When taken as a whole, Myths of the Norsemen constitutes a major tragedy.

Individual episodes, however, have the charm and entertainment value of folklore. Full of sudden and surprising events, of shape-changings, of riddles, and of unexpected triumphs, these tales strike a deep response. Green's skill at storytelling highlights the delightful details and maintains the continuity of his overall theme.

These stories were handed down by word of mouth for centuries. They embody a collective, cultural wisdom, and in this respect are a valuable part of the human treasury of folktales—German, English, African, and many others—that demonstrate the common humanity of the world's diverse peoples.