The Norse mythology, preserved ancient Icelandic texts such as the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and other lays and sagas, was little known outside Scandinavia until the 19th-century Viking revival movement. With the widespread publication of Norse myths and legends at this time, references to the Norse gods and heroes spread into European literary culture, especially in Scandinavia, Germany, and Britain. In the later 20th century, references to Norse mythology became common in science fiction and fantasy literature, role-playing games, and eventually other cultural products such as Japanese animation. Storytelling was an important aspect of Norse mythology and centuries later, with the rediscovery of the myth, Norse mythology once again relies on the impacts of storytelling to spread its agenda.

Reintroduction to popular culture Antiquaries of the 19th century such as George Webbe Dasent brought the mythology of Scandinavia back to the popular notice of many people in Germany and England; in both cases, Norse mythology was recognized as the latest surviving form of Germanic paganism. Germany and England were Christianized far earlier than the Scandinavian countries and much of their own traditions were lost.

In Britain, William Morris composed poetry such as Sigurd the Volsung on Norse legendary subjects as well as translating Icelandic sagas into English. In Germany, Richard Wagner borrowed characters and themes from Norse mythology to compose the four operas that make up Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), though he also utilized medieval German sources and Germanized the names of the Norse gods. In Germany, the rediscovery of Norse mythology became popularized by transforming its art-religion context to an alternative spiritual practice. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien was said to have been heavily influenced by Norse mythology, which brought on many debates about structural and theoretical approaches to mythology.

Depictions in modern popular culture

Comics American comics The Norse Pantheon and related elements have a prominent role in the Marvel Universe, especially Thor, who has been one of the longest-running superheroes for the company and has had a starring role in both The Avengers comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Also, Loki, Thor's adopted brother in this version, is one of the most prominent villains in the Marvel Universe, serving as one of the main antagonists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise. Additionally, other characters from Norse mythology appear in the Marvel Universe, including Odin, Freyja, Brunnhilde/Valkyrie and the Valkyrior, Heimdall, Hela, Balder, Sif, and Fenrir. Odin, Thor, Loki, and several other beings and places in Norse mythology have recurring roles in Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novel series, most notably in the Season of Mists and The Kindly Ones stories. Lucifer, being a Sandman spinoff, continues this trend, having Loki and Sigyn appear briefly. Bergelmir, Yggdrasil and Naglfar have prominent roles, and Fenrir is a major antagonist. The American graphic novel Gods of Asgard by Erik Evensen is an adaptation of several of the Norse myths. Gods of Asgard was awarded a Xeric grant in 2007. The comic miniseries Hammer of the Gods by Michael Avon Oeming and Mark Wheatley, from Insight Studios Group, 2001, uses the world of the Norse myths as a setting. The graphic novel series Norse Myths: A Viking Graphic Novel Series by Louise Simonson, Michael Dahl, Carl Bowen, Eduardo Garcia, and Tod Smith adapts several of the Norse myths for early readers.

European comics The Danish comic book series Valhalla is based on the Norse myths. The Belgian comic book series Thorgal is based on Norse mythology, as well as Atlantean fantasy and science fiction.

Manga, anime and manhwa The Norse Pantheon heroes are the main characters of the Japanese manga and anime Matantei Loki Ragnarok, loosely translated, The Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok. The manhwa series Ragnarok, by Myung-Jin Lee, is based on Norse mythology and the events of Ragnarok, the prophesied fall of the gods. Vinland Saga takes place in Iceland and 11th-century Europe, which makes many references to Norse mythology In History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi, the protagonists fight against a gang organization known as Ragnarok. Each of the Eight Fists were nicknamed after a figure in Norse mythology, including Berserker, Freya, Loki, Thor, Siegfried, Hermit, Valkyrie, and their leader Odin. Oh! My Goddess! has aspects of Norse mythology. Heaven's main computer is called Yggdrasil, the goddesses and demons' names are based on Norse gods and goddesses, and the Underworld's computer is called Nidhogg. Attack on Titan, also has prominent themes of Norse mythology, including Ymir, Castle Utgard, the walls, the Titans, parallels between Norse gods/goddesses and characters, as well as plot lines that seem to mimic events in Norse mythology. The conflict between the Titan shifters and normal humans can be compared to the wars between the Aesir and Vanir. There are other references that are minor, such as the can of herring found by Ymir, which contains Norse runes on the label, and the giant boar killed in the second OVA of the anime. Sword Art Online has characters and story based on Norse mythology. In the High School DxD light novel and anime, Norse mythology is one of the supernatural factions. Odin, the Chief of the Norse Gods, is a major supporting character who aided the Occult Research Club in fending off Khaos Bridge terrorism in Volume 6. Loki the Norse God of Evil is the antagonist of Volume 7, who tried to start Ragnarok by killing Odin with his son Fenrir, but was defeated instead. Loki's first son, the Norse Divine Wolf Fenrir, is one of the most powerful monsters in the supernatural world, being capable of killing gods with his fangs. After his father was defeated, Fenrir was captured by the Vali Team and became Le Fay Pendragon's familiar. Loki's second son, the World Serpent Jormundgandr, is one of the Five Great Dragon Kings alongside its fellow Norse Dragon Fafnir. Fafnir is a Norse Dragon who was killed by Sigurd and revived by the Norse Gods, becoming the familiar of Asia Argento. Rossweisse, a genius Valkyrie who once served Odin as his bodyguard, was later reincarnated into a devil by Rias. She also became the lover of the protagonist Issei Hyodou. Gondul, a legendary Valkyrie and Rossweisse's grandmother, debuts in Volume 17 to teach magic to Devil children in Auros Academy. Nidhoggr the Norse Dragon, who resides in Niflheimr feeding on dead corpses and gnaws on Yggdrasil's roots, is one of the legendary Evil Dragons revived by Qlippoth, sent to kidnap Issei's parents. Vidar, Odin's third son became his father successor as Chief God of the Norse Mythological faction due to Odin sealed himself in an alternative dimension prison to fight the Beast of Revelation 666. Saint Seiya: Poseidon and the Asgardians has characters and story based on Norse mythology, such as Odin, Freyja, Jörmungandr, Fenrir, Sleipnir, and Sigurd. In Record of Ragnarok, the Norse gods Odin, Loki, and Thor are among the thirteen gods fighting against thirteen historical humans in a tournament. In addition, the Valkyries are major characters, the manga using the ones listed in the poems Völuspá and Grímnismál.

