1. Loki in Mythology
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| Loki Laufeyson (by Audrey Koch) |
Loki Laufeyson, a giant, a god and
a trickster of Norse mythology mesmerised people since times past. Maybe
it is because with his deeds he contributed to the fall of the Norse gods, the
Ragnarok, or maybe because he is an unfathomable and enthralling figure of the
myths of old. Loki is a person of many aspects which often contradict each
other and yet, as I´ll try to show later, precisely this contradiction is
among Loki’s most essential traits.
In the first part I will discuss Norse
mythology, because without putting him in a context one cannot really
understand Loki. I will pay particular attention to his character as
a trickster, as we find him (the trickster) in many cultures in the wide
world; and I´ll pose a question if Loki is really evil as often portrayed.
In the last part I will turn to his image in modern culture- in
literature, film and at last, but not least, pop-culture with the its main
representative- comics.
