Odin, god of many names and adaptations

a comparative study of the norse deity, from the Eddas and Ynglinga saga to American Gods

Resumo

The goal of this paper is to conduct a comparative literary study among a selection of medieval pieces of Old Norse literature and a contemporary fiction novel. Particularly, the works of literature under analysis are: the Eddas, both the compilation of poems which has come to be known as the Poetic Edda and Snorri Sturluson's Edda, or the Prose Edda; Ynglinga saga, or the Saga of the Ynglings, also by Snorri Sturluson; and American Gods, by Neil Gaiman. The object of study here is the character Odin and his multiple incarnations in these different sources. Specifically, taking a brief presentation of said pieces of literature as a starting point, this paper delves into Odin himself and presents a comparison of the character's key traits among all sources, contrasting similarities and differences regarding his origins, physical appearance, social role, powers, motivations, and death. Finally, those similarities and differences are contemplated through the lens of the phenomenon of Vikingmania, analyzing the multiple views of the character through theories on adaptation and ideology. The central thesis is that the way Gaiman adapts Odin into "Mr. Wednesday", in American Gods, makes the Norse god a product of Vikingmania, both from the perspective of the plot of the novel itself and from an extra textual view of the piece as a work of literature.