Norway and Norse Mythology

The Norse myth of creation can be broadly taken over the belief in the gods drawing the earth up from the sea, in addition to the creation of art through words and painting as creation of the world as well. There is much to be said and gained from the creation of all kinds of art within the world today, and Norway’s days of creation fall all the way back to The Scream by Edvard Munch. With a wide array of creation of art and literature valuable within the Norwegian culture there is much to ‘scream’ about in considering the quality of personal creation in presentation of items like Norse mythology and integration of a great deal of Christianity into Norwegian culture.

             With many stories and poems the various Norse presentations of the world are being created by the gods in many ways. There are many biblical references to the value of creation in Norse mythology and history, including literature and poetry working through the value of creation in Norwegian history and culture. We can also enjoy the creation of many pieces of art and literature, along with their adventurous people who searched out and around to spread out onto unknown lands. There have been many historical references of the Norse population being one of creation in many ways, with a great deal of the Norse myth of creation presented in the article “In the beginning was the scream” by Henning Kure. There are so many aspects of beginning and creation in Norwegian culture and history, and so many pieces out there to represent the value of creation to the Norse people. In his article Kure states, “The scream is the raw material of words. Words are shaping the world” (p. 3).

A piece by the Norwegian author, Snorri, presents the integration of creation within Norse mythology, though there is a slightly different reference than the creation of the world. There is more to be considered that creating the world when further including the Christian faith into the history of the nation and Norwegian people. With the reference to the gods putting the world together through devastation of opposing giants, there is much to be said for the time past the creation of the earth into present culture. “…Ymir the hawk.” The shriek of the hawk gave Ymir its title in Snorri’s Edda. Although there is also Ymir the giant birds are known to be symbols of spirit, especially throughout Norse history and mythology. There is the issue of the hawk providing a scream that draws attention to the full society, the scream of all the artwork created historically within Norwegian society. Aside from these literary works there is of course Edvard Munch’s famous painting The Scream speaking out to the world on the creativity and creation deliverable from Norse society. All of these various artists are able to create a culture, history and impression on the outside world of their value within international society.

For both history of Norwegian culture and what they present of the world, in the beginning was ‘the scream’ in many aspects. Munch was able to paint that scream into a piece that has remained incredibly famous and is found to be one of the most commonly reproduced works to date. The creation of characters in Old Norse literature and other art provides a significance of meaning in many respects, continuing the tradition throughout time. With using the term Ymir, meaning ‘scream’ the Norse tradition of mythology, literature and art screams out to the world of the significance of Norwegian history and culture throughout international space and time.

             There have been many creators in Norwegian history and culture for many different reasons in the world of art and the world as a whole. Not only are these artists and authors able to create amazing and influential artwork for their residents but they have created a place among the globe for their nation as a valuable piece of world culture. The language is one that is easily acquired by so many English-speaking natives that Norway is comfortable and fun to visit as well as a proper location to take business and life into as well. Creation of some of the power includes the dominant creature of Ymir in many forms for both initiation and leadership. More than just symbolism of names has provided a deep meaning to the written and graphic arts of Norwegian history, relating in many ways to the association of the coffin and ark to biblical imagery throughout national art, more so than simply presenting the creation of the world through different representations. The Norse culture brings the idea of creation above being a sublime act, and the creation of the world is not the only historical concern of the people of a land of thoughtful and innovative people, even though their works often respect the international Christian adoration for that story of creation as a whole.

             Materials and sources were still of incredible value within the overall theme of creation within Norse mythology, but Christianity took effect over time and it is presented among various works that Norwegian forefathers would have anticipated the integration of the Christian faith into the future culture of their land. Authors including Snorri may not have reported Christian influences in their creations but add the importance of philosophy and Christian orthodoxy that answer many questions of human creation and other worldly issues. Representation of Norwegian myths show a broad national appreciation of their own history and culture in order to continue further progression of a beautiful international position.

             Although Christian belief remains in the fact that one God created the earth from nothing, the Norwegian mythology of their historical background remains in the fact that their Norse gods completed a process of creation from raw materials of some sort in order to bring about full creation of the earth. The entrance of Christian faith and biblical testimony enters Norwegian culture further into the future and is more integrated into their historical beliefs. Authors like Snorri and others bring about the confrontation of separate cosmogony and mythology that present the story of creation of the earth, presented through the effective methods of creation performed by many individuals within Norwegian society. The various words and images created within Norwegian culture are able to pull the people together in belief of their own mythology combined between separate faiths existent throughout history of the Norse land. There is much to be said for the open installment of the evolution of the world as religion and belief as changed through the course of the people of the world.

             Aside from all of the various creations among Norwegian culture throughout history there is the continual nature of the language that presents is creation of presentations through words with flexible prefix and suffix options to be added to the beginning and end of words for the movement and alteration of content included in all Norse literature. In the same manner as the Norwegian love of nature and its capabilities for man there is also the belief in the creativity of the gods in general to develop the world as we know it from raw materials. The power of the gods is what has shaped the world into its practical shape today, developing a balance between the concrete and spiritual spheres of the world to further development for the human race and ability to function. Through the involvement of the creation of the world and creativity upon earth, there is much to be interpreted for the integration of mythology and beliefs among the creation of arts and culture as well as society. Not only do those beliefs of origination hold true to the value of one’s faith, but there comes a loyalty to the creative arts presented from one’s homeland, helping to identify with the source of the nation and culture as well.

             Not only is it the combination of the presentation of God’s creation of the earth from nothing, but combination with other pieces of creative work while also integrating the flexibly creative nature of the Norwegian language with the prefix of “Ginn-“ in Snorri’s representation of all of these factors in one work. Luckily Snorri’s tale covers a great deal of the various ends and flexible nature of the Norse creation myth including the broad nature of the term ‘Ymir’ both naturally and powerfully. Although Snorri may not match the creation myth fully, there is still a strong correlation to the overall myths of the Norse gods as well as the eddic poems and other literary fortune of Norwegian history.

             The creations of and within the world, not only from raw materials and work with the gods, has led to the wealth of the Norwegian culture and history and development among the entire world. The Norse language and artistic culture is able to reach out to others all over the word beginning from The Scream to the various literary and artistic creations brought about over centuries to represent their cultural wealth. It takes no more than a simple view and acceptance of the language in order to touch closely to this depth and reach it on a personal level, no matter whether you are Norwegian or not. There are many periods of Norwegian literature to be recognized historically including the 12^th and 13^th centuries with well-known works like Historia Norwegie, Thidreks saga and Konungs skuggsja. The myths are able to define the difference between giants and gods in relation to the creation of nature and the love of nature as well.

             There is no more to do than to find your own connection to the Norwegian language and culture to help find a further depth within yourself and reach out to culture all over the world. Touch base with the beginning of centuries of cultural growth and you will be able to dig within yourself to find that cultural component within yourself to contribute among any land at any time.