1. Why do the gods care when Idunn is kidnapped?
Idunn is the keeper of the golden apples, which give the gods eternal youth. Without these apples, unlike Greek gods, the Norse gods will age. It is imperative that the apples be recovered so the gods can stay alive and youthful.
2. From reading the myths of Northern Europe, what do we learn about their culture and values. Be specific. Support your claims with examples.
Based on reading their myths, we can see that the Norse held some dark and dreary beliefs. For example, they believe that in Ragnarok, or doomsday, good is doomed to fail. They value bravery in warriors, as evidenced by their belief in Valhalla, the golden place where the bravest warriors get to go after death.
3. Who is more like Prometheus, Loki or Odin? Support your decision.
Loki is more like Prometheus, because he is punished against his will, whereas Odin chooses to forfeit his sight for knowledge. Loki's punishment, like Prometheus', is perpetual.
4. Identify three other ways in which Norse mythology is like other myths that we have studied so far. Be specific.
The Norse pantheon is similar to the other pantheons we have studied. Odin is like Zeus, Frigg is like Hera, etc. The Norse also include tricksters in their myths. Loki is similar to Coyote in Native American myths. Additionally, the Norse believe in different realms, Asgard and Midgard, like the Greek Mt. Olympus and Earth.
5. Provide three reasons that Loki is such a popular figure?
Loki provides a certain element of humor. He is clever, and he brings balance to the mythology. The Norse probably valued this dichotomy of chaos and control. He is also a character that provides lessons for moral myths.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Norse Myth Vocabulary
1.Vikings were people of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and other northern European countries whose 8th century societies were pre-Christian and centered on sea culture.
2.Ginnungagap was the Norse name for the dark void before anything was created.
3.Nifleheim was the Norse land of fog and ice.
4.Muspellheim was the Norse land of fire ruled by a giant named Surt.
5.Yggdrasil was the world ash tree. According to the Norse, the nine realms were connected by a large tree.
6.Asgard was the title for the home of the gods.
7.Midgard, or middle-earth, was the name of the home of the humans.
8.Hel was the name of the home of the dead, and also of the goddess who ruled it.
9.Bifrost Bridge (a rainbow) was the means of access between Asgard and Midgard.
10.Ymir was a wild, fierce, and evil giant who was killed and whose body parts were assembled to make the sky and earth.
11.Odin was the greatest of all Norse gods. He was the god of gods, humans, wisdom, war, witchcraft, and poetry. He was a shape-shifter as well as a shaman. He is comparable to Zeus and Jupiter.
12.Frigg was Odin’s wife, the most powerful Norse goddess. She ruled over the domains of love, destiny, and marriage. She is comparable to Hera and Juno.
13.The Valkyries are Odin’s daughters. There are considered “choosers of the slain” because they choose which heroes are permitted into Valhalla.
14.The Norns are the three fate maidens, Urd (past), Verdandi (present), and Skuld (future). They are responsible for people’s fates.
15.Thor is Odin’s son. He is strong, fierce, and warlike. He reigns over the domains of thunder, battle, and fertility with his hammer Mjollnir.
16.Balder is Odin and Frigg’s most beloved son. He is the god of radiance, justice and light. He is killed by Loki.
17.Njord is the god of wind and sea, and is the patron of the sailor. He is comparable to Poseidon and Neptune.
18.Frey is the Norse god of fertility, prosperity, sun and rain. He is comparable to Apollo.
19.Freya is the goddess of love, fertility, beauty, magic, war, and death. She is comparable to Aphrodite or Venus.
20.Idunn is Odin’s daughter-in-law. She is the goddess of youth and is the keeper of the golden apples, which keep the gods young.
21.Loki is the son of giants, but mixed blood with Odin to gain magic powers. He is the archetypal trickster in Norse mythology. He is cunning and deceitful.
22.Fenrir is the child of Loki. He is the “wolf destroyer.” He is, by nature, evil.