Webcomics Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki is a webcomic featuring Yuuki, a boy turned into a Valkyrie by Hermod to stand against Surt and the Giants. It features many representations of Norse mythological figures in a modern-day setting. Brat-halla is a mythology webcomic about the Norse gods during their elementary school days. All-Father Odin and his wife Frigg constantly have their hands full with youngsters Thor (the super strong runt of the litter), Loki (the god of mischief who likes to play with dolls), Balder (the invulnerable pretty boy), Hod (the blind god of darkness and winter), Hermod (the hyper super speedster) and the rest of the Norse pantheon. The Order of the Stick features the Norse pantheon deities, including Thor, Sif, Loki, and Odin, as the gods of the Northern lands and participants in the creation of the universe. Durkon Thundershield, one of the main characters, is a cleric of Thor. Stand Still. Stay Silent., by Finnish Swede illustrator and cartoonist Minna Sundberg, is a post apocalyptic webcomic with elements from Nordic mythology, set 90 years in the future. In this story, Iceland and Norway have returned to the embrace of their ancient Gods. Off-White is a fantasy webcomic by Polish artists Anna Podedworna and Katarzyna Redesiuk that borrows many elements from Norse mythology, particularly the characters of the wolves Sköll and Hati, chasers of Sól and Máni. The God of High School features the Norse pantheon deities, including Thor and Odin.

Literature

Stephanie Edgley of the Skulduggery Pleasant novel series took up the name Valkyrie Cain, based on the being/creature the Valkyrie. The Victorian adventure writer H. Rider Haggard wrote an epic adventure in the style of the Nordic sagas, Eric Brighteyes (1890). Various Norse gods are referenced in the book The Ballad of the White Horse (1911) by G. K. Chesterton. Odin and Thor are portrayed in a negative light, while Catholicism is the true religion and the Norse religion pagan. In the novel, The Incomplete Enchanter (1941) by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, the protagonist finds himself in Asgard, where he allies himself with the Æsir as Ragnarök approaches. The Broken Sword (1954) by Poul Anderson is inspired by Norse sagas, and features numerous Norse gods, elves and trolls as characters. Later, in The Sorrow of Odin the Goth, part of his Time Patrol series, Anderson suggested that Odin was originally a 20th-century American time traveler who visited several generations of early wandering Goths who started to regard him as a god, later influencing other Germanic peoples. The Day of the Giants (1959) by Lester del Rey tells the tale of Ragnarok happening in a near future science fiction setting, with an erstwhile engineer arming the Norse Gods with modern weaponry. The Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges have mentioned various Norse gods along his life work, as he did in the short story Ulrica and the poem titled A wolf (Un Lobo). He was buried in Geneva, and his gravestone has inscriptions written in old English and Old Norse; the figures drawn on it were inspired by the Völsunga Saga and the Anglo-Saxon Battle of Maldon. According to J. R. R. Tolkien, his fantasy works The Hobbit (1937), The Lord of the Rings (1955), and The Silmarillion (1977) were heavily influenced by the myths of the Northern Europeans. Due to the stories' popularity, elements of its fantasy world became popular perceptions of the fantasy genre, such as elves, dwarfs, and trolls. Within literature, Tolkien's interpretation and use of Norse mythology caused debates of how to analyze myths through structural and theoretical approaches. Children's writer Alan Garner borrowed many Norse concepts, such as the tale of Freyja's necklace Brísingamen and the hard winter (Fimbulwinter) which portends the end of the world, Ragnarok in his classic story, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (1960). Diana Wynne Jones's novel, Eight Days of Luke (1975) is an allegory of the Norse gods. Loki, Thor, Odin, Frey and Freya are characters in the story. Several other characters from Norse mythology such as Siegfried, Brunhilde, Baldur and Sigyn are mentioned as well, though not all by name. The Book of the Dun Cow (1978) by Walter Wangerin, Jr. combines Norse legends with biblical themes.