Snorri Sturluson: The Medieval Genius Who Preserved the North, and Influenced The Saga of Belsnickel

When we speak of Norse mythology today, Odin wandering in disguise, Thor’s hammer striking sparks across the heavens, Loki weaving mischief, or the apocalyptic shadows of Ragnarök, we are, in large part, speaking through the voice of one man.

Snorri Sturluson (1179–1241) Chieftain. Poet. Historian. Diplomat. Storyteller. A medieval Icelander whose pen preserved the heart of a civilization.

Though he lived over seven centuries ago, Snorri’s writings still shape fantasy literature, historical understanding, and the very language of myth. And for me as an author, his shadow falls gently, but powerfully, across the pages of The Saga of Belsnickel and the winter tales of Ulvie, Donner, and Blitzen.

Snorri Sturluson

Who Was Snorri Sturluson?

Born into the prominent Sturlungar clan in 1179, Snorri lived during one of Iceland’s most turbulent eras. A wealthy landowner and political power broker, he navigated alliances, betrayals, and the shifting politics of Iceland’s chieftain system. His life was as dramatic as any saga, filled with feuds, negotiations, and bold political ambition.

But beyond the politics, Snorri possessed something even rarer: an unparalleled gift for storytelling.

He was one of the great literary minds of medieval Europe, crafting works that blended myth, history, poetry, and cultural memory into something enduring.

His life ended violently in 1241 when he was assassinated, ironically fulfilling his own warning: “Eigi skal höggva!” (“Do not strike!”). Yet even in death, his stories survived.

Snorri’s Great Works

The Prose Edda

The single most important source for Norse mythology.

Without it, we would know little of the cosmology of the Vikings, the tales of Odin, Thor, Loki, Heimdall, the World Tree Yggdrasil, the Nine Realms, or the foretelling of Ragnarök. Snorri’s intention was to preserve the old poetic forms and the stories they held, ensuring that Icelandic skalds could continue their craft long after Christianity had changed the cultural landscape.

The Prose Edda is not merely a book. It is a time capsule of a vanished world.

Heimskringla

A sweeping history of the kings of Norway, blending historical events with heroic lore. It is one of the masterpieces of medieval historiography, vivid, dramatic, and deeply human.

The Sagas

While not all were written by Snorri, he influenced and shaped the saga tradition itself. His style echoed the Icelandic landscape: stark, poetic, restrained, and powerful.

Why Snorri Matters Today

It is no exaggeration to say that Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, modern fantasy writers, and even much of popular culture owe a debt to Snorri. His writings helped keep Norse mythology alive during a period when it could easily have disappeared forever.

Without Snorri Sturluson, the modern imagination would have far fewer gods, monsters, heroes, or worlds to explore.

He is not simply an author of the past; he is a guardian of the world’s mythic inheritance.

Snorri’s Influence on The Saga of Belsnickel

My own writing draws directly from the northern traditions Snorri sought to preserve.

While The Saga of Belsnickel is set in a Christianizing Scandinavia of the early 12th century, the old Norse worldview still murmurs beneath the snow, just as it does in Snorri’s writings.

His influence appears in:

1. Mythic Undertones

The lingering presence of ancient spirits, trolls, and winter beings echoes the mythic landscapes Snorri described. Even when Christianity replaces the old gods, the forest still remembers them.

2. Storytelling Style

The blend of simplicity and depth, adventure and moral insight, is inspired by the sagas preserved in Icelandic tradition.

3. Worldbuilding

The seasonal cycles, the symbolism of winter, the character of the northern wild, all owe something to the mythic imagination Snorri captured.

4. Cultural Roots

The Yule traditions, the spirits of the dark season, and the interplay between old and new beliefs trace their ancestry back through centuries, back to the lore Snorri recorded.

5. The Spirit of Preservation

Just as Snorri sought to safeguard the stories of his people, The Saga of Belsnickel seeks to breathe new life into winter lore, weaving together Christian themes, folk tales, and northern myth.

In many ways, my books, and the world of Ulvie, Donner, and Blitzen, stand on the snowy foundation Snorri laid long ago.

A Legacy of Storytelling

Snorri Sturluson did not merely record history, he preserved imagination.

And in doing so, he ensured that centuries later, writers like me could draw upon the frost-laden stories of the North and bring them into new light.

His legacy is a reminder that stories survive when someone cares enough to write them down. Through The Saga of Belsnickel, I hope to honor that legacy, carrying a spark of the old world into the new.