![]() ![]() In many instances, the trickster takes the form of an animal like Big Turtle from the story-telling tradition of the Pawnee on the Central Plains. Yes, the Trickster does charm us, even when we know he’s lying.” Just when we’re sure he’s a fool, he does something intelligent. “Just when we’ve decided he’s a villain, he does something heroic. ![]() “The central characteristic of the Trickster is that he (usually, although sometimes she) has no fixed nature,” writes the poet and artist Tim Callahan. Parallels to Loki abound, from tricksters like Narada in Hindu mythology or Susanoo in Shinto mythology to multiple figures among many Native American tribes. Which you just did, because we both know you love to talk.”Ī poisonous serpent slowly releases its venom to drip onto Loki’s face in this 1905 illustration.įrom Valhalla: Gods of the Teutons, photo by Fine Art Images, Heritage Images, Getty ImagesĪll of these characteristics-from arrogance and insubordination to intelligence and chattiness-are primary features of the trickster hero, a folkloric character found worldwide and also highly appropriate for a god of mischief. “Well, I don't like to talk,” Loki declares-to which Mobius replies, “But you do like to lie. In one of the trailers, Agent Mobius (played by Owen Wilson) from the mysterious Time Variance Authority tells Loki they are going someplace to talk. Based on some of the advance previews and speculation, we know that this particular manifestation of Loki will be arrogant, stubborn, unpredictable, super-smart and insubordinate to authority. This part of Loki lore probably will not appear in any episodes of the new television series. A poisonous serpent slowly releases its venom to drip onto Loki’s face, which causes him to shriek in pain and the Earth to quake. Narvi’s entrails are available because cruel gods transformed his brother Vali into a wolf, who then devoured Narvi. This particular myth spares no grisly detail. The latter may relate to an especially gruesome myth in which Loki-imprisoned in a cave and held fast by the solidified entrails of his son Narvi-cannot escape until the apocalyptic end, known in Norse mythology as Ragnarok. Other scholars see Loki as a shortened name for the devil Lucifer, or perhaps derived from loca (Old English for prison). Jacob Grimm, best known for the fairy tales he and his brother Wilhelm collected, was one of the first to propose Loki as a god of fire, and to draw similarities between Loki and the fire demon Logi in Norse mythology. Other sources indicate that Odin and Loki became blood brothers and undertook adventures with Thor, who also figures prominently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some sources characterize Loki as the son of two giants, who abandoned him in battle with Odin, one of the leading gods in Norse mythology. “Loki has attracted more scholarly attention during the past century than perhaps any other figure in Norse mythology, primarily as a result of his ubiquity and importance in the surviving mythological documents and the almost universally acknowledged ambiguity of his character,” writes scholar Jerold Frakes. The new Disney+ television series, Loki, which premieres this week, must walk this fine line with its title character, dubbed the “god of mischief.” Produced by Marvel Studios, the six-part series takes Loki (played by Tom Hiddleston) through complicated adventures, traversing the realm of dark elves, alternate timelines and threats of catastrophic devastation that should be familiar to dedicated fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.įor folklorists, however, Loki’s place in the pantheon of trickster heroes is even more universal. However, if their tricks become cruel or sadistic, or demean those who are relatively powerless, we may reject them entirely. So long as their tricks remain playful, even if somewhat mischievous, we enjoy their company and the opportunity to laugh, especially if their cleverness challenges figures of authority. Tricksters walk a fine line in our folk imagination. ![]()
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