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Option 4: The End is Nigh

Stories of how the universe, how the planet we are living on, how humans were created, can be found in all mythologies. But only a few go further and feature a dystopian look at the future, at how everything will inevitable end.

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The most prominent example of this is the Norse Ragnarök, or Twilight of the Gods.

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Ragnarök itself doesn't start out of the blue. It is preluded by the Fimbulwinter (Great Winter), colder and harsher than any other winter before and three times as long, bringing humankind close to extinction. Sun and moon, who have been hunted by the wolves Sköll and Hati since the dawn of time, finally fall victim to the predators and get devoured. The world tree Yggdrasil trembles, resulting in trees and mountains falling to the ground, and allowing the monstrous wolf Fenrir to snap free from his shackles. The mighty serpent Jörmungandr rises from the depth, spilling water all over the earth, allowing the ship Naglfar (Nail Ship), which is made out of the finger and toenails of the deceased, to sail. Just like his son, the trickster god Loki manages to break free from his shackles, and from the fiery depths of Muspelheim emerge the fire giants behind their leader Surtr and march towards the Bifröst (Rainbow Bridge).

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On the other side, the ever-vigilant Heimdall (Mad-Eye Moody likes this) alerts the other gods with the sound of the Gjallarhorn, and they prepare for battle, Valhalla opens and the einherjar, the chosen human warriors, finally get their chance to fight in the final battle; both armies meet on the 'Plain Where Battle Surges', Vigrid.

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There, Odin fights his old enemy Fenrir, and the wolf swallows the all-father and his men, before Vidar manages to slay the beast to avenge his father. The war god Tyr battles another wolf, Garm, and both combatants slay one another. This is a recurring theme in this final battle as Heimdall and Loki, the fertility god Freyr and Surtr, and thunder god Thor and Jörmungandr all slay one another. In the end, what's left of the world will sink into the sea and only the void remains, like it was in the beginning of times. And from there, a new world will appear, inhabited by a pair of humans, Lif and Lifthrasir, and a few surviving gods.

Assignment:

Unfortunately, not many mythologies feature a story similar to the Norse Ragnarök. But similar myths exist. Your task is simple: Look up one myth similar to Ragnarök, summarize it for me, and tell me if there are any similarities to the Norse myth.

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