Berserk Research Paper

Everyone has heard the term “going berserk” at least once in their lives, but where does that term come from, and what does it mean? The term “berserk” itself originates from the name for viking warriors that could enter a trance like state in which they would fight like wild animals. Berserk translates from old norse to mean “Bear Shirt”, which is fitting since the berserkers would commonly wear the hides of ferocious animals, such as bears. These berserkers were not just any common viking warrior that put on a pelt, very few were able to enter the state required to “go berserk”. Berserkers were unstoppable killing machines, an Icelandic poet was described them saying “... were as mad as dogs or wolves, bit their shields, and were strong …show more content…
This paired with drinking a large quantity of alcohol could be responsible for their animal like actions. Amanita muscaria is a naturally occuring mushroom that grows in many places all around the globe, and would’ve been easily accessible to vikings if they knew what they were looking for. These mushrooms had many effects on the user, such as: stimulation, pain relief, increased salivation, muscle spasms, consciousness disconnection, auditory and visual hallucinations. Many of those who take amanita muscaria, or any psychedelics, recreationally nowadays have reported that one’s overall mindset before consuming the fungi will greatly influence how one feels once the effects kick in, users also report being very mentally vulnerable during the experience, and can sometimes act as if they were not themselves. If a warrior were to consume amanita muscaria, and then proceed to start thinking and acting violently, while filling themselves with hatred, all of those emotions would be greatly amplified. Then once large quantities of alcohol were consumed, the viking could theoretically reach the state of going berserk. Since alcohol can make one dull to pain, or completely ignore it, as well as causing those who consume it to act irrational and downright dangerous, it is not unlikely that berserkers were commonly drunk out of their

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