation  /  3
2. The War of the Aesir and Vanir  /  7
3. The Building of Asgard’s Wall  /  9
4. Lord of the Gallows  /  15
5. The Song of Rig  /  18
6. The Mead of Poetry  /  26
7. Loki’s Children and the Building of Fenrir  /  33
8. The Theft of Idun’s Apples  /  38
9. The Marriage of Njord and Skadi  /  44
10. The Treasures of the Gods  /  48
11. Skirnir’s Journey  /  54
12. The Lay of Grimnir  /  59
13. The Necklace of the Brisings  /  65
14. The Lay of Thrym  /  70
15. The Lay of Vafthrudnir  /  75
16. Thor’s Journey to Utgard  /  80
17. The Lay of Hymir  /  95
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