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.
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