23.Jormungandr is also the child of Loki. He is the world serpent, and is also evil.
24.Ragnarok is the doomsday of the gods, when they and humans will together battle against the evil giants. Good will fail.
25.Runes are ancient Norse alphabets that are said to be prophetic and indicative of a person’s status. They were a gift from Odin.
2.Ginnungagap was the Norse name for the dark void before anything was created.
3.Nifleheim was the Norse land of fog and ice.
4.Muspellheim was the Norse land of fire ruled by a giant named Surt.
5.Yggdrasil was the world ash tree. According to the Norse, the nine realms were connected by a large tree.
6.Asgard was the title for the home of the gods.
7.Midgard, or middle-earth, was the name of the home of the humans.
8.Hel was the name of the home of the dead, and also of the goddess who ruled it.
9.Bifrost Bridge (a rainbow) was the means of access between Asgard and Midgard.
10.Ymir was a wild, fierce, and evil giant who was killed and whose body parts were assembled to make the sky and earth.
11.Odin was the greatest of all Norse gods. He was the god of gods, humans, wisdom, war, witchcraft, and poetry. He was a shape-shifter as well as a shaman. He is comparable to Zeus and Jupiter.
12.Frigg was Odin’s wife, the most powerful Norse goddess. She ruled over the domains of love, destiny, and marriage. She is comparable to Hera and Juno.
13.The Valkyries are Odin’s daughters. There are considered “choosers of the slain” because they choose which heroes are permitted into Valhalla.
14.The Norns are the three fate maidens, Urd (past), Verdandi (present), and Skuld (future). They are responsible for people’s fates.
15.Thor is Odin’s son. He is strong, fierce, and warlike. He reigns over the domains of thunder, battle, and fertility with his hammer Mjollnir.
16.Balder is Odin and Frigg’s most beloved son. He is the god of radiance, justice and light. He is killed by Loki.
17.Njord is the god of wind and sea, and is the patron of the sailor. He is comparable to Poseidon and Neptune.
18.Frey is the Norse god of fertility, prosperity, sun and rain. He is comparable to Apollo.
19.Freya is the goddess of love, fertility, beauty, magic, war, and death. She is comparable to Aphrodite or Venus.
20.Idunn is Odin’s daughter-in-law. She is the goddess of youth and is the keeper of the golden apples, which keep the gods young.
21.Loki is the son of giants, but mixed blood with Odin to gain magic powers. He is the archetypal trickster in Norse mythology. He is cunning and deceitful.
22.Fenrir is the child of Loki. He is the “wolf destroyer.” He is, by nature, evil.
23.Jormungandr is also the child of Loki. He is the world serpent, and is also evil.
24.Ragnarok is the doomsday of the gods, when they and humans will together battle against the evil giants. Good will fail.
25.Runes are ancient Norse alphabets that are said to be prophetic and indicative of a person’s status. They were a gift from Odin.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Native American Myth Summary
The Great Race
This was a myth of the Northern Cheyenne people explaining man's dominance over animals, how animals became colored, and how the soil on the trail to Buffalo Gap turned red. This myth falls under the category of entertainment, because it is an instructing myth.
For a long period of time, all beings were equal and treated each other so. No animal ate any other. The buffalo, however, decided that they were supreme and should be able to eat the other animals and gain strength from them. Humans, in rebuttal, decided that they should be the greater beings. To settle the dispute, buffalos and humans decided to have a race. Humans complained that this would be unfair, because the buffalos' four legs gave them a distinct advantage over the humans' two legs. For this reason, the humans proposed to have birds, specifically a hawk, a magpie, a lark, and a hummingbird, race in their stead. The buffalos agreed. The buffalos chose Slim Running Buffalo Woman to run for them in the race. The two camps also agreed to allow any other animals to join in the race as well. The animals decided to decorate themselves for the occasion. For example, the skunk chose to paint a white stripe down his back. Likewise, the antelope painted themselves reddish-brown with mud. Prior to this, no animals were colored. Their markings are the same to this day.
The racecourse was set to both begin and end at Buffalo Gap, with a midway point chosen a set distance away. The race was on. Strong and powerful, Slim Running quickly took the lead. The other animals fell behind, bleeding from the strain of the race. As a result, their blood colors the path to this day. The birds flying overhead played to their individual strengths. Hummingbird and Hawk were each swift, but only for short distances. When those two birds became tired, Lark continued the race. Lark fatigued, the racers had already rounded the halfway point and were on their way back to Buffalo Gap. Slim Running was nearing the finish line. Meanwhile, Magpie took over the race effort for the humans. Magpie was not fast, but was quite stubborn. Slowly, as Slim Running fatigued, Magpie closed the gap and finally won the race by a hair. The humans had won the race, and therefore became the supreme beings in the world with the right to hunt and eat the other animals.
Stergulz, Richard. "Bison." Oil Painting. Richard Stergulz Fine Arts Gallery. 11 November 2008. http://www.stergulzart.com/?ArtworkID=31
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Myth Poem
Creation
a cavernous abyss
so dark and drear
it envelops all
like an expansive ebony fog
retracting sight from the void
so thick and cold
it muffles sound
pulling it from the lips of the darkness
before it can reach a melodious fruition
from the pitch
a spark
instantaneously
everything changes
darkness diminishes
relinquishing its grasp
over the emptiness
land and heaven
forever opposed
land, verdant and fertile
mother earth
heaven, tortuous and volatile
father sky
from them come all
diversity
vivacity
iniquity
a cavernous abyss
so dark and drear
it envelops all
like an expansive ebony fog
retracting sight from the void
so thick and cold
it muffles sound
pulling it from the lips of the darkness
before it can reach a melodious fruition
from the pitch
a spark
instantaneously
everything changes
darkness diminishes
relinquishing its grasp
over the emptiness
land and heaven
forever opposed
land, verdant and fertile
mother earth
heaven, tortuous and volatile
father sky
from them come all
diversity
vivacity
iniquity
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Application Project - Hero Journey
A hero is a universal archetypal individual with a unique characteristic and a major flaw who is considered the founder of something new. A hero in Greek mythology is Atalanta, “…who loved adventure as much as the most dauntless hero, and who could outshoot and outwrestle, too, the men of one of the two great ages of heroism” (180). She was the first female hero.
The hero is considered universal, which means that he or she is representative of every person. Like every person, Atalanta was once a baby, “and the baby grew up thus into an active, daring little girl” (181).
The hero is also unique, which means he or she has a characteristic that sets them apart from every other person. Bears raised Atalanta. “A she-bear took charge of her, nursed her and kept her warm” (181). Also, “she could hunt and shoot and wrestle” (184).
The hero is special, but also has a major flaw, something that makes he or she imperfect. Atalanta was a little cocky, and “declared that she would marry whoever could beat her in a foot race” (184).
The hero is given a goal or a quest in the call to adventure. Atalanta experienced her call to adventure at a young age, when her father “had the tiny creature left on a mountainside” (181).
The hero experiences initiation when he or she leaves the familiar world behind, entering the strange and unknown. Atalanta experienced her initiation when “two centaurs…caught sight of her when she was alone and pursued her…She stood still and fitted and arrow…A second arrow followed. Both centaurs fell, mortally wounded” (181). It was at this time that Atalanta realized her abilities.
The hero’s journey is the road of trials, battles and obstacles a hero encounters. Atalanta’s journey consisted of “the famous hunt of the Calydonian Bear” (181), a wrestling match where she conquered the young man who was the father of Achilles (182), and multiple foot races where she outran young men who came to marry her (184).
The hero has many companions and friends that provide support for him or her. Atalanta was friends with Meleager, “who fell in love with her at first sight. But, we may be sure, Atalanta treated him as a good comrade” (181). Another companion is her future husband, Melanion, who “used his head as well as his heels” in the foot race (184).
The supernatural guides to the hero provide information, magic, weapons, or charms. The she-bear could be considered a supernatural guide, as well as Aphrodite, who was “always on the lookout to subdue wild, young maidens who despised love” (184).
The ultimate battle is the hero’s final test. Atalanta’s final test occurred when Melanion came to race her with his enchanted golden apples. The apples caused people to chase after them. “Then the third sphere flashed across her path…she saw the gleam…and could not resist it” (184).
In the transformation, the hero is altered in some way in the final battle. Atalanta was forced to give up her life as an unmarried woman. “She was his. Her free days alone in the forest and her athletic victories were over” (184).
The hero undergoes death and rebirth in an out with the old, in with the new transformation. Atalanta and Melanion, for some undocumented reason, “are said to have been turned into lions” (184).
The boon is something a hero gives that is shared. Atalanta gave the idea that women cannot long be free of men, and “bore a son, Parthenopaeus, who was one of the seven against Thebes” (184).
The hero is considered universal, which means that he or she is representative of every person. Like every person, Atalanta was once a baby, “and the baby grew up thus into an active, daring little girl” (181).
The hero is also unique, which means he or she has a characteristic that sets them apart from every other person. Bears raised Atalanta. “A she-bear took charge of her, nursed her and kept her warm” (181). Also, “she could hunt and shoot and wrestle” (184).
The hero is special, but also has a major flaw, something that makes he or she imperfect. Atalanta was a little cocky, and “declared that she would marry whoever could beat her in a foot race” (184).
The hero is given a goal or a quest in the call to adventure. Atalanta experienced her call to adventure at a young age, when her father “had the tiny creature left on a mountainside” (181).
The hero experiences initiation when he or she leaves the familiar world behind, entering the strange and unknown. Atalanta experienced her initiation when “two centaurs…caught sight of her when she was alone and pursued her…She stood still and fitted and arrow…A second arrow followed. Both centaurs fell, mortally wounded” (181). It was at this time that Atalanta realized her abilities.
The hero’s journey is the road of trials, battles and obstacles a hero encounters. Atalanta’s journey consisted of “the famous hunt of the Calydonian Bear” (181), a wrestling match where she conquered the young man who was the father of Achilles (182), and multiple foot races where she outran young men who came to marry her (184).
The hero has many companions and friends that provide support for him or her. Atalanta was friends with Meleager, “who fell in love with her at first sight. But, we may be sure, Atalanta treated him as a good comrade” (181). Another companion is her future husband, Melanion, who “used his head as well as his heels” in the foot race (184).
The supernatural guides to the hero provide information, magic, weapons, or charms. The she-bear could be considered a supernatural guide, as well as Aphrodite, who was “always on the lookout to subdue wild, young maidens who despised love” (184).
The ultimate battle is the hero’s final test. Atalanta’s final test occurred when Melanion came to race her with his enchanted golden apples. The apples caused people to chase after them. “Then the third sphere flashed across her path…she saw the gleam…and could not resist it” (184).
In the transformation, the hero is altered in some way in the final battle. Atalanta was forced to give up her life as an unmarried woman. “She was his. Her free days alone in the forest and her athletic victories were over” (184).
The hero undergoes death and rebirth in an out with the old, in with the new transformation. Atalanta and Melanion, for some undocumented reason, “are said to have been turned into lions” (184).
The boon is something a hero gives that is shared. Atalanta gave the idea that women cannot long be free of men, and “bore a son, Parthenopaeus, who was one of the seven against Thebes” (184).
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mythology Academic Vocabulary
A myth is a legend or story about the beliefs, religions, desires, and other aspects of a culture. An example of a myth is the story of Alpheus and Arethusa from Greek mythology.
A hero is a universal archetypal individual with a unique characteristic and a major flaw who goes on a journey. A hero in Greek mythology is Atalanta.
The hero journey is the cyclical path a hero follows from call to adventure, through initiation, journey, and final battle, to rebirth and boon. A hero journey from Egyptian mythology is the path of Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, who conquered the evil Set, but had to set him free.
Universal means applying to any and all persons. A universal occurrence in everyone's life is birth. A universal symbol in mythology is the sun god.
An archetype is an original model or first example of something. An archetypal being in Mesopotamian mythology is Tiamat, the mother earth, or mother goddess. There are three archetypal images of creation: the egg, the watery abyss, and darkness, or nothing. There are three archetypal heroes: the human, the trickster, and the cultural hero.
Cyclical means recurring, or a description of something whose beginning and end are equivalent. The hero journey is an example of something cyclical.
Duality refers to something having equal and opposite parts. Humanity's two genders, male and female, are examples of duality. Isis and Osiris are dual components.
Creation is the invention or making of something. An example of a creation myth is the Enuma elish from Mesopotamian mythology.
Cosmology is the study of the universe. Myths could be considered a primitive form of cosmology.
Life out of death refers to reincarnation, the circle of life, and the sacrifice of something or someone for another. Real life examples include forest fires and food. The death of Tiamat led to the creation of the earth and sky.
Matriarchal means female-based, or female-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the women are the most important figures in the culture and household. A matriarchal society in the Enuma elish occurs before Tiamat, the mother earth, dies.
Patriarchal means male-based, or male-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the men are the most important figures in the culture and household. Father Sky is a patriarchal figure. A patriarchal society from Egyptian mythology occurs when Osiris rules the Upper and Lower Kingdoms of Egypt.
A sacrifice is something given up, or forfeited, often for the good of society or a group larger than one's self. An example of sacrifice from Jewish mythology is the sacrificial lamb, a pure, perfect lamb that is sacrificed in the place of humans in the Torah.
A hero is a universal archetypal individual with a unique characteristic and a major flaw who goes on a journey. A hero in Greek mythology is Atalanta.
The hero journey is the cyclical path a hero follows from call to adventure, through initiation, journey, and final battle, to rebirth and boon. A hero journey from Egyptian mythology is the path of Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, who conquered the evil Set, but had to set him free.
Universal means applying to any and all persons. A universal occurrence in everyone's life is birth. A universal symbol in mythology is the sun god.
An archetype is an original model or first example of something. An archetypal being in Mesopotamian mythology is Tiamat, the mother earth, or mother goddess. There are three archetypal images of creation: the egg, the watery abyss, and darkness, or nothing. There are three archetypal heroes: the human, the trickster, and the cultural hero.
Cyclical means recurring, or a description of something whose beginning and end are equivalent. The hero journey is an example of something cyclical.
Duality refers to something having equal and opposite parts. Humanity's two genders, male and female, are examples of duality. Isis and Osiris are dual components.
Creation is the invention or making of something. An example of a creation myth is the Enuma elish from Mesopotamian mythology.
Cosmology is the study of the universe. Myths could be considered a primitive form of cosmology.
Life out of death refers to reincarnation, the circle of life, and the sacrifice of something or someone for another. Real life examples include forest fires and food. The death of Tiamat led to the creation of the earth and sky.
Matriarchal means female-based, or female-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the women are the most important figures in the culture and household. A matriarchal society in the Enuma elish occurs before Tiamat, the mother earth, dies.
Patriarchal means male-based, or male-dominated, and is often used to refer to societies where the men are the most important figures in the culture and household. Father Sky is a patriarchal figure. A patriarchal society from Egyptian mythology occurs when Osiris rules the Upper and Lower Kingdoms of Egypt.
A sacrifice is something given up, or forfeited, often for the good of society or a group larger than one's self. An example of sacrifice from Jewish mythology is the sacrificial lamb, a pure, perfect lamb that is sacrificed in the place of humans in the Torah.
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