331 
Surtr. “ The Dark-red/'’ The principle of primeval fire. 
Although distinct in character from the foregoing personages, 
he will join with them in the great assault on the present state 
of things, and will burn the world. 
13. Analysis of the Opponents of the Gods. 
The foregoing fifteen personages on analysis appear as 
follows : — 
I. Phenomenal Objects. 
1 . Rude Nature -forces. 
Jotunn. 
2. Fire. 
Loki (malignant fire) . 
Surtr (primeval fire). 
3. Storm. 
Angurbodha. 
Beli. 
Egdir. 
Hraesvelgr. 
Midhgardhsormr. 
4. Darkness. 
Fenrir. 
Garmr. 
Grabakr. 
Hel. 
Managarmr. 
Nidhoggr. 
I necessarily pass over unnoticed a large number of minor 
incidents and features in the Norse scheme, although many of 
them are of very considerable interest. My principal object is 
to supply a general, and also to some extent a comparative, 
view, and the foregoing analysis will enable us to consider the 
nature of the contest of which the earth and its surroundings 
are regarded as the scene. This is the warfare of darkness 
against light, disorder against order, storm against serenity, 
destruction against renovation, and evil against good. I place 
the bad powers first, as they are the aggressors. Now, one of 
the most common views of the day with respect to mythology 
and religion, is that the latter sprang from the former ; that is 
to say, that the physical world supplied the human mind with 
the idea of contest ; that “ good” was originally a term equiva- 
lent for that which seems to be immediately beneficial to man, 
and “ evil” for that which seems to be immediately injurious 
to him ; and that in subsequent ages, under the expanding 
II. Abstractions of Evil. 
Draugr. 
Loki (malignant mind). 
Nidhoggr (diabolical hate) . 
General character of the per- 
sonages — opponents of existing 
kosmic order. 
