Students in Mr. Hullett’s Senior English class recently finished their study of the book Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. Each student produced a detailed “Gods Guide” and designed an accompanying poster that visually highlighted some of the Norse Gods and Goddesses and their attributes, stories, and symbolic imagery.
The book and project were chosen in part to connect literature to local heritage: Iowa has deep Scandinavian roots, as waves of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish immigrants settled across the state from the mid-1800s onward. In particular, our very own town of Norway was founded in 1863 by a Norwegian immigrant who named the town after his homeland. The presence of a community named “Norway” in our county stands as a living reminder of that heritage.
Today, their descendants retain interest in the older mythological stories passed down in folklore, literature, and family memory. Studying these ancient tales through Norse Mythology helps students appreciate not just the myths themselves, but also a cultural legacy that helped shape their own region.