Meeting the Norse gods of the Viking Age -- Fate and the Norse worldview -- The Norse art of mythic storytelling -- The Norse gods are characters with flaws -- The Norse creation: dawn of strife -- First humans, the Nine realms, and Yggdrasil -- Loki and his children -- Balder's death: tragic murder of a god -- Ragnarok: the final battle and fall -- Thor among the god's enemies -- Thor among the gods -- Odin, Lord of War and the dead -- Odin and wisdom -- A second family of gods? The Vanir -- Valkyries and the Goddess Freyia -- Dwarves, elves, trolls, and zombies -- Odin and the rise of the Volsungs -- The fall of the greatest Volsung hero -- Viking history becomes Volsung myth -- Shieldmaidens, Berserkers, and Bear Men -- Norse religion, saccrifice, and the festivals -- Norse magic: spells, curses, and runes -- After life: Gel and Valhalla -- The enduring appeal of Norse mythology.
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