The Film Thor ( 2011 ) Directed By Kenneth Branagh

Sierra Burow 4/16/15 SCAN 3202 The film Thor (2011) directed by Kenneth Branagh is a piece of contemporary expressive culture that draws from many various components of Norse mythology. Of the mythological characters being used, the most prominent in the film are Thor, Odin, Frigg, Sif, and Heimdall. The contemporary depictions of these characters parallel and diverge their depictions in original old Norse mythology sources in numerous ways. These original sources include but are not limited to The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson and The Poetic Edda translated by Carolyne Larrington, both being revered and treasured by scholars and Norse fans alike. The contemporary portrayals of Norse mythological characters in the film Thor took the form they did for a variety of reasons, the foremost being Judeo-Christian influence, followed by the objective to create a film that is contemporary and relatable to a wide demographic. In Marvel’s 2011 film, Thor could be described as a cross between an alien, super hero, and a God. However according to Norse myth, he is a God that presides over the air, including wind, storms, rain, and therefore crop growth and fertility. He is the most valiant of the Gods despite his inevitable doom in Ragnarok; he is committed to protecting humanity, hyper-masculine, and wields a powerful hammer that boomerang’s back to him when he throws it and helps him in his duty to protect humanity against evil (Lindow 486 (Thor’s Hammar)). Thor primarily specializes