The Light of Röskva: Mythic Trials and Heroic Ascend in Valhalla

This study examines Valhalla: The Legend of Thor (2019), directed by Fenar Ahmad, focusing on its creative adaptation of Norse mythology through the lens of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey framework. The research explores how the film reinterprets mythological characters, symbols, and narrative structures to craft a modern heroic tale. It employs Campbell’s theoretical framework to analyse Röskva’s narrative journey and examines the incorporation of Norse mythological elements such as Thor, Odin, Valhalla, and Bifröst. Through this analysis, the study identifies clear parallels between the film’s events and classical Norse myths, as well as a sequence of heroic stages that Röskva travels. This research examines the narrative structure of the young female protagonist, Röskva, by identifying key stages of the hero’s journey—such as the call to adventure, crossing the threshold, trials, transformation, and return—within the film. The findings indicate that Röskva’s journey in Valhalla: The Legend of Thor follows a mythological pattern—leaving the ordinary world, encountering trials among Norse gods, and returning home with a deeper understanding. Mythological elements are incorporated in the film's plot since it maintains the core of Norse myths as well as adapting them to a modern context. This study concludes that the film employs the Hero’s Journey to reinterpret Norse mythology, highlighting its role in preserving cultural identity and shaping contemporary cinematic narratives. Although the main analytical approach follows Joseph Campbell’s monomyth structure, the study also briefly draws on Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey to highlight feminine aspects of the protagonist’s transformation.