The Similarities and Differences Between the Movie Thor: Ragnarok and Norse Mythology

In our society, there are many movies and other works that are influenced by different myths from many cultures. The movie Thor: Ragnarok, which is based on Norse mythology, is only one example of Norse mythology’s impact on our society. Many movies that stem from myths also alter the stories to simplify them or because they do not have the funding. The movie Thor: Ragnarok not only is similar to Norse mythology, but differs as well. 

In both Thor: Ragnarok (Waititi, 2017) and Norse Mythology (Gaiman, 2017), Fenrir the wolf escapes from his shackles in order to fight the people of Asgard. Together, Fenrir and Hela form a team to kill the people of Asgard, and everything living. This is a significant similarity because Fenrir was an important partner to Hela in the beginning of the final destruction. If Fenrir was not involved, the beginning of Ragnarok would not have been the same. Similarly, Hela takes with her the army of the dead. In mythology, the army of the dead helps fight the citizens of Asgard, with their main goal being to kill all things that live and love (Gaiman, 2017). This army is a significant similarity, because without them the people would not have a significant army to battle besides themselves. 

Another major similarity is that Surtr's sword causes the final destruction in both mythology and the movie. In Norse Mythology (Gaiman, 2017), “the world will be cremated in Surtr’s flames'' (p. 166). Surtr lifts his sword and thrusts it into the ground, causing Asgard to finally burn. This similarity is important because without Surtr’s sword Asgard would not have been completely destroyed, or it would be destroyed in a completely different way. The final destiny of Asgard remained the same throughout mythology and the movie, because Asgard was absolutely destroyed. 

In Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology (2017), Loki is the father of Hela, Fenrir, and Jormungundr. Odin punishes each of Loki’s children and sends them to eternal resting places, such as Hell and the ocean (Gaiman, 2017). According to the movie, Odin made Hela his accomplice and sent her away, but she then returned, in anger, to rule and destroy Asgard (Waititi, 2017), which, although similar to Norse mythology, differs because Odin did not banish her to Hell in the beginning. In Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Hela is the first born child of Odin and siblings to Thor and Loki. The family tree in the movie and the myth is completely different, causing this difference to be very significant. Not only does the lineage between Hela and Odin lead to Hela coming back to take over Odin’s place, but it also changes the entire storyline. Hela is the first born, and rightful heir to the throne, and Loki is made to be her brother, and not her father (Waititi, 2017). Not only are these components completely different, but Jormungundr is not even involved in the movie. In mythology, Jormungundr is the sibling to Fenrir the wolf and Hela, and plays a major role in the destruction of Asgard (Gaiman, 2017); however, in the movie, he is never mentioned, and therefore is not involved in Ragnarok. This is significant because without Jormungundr, the ending of Asgard is incomplete. 

A major difference between the movie and mythology itself is in the beginning and ending of Ragnarok. In mythology, Fimbulwinter takes place (Gaiman, 2017). Fimbulwinter consists of three endless winters, which leads to the starvation and aggravation of the citizens of Asgard. This results in everyone fighting and killing each other (Gaiman, 2017); however, in the movie Fimbulwinter ceases to exist (Waititi, 2017). Ragnarok does not begin with winter and no one turns on each other (Waititi, 1027). In Thor: Ragnarok (Waititi, 2017) the citizens of Asgard live in the end, whereas in Norse Mythology (Gaiman, 2017) everyone dies during Ragnarok. These are two major differences, because without Fimbulwinter, the people never turned on each other leading to the death of fewer people. There were teams of good vs. evil (the citizens against Hel’s army) and this changed the outcome significantly. Likewise, everyone surviving the final destiny of the gods changed everything. The outcome of Ragnarok was to be unavoidable, but somehow they avoided it (Waititi, 2017). This leads to a completely different destiny. 

The movie Thor: Ragnarok (2017) did a good job showing the essence of mythology. Throughout the movie there were many indistinguishable aspects mentioned in mythology, but the differences made the movie quite inconsistent with the myths. Even with multiple similarities, the differences made the ending of the story dissimilar to that of the final destiny of Asgard and the gods written in Norse Mythology (Gaiman, 2017). The similar features between the movie and the myths made Thor: Ragnarok (2017) tell a similar story; however, by having a completely different ending, the differences were very significant in determining the accuracy to Norse mythology.

References 

Gaiman, N. (2017). Norse Mythology. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. Retrieved from https://cdn.inst-fs-iad-prod.inscloudgate.net/af8137b5-33e4-40ee-93a2-3666aa1ebdc7/Norse%20Mythology%20-%20Neil%20Gaiman.pdf?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCIsImtpZCI6ImNkbiJ9.eyJyZXNvdXJjZSI6

Waititi, T. (Director). (2017). Thor: Ragnarok [Online video]. United States: Walt disney studios.