Online Class: Norse Mythology 101

Dive into the world of the Norse, where adventure and honor take the place of morality and proper behavior--where fire-breathing wolves bluster about only to be slain by just a common person and where life is death, war is peace, and gods are mortal in this ancient, gripping belief-system.

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  • 8
    Lessons
  • 17
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 746
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 4
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.4
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

Norse Narratives: A Deep Dive into the Viking Vision of the Universe

Thor, Odin, Valhalla – these names resonate with a sense of ancient power and mystique, but how much do we truly know about the ethereal world they encompass? Step back in time and immerse yourself in the enchanting realm of the Norse – the audacious Vikings, the resplendent Scandinavians, civilizations that once etched their indomitable spirit across the annals of history. Theirs is a tapestry woven with threads of faith, legend, and valor that has left even the most astute historians spellbound.

Marvel at a religious panorama that flourished for over a millennium, a testament to its profound impact, given that its tenets remained unwritten. Ponder on the enduring legacy of Norse gods, figures that, though no longer objects of mainstream worship, continue to captivate our collective consciousness.

Embark on a voyage into the heart of Norse ethos where valor and epic adventures eclipse conventional morality. Envision a realm where fiery wolves roam with menace, only to meet their fate at the hands of mere mortals. It's a world of paradoxes where life melds with death, battles resonate with peace, and gods confront mortality. Delve into the foundations of Viking spirituality, from treacherous oceanic quests to rituals as profound as human sacrifice. Walk the revered pathways of Uppsala, sensing the might of Thor's hammer with every step. Experience the grandeur of Valhalla in all its glory and discover the valiant deeds believed to earn one a place in that celestial hall.

Have you ever been intrigued by the worldview of some of history's most intrepid voyagers? Seek answers as you traverse through their eyes, unveiling secrets of a culture rich in myths, might, and mystery. Join us on this exhilarating exploration of the Norse narrative, and satiate your curiosity like never before!

Course Motivation

Imagine walking through the medieval villages of a northern European town, with the sounds of metal being hammered into swords, of horses clopping along, and children scurrying about. A man pushes by you with a cart filled with smoked fish and the smell of salt and slightly spoiled meat intoxicates your senses. The sound of the language in the air is gruff, but amicable. There is plenty of hearty laughter. Suddenly you look up and above the turf roofs of the long stone houses, you see giant mounds, rising out of the ground, and a giant wooden building girdled by a golden chain, unmistakably a temple. You walk toward it, out from amidst the dwellings and into a beautifully manicured, shadowy grove. It is late spring, turning to summer, and the trees are starting to bloom. 

You approach the temple, and within it you see three grand statues. In the middle, an imposing male figure stands holding what appears to be an upside-down cross and on either side of him, two other deities. You have come upon the Temple of Uppsala, one of the most spiritual sites of the Norse empire, and are standing before the image of Thor, flanked by the gods Odin and Freyr. Turning around to look out the door, you see people gathering, pulling livestock into the grove and building pyres. This evening the community will celebrate by slaying the animals and even hanging their fellow men from the trees outside by their necks. It has been nine years since the last Walpurgis festival, which paid homage to Odin's nine days of torment hanging from the Yggdrasil, the World Tree (or the tree of life).

Names within this ancient story, Odin, Thor, Freyr, even the Yggdrasil, are in popular use today. The Yggdrasil tree is, for example, a central plot point many of the games that compose the Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest video game series that has sold nearly 60 million games with 26 total games in the series, making it the third best-selling role-playing game (RPG) series of all time. A film based on the comic book character, Thor, who himself is based on the Norse god, raked in nearly $450 million worldwide in 2011. Odin is also a comic book character today, and a common character in the Final Fantasy RPG video game series, the best-selling series of all time. Odin is said to be the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings character, Gandalf.  

While we still pay homage to the Norse deities and places of worship in popular culture, we also still follow many of the traditions that originated with the Norse people. Christmas, for example, is celebrated during the same time as the Norse festival of Jul (Yul), the Norse New Year; the exchanging of gifts on Christmas morning, a Jul tradition; the lighting of the Yule log, a Jul tradition; the hanging of mistletoe, a Jul tradition. Jul was celebrated between December 20 and December 31 -- 12 days, just like the 12 days of Christmas (though we now finish on the 25th). The holiday season is called Christmas today, because the god Freyr was replaced by Jesus Christ during the conversion of the Norse people to Christianity. 

The festival started with the children of Norse towns leaving their shoes outside of their doors filled with oats and other feed for Odin's great horse, Sleipnir (which had eight (8) legs, to feed from as he rode throughout the land on the evening of December 20th, an event called the Wild Ride. In exchange, the children would each receive a treat, a celebration that continues today with the leaving of cookies for our modern Santa Claus, in order to receive stocking stuffers; or, in a more direct homage, carrots for Santa's reindeer in the slippers of children in Northern Europe. 

As Freyr was honored during Jul, Thor was honored upon the rise of the first full moon in January, during a celebration called Thurseblot, encouraging him to bring forth the season of spring with his hammer. Holidays that end with "blot" indicate that a sacrifice was to be made to the gods. Near the end of March, there is another holiday called Eostre, worshiping the coming of spring. It is not known whether Eostre was the name of a goddess, or just of the holiday itself. If you think the word "Eostre" seems very similar to "Easter", you would be right. Easter and its timing is the namesake of Eostre, and the celebrations are as similar as Jul's are to Christmas. The practice of decorating eggs in honor of spring, in fact, originated with this Old Norse holiday. We haven't even begun our journey yet, so why not join us today?
  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • Printable Lessons
  • Full HD Video  
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.5 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(621 votes)

Lesson 1. Norse Worship

While we still pay homage to the Norse deities and places of worship in popular culture, we also follow many of the traditions that originated with the Norse people. Additional lesson topics: Norse Mythology 15 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video A
  • Lesson 1 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Lesson discussions: Norse Mythology; Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete Assignment: An Introduction
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Exam

Lesson 2. The Gods

Many runes were inscribed with myths surrounding the Norse gods, as well as human folk heroes. Additional lesson topics: Norse Gods and Goddesses; The Norse Gods 34 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video A
  • Lesson 2 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Complete Assignment: Norse gods and goddesses
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam

Lesson 3. The Eddas

The Eddas are the manuscripts in which Norse mythology was written toward the end of Norse polytheism's dominance. Additional lesson topics: The Poetic Edda 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video A
  • Lesson 3 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Complete Assignment: The Eddas
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Exam

Lesson 4. Other Texts

Another record of Norse mythology comes from the 13th century, in a book called the Gesta Danorum. Additional lesson topics: Gesta Danorum; Ynglinga Saga; Runic Alphabet Information 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video A
  • Lesson 4 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Lesson discussions: Norse Texts
  • Complete Assignment: Other Texts
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Exam

Lesson 5. Pre-Norse Mythology

One of the earliest records of Germanic paganism/polytheism/mythology comes from the Roman historian, Tacitus, and his book, Germania. 34 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video A
  • Lesson 5 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Complete Assignment: Pre-Norse Mythology
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam

Lesson 6. The Sagas

While other civilizations were trading over mere mountain ranges, the Norse were trading across oceans. Additional lesson topics: Sagas and other Literature; The Icelandic Sagas 35 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video A
  • Lesson 6 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Complete Assignment: The Sagas
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Exam

Lesson 7. Iconography and Art

The letters of the Norse have a more artistic and slightly primal quality than many other alphabets from the region -- something that translated either to or from both the iconography, and art, of the civilization. Additional lesson topics: Norse Art; Norse Symbols 32 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video A
  • Lesson 7 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Complete Assignment: Art and Iconography
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam

Lesson 8. Norse Mythology and the World

Norse mythology, due to its barely referenced domination of much of Europe, is a forefather to many parts of our religious lives today -- even if it came well after the more excessive dominance of the religions observed today. Additional lesson topics: Norse Mythology and Popular Culture; Norse Mythology and Video Games 91 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video A
  • Lesson 8 Video B : Lesson Discussion
  • Lesson discussions: What is your opinion of this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
  • Complete: The Final Assignment
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Exam
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
311
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Describe Norse worship and the gods.
  • Describe The Eddas.
  • Describe Pre-Norse Mythology.
  • Summarize The Sagas.
  • Summarize Iconography and Art of Norse Mythology.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
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Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Norse Mythology 101
Course Number: 8900290
Lessons Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars (621 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
Last Updated: August 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 0.4 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "This was fascinating and covered areas that I did not expect but was delighted to explore. Thank you for creating such an interesting course." -- Janessa U.
  • "I really enjoyed this class and am glad I took it. I certainly want to take the other mythology classes you mentioned throughout Norse Mythology since certain aspects are related. It was definitely a class that helped me learn about a subject I was interested in." -- Sunni C.
  • "Very interesting and informative!" -- Elizabeth M.
  • "The course was very well put together. Thanks!" -- Jenni V.
  • "I liked having information on the Norse people themselves, including details on the temples and rituals, and enjoyed the historical portion." -- Jay L.
  • "Good stuff!" -- Kyle B.
  • "I love how easy the class was to use!" -- Donnie G